Posts from — October 2009

Courtesy of Holland America Line

Promoting relaxation and well-being, three Holland America Line packages provide guests with more ways to customize their cruise vacation. The Well-Being Package, Suite Amenities Package and Suite Elite Package feature select combinations for fitness, luxury and revitalization.

“As the needs and expectations of our guests continue to diversify, we, in turn, continue to vary our offerings that entertain, educate and energize,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest services. “These packages further enhance luxury cruising for our guests that are wanting an exclusive and personal experience.”

Well-Being Package
The Well-Being Package promotes rejuvenation through the Greenhouse Spa and fitness center. One fitness session is included which guests can choose from a class schedule while onboard. Guests select either a fifty minute facial or massage treatment from a collection comprised of a La Therapie Facial, an Elemis Aromapure Facial and a Swedish or an Elemis Deep Tissue Massage.

Guests will also enjoy an advanced revitalization treatment with an Alpha Capsule session which combines dry-heat sauna, vibratory massage and soothing aromatherapy. Unlimited access to the hydro pool and thermal suite is added with a souvenir monogrammed bathrobe for each guest. At a preferred time, a platter of sliced fresh fruit is delivered daily. The Well-Being package starts at $299 per person on seven-day sailings.

Suite Amenities Package
The Suite Amenities Package offers special suite-like services for guests booked in staterooms other than suites. Either high tea or cold canapés are delivered to each stateroom daily as well as complimentary laundry and pressing through the length of a sailing. Guests also enjoy an Explorations Café coffee card for ten drinks and a daily DVD selection from the video library with hot popcorn. For an evening of fine dining, a dinner for two is provided at the Pinnacle Grill restaurant.

Fresh flowers, pillows à la carte and a beverage set-up with two bottles of wine and two bottles of liquor are prepared along with two souvenir monogrammed bathrobes in each stateroom. Special disembarkation including luggage pick-up and departure at leisure is offered with access to a disembarkation lounge with refreshments. The Suite Amenities Package starts at $285 per person on sailings up to 10 days.

Suite Elite Package
Exclusive to suite guests, the Suite Elite Package pampers guests even more with additional amenities for a deluxe cruise experience. An initial beverage set-up of two bottles of wine and two bottles of liquor are placed in each stateroom. A Culinary Arts Center cooking class is included along with a session of premium wine tasting and a dinner to share in the Pinnacle Grill.

For relaxation, unlimited access to the hydro pool and thermal suite is offered on all sailings. An internet card of 100 minutes, an Explorations Café coffee card for ten drinks, daily turndown truffles and a deluxe flower arrangement complete this package. The Suite Elite Package starts at $429 per person on sailings up to 10 days.

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line.

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that Norwegian Epic, the company’s largest and most innovative ship to date currently under construction in France, will make her inaugural transatlantic seven-day cruise on June 24, 2010, departing from London (Southampton). The 4,200 passenger Freestyle Cruising ship will arrive in New York, her first port of call in the United States, on July 1, 2010. In addition, Norwegian Cruise Line also announced that a new seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise has been added to Norwegian Epic’s inaugural season, departing Miami on July 10, 2010, one week earlier than previously scheduled. [Read more →]

Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises.

Celebrity Cruises introduces Celebrity Select Dining^SM, a new flexible dining option that allows guests to choose when they dine in the main dining room onboard, on a day-by-day basis, which includes the industry’s first pre-cruise day-by-day flexible dining reservation system.

“Celebrity Select Dining gives our guests the flexibility to spend their days any way they like,” said Jacques Van Staden, Vice President of Culinary Operations, Celebrity Cruises. “Whether they wish to enjoy more time in a specific port of call one day and dine later that evening than another, or whether they wish to keep a traditional set dining time, they will receive the same amazing service and enjoy the same menu. It’s all about our guests, and it’s all about choice.” [Read more →]

Courtesy of Princess Cruises.

For the tenth year, Princess Cruises is ending the Alaska season by recognizing top-rated local tour operators with the line’s C.R.U.I.S.E. service awards for best shore excursion experiences, based on passenger feedback.

The annual awards, which underscore the important role that Alaska and Northwest tour operators play in a passenger’s cruise experience, celebrate the most popular tours, individual guides and dock representatives in the communities where Princess ships call. Winners are determined primarily by tour scores and comments made on passenger surveys throughout the season, and are chosen from the extensive line-up of more than 200 Alaska shore excursion options offered on Princess ships. [Read more →]