Cruises & Vacations Blog - Cruises

MSC Cruises Partners with Aeroplan to Offer Miles on Select Cruises

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:50:00 -0600

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (December 7, 2009) MSC Cruises announced that Aeroplan Members can earn miles when they book an eligible MSC Cruises sailing.

Starting today, Aeroplan members can earn miles on select cruises offered throughout the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean, New England and Canada in addition to transatlantic and positioning cruises.

Richard E. Sasso, president and chief-executive-officer for MSC Cruises (USA), Inc., said, "MSC Cruises is pleased to partner with Aeroplan and offer its members exclusive benefits for sailing on our ships. We hope to expose even more Canadians to MSC Cruises and its beautiful ships and both exotic and varied destinations."

Aeroplan Members can also redeem miles for a $100 or $500 gift certificate which they can use to purchase an MSC Cruise through CruiseShipCenters on www.aeroplan.com.

"We're thrilled to be adding MSC Cruises to the Aeroplan program, giving our members another way to earn miles when they travel," said Craig Landry, Senior Vice President, Partnership and Rewards, Aeroplan. "Aeroplan Members can now earn miles when they travel by air, sea and car across the globe."

The mileage earned for each member, up to two per stateroom, for MSC sailings will vary depending on the itinerary and length as follows:

Mediterranean l Northern Europe l Transatlantic (Summer & Winter) l Positioning

1-6 nights: 500 miles
7 nights: 750 miles
8+ nights: 1,250 miles

Caribbean l Canada/New England
1-6 nights: 250 miles
7 nights: 500 miles
8+ nights: 1,000 miles

In order to receive the miles, guests must submit their Aeroplan number when booking directly with MSC Cruises or their preferred travel professional.

Cruise Line, Swine Flu Planning Information - Fall and Winter 2009

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:29:00 -0600

We realize that an outbreak of flu on a cruise ship, particularly Swine Flu (The H1N1 virus) can ruin the best-planned trip. Although the possibility is remote, we'd like to update you as to what preventive measures are being taken by the cruise industry, with some tips about how to keep this threat in perspective while you minimize your risk. First of all, "How risky are cruise ships?" Let's face it; any closed-space increases the chance of passing germs. This includes hotels, schools, and even hospitals. But since the cruise industry has very high-standards and relies on passenger's trust, they have taken aggressive and specific steps to minimize the risk of onboard sickness. This means that even if another ship has a problem, that it's not likely to affect your trip. This fall, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) reiterated their commitment to "aggressively managing all cases of influenza, including the H1N1 virus" on board their member cruise lines. This includes all cruise lines that we sell or promote. CLIA explained that they are taking proactive steps "to keep H1N1 off of cruise ships and appropriately manage and treat influenza illnesses when and if they occur". This includes minimizing the risk onboard. This is done in two ways; one by implementing strict measures by the crew to avoid contracting the disease and passing germs, and two; implementing a strict screening process for both crew and passengers who board the ships. Here are some of the steps that are being taken, and some tips you should consider: ~ Health Screening on Cruise Ships. Swine flu prevention on cruise ships begins with the embarkation process of crew and passengers. Even if you have fully paid, be aware that you can be denied boarding if you present any H1N1 risk.

~ Health Questionnaires All passengers are now required to complete and sign a written questionnaire prior to boarding most cruise ships. A secondary screening will be conducted if the passenger answers affirmatively to having flu-like symptoms including fever, cough, runny nose or sore throat. A second screening is also given if a passenger reports that they have had contact with a confirmed Influenza A (H1N1) case.

~ Thermal Imaging Cameras Some of the cruise lines have begun to use thermal imaging cameras to check embarking passengers for elevated body temperatures. If the scanner detects a fever of 100.4 F or greater, the guest will be checked for additional signs of influenza such as cough, sore throat, runny nose, headaches and vomiting.

~ Passengers Denied Boarding Due To Flu Symptoms Passengers will not be permitted to travel if they exhibit influenza like illness or have been in contact with an H1N1 case as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Medical personnel at each cruise line will make case-by-case decisions regarding the boarding of these passengers. If there are flu symptoms, the passenger may be given an Influenza Rapid Test Kit which could cause that they miss the ship or encounter a significant delay in boarding.

~ Controlling risk onboard. Cruise lines are now asking that their crew and passengers take very specific measures to avoid the passing of germs. Frequent hand washing is encouraged and antibacterial lotions (Purcell) are available in many public areas. Those who are infected are confined to their cabins.

~ Avoiding infected ports: Cruise lines will deviate from a port suspected of having a flu outbreak. This could cause a financial loss to those passengers who prepaid for shore arrangements, but the loss would normally be covered by travel insurance.

~ Costs of Missing the Cruise Some passengers who are denied boarding may have to wait days in a hotel before their H1N1 tests come back. This brings up the question of how one can recoup these costs? Some travel insurance policies cover these costs, including the company that we sell. But if you are delayed or disembarked by the cruise line due to health, be advised that the cruise line will not reimburse you for your expenses including the cost of the airfare to get home.

~ Costs associated with cancelling your cruise before boarding due to sickness. Same as above, your best protection is to purchase comprehensive travel insurance.

