Princess ship

Monday, November 29, 2010

What You Need to Know About Cruise Attire

People new to cruising tend to get nervous about what kind of cruise attire they need to bring and wear on their vacations. There are many different situations that come up during cruises that require many different types of clothing. It is no wonder that the subject is so confusing. However, there are some guidelines about what to wear.

Dinner Wear

The most important thing to remember about dinner wear is that you will get an itinerary before your cruise that outlines cruise attire. You should know how many nights will be formal nights, smart casual nights, or casual nights. Then, all you have to do is find out what is meant by those terms.

On a casual night, a woman can wear a pant-suit or dress slacks and a blouse. She can alternately wear a skirt and blouse. Men will be fine in a sport shirt and slacks. It is important not to go overboard and wear anything too casual, like cut-offs. On a smart casual night, the women can still wear pant-suits, although they may be a little dressier. They can also wear a dress if they prefer. Men need to wear a jacket along with their shirt and pants, and they may fit in better if they wear a tie.

Formal nights are the times to go all out. Women wear cocktail dresses, or they can even wear long formal gowns. Men have to at least wear dinner jackets and dark suits. If they want to go fancier, they can wear a tuxedo, but it will probably not be required.

There are some situations where you can break all the rules. If there is a poolside snack bar or buffet, you may be able to eat in your swimsuit. If it is a theme night, such as country western night, you can wear clothes that fit the theme.

Day Wear

The cruise attire you wear during the day is fairly easy to figure out. You just need to think about the activities you plan to do. If you plan to go hiking, bring hiking boots. For those who want to walk in the surf, it is good to have a pair of aqua socks. These cover the top of your foot with elastic and the bottom with rubber to protect your feet.

There are certain customs you need to be aware of as well. For instance, in most places, it is considered unacceptable for people to tour historical and government facilities if they are not wearing conservative clothing. Short shorts and skimpy tops will not do. If you are in doubt, contact your cruise coordinator.

If you take everything into consideration, it is not hard to determine what kind of cruise attire to bring with you on your trip. Just use your imagination to think about the kinds of situations that will come up, and pack accordingly.

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Friday, November 26, 2010

Time blooper of the address Zhen Hua 5 accustomed a crane

A time lapse of the ZHEN HUA 5 on 5 May 2007 in Harwich Harbour carrying away a Port of Felixstowe ship to shore crane. The crane is twisted and buckled after a collision with a ship. The cruise ship Princess Danae passes in the foreground.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR6e_7Jpu-I&hl=en

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Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Top Cruise Secrets Revealed

There are more than 200 cruise ships that you can choose from today. But the one thing that they all have in common is that a little advance planning and "insider" knowledge can help you save time and money on your next cruise. Here are the "top ten tips":

1. Maximum flexibility = Maximum savings. Most travelers have some flexibility in their travel dates, especially if planning ahead of time. Let your cruise specialist know that you can consider alternate departure dates that may have lower rates available. Keep in mind cruise lines will offer better prices and perks on sailings that are not nearing capacity.

Tip: Shoulder or off peak sailings offer the deepest price cuts. For example, the departure right after the New Year cruise might be substantially lower.

2. Ask if guarantees are available. This requires that you have a little gambling spirit. Many cruise lines will offer a rate on a particular cabin category instead of an actual stateroom number and in effect guarantee that rate to you. Then the cruise line has the option of assigning you a stateroom in either that category or better.

Sometimes you win and end up in a cabin several grades higher and sometimes you end up in exactly the category you were guaranteed. Remember, there is both an upside and downside to this program.

Tip: Completely understand the process before booking a guarantee.

3.Upgrade programs. Often, your cruise specialist may offer a cruise line upgrade program. This means that you book and pay for category 'B' and will be moved to a higher category 'A'. Again, there is an element of risk here. The fact that a stateroom may be in a higher category does not always mean it will be a more desirable cabin. For example, you might be in a nice mid ship balcony stateroom on Deck C and get an upgrade to a balcony stateroom on Deck A.

While your new assignment may be the same size and have identical amenities you might end up in a less desirable location such as near an elevator or at the extreme end of the ship. And there are outside cabins that have views partially blocked by lifeboats or other equipment. On the other hand there are many instances of guests being upgraded several categories to wonderful staterooms.

Tip: Advise your cruise specialist that you will consider upgrades offered but you want to have final say on any changes before they happen.

4.Special Fare Eligibility - One of the reasons that savvy cruisers find a knowledgeable cruise specialist and stick with them is the fact that there are many special fare programs that may or not be visible to cruisers doing casual research on the web. These include things like regional fares that are made available to residents of selected states.

Caution: If you are offered a regional fare and you don't live in that area and can not prove residency, don't do it. Cruise lines have the right to check your eligibility on sailing day and charge for the difference before you board. It does happen. Some of the other special fares being promoted today include active duty and retired military fares, union member fares, police and public safety discounts, airline or hospitality rates and more.

