Posts from — June 2010

Courtesy of Oceania Cruises.

Oceania Cruises has launched a multi-million dollar initiative to update and enhance its award-winning fleet. The comprehensive “Pillars of Distinction” program – the most significant product investment in the company’s history – centers on the three hallmarks of the Oceania Cruises experience: comfort, cuisine and service.

The 684-guest Nautica, the first Oceania Cruises ship to undergo its Pillars of Distinction update, re-entered service June 4. Sister ship Insignia will incorporate Pillars of Distinction this November and Regatta in January 2011. All work will occur during regularly scheduled dry-docks.

Pillars of Distinction amenities and design highlights will be incorporated on Oceania’s two new ships, currently under construction in Italy. The 1,258-guest Marina joins the fleet in January 2011 and a sister ship, Riviera, is scheduled for delivery in April 2012. [Read more →]

On Friday, June 11th The Cruise Web celebrated the end of another hard work week with some bowling action. The company met at Annapolis Bowl in Maryland and promptly kicked-off the friendly competition. Pins rattled, players cheered and everyone had a great time.

Michael Harris, Manager at The Cruise Web, had this to say about the event: “The star of the night was The Cruise Web’s Senior Manager, Chris Roth, who broke the 250 mark.  He was also the clear winner of the pizza eating contest, where Chris not only ate the pizza at his table, but moved on to a few other tables as well.” Chris may be the company’s only bowling champion, but when you gather The Cruise Web’s diverse cast of employees, everyone finds a way to contribute towards making The Cruise Web a wonderful place to work, and play. [Read more →]

The Cruise Web was recently honored by Ensemble Travel Group for its outstanding 2009 sales performance. The Cruise Web would like to thank Ensemble Travel Group for the award as we look forward to another great year. As always, we owe a special thanks to our clients for making this achievement possible. Continue below for the press release announcing our award.

Local Travel Agency Named to Elite Circle of Top Producers

The Cruise Web, headquartered in Landover, has been honored with the “Top 25” award from Ensemble Travel Group, one of the travel industry’s oldest and most respected affiliated travel agency organizations. The honor was presented to less than six percent of Ensemble Travel Group’s 425+ member agencies in the U.S. Selection criteria was based on members’ 2009 sales performance with Ensemble Travel Group’s preferred suppliers.

“In a very challenging year, these top sellers demonstrated that their keen strategic and creative marketing and unwavering attention to customer needs enabled them to finish 2009 far ahead of the competition,” said Jack E. Mannix, CTC, president and CEO of Ensemble Travel Group. “The Cruise Web and others in this elite circle continue to set the standard for both Ensemble Travel Group members and the industry to follow.”

To recognize these sales achievements, Mike Harris, Sale Manager of The Cruise Web, along with other Ensemble Travel Group top producers from the U.S. and Canada were special guests of the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort in Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M. in May for a 4-night celebration.

About Ensemble Travel® Group
Founded in 1968, Ensemble Travel® Group is a proactive, member-owned international organization of approximately 850 professional travel agencies in the U.S. and Canada. With a membership that represents billions of dollars in travel sales each year, Ensemble Travel Group has achieved a 40+-year record of boosting members’ profits and delivering high-volume sales to its preferred suppliers. Ensemble members are known for creating extraordinary vacations for their clients traveling domestically as well as around the world.

Cruise Web Senior Cruise Consultant, Gloria Hanson cruised last month aboard Emerald Princess to the Eastern Caribbean. After her 7-night cruise, Gloria came back to the office rested and full of great memories.

Her favorite on-board activity was the Movie Under the Stars theater where she enjoyed the blockbuster Hollywood movies in a comfortable chaise lounge with complimentary popcorn and warm cookies & milk in the evening…

To read more about Gloria’s cruise experience, please click here.

By Gloria Hanson, Senior Cruise Consultant, The Cruise Web.

This May I had the opportunity to sail on Emerald Princess and when asked what I enjoyed the most on this particular cruise, I would have to say, EVERYTHING!

My typical day at sea started with a brisk workout and lavish breakfast while watching the ocean go by. After breakfast, with a book in hand, finding a comfortable deck chair and Jacuzzi at the Jumbo Movie area on the aft of the ship was my goal.  Princess offers the unique experience of an outdoor movie theater.  At night, they call it “Movies Under the Stars.”

After lunch, I attended trivia, a Champagne art auction, “a few glasses of complimentary bubbly in the afternoon is a great mid day treat” and even tried my hand at Country Line dancing.  “Boogie,” one of the assistant cruise directors showed me how to do what I now call the “slap-kick”.

Four o’clock arrives and it’s time for afternoon tea. I met two young ladies from Michigan as well as a gentleman from Scotland whom later that night wore his formal Kilt. Talk about photo opportunities!  Then I was back to my deck chair and Jacuzzi for another hour or so before dinner, but not before I stopped in at the Internet Cafe to send “free” electronic postcards: a wonderful feature that Princess Cruise Lines offers.

