posted by admin on May 24
Celebrity Cruises To Launch Two Retrofitted Ships In 2007
by Roy Witman © 2007, All Rights Reserved
Celebrity Cruises has recently been bestowed with two established ships as a result of parent-company Royal Caribbean’s acquisition of Spanish Pullmantur. These intimate-size vessels will each undergo retrofitting in dry dock before taking to the seas under the banner of Celebrity Cruises.
The ships will be very similar in size and amenities, but will differ greatly in their itineraries. Outfitted with the standard Celebrity Cruises compliments, each vessel will provide open seating in restaurants, a casually elegant atmosphere, two specialty restaurants plus:
Michael’s Club - A piano bar serving cocktails of all types.
Martini Bar - Offering over 20 types of martinis.
Aquaspa - A unique Celebrity inclusion designed to provide the utmost in pampering including acupuncture at sea.
Sensory Heaven spa treatments by Elemis.
Enrichment Activities - Take a culinary class, speak one to one with prominent authors and more.
Gourmet cuisine provided by world-class chefs.
Celebrity was recently voted “The Best Cruise Ships In the World” for the fifth consecutive year by Conde’ Nast Traveler. Living up to its reputation, Celebrity will spend over $70 million dollars on upgrades, the most impressive of which will include:
15 different classes of cabins.
In-cabin spa treatments.
Butler and concierge service for every cabin onboard (not just suites).
With a capacity of just over 700 passengers and one staff member for every two guests, these two new ships will give visitors plenty of opportunities for exceptional services.
Celebrity “Journey”
Previously deemed “Blue Dream” while flying the Pullmantur flag, Celebrity Cruises has renamed this ship “Journey.” She will set sail in May 2007 with a Bermuda itinerary, which will continue through October. “Journey” will then set course for truly unique destinations including Antarctica, Brazil and Chile.
Celebrity “Quest”
The second of the siblings sailed under the name of “Blue Moon” prior to the acquisition. Named “Quest” by Celebrity, this ship is scheduled to launch in October 2007 with a schedule of Caribbean itineraries. Her destinations will change several months after her maiden voyage to more exclusive ports of call including St. Barts, St. John, Santa Marta, Grand Turk and others.
For those who prefer a cruise experience that is more intimate, but still holds a high level of excitement and intrigue, Celebrity promises “Journey” and “Quest” will deliver.
Roy Witman is Vice-President of Cruise Vacation Center at <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com">http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com</a> offering the best deals including <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com/european_cruises.htm"> European cruises</a> and <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com/mediterranean_cruises.htm">Mediterranean cruises</a>.
Planning A Cruise Vacation For The Perfect Cruise Experience
Cruise vacations are one of the most exciting and fun vacations you and your family will ever have. Planning your cruise vacation is the key to making the most of the cruise experience.
Cruise ships are floating hotels that sail through ocean while you enjoy all the hotel s amenities provided. They have casinos, swimming pools, theaters, restaurants, shopping centers or boutiques, spas, gyms and more.
As great as taking a vacation on cruise ships may seem, you still need to know how to plan a cruise ship vacation properly so you have the perfect cruise experience. You need to know about the different types of packages the cruise lines offer.
When planning a cruise ship vacation you need to know how to choose one that will meet your expectation or tailor to your needs. Here are some guidelines that you can follow to plan your cruise travel and enjoy the perfect cruise experience:
Think of who you want to take with you on your cruise vacation. There are many different packages offered by cruise lines. There are packages for the whole family and there are packages for single travelers.
Will you be taking the cruise vacation with children? Maybe you will take your significant other for a romantic getaway. There are cruise ships that are tailored for children and there are cruise lines that cater to single cruisers and honeymooners. There are even some ships that offer wedding services. What could be better than to get married on the ship and have your honeymoon built in?
Decide how long you want to cruise. If you just want to try it out, opt for a three day cruise. Normally, cruises start at three nights and can go anywhere from seven to fourteen days. But there are also world cruises that can last as long as three months. My advice is if you are going to cruise in Europe you should pick a fourteen day cruise because of the expense and long plane rides to get to your port of embarkation. If you live near a port and you just want to take a long weekend choose of three or four day cruise. Decide what cruise travel is best for you.
Choose the perfect destination for you and your family. Alaska is beautiful but can only be cruised in the summer months. If you live in the colder climes you may want to take a mid winter cruise to the Caribbean or even South America. If you want your cruise travel to be in the Caribbean and you want to spend two weeks on your cruise vacation, choose a line that alternates between the Eastern and Western Caribbean. This cruise vacation takes you to many different islands.
The cruise lines have a variety of destinations to choose from. Visit your cruise travel agent to go over the different itineraries or check out the individual websites of the cruise lines.