Tip: If your cruise partner is a member of any of the these groups, the discounts usually apply to everyone traveling in the same stateroom.

5. Past Passenger Specials - Virtually every major cruise line has a loyalty club for its members with different levels and benefits. Joining is free and entitles you to special perks and discounts when you book on that line. For many commonly owned cruise lines such as Carnival Corporation, the offers extend across all the brands such as Carnival, Princess, Holland America etc. Ditto for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity.

Tip: Many cruise lines started operation before computers become common and can not easily retrieve date for cruises you may have taken several years ago. However, if you send a letter to the cruise line listing the ships and cruises you have been on, most will take your word and credit you with those unrecorded sailings. This might have the effect of moving you from Gold to Platinum level and significantly improve the benefits.

6. Check for Group Rates: Many cruise agencies hold what is known as block space on ships. That means that they have reserved space at group rates, which can be up to 20% lower than individual rates. Many agencies that reserve space for groups hold aside several cabins for individual clients who might be able to depart on this date.

While you may be traveling as a group, your cruise experience will be as an individual traveler. The downside might be that your dining time or section is affected by the group program. The upside is that you might benefit from some group amenties such as an onboard credit, free shore excursion etc.

Tip: If your cruise specialist offers group rates, understand the features, benefits and limitations completely before you book. From the cruise line perspective you are a member of the group and fall under the policies and procedures for groups.

7. On board re-booking. Most cruise lines now allow you to book your next cruise with that line while on board. They may have what is known as an on board sales consultant or even a desk. This is usually a great opportunity to save. Generally, the cruise line will throw in some strong perks to retain your loyalty to their brand. Onboard credits on the future cruise can be quite substantial. Upgrades and other benefits are usually significant.

Tip: Many cruise lines realize that you may not be sure when and where you want to cruise while on your current voyage. Not to worry, because most have a program where you can book on board with the flexibility to change to other sailings and ships via your cruise specialist when you get home and keep all the benefits. This is a truly a win win for you!

8.Seek out Value Adds. Over the past few years, cruise lines have instituted something known in the trade as The Level Playing Field. This was instituted to attempt to control the rampant rebating and discounting that occurred in the post September 11 travel slump. Basically, now the cruise lines have been partially successful in putting the genie back in the bottle by requiring cruise agents to all use the same pricing feeds.

Because cruise agents do not purchase and re-sell the cruises but are paid a commission, the cruise lines themselves totally control published rates. One of the unintended side effects of Level Playing Field pricing is that the cruise lines had to find a way to promote challenged sailing dates. And they did this by creating Value Added features. They can include benefits ranging from dollars off certificates, on-board credits, pre-paid gratuities, free spa treatments, specialty dining experiences, casino credits to a free bathrobe or camera.

Tip: Ask your cruise specialist to seek out sailings that offer value adds. They can significantly impact your bottom line.

9.Arrange your own airline tickets. If you need to fly in to your embarkation port most cruise lines have flight programs known as Air/Sea arrangements. The good news is that includes the flights and often meet and greet and transfers. The bad news is that in order to publish these add-ons the cruise lines have negotiated the fares far in advance and try to set the rates on a cost average basis.

To you, it generally means that these add-ons may be up to 50% higher than the fares you can get by arranging the flights yourself. The one exception to this in many cases are Europe cruises where many lines maintain bulk contract fares. So it is always a good idea to comparison shop. Most lines allow you to purchase just the transfer package so you are able to create your own air/sea package at significant savings. And of course if you have several thousand airline miles collecting dust, this might be a good time to try to use them.

Tip: If you are arranging your own flights, make sure to allow plenty of time for flight delays etc. Savvy cruisers will often invest in a pre-cruise hotel the night before the cruise so that they can avoid the stress caused by late arriving flights. Remember, if the airline leaves you on the tarmac for 7 hours and you miss the ship, that voucher for a free flight will not seem very appealing. And unfortunately, the airline will not compensate you nor will the cruise line refund your money as you are counted as a no show.

10. Travel Insurance: What is the one thing you must bring on your cruise that you hope never to use? Trip Insurance! As you can see in #9 above things can and do go wrong. An affordable comprehensive trip insurance policy can cover many of these contingencies including, lost baggage, trip interruption, medical evacuation and more.

Your cruise specialist can explain the various programs available as there are several. Mark sure you understand fully the coverage and limitation before accepting coverage and keep in mind that you can not get coverage retroactively. It is a small, but absolutely vital part of your vacation expenditures. Keep in mind very few medical insurance polices cover you while out of the country and basic homeowner policies often do not compensate for lost luggage or other events. Just as in land based trips, the carriers responsibility to you is extremely limited by their contract and should a medical emergency arise on board or ashore you are responsible for all expenses incurred.

