Posts from — January 2010

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line.

Continuing its history of innovation, Norwegian Cruise Line recently announced a completely new concept to make cruising more attractive to solo travelers on the company’s largest and most exciting Freestyle Cruising ship to date, Norwegian Epic, launching this July.   Norwegian Epic’s Studios are the first staterooms designed and priced for single occupancy. These specially designed and priced Studio staterooms available on all of Norwegian Epic’s sailings – with no single supplement – went on sale January 18, 2010. [Read more →]

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line.

Norwegian Cruise Line announced a new partnership with Nickelodeon in which select Norwegian ships will feature Nickelodeon-themed family entertainment and programming all year long.  Beginning in April on Norwegian Jewel and this summer on Norwegian Epic, Nickelodeon and Norwegian experiences for the entire family will include: character meet and greets; interactive game shows; and more.  The three-year partnership also includes select specialty Nickelodeon-themed cruises each year, featuring Nickelodeon TV stars, show premieres and continuous themed-entertainment on the ship. [Read more →]

By Arthur Balin, Asst. Sales Manager, The Cruise Web.

I cannot believe it has already been three years since our wedding on board the Crown Princess. Looking back, I must say that it was a truly great and stress-free experience.

My wife Yelena and I knew at the onset that we did not want the big traditional wedding. Hosting such a big event and especially planning for it was not something that appealed to us. Having been in the cruise industry for a short while already, I knew how popular cruise ship weddings were. After doing some research, we agreed: there is no better way to celebrate our love than to get married in the middle of the ocean surrounded by our family and closest friends. We loved the idea as it gave us a chance to have the small, intimate wedding we wanted, allowed all of us (our guests included) to have a nice relaxing vacation, and the whole package was surprisingly affordable. [Read more →]

This January, a lucky group of Cruise Web employees were invited to experience MSC Cruise’s newest addition to the Caribbean, the MSC Poesia. The group, led by President Frans Hansen, headed to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for an evening of entertainment, a unique dining experience, and a night of dancing and cocktails to gain valuable first-hand experience aboard the new ship. Joining Frans were Group Development Manager Rosalind Smith, Sales Manager Mike Harris, Client Service Representative Fiona Kapadia, and Cruise Consultants Jarren Matthews, Said Durrah and Mark Garza.

One of the signature qualities of an MSC cruise is the diversity of its passengers. MSC has taken the challenge of performing for possibly dozens of different language backgrounds, and turned it into an experience that can only be found on an MSC cruise. Instead of spoken word, the entertainment onboard is more likely to be focused on the visual experience.

An example of this, and the highlight of the evening, was the show that was performed in the Carlo Felice Theater. The Cruise Web’s Said Durrah commented, “The show was definitely Cirque meets Sea… Bright lights, custom costumes, all wrapped in a story of show that definitely kept you wondering what the next chapter would be…”

After a brief, but enlightening overnight on the Poesia, the group returned home eager to share their insights with their friends and coworkers.

On December 17, 2009, The Cruise Web rang in the holiday season with its own Holiday Cocktail Party. The party, held at Fado’s Irish Pub in Washington, DC, proved to be a huge success as co-workers shook off their work titles and spent the evening as friends.

Frans Hansen, President of The Cruise Web, kicked the evening off by toasting the employees, thanking everyone for their hard work and dedication all year long. It was a fitting tribute to the heart and soul of The Cruise Web.

The fun environment of the cocktail party provided the perfect way to unwind after a hard day of work. While the fantastic food and live music made the night enjoyable, it was the great company that made it one to remember; all highlighted by several employees’ attempts at traditional Irish dancing!

Here’s hoping your holiday season was as special as ours!

 
On December 12, 2009 The Cruise Web’s own Senior Cruise Consultant Dana K. became engaged to her longtime boyfriend.

The proposal took place in Central Park in New York City. Her new fiancé, Doug, surprised Dana by proposing to her while the couple was enjoying a ride in a horse-drawn carriage.