~ Onboard treatment. Most cruise ships will maintain appropriate medications, including anti-virals effective in treating the H1N1 virus. The CDC has approved a couple of prescription drugs, under the brand name of Tamiflu or Relenza, which will be available on most cruise ships.

~ Preventative steps. We recommend that you consider two; asking your doctor if a flu vaccine is recommended before you depart, and purchasing trip insurance.

Princess Introduces New Alaska Cruisetour Designed Especially for Families

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:34:00 -0600

Family Fun Tour Adds Value with Variety of Included Extras and Discounted Fares SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (October 9, 2009) With its stunning scenery, abundant wildlife, and plethora of active adventure opportunities, Alaska offers the perfect family vacation. To make it easier for families to plan a trip to the 49th state, Princess Cruises has added a fun new cruisetour option designed especially with family groups in mind. The 12-night cruisetour offers the best of Alaska by land and sea and includes a variety of special features not usually included in a cruisetour package. Families will have the opportunity to travel on a jetboat, pan for gold, take an interactive tour of Denali National Park, and experience what Alaska is like in the winter when it's many degrees below zero. The cruisetour (number: FUN) is offered at a 25 percent discount for all berths, so all members of the family are included in the special pricing. "This is really the ultimate family vacation," said Charlie Ball, president of Princess Tours. "Alaska is a wonderful travel destination with kids, so we wanted to make it easy and affordable to plan the perfect Alaska experience for everyone in the family." The Family Fun cruisetour includes a seven-night Voyage of the Glaciers cruise plus a five-night land tour featuring one night at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, two nights at Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge and two nights at Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge. At sea, families can also take advantage of Princess' many onboard programs especially for children, including a special Junior Ranger program in Glacier Bay National Park. In addition, the following special extras are included in the tour: Daily Breakfast Everyone in the family can start their morning off with the most important meal of the day. Direct-to-the-Wilderness Rail Service with Lunch Princess' acclaimed Direct-to-the-Wilderness rail service gets families to their wilderness lodge faster, and includes lunch aboard the train. Three Rivers Jetboat Tour (Mt. McKinley) An exhilarating alternative to taking a motorcoach to Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, this tour travels from Talkeetna to the lodge by jetboat, with stops along the river to view historic encampments and learn about the native wildlife. Arctic Blast (Denali) Family members can experience winter in Alaska in the summertime. This special chamber is chilled to wintertime temperatures, so visitors can find out what happens to hot water when it is thrown in the air and whether soap bubbles can survive the cold. Music of Denali Dinner Theater (Denali) This rollicking musical comedy tells the legend of the first expedition to the summit of Mt. McKinley, accompanied by a hearty, family-style meal featuring smokehouse ribs and Alaska salmon. Experience Alaska with Alaska Geographic Tour (Denali) A more intimate tour of Denali National Park, this special experience includes a variety of interactive experiences, including an enhanced view of the Denali ecosystem and current research taking place. The narrated bus tour takes guests 15 miles into the park to a beautiful river valley where they embark on a short walk to the historic Savage River Camp, where they can participate in a number of hands-on experiences. Denali Sourdough Expedition Breakfast (Denali) While fueling up for the day with a family-style, Alaskan roadhouse-style breakfast, guests experience an unforgettable journey up Denali through breathtaking images in Laurent Dick's Climb Denali. Participants have the opportunity to meet this real mountain climber and ask questions about mountain climbing. Riverboat Cruise and El Dorado Goldmine Tour (Fairbanks) Families can enjoy traveling on an authentic sternwheeler for a fully-narrated cruise along the Chena River and try their hands at gold panning at the El Dorado Gold Mine, where they will learn about Alaska's gold mining history. Fares for the Alaska Family Cruisetour (#FUN) start at $1,743 per person for the first and second berths, and $1,191 per person for the third and fourth berth passengers. Princess offers a variety of land/sea Alaska experience with itineraries ranging from three to eight nights. All cruisetour options feature at least two nights in the Denali National Park area, stays in Princess' own riverside wilderness lodges, and a seven-day Voyage of the Glaciers sailing with Glacier Bay National Park.

Cunards Queen Victoria Welcomes Famed Boston Chef Todd English during Maiden Call to His Native Cit

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:18:00 -0600

29 September 2009 As part of her Autumn Colours voyage, which features maiden calls through the New England and Canada coasts, Cunard's Queen Victoria made her inaugural visit to Boston yesterday. Joining the festivities was celebrity chef Todd English, whose at-sea eponymously named restaurants are exclusively featured aboard both Queen Victoria and flagship Queen Mary 2. Travel agents, media and local dignitaries, including British Consul-General Phil Budden, were among the guests who enjoyed a sumptuous lunch prepared by the native Boston chef in his onboard restaurant. "It's a privilege for me to welcome Queen Victoria to my city," said English. "To have my Todd English restaurants the only at sea aboard Cunard's legendary liners is truly an honor for me." "It is a pleasure to bring Queen Victoria into Boston for her inaugural visit, a city with which Cunard shares a great history welcoming us and our guests so warmly for many years," said Queen Victoria's Master, Captain Ian McNaught. "We continue to provide our guests with legendary voyages and historic ports of call, and Boston is always a highlight," he added. Also welcoming Queen Victoria into the largest city in New England was CEO & Executive Director of the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), Thomas J. Kinton, Jr., and Massport's Chairman of the Board, John A. Quelch.