Tip: Cancellation coverage is very specific. Understand what is covered and not covered. You can not decide not to go at the last minute without incurring substantial cancellation charges. And if you have any pre-existing health issues, this may or may not be a covered event. That is why it is important to actually read the coverage.

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Monday, November 22, 2010

Celebrity Cruise Alaska - Pros and Cons

With a premium fleet that's among the youngest and best designed in the cruise industry, Celebrity Cruise Alaska offers a great product: a classy, tasteful, and luxurious cruise experience at a moderate price.

Celebrity Cruise Alaska Pros

o Spectacular spas and gyms. Beautiful to look at and well stocked, the spas and gyms on the Infinity, Mercury, and Summit (and Celebrity's other non-Alaska megaships) are among the best at sea today.
o Fabulous food. Celebrity's cuisine is tops among mainstream cruise lines.
o Innovative everything. Celebrity's entertainment, art, cigar bars, service, spas, and cuisine are some of the most innovative in the industry. Its ships were among the first in the industry to display major art collections on board, it had one of the earliest cigar bars, and its menus have long recognized the need for vegetarian, low-sodium, heart-conscious, and other dishes.

Celebrity Cruise Alaska Cons

o Occasional crowding. Pack a couple thousand people onto a ship (pretty much any ship), and you'll get crowds sometimes, such as at buffets and when debarking.

Each of the Celebrity ships is spacious, glamorous, and comfortable, mixing sleekly modern and vaguely Art Deco styles and throwing in an astoundingly cutting-edge art collection. The line's genteel service is exceptional: Staff members are exceedingly polite and professional, and contribute greatly to the elegant atmosphere. Dining-wise, Celebrity shines, offering innovative cuisine that's a cut above the fare offered by all the other mainstream lines.

The AquaSpas on the line's mega ships are the best at sea, the art collections fleet wide are the most compelling, the cigar bars are the plushest, and the onboard activities are among the most varied. Like all the big ship lines, Celebrity Cruise Alaska offers lots for its passengers to do, but its focus on mellower pursuits and innovative programming sets it apart.

It's interesting to note that this year Celebrity (and its affiliate company, Royal Caribbean International) are using a brand new port, Icy Strait Point. The port, little more than a cannery dock to be honest, lies between Juneau and Glacier Bay and offers a prime vantage point for whale and wildlife watching and easier access to the Alaskan wilderness. A small Indian village about a mile away will be included on shore excursions.

Why add the stop at all? Simply because a growing number of Alaska passengers have begun to outgrow the historic ports of call. A "been there done that" attitude among past guests has made it essential that cruise lines find new ways to stimulate public interest in the destination. Hence, Icy Strait Point. It will never make passengers forget the bustling streets and stores of, say, Juneau or Ketchikan, but the lines are hoping that the combination of hitherto pretty much unseen (at least by cruise passengers) wilderness and exposure to a real Indian village experience will make it a memorable stop.

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Sunday, November 14, 2010

Repositioning Cruises Aboard the Dawn, Diamond, Gold, and Grand Princess

Dawn Princess repositioning cruises.

One of Princess Cruise Lines Sun-class vessels, Dawn Princess is small by Princess standards with 1,950 passengers. With popular features like LED Movies under the Stars, a Champagne and Caviar bar, a promenade deck with steamer chairs, and an adults-only Sanctuary, it's a favorite of past passengers.

For most of 2010, Dawn Princess will sail roundtrip from Sydney or Melbourne, calling at ports in New Zealand and Australia. She has just one repositioning cruises in 2010, leaving Sydney on November 7, and calling at Tasmania before disembarking passengers in Melbourne.

If you're flying roundtrip from Sydney, it's a nice way to add Tasmania to your itinerary because it's not hard to get from Melbourne back to Sydney.

Diamond Princess repositioning cruises.

Diamond Princess uses the latest technology to keep its 2,670 passengers entertained. There are 42 LCD video screens in the show lounge, giving everyone the best seat in the house. A golf simulator lets duffers play some of the world's great courses virtually. And the Internet café has 29 stations. When you're ready for some fresh air, try the balcony off the Skywalker Lounge. It has great views.

She offers some of the most exotic of all Princess cruises in Australia and Asia during the winter, then summers in Alaska. There are many places you embark or disembark between February and March, and then again between October and December, so you can almost create your own repositioning cruise.

She sails from Beijing on April 30, 2010 and visits Dalian and Qingdao in China, Pusan in South Korea, and Vladivostok in Russian. She arrives in Whittier, Alaska after a while at sea, and then calls at Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan. The cruise ends in Vancouver, British Columbia.

On September 1, 2010, she returns to Asia, operating the Beijing to Vancouver voyage in reverse.