Consider the port of departure. Since 9/11 cruises have been emphasizing home port cruising. Now there are many cruises that depart from Bayonne, New Jersey, Galveston, Texas, or Seattle, Washington, not just Miami and Fort Lauderdale.. Depart from the one closest to you and you will save money on expensive airfare.
Speak to a knowledgeable cruise travel agent. Make sure they have personally sailed on many different cruise ships so they can give you an honest opinion on what each cruise line has to offer and which would give you the perfect cruise experience.
A cruise travel agent will also be able to supply you with cruise tips. Scour the cruise reviews for additional cruise tips.
Large cruise lines have a variety of activities and facilities that you can use on the ship. If you like to gamble then choosing a cruise ship with casinos is probably right for you. Or if you are taking your kids with you, a cruise ship that offers activities and facilities for children would be the best choice for your cruise travel. For instance, Disney is, of course, geared toward children but they do not have casinos. So if you are taking the family but you want to gamble steer away from Disney and choose one of the other major cruise lines. Almost all of them have children s programs. If you don t want to be on a ship with children sail on one of the fancier lines that don t cater to children. Here, again, it pays to read as many cruise reviews as you can to pick up additional cruise tips.
Cruise vacations do not necessarily mean that you have to spend all your vacation time onboard. All the cruise ships offer land and shore excursions. The cruise lines offer pre and post cruise land vacations usually for two or three days.
Land excursions are a great way to explore different cultures and destinations when taking a cruise vacation. You can choose from many activities once you reach a port of call. You can go kayaking, scuba diving or go shopping in the markets of the ports of call.
Following these guidelines will give you some ideas on planning your cruise vacation properly. Proper planning will give you a more exciting cruise experience.
Happy Cruising!
Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.
This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.
Mary Hanna has traveled the world by Air and Ship while writing eBooks, Software Reviews and Practical Articles on Internet Marketing, Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at: http://www.CruiseGold.com http://www.CruiseTravelDirectory.com and http://www.CruisingTips.com
The Master of Design: Joe Farcus, Carnival Cruise Line's Ship Architect
by Roy Witman © 2006, All Rights Reserved
Who in the world came up with these ideas? Aboard the Carnival Celebration you’ll find yourself transported into the heyday of New Orleans Mardi Gras. On Fascination and Hollywood, you can step back into the golden era of ocean liners with vintage designs throughout the ships. But who thinks up and executes these amazing design plans? Joe Farcus, that’s who!
Joe Farcus is the ship architect for Carnival Cruise Lines. It is his vision passengers see each time they step foot onto a Fun Ship . Raised in Miami Beach, Florida, Farcus always fantasized about ships. His constant sketching of ocean liners was no doubt part of the reason he pursued an architectural degree. After graduation from the University of Florida in 1967, Farcus landed his first Carnival project - the redesign of the Carnivale - while employed for a local architectural firm.
Described as bold, daring and sometimes even brash, Farcus creates interior designs from his heart and his imagination. Working from an initial central concept, Farcus expands from idea to application, as his vision touches every part of the ship. From atriums to restaurants to staterooms, full control of the aesthetics of the ship is placed in the hands of this one man, as he gives each ship its own distinct personality.
Miracle is whimsical with an array of fictional characters splashed about throughout her common areas. Spirit is refined, featuring a Louis XIV-inspired casino and Chippendale Internet Caf . Destiny is dazzling and bright with a towering mirrored atrium elevator that stretches nine-decks high.
Where do the ideas come from? The Amber Palace show lounge (on Glory) was fashioned after the Amber Room in Russia while the Starry Night Jazz Club (aboard Pride) was inspired by Vincent Van Gogh’s painting of the same name.
What lies ahead for future ships? Freedom, set to debut in 2007, will carry a central theme of Decades Through the Centuries. From ancient Babylonia to the Victorian era to 1970s disco and beyond, passengers will walk through time, as they sail the sea. When asked about the concept, Farcus replied, “I thought it would be interesting to go back in time to find inspiration for the various public rooms. As always, I tried to use the function of the room to suggest how the room will reflect the central design idea.”
And other ships? What does Farcus hold in store for them? Splendor is slated to enter service in the fall of 2008, and Carnival has a super liner (yet to be named) under construction and scheduled for delivery in fall 2009. “I design each ship to tell a story, and it gives me great joy to be able to share these stories with guests.” So much so, in fact, that Carnival will soon be broadcasting videos aboard ship highlighting Joe Farcus and his design process.
With a seemingly never-ending supply of brilliant design concepts, Joe Farcus will surely continue to contribute to the fun that the Carnival Fun Ships have become so famous for.
