Cruise Line News

Princess Cruises "Sanctuary" going fleetwide...

Princess Cruises Sanctuary

Celebrity Cruises Non-Smoking policy in cabins/balconies

Celebrity Cruises non-smoking issued Apr 2008

Fuel Surcharges - Round 2: Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess, Seabourn

Carnival Fuel Surcharge #2

Final Passport Rule Issued for Land and Sea Borders 3/31/2008

Effective June 1, 2009 the following rules take effect for cruise passengers:
Final Passport Rule 033108

One Hour Cruise Check-In Requirement

CLIA 1 hour

Cruise Line Fuel Surcharges

"Carnival Corporation, the world's largest cruise operator, announced a fuel surcharge of $5 per person, per day, for the following Carnival brands: Carnival Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn Cruise Line." Other lines are expected to follow Carnival's lead in the coming days/weeks.

Cunard Line - QM2

New interline inventory on select sailings...mostly inside cabins. Call us today.

Disney Cruise Line - Interline Inventory

It's been a dry spell for interline (airline) employees, but we now have inventory on many popular 3, 4 and 7 night Disney Cruise Line sailings. Call today for immediate confirmation on select dates.

QM2 Story (Queen Mary 2 Story)

Learn the history of this beautiful new vessel. Explore the traditions of the past as they are implemented in the 21st century. If you ever dreamed of sailing aboard one of the most wonderful cruise liners ever built, this is your story.
Follow this link. Enjoy the read. Then start planning an adventure like none other.
Click here to begin your own odyssey.

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Homeport Cruises Co. offers interline and promotional pricing aboard Cunard Line's QM2 (Queen Mary 2).

Royal Caribbean & Celebrity Change Military Rate Program

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises Military Rates are no longer at the same price point as interline rates. Military personnel must call us directly for specific sailing price quotes. The new rules are posted elsewhere on our website under Eligibility.

New Princess Militry Rates (Active & Retired/20 Yrs Svc)

On August 28, 2006 Princess Cruises introduced new Military cruise rates. Princess is also the only cruise line that allows 18 year olds to book cruises without an adult 21 or older traveling in the same cabin.

Princess Military Cruise Rates

Princess Military Eligibility

Request Password To View Princess Military Pricing

The New Carnival - Forget What You've Heard


“Carnival, founded in 1972 and headquartered in Miami, is the world's largest cruise line. The line's humble origins pigeonholed it as the cruise industry's version of a floating fraternity party for a long, long time. But that was yesterday, and while Carnival still commands a certain reputation for a flashy, neon-esque atmosphere -- and by no means skimps on elaborate lounges and discos -- its ships continue to evolve.

In particular, Carnival's earned kudos for enhancing cuisine (never a high point in the old days), investing in a top-notch children's program, and expanding its itinerary offerings beyond its traditional Caribbean and Bahamas trips to regions like Alaska and Atlantic Canada. It offered its first European itineraries in 2002 (Carnival Legend sailed a few cruises after its inauguration in Harwich), and in 2005, Carnival Liberty spent a full season in Europe -- a first for the line. The line has also taken advantage of the fastest growing cruise segment in the United States, short vacations of three to five nights, and has deployed most of its Fantasy-class ships to those markets.

Carnival is one of the world's most innovative cruise lines. In 1996, Carnival debuted the first passenger vessel to exceed 100,000 tons: Carnival Destiny. It was also the first major cruise line to build and operate a completely smoke-free cruise ship, Paradise. After nearly six years of butt-free sailings, the ship, now deployed in California, has gone to a "limited smoking" policy where guests can light up in the casino and just a couple of bars and lounges, but not in cabins nor most public spaces, even outside -- except for amidships-only on the Lido deck. 2005 saw initiatives to upgrade two additional aspects of the Carnival cruise experience. Standard cabins now include robes, and the "Carnival Comfort Bed" sleep system features deluxe new plush mattresses, soft duvets, high quality linens and upgraded pillows. (Suite passengers have a "suite pillow menu" from which to select a specific pillow of their liking.)

But perhaps the biggest potential improvement is the quantum leap in culinary quality due in part to the new partnership with Michelin three-star chef, Georges Blanc, who is developing new menu entrees fleet wide and instituting training for Carnival chefs both in his Vonnas, France, restaurant and aboard the ships themselves.