Cunard Queen Mary 2 Delivers Historic Wedgwood Masterpiece, the Gift Between Nations, to the US

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:52:00 -0600

4 September 2009 Cunard Line's flagship Queen Mary 2 delivered a historic item upon her arrival in New York this morning: Wedgwood's Gift Between Nations. The unique, large-scale model of the world famous Washington Monument was created by the iconic British pottery company in commemoration of their 250th anniversary, and celebrates the long and illustrious links between the two great nations. Following a formal presentation to Queen Mary 2's Commodore Bernard Warner in Southampton, England on 29 August, the masterpiece was transported aboard the ship's six-day Transatlantic Crossing en route to New York. Lord Piers Wedgwood arrived with the Gift this morning and will be on hand during the fall tour, which includes a prominent display in the famed Macy's Herald Square store in New York City later this month before its onward journey to Washington, D.C. It will be a focal point of a much anticipated anniversary exhibition hosted by the Daughters of the American Revolution in their magnificent building situated between the White House and the Washington Monument, and will ultimately be presented to and reside in the White House. "We are honoured to be a part of this momentous occasion and look forward to continuing our historic partnership with Wedgwood," said Commodore Warner. "Here's to another 250 years!" "It is with our esteemed pleasure that we present this Gift Between Nations to the United States of America on our 250th anniversary year. We are delighted to showcase the amazing craftsmanship of our company along with the great heritage of our two nations," said Lord Piers Wedgwood, executive director, Waterford Wedgwood PLC. This special event helps illustrate the longstanding relationship between Cunard and Wedgwood, with an unmatched lineage of trade and commerce for the two companies across the Atlantic.

Ruby Princess Swimming Pool Becomes Latest Canvas for Famed Marine Life Artist Wyland

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:52:00 -0600

Ruby Princess Swimming Pool Becomes Latest Canvas for Famed Marine Life Artist Wyland


Princess Cruises Passengers Watch as Wyland Paints Dolphins on Bottom of Neptune Pool

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (August 19, 2009) As Ruby Princess approached Venice this afternoon, passengers aboard the Princess Cruises ship were treated to a special live art event as famed marine life artist Wyland painted an unusual canvas the bottom of the ship's Neptune Pool.

Known worldwide for his unique works featuring sea animals, Wyland is aboard the ship for special art events and meet and greets with passengers. However, painting the ship's pool was not on his original agenda. Ruby Princess Captain Tony Draper suggested the idea to the artist after being inspired by watching ship crew members painting the Princess "seawitch" logo on the bottom of the ship's other main pool.

A first for the cruise line, Wyland agreed to paint the mother dolphin and her baby as a way to increase awareness of his conservation message. Passengers were invited to follow along with a live top-deck event hosted by the ship's cruise director, including live video of the painting in progress broadcast on the ship's Movies Under the Stars screen.

"This is certainly one of the most unusual ways we've ever painted a pool," said Jan Swartz, Princess executive vice president. "But it's a wonderful way to work with Wyland to address our shared concern with the importance of marine conservation, and to give our passengers a unique experience as they witnessed a one-of-a-kind artwork taking shape."

Passengers were able to enjoy watching the artist at work just prior to the ship's arrival into the Venice canal system.

Marine life artist Wyland is an accomplished painter, sculptor, photographer, writer and SCUBA diver. His non-profit Wyland Foundation has supported numerous conservation programs since 1993, including the monumental Whaling Wall mural project and epic series of more than 100 life-size marine life murals that spans 14 countries on four continents and is viewed by an estimated 1 billion people every year.

Wyland and Princess Cruises have a long-time association. Many Princess ships incorporate his sculptures in the swimming pool areas, and are featured in his latest book "100 Whaling Walls." Wyland's artwork is also featured in the ships' onboard art galleries.

Ruby Princess is currently sailing on 12-day Grand Mediterranean voyages between Barcelona and Venice, with calls at Monte Carlo, Florence/Pisa, Rome, Naples/Capri, Mykonos, Istanbul, Kusadasi, and Athens.

Photos of Wyland at work are available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/princesscruises/sets/72157621962996169/

Cruises & Vacations Blog - Cruises

MSC Cruises Partners with Aeroplan to Offer Miles on Select Cruises

Cruise Line, Swine Flu Planning Information - Fall and Winter 2009

Princess Introduces New Alaska Cruisetour Designed Especially for Families

Cunards Queen Victoria Welcomes Famed Boston Chef Todd English during Maiden Call to His Native Cit

Cunard Queen Mary 2 Delivers Historic Wedgwood Masterpiece, the Gift Between Nations, to the US

Ruby Princess Swimming Pool Becomes Latest Canvas for Famed Marine Life Artist Wyland

Cunards Queen Victoria Welcomes Famed Boston Chef Todd English during Maiden Call to His Native Cit