Dana and Doug have yet to set the date, but know they want a destination wedding, either in Mexico or the Caribbean in the fall.

The Cruise Web is happy to hear about the engagement and wishes both Dana and her new fiancé all the best in their new lives together.

By Jennifer Crivelli, Cruise Consultant, The Cruise Web.

Before “The Love Boat” ever aired its first episode in 1977, cruises have long been intertwined with romance. Understanding the important relationship between cruising and romance, today’s cruise lines provide a variety of ways to turn an unforgettable vacation into the unforgettably romantic vacation of a lifetime.

Set sail to exotic destinations while enjoying the sunset over the ocean.  Enjoy a late night walk on the Sun Deck under the stars, as the moon glistens off the ocean below.  Dance the night away in one of the many onboard lounges or cuddle on the pool deck while enjoying a movie under the stars.  For those passengers still looking for that special someone, the singles meet and greet cocktail party is a great way to meet the man or woman of your dreams.  And once you step ashore, the romance begins almost immediately: a gondola ride on the canals in Venice, strolling in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, or walking along white sand beaches a Caribbean Island hand-in-hand. [Read more →]

Courtesy of Crystal Cruises.

What is larger than the Great Wall of China and the only living thing on earth visible from space?  Answer:  The Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven wonders of the natural world.

This March, Crystal Cruises is introducing a new opportunity to explore this region’s remarkable sea life, rainforests and wildlife via a three-night “Great Barrier Reef Escape” Extended Land Program available before and after four Crystal Symphony voyages beginning or ending in Sydney, Australia.  The program flies guests more than 1,200 miles from Sydney to Cairns to some of the most breathtaking locations on the Australian coast, including:

• The Great Barrier Reef – Guests can swim and snorkel, or view the abundant coral and sea life via the underwater theater or a semi-submersible vessel.  The reef comprises more than 3,000 individual reef systems and coral cays developed over centuries of natural evolution.

• World Heritage Rain forestation Nature Park – Guests will explore lush tropical rainforest and visiting resident crocodiles, wombats, wallabies, snakes, dingoes and kangaroos.

• Kuranda Scenic Railway – From the rainforest back to Cairns, and traveling at 34 kilometers above sea level, the rail showcases the region’s rainforests, plus steep ravines and cascading waterfalls and rivers. [Read more →]

Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines.

Carnival Cruise Lines’ 130,000-ton Carnival Dream, the line’s newest and largest “Fun Ship,” recently departed on its inaugural cruise from Port Canaveral, Fla., kicking off its year-round Caribbean cruise schedule from that port.

Carnival Dream’s inaugural departure from Port Canaveral – a nine-day cruise to Antigua, Tortola/Virgin Gorda, St. Thomas/St. John, San Juan and Grand Turk – was followed by the launch of year-round seven-day cruises, alternating weekly to the eastern and western Caribbean.  On this route, eastern Caribbean cruises visit Nassau, St. Thomas/St. John, and St. Maarten while the western Caribbean itinerary features Cozumel, Mahogany Bay (Roatan), Belize and Costa Maya. [Read more →]

Courtesy of Cunard Line.

Cunard Line, operator of the most famous ocean liners in the world, is pleased to announce a partnership with The Juilliard School that will present stellar jazz performances on select 2010 eastbound Transatlantic Crossings aboard Queen Mary 2. Students and faculty from Juilliard, which has set America’s standard for education in the performing arts, will perform programmes in the ship’s Royal Court Theatre, treating guests to the best in classic and contemporary jazz. These presentations are part of Cunard’s entertainment and award-winning enrichment programme, which showcases a variety of compelling entertainers – from new and emerging world-class talent to today’s most enduring and iconic artists. Last August, Juilliard Jazz scholar Jumaane Smith became the first student from the school to take the stage onboard Queen Mary 2, presenting a trumpet recital that proved to be very popular with the voyage’s guests. [Read more →]