Roy Witman is Vice-President of Cruise Vacation Center. Visit them online today at <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com">http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com</a> for the best deals including <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com/hawaii_cruises.htm"> Hawaii cruises</a> from <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com/carnival_cruise_line.htm">Carnival Cruise Line</a> and others.
Sightseeing in Hawaii
Hawaii was, at one point, economically dependant on exports of sugar and a pineapple however much has changed since then. Now the island is almost fully dependant on tourists and leveraging the stunning and unspoiled beauty of the islands. Hawaii has 8 islands in total, 6 of which can be visited by tourists on vacation. Big Island ” Big Island is the largest island in Hawaii as its name would suggest, it is also getting larger with time due to the active volcanoes that are there and which also represent great sightseeing opportunities on the Island. Kona is a must see attraction for tourists and is the epicenter of everything that goes on in the Island. Oahu ” Despite not being the largest Island, Oahu is home to the most Hawaiian citizens and also the government. That is why it is referred to as the gathering place among locals and tourists alike. Just on the borders of Honolulu are pineapple fields, one of Hawaii s biggest exports, which are a great sight for tourists to cast their eyes on. The North Shore of Oahu is a must see place for surfers with some of the biggest waves worldwide appearing there in the winter. The USS Arizona Memorial is at Pearl Harbor and is obviously a popular place to check out for tourists. Maui ” The road to Hana, a village, is referred to by some as one of the most beautiful roads in the world. Do not expect to travel there in a hurry though ” the reason it is memorable is it is long and meandering with beautiful sights along the way. The volcano called Haleakala is massive, and stands tall into the sky of the second largest island in Hawaii. The areas of Lahaina, Wailea, Kihei and Kaanapali are the most popular tourist resorts on the Island and with good reason. They are not only beautiful, but also full of life and engrained in Hawaiian culture and tradition. Kauai - Mount Waialeale is probably the most famous location on the Island of Kauai, however do not expect to go there without your rain coat! One of the reasons it is famous is because it is referred to as one of the rainiest places in the world. The Wailua River is fast paced and teeming with fish, and is also a place that tourists can not give enough of. For those that have never seen a canyon, the Waimea Canyon is certainly worth checking out. The Na Pali Coas is also very popular among tourists too. Molokai ” Molokai is referred to as Friendly Isle however it is not nearly as developed as the other islands that are open to tourists. The most notable attraction is Kalaupapa which was home to Father Damien of the famous leper colony. Lanai ” This Island is famous for once being owned by Dole Foods which are a manufacturer of pineapples. Now it is no longer owned by Dole Foods and is now the residence of a few very exclusive hotels.
The article is written by Andrew Arakaki. He writes about <a href="http://www.buzzhawaii.com">hawaii tours</a> and <a href="http://www.buzzhawaii.com">hawaii adventures</a>.
5 Tips For The single Gentleman Cruiser
A cruise can be a great “romantic escape” for everyone - the single ladies fantasize about finding the perfect romance in the perfect setting. Just being on a cruise ship with possibly hundreds of single ladies with the same idea in mind boosts your chances of success by 100% -unfortunately your not the only guy on board -So Here are some tips to further your chances with the ladies on your next cruise.
1. Take dance Lessons( preferably before you cruise) - ladies love a man of the arts - and a man who can move can tango into any ladies heart. Why do you think they always make those leading men dance in their movies? -take a page from their book and learn to move those hips!
2. Karaoke - Or sing with the band! You’ve always suspected that you have silky pipes worthy of Sinatra or Johnny Mathis - its time to put your talent in full view. You’ll make fast friends even if you cant sing to save your life - why? people like people who take chances and they’re more likely to approach and congratulate you ( and buy you a drink) regardless of you having murdered their wedding song.
3. Dress up for dinner . Think James Bond- suave, smooth, ever stirring and not shaken. Bring a great suit and gel your hair, mind your manners and light her cigarette. ( bring a lighter even if you don’t smoke-its a great Introductory tool-however don’t take this too far -people will mistake you for a waiter if you light up everyone)
4. If you have a DVD player in your room rent some videos of movies where your favorite actors moves are on full display -and practice! (refer to tips 1-3, great moves were invented on celluloid)
5. Get a Tan - it gives you “a -man-of-the -outdoors” look. Vibrant, energetic, full of “joie-de-vivre” . It might surprise you that many guys on a cruise are still pasty after a full week! Women love a tan complexion - it again evokes movie -star associations -and hell! you just look hotter!
The key here is “role-playing’ pattern yourself after your favorite movie- star. Copy their moves and liberally sprinkle in your own style elements - were not asking you to be the perfect mimic
( you wouldn’t want to be either) but it doesn’t hurt to have a great peg in mind. Above all be natural and have fun on the cruise!
For more ” suave and savvy cruise moves” visit http://www.deluxecruisenews.com
cruise with style