Carnival also pioneered the concept of building regional drive-to ports, expanding its embarkation centers beyond Miami to places like New Orleans, Mobile, Jacksonville, Port Canaveral, Galveston, Norfolk, Charleston and New York. It has built a cruise port in Long Beach, California, to take advantage of sailings to the west coast of Mexico.

The company offers a vacation guarantee program that allows passengers unhappy with their cruise the chance to disembark at the first port and get a refund. They also provide senior discounts, as well as very successful weddings at sea and golf offerings.

For nine years, starting in 1990, Carnival designed, produced and launched its immensely successful Fantasy class of ships, 2052-passenger vessels at 70,367 tons; these include Fantasy, Ecstasy, Sensation, Fascination, Imagination, Inspiration, Elation and Paradise. Market changes, however, dictated new designs with more balconies and cushier staterooms. Carnival Destiny, a 101,353-ton ship that carried 2,758 passengers, debuted in 1996; two sister ships followed -- Carnival Triumph in 1999 and Carnival Victory in 2000 -- both of which added another 700 tons and 58 staterooms, bringing their capacity to 2,758 passengers.

Carnival continued to update and upgrade its ships with an aggressive new-build program, with three new additions in 2002: Carnival Pride, Carnival Legend and Carnival Conquest. 2003 marked the debut of Carnival Glory, the second in the Conquest class. 2004 saw two more vessels emerge from Italy's Fincantieri shipyard: Carnival Miracle in March 2004, part of the Spirit class, and Carnival Valor, another Conquest class. A fourth Conquest-class ship, Carnival Liberty, launched in 2005, which brought the fleet total to 21. Carnival Freedom, the fifth and final in the Conquest class is scheduled for a February 2007 launch. Carnival Splendor, slightly larger than Conquest-class vessels, is scheduled for a spring 2008 launch. The fleet's largest vessel, weighing in at 130,000 tons and carrying a double occupancy load of 3,608 passengers, is due during the fall of 2009.

Plus, the line maintains its two remaining "classic" ships, the nearly 20-year-old 46,052-ton Holiday, offering four- and five-night cruises out of Mobile, Alabama, and the 17-year-old 47,262-ton Celebration, departing from Jacksonville, Florida, on four- and five-night itineraries.

Carnival offers an incredibly diverse range of onboard activities, from traditional napkin-folding classes, Vegas-style revues and kitchen tours to funkier fun like belly flop pool contests and water slides. All of its ships offer size-appropriate spa and fitness facilities and have multiple pool areas. On Destiny-class ships and subsequent new-builds, one pool always lies under a retractable roof so it can be used year-round. Casinos on Carnival ships are elaborate, Vegas-style rooms with all the neon and flash one would expect.

Carnival is increasingly experimenting with dining venues on its ships. The revamp, which falls under the umbrella "Total Choice Dining," includes a four-tiered staggered dining time arrangement in select ships' main restaurants -- passengers can choose 5:45 p.m., 6:15 p.m., 8 p.m. or 8:30 p.m.

Beyond traditional dining, Carnival is gradually introducing specialty eateries, such as an Asian-themed restaurant, a New York-style deli and a pre-dinner sushi bar. Spirit and Conquest-class ships have an upscale "supper club" alternative restaurant (cover charge applies). Other new concepts include a patisserie.

In the spa arena, Carnival has renamed its Nautica Spa. The new moniker, adopted fleet wide, is SpaCarnival. Other highlights include Internet cafes and the recent introduction of in-cabin amenity baskets.

The additions vary wildly between vessels with the newer, bigger liners having the more sophisticated accouterments for the most part. Despite much uniformity, this is definitely one cruise line where ship-by-ship research is a good idea if there are particular features that interest you.

Carnival's "bread and butter" remains the Caribbean, but the line has ventured into fairly new territory of late, with Carnival Freedom visiting Greece and Turkey in 2007, and Carnival Spirit offering cruises to Hawaii and Alaska. This year, Carnival Destiny sails out of Aruba, Barbados and San Juan, offering exotic Southern Caribbean sailings, while almost all of the Fantasy-class ships will be deployed on short cruises ranging from three to five nights, visiting ports in the Bahamas, Mexico and the Caribbean.
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Passengers are a broad crisscross of (mostly) middle America; according to Carnival, 30 percent of its passengers are under 35, 40 percent are between 35 and 55, and 30 percent are over 55.”