She sails from Bangkok on December 5, 2010 and visits Vietnam, Singapore, and Padang Bay before arriving in Australia, where she calls at Darwin, Port Douglas and Airlie Beach. Passengers can disembark in Sydney, or stay onboard until Diamond Princess arrives in Auckland nine days later. This is a wonderful opportunity to see lots of places in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

Golden Princess Repositioning cruises.

Golden Princess is a Grand Class ship with over 700 balcony cabins. It's a good choice for families because there are programs and areas dedicated to kids and teens. And adults have an exclusive Sanctuary spa just for them, as well as nine whirlpools, a Lotus Spa, fitness center, and three show rooms. Sabatini's Italian restaurant and the Painted Desert provide alternatives to the main dining rooms. And the 330-square-foot Movies under the Stars LED screen in the pool area is very popular.

In late spring, Golden Princess repositioning for the Alaska season, leaving Los Angeles on May 9, 2010. She overnights at Catalina Island, and calls at San Francisco and Victoria before ending the voyage in Vancouver. It's a nice getaway up the west coast and very affordable.

In early fall, she returns to Los Angeles, leaving Vancouver on September 26. With two days at sea, passengers have time to relax and enjoy all that Golden Princess has to offer,

Grand Princess Repositioning cruises.

We first went aboard Grand Princess in Barcelona in 1998, the year she launched. Because she was the biggest cruise ship in the world at that time, she caused quite a stir. We cruised on her again in 2008 and she hasn't lost any of her appeal.

Once you're aboard, it's hard to believe that she carries 2,600 passengers because there are lots of quiet spaces where you can get away from it all. If you want to read a good book, enjoy a cappuccino, or just watch the sea, there are plenty of nooks and crannies available.

In early April, she repositions to spend the summer in Europe. She leaves Fort Lauderdale on April 9 and calls at Bermuda after two days at sea. After a day exploring Bermuda, she spends six days on the transatlantic crossing. After the crossing, she visits Glasgow, Dublin, Cork, Cornwall, and Le Havre. The voyage ends in Southampton. Travelers with more time available can stay aboard and explore Seville, Sardinia, Rome, Florence (Livorno), Cannes, Barcelona, and Gibraltar before returning to Southampton.

At the end of the summer season, she leaves Europe to return to the United States. On September 25, 2010 she sails from Southampton and calls at Bergen, the Shetland Islands, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Nova Scotia before disembarking passengers in Fort Lauderdale. This voyage includes lots of off-the-beaten path destinations that you wouldn't visit any other way. It's a great choice for those who want to go somewhere different. And with ten days at sea, it's relaxing too.

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Monday, November 8, 2010

Cruises - Dreams Come True on a Cruise Ship

Many people dream of a memorable vacation that they'll talk about for years. But not many people enjoy that dream vacation.

If you have a dream vacation and wish it would come true, you can probably find it on a cruise ship. These floating hotels have been giving people dream vacations for many years. Now it's your turn to have your dreams come true on a your vacation.

Ship line companies like Princess and Holland American (and many other companies) have a fleet of ships that provide real life holiday vacations that you'll think is a dream.  Each vessel is designed to give you maximum enjoyment on your vacation as they pamper you like a VIP guest.  Luxurious rooms, a wide variety of entertainment, and cruise shore excursions are just a few ways that they can help you have that vacation of a lifetimes.

Where you'll go:  these boats go anywhere there's water.  Some vacationers will take a transatlantic voyage, others will take a world excursion, and some prefer to just enjoy a short river boat float.  There are available going  to Alaska, through the Mediterranean, and (of course) who hasn't seen pictures of a one floating in the Caribbean!  No matter where you want to go, if there's water, there's a good chance that a ship will make your vacation a memorable one.

What you'll do: What kind of things will you do on your family excursion? That depends on you. Some people prefer to make the floating hotel itself their holiday by taking a wedding or a honeymoon jaunt and enjoying time with the people they love. Some people prefer to stay on board and gamble or watch performances in the theatre or dance the night away. Others might enjoy the shore excursions which are pre-planned events that you can do with your fellow passengers whenever the ship docks at port.

There is always so much to do and see on the boat and off of it. No matter what kind of fun you're into, a it is sure to have it. Don't think of it as a floating hotel; think of it as a floating dream maker.

Why a floating holiday should be your next holiday:   If you've been dreaming of the perfect get-a-away,  but have been reluctant to consider a one of these because of the cost, think again. many discounts are available online. The right website can be your ticket to getting a great deal on the next ship get a way. You'll often be able to find great discounts because of seasonal specials or because the cruise ship suddenly finds itself getting close to leaving and not quite full enough yet. Make your vacation dreams a reality on a cruise ship vacation this year.

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Monday, November 1, 2010

Sapphire Princess Cruise Ship

A look around the ship. Shot during her last Alaska cruise of the 2008 season 09-13/20-08.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8MyLWedYkA&hl=en

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