At dinner, there was a Champagne waterfall. Seven hundred Champagne glasses and eight bottles of bubbly are used to create this magnificent glass tower. You can even have your picture taken pouring Champagne into the tower.  As a Captain’s Circle Member (Princess’ past passenger), I was invited to a special cocktail reception with the Captain Giorgio Pomata (who by the way is very charming and single – LOL).

After a dinner of caviar, escargot, and lobster, it was time to see the “Tribute to Motown” show put on by the Princess dancers. And before bed I figured I would take in another movie, and check out the late night comedian.

WOW, what a wonderful day; chillaxing at sea!  That is what cruising is all about.

Gloria Hanson
Senior Cruise Consultant
The Cruise Web, Inc.
1-800-377-9383 ext. 273
gloriah@cruiseweb.com

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean.

Furthering Royal Caribbean International’s commitment to providing guests with unparalleled vacation experiences, the global cruise line announced that it has formed a strategic alliance with DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (Nasdaq: DWA), the world-class animated film studio powerhouse, to bring the next generation of family programming and quality entertainment to the high seas. Vacationers of all ages will soon delight in interacting with some of DreamWorks Animation’s most beloved characters when a variety of new shows, activities and offerings are introduced on ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. The alliance will first come to life for guests to enjoy onboard Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s newest ship that will debut in December 2010 and will share the title of world’s largest and most revolutionary cruise ship with its sister ship, Oasis of the Seas. [Read more →]

Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises.

Celebrity Cruises has long been recognized for offering award-winning cuisine, and in August, the brand will pair the top-rated megaship, Celebrity Solstice, with invitation-only events sponsored by Food Network and designed for culinary enthusiasts, through the first “Food Network at Sea” program.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with Food Network to offer such enticing and exclusive experiences,” said Celebrity Cruises President & CEO Dan Hanrahan. “This program is yet another demonstration of our ‘Designed for you’ brand platform, built around our longtime commitment to identifying and designing what our guests want. We know our guests enjoy cooking and great dining experiences, and many are followers of chefs such as those featured on this sailing, so this is a perfect pairing.” [Read more →]

Courtesy of The Yachts of Seabourn.

The Yachts of Seabourn’s highly anticipated new yacht Seabourn Sojourn navigated the River Thames and arrived at London with the early morning sun on Friday, June 4, 2010. Built by the T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa, Italy, Sojourn is the second of three new luxury cruising vessels joining Seabourn’s fleet in three years, representing a 216 percent increase in capacity for the company.

“We are very pleased to introduce Seabourn Sojourn to London and to the world,” said Pamela C. Conover, Seabourn’s President and CEO. “She is a beauty inside and out, offering luxurious accommodations, the finest cuisine and gracious, personalized service along with a sleek and stylish design. Sojourn will provide the exclusive and intimate experience that Seabourn is known for and our guests have come to love and enjoy,” she continued. [Read more →]

Sometimes the best word to describe a suite is, well, sweet! Cruises vary widely depending on the type of cabin booked, and there’s no denying that the suite is in a class of its own. From the moment passengers step into a suite, it’s clear that their vacation is going to be extraordinary. The following suite experiences represent some of the sweetest as remembered by The Cruise Web’s employees:

Raquel Grinnell
The Penthouse Suite on the Celebrity Solstice has the most amazing bathroom I’ve ever seen at sea… There’s a flat-screen TV in the bathtub area so you can bubble-bath and watch a movie at the same time!!! As a European, I also loved seeing a bidet. The master closet was also amazing; more beautiful and organized than mine at home! I really liked the decor, as well — very sleek and modern with quiet golds and browns, dark wood finish on all the furniture and the kicker of course is the big hot tub and bar area for entertaining out on the balcony.

[Read more →]

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

In December of 2008, I went to the Bahamas on the Norwegian Gem and got to stay in one of their Courtyard Villas. We were picked up by limousine early that morning in DC and started heading to New York. When we arrived at the port, we announced that we had a Courtyard Villa. Upon hearing that, the special treatment began. They quickly checked us in and asked us to wait in a private lounge with refreshments, which was nice since we had been driving all morning.

Upon boarding, we were greeted with champagne and mimosas. We kept moving as we were so excited to explore the ship and see our villa, which was located on the 14th deck. The elevator even had a special slot that wouldn’t let you push the button to your floor unless you inserted the platinum (VIP) room key.

The Courtyard was absolutely gorgeous. There was a warm natural water pool (no chlorine to irritate the skin!) in the center and a Turkish steam bath and traditional sauna at the far end. It resembled a greenhouse with plants and an earthy décor. Besides the courtyard, there was a private sun deck where you could lounge on oversized cushioned deck furniture. On top of that, the deck and courtyard attendant brought us anything we needed. [Read more →]