Your trusted source for the latest cruise news and travel advice.

By Erica Kritt, Social Media Coordinator, The Cruise Web, Inc.

The Norwegian Breakaway is quite a ship, and there are  28 dining venues to choose from, so I was delighted when one of our cruise consultants made a dinner reservation for a few of us at Le Bistro on our last night on the ship. I have to say, living in the suburbs, it’s not often you find a french restaurant, so it was exciting to get to experience the food from a country famous for its beautiful landscapes and decadent cuisine.

Le Bistro is one of Norwegian’s signature specialty restaurants appearing on all of their ships except for Pride of America, which has her own french cuisine restaurant called Jefferson’s Bistro. Not only was the food delicious, the restaurant evoked a Parisian bistro. On the Breakaway, the entrance to Le Bistro looks and feels like a cobblestone street and there is “outdoor” seating where you can get a great view of 678 Ocean Place, the heart of the ship. Inside the restaurant the lights are low, making for a wonderfully intimate atmosphere. The plush seats and clean white tablecloths evoke a simple elegance. [Read more →]

By Austin Gambino, Marketing Assistant, The Cruise Web, Inc.

When I realized I was lucky enough to be attending the two-day preview cruise of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Breakaway, I knew my first priority was going to be Ocean Blue, Geoffrey Zakarian’s newest restaurant.

For those of you who live under a rock, Geoffrey Zakarian is a Food Network Star and restaurateur, boasting culinary establishments in the likes of Atlantic City (The Water Club), New York City (The Lambs Club), and now on the Norwegian Breakaway. He even mentioned at the Norwegian Breakaway christening that he trained the kitchen staff himself.

It was well-known that it would be difficult to secure reservations at Ocean Blue, so my friend and I arrived at the port at 10:50 a.m. (boarding didn’t begin until 11:00 a.m.), and immediately headed for the Guest Services desk. We were met with disappointment, as the fine dining establishment was already booked for both days. Determined to be a part of the Zakarian experience, we showed up Friday night in our finest garb and proceeded to convince Fiorella, the lovely hostess, to seat us outside for an early supper. [Read more →]

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

Celebrity Cruises is partnering with a 54 Below, a trendy cabaret,  to bring Tony Award-winning performers onboard their summer and fall cruises from Cape Liberty, New Jersey to Bermuda and back again. Sailings between now and October will feature a performance on board the Celebrity Summit, which was updated in 2012 to have the same features as the Solstice Class of ships. [Read more →]

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

Last year Avalon Waterways introduced the Visionary and the Vista to their fleet, last month they introduced Avalon Artistry II and just this week they welcomed her sister ship, Avalon Expression. All of these ships are considered Suite Ships, which include Panorama Suites that are on average 30 percent larger than staterooms on other river ships. Avalon did this by bringing the balcony in so each of these rooms has a full wall of windows that slide away to give passengers 7 feet of open air. The 200 square foot rooms make up 80 percent of the staterooms onboard these Suite Ships. [Read more →]

By Erica Kritt, The Cruise Web, Inc.

This month the Port of Baltimore welcomes back the Grandeur of the Seas. The ship was once home porting in Baltimore, but left a while back to undergo a $48 million renovation, and now she’s back and better than ever.

The ship can hold 2,446 passengers and packs as much punch as Royal Caribbean’s larger ships, with a more intimate feel thanks to the renovation. Some of the new features include updated linens in the staterooms, flat screen TVs in the staterooms, a new Nursery for the toddlers and babies onboard and a movie screen on the pool deck. The ship’s public spaces have all been upgraded too and the Centrum of the ship will now play host to nightly shows where performers hang and float high in the air.

The most exciting new features on the ship are the addition of new dining and drinking venues onboard. For an additional fee passengers can now have a night at Chops Grille, Royal Caribbean’s signature steakhouse, or settle in for a night of Tuscan fare at Giovanni’s Table. There is also Izumi, an a la carte Asian fusion restaurant, and the complimentary Park Cafe.  Passengers on the Grandeur will also now have the option of dining at the chef’s table in the main dining room. [Read more →]

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

This summer we are “taking a chance” on Sweden with a Northern European cruise.  What better place to spend a few days this summer than in a country where the sun seemingly never sets? Sweden is known as the Land of the Midnight Sun during the summer months, because in some parts of the country the sun literally never sets. During June in Stockholm the sunrise is at approximately 3:47 a.m. and it doesn’t set until 9:44 p.m. – that’s 18 hours of daylight.