Carnival Fall Interline & Military Rates Are The Lowest In Years!

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Carnival Cruise Line has aggressively priced their fall Interline and Military rates to attract first time or repeat cruisers. It's simply less expensive to take a Carnival Cruise this fall than to take any other kind of vacation, period.

Royal Caribbean to Revitalize Product, Itineraries for 2007

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Royal Caribbean to Revitalize Product, Itineraries for 2007 - as reported in Travel Trade Magazine

Royal Caribbean International plans to revitalize its product and itineraries for 2007, including an extensive refurbishment of Miami-based Majesty of the Seas and a new Mediterranean itinerary for Legend of the Seas.

“Royal Caribbean is committed to providing a quality experience for our guests both on and off our ships,” said Adam Goldstein, Royal Caribbean president. “Legend of the Seas’ two 12- and 13-night European itineraries, and Majesty of the Seas’ extreme makeover, are the latest examples of our continued dedication to providing guests with a wealth of itinerary choices and an enhanced onboard experience.”

Majesty of the Seas will undergo an extensive refurbishment beginning Jan. 12.

Beginning Jan. 12, 2007, the 2,356-passenger Majesty of the Seas will undergo extensive renovations extending to every area of the ship, including expanded spa and fitness facilities, additional dining options and refurbished guest staterooms, bathrooms, public areas and lounges.

New beds will be placed in cabins, including nine-inch-thick spring mattresses with separate two-inch-thick micro-fiber pillow tops, 220-thread-count, long-staple cotton-blend sheets, micro-fiber pillows, duvets with cotton-blend covers and bed skirts.

The ShipShape Fitness Center and Spa will be relocated to Deck 9. Casino Royale will receive new carpets, window coverings and upholstery as well as a completely refurbished bar.

New restaurants Johnny Rockets and Sorrento’s Italian pizzeria will be added and the Windjammer Café, the Mikado and Maytime dining rooms and the Schooner Bar will be redecorated.

Majesty of the Seas will resume 3- and 4-night sailings from Miami to CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas on Feb. 9, 2007.

Royal Caribbean is also adding two European itineraries for Legend of the Seas, beginning May 6, 2007. A 12-night Italy and Croatia cruise with calls at the new destinations of Portofino and Split will alternate with a 12-night Eastern Mediterranean sailing roundtrip from Civitavecchia with calls in Mykonos, Ephesus, Rhodes, Athens, Naples/Capri and two new ports, Limassol, Cyprus and Alexandria, Egypt.

Interline Pricing for RCCL Freedom 8/6/2006

RCCL opend 8/6/2006 as the first sailing for interline rates aboard the new Freedom of the Seas. Now's your chance to cruise, surf, climb the rock wall, in-line skate, ice skate and enjoy a burger and shake at Johnny Rockets before school starts!
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Celebrity's "Century" Sails Following $55 Million, 5 Week Rehab

The retro work is the most ambitious refurbishment and the largest cruise ship modification completed by Fincantieri's shipyard. A total of 314 new verandas were added to the ship along with 14 new suites and 10 new staterooms, a new speciality restaurant, an expanded AquSpa and other amenities that reflect the line's Millennium-class ships. It is the first ship in the Celebrity fleet to sport a new bedding program which will be introduced on the Galaxy and Millennium later in 2006, and fleet-wide by 2007 (new mattresses, Egyptian cotton linens, duvets, Euro pillows, bed throws and pillow shams). Every Inside and Outside cabin is now equipped with flat-screen TV's, wireless Internet, new carpet, textiles, windows, lighting fixtures and art. New vanities and enhanced lighting in the bathrooms, surface-mounted sink basins and fixtures and curved-rod show curtains. Suites have new carpeting, wall coverings, windows and textiles, new bedding and light fixtures. Book the Century. It's like a new ship!
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'Crown Princess' sails from Brooklyn, New York...

New Terminal enhances cruise experience from Brooklyn Cruise Terminal....Plan to arrive a day or two early to enjoy the sights of New York before your cruise.
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RCCL Freedom of the Seas is a Home Run!

RCCL just keeps adding more fun to their mega ships with the addition of a surf attraction to the Freedom of the Seas. See our ship review for all the details. No interline rates yet...but keep your fingers crossed for the Fall.