On top of the amazing natural surroundings, Sweden has a few big events planned this summer that we really don’t want to miss out on. [Read more →]

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

Celebrating a hobby or a passion while on a vacation to a beautiful destination is the best of both worlds. Not only are you discovering something new, but you are meeting others who share your interests. River cruise line Avalon Waterways has seen the profound effects their specialized sailings have had on their passengers, and for 2014 they have decided to increase the number of themed sailings by 30 percent. Each sailing will focus on a certain interest and provide insight and activities geared around that interest both on land and while on the river.

In 2014 Avalon will introduce four new specialty themes to their already impressive list of themed sailings. Those new themes are:

• Beer Tasting – This sailing on October 13, 2014 will visit sites in Austria and Germany and passengers will be able to participate in onboard tastings, tours of historic breweries and attend onboard lectures about European beer brewing techniques.
• Golf – The July 7, 2014 sailing of the Austrian Highlights and Bavaria cruise allows passengers to participate in special golf excursions. Don’t worry, Avalon will set up the tee times.
• Wellness – Also departing July 7, 2014, the Wellness cruise will have passengers start their morning with stretching and yoga. Throughout the cruise healthy and delicious meals will be served onboard and passengers can attend lectures on leading a healthy life. This cruise will take place on the Blue Danube Discovery itinerary, which sails from Budapest to Prague.
• WWI History – 2014 marks the centennial of the start of WWI. Avalon will have two sailings that delve into the history of this great war with onboard lectures, and visit some of the key battlegrounds or landmarks from the war. The two sailings are the  July 14, 2014  Grand France itinerary and July 22, 2014 Paris to Normandy’s Landing Beaches itinerary.

Other themed sailings include:

• Art & Impressionist
• Wine
• Culinary
• European History & Politics
• Jewish Heritage
• Jazz Music
• Classical Music
• Festive Time
• Presidents

These sailings are limited so please  call a consultant at The Cruise Web to ensure a spot on one of these amazing theme cruises. For a limited time you can save $250 per person when you book any 2014 European cruise from Avalon Waterways, so don’t wait till these sailings are sold out.

The Cruise Web, Inc.
reply@cruiseweb.com
1-800-377-9383

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

There is nothing quite as rustic as a Canadian cruise in the fall. The crisp air is still mild enough to snuggle under a blanket on the top deck and gaze up at the stars. Before the sunsets you will get spectacular views of the bright trees as they transition from green to yellow, orange and even purple, and don’t forget the picturesque lighthouses that line the coast of Maine, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. But a cruise to Canada is not just about taking in the scenery, there are amazing things to learn and experience in this rugged country. Here are our top five experiences to have on a cruise to Canada.

1. Relive a piece of your childhood at the house that was the inspiration and setting for the beloved children’s books about Anne of Green Gables. The Green Gables Homestead was built in 1872 by the aunt and uncle of the series’ author, Lucy Maud Montgomery. A visit to the house will also include a stop to the Anne of Green Gables Museum. [Read more →]

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

If you haven’t heard yet, Quantum of the Seas is well on its way, and this week Royal Caribbean announced the first set of features designed to wow. The ship promises staterooms with roughly 9 percent more space and accommodations to please big families. What really takes the cake are the fun and exciting activities that this new ship will facilitate. Here are our top five features on Quantum of the Seas.

• North Star – This is like an arm of the ship transporting passengers over the edge of the ship for 360-degree views of the ocean and surrounding locales. The capsule is lined with windows and takes up to 13 passengers 300 feet above the water. A trip in the North Star is free, but cruisers can pay for a private ride or to go at exclusive times like sunrise and sunset. [Read more →]

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

It’s only a matter of days until Norwegian Cruise Line debuts it’s most anticipated ship in years, the Norwegian Breakaway. Today the company is giving travelers all around the world a chance to take a virtual tour of the 4,000 passenger ship, which will feature a boardwalk, five water slides and fireworks on every sailing.

So sit back, relax and enjoy the tour.

What is your favorite feature on the ship?

The Cruise Web, Inc.
reply@cruiseweb.com
1-800-377-9383