Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises.

While celebrating the highly anticipated stateside debut of its stylish Celebrity Silhouette – the fourth and newest member of Celebrity Cruises’widely heralded Solstice Class fleet – Celebrity Cruises also is intensely focused on the fifth member of the class, Celebrity Reflection, which sets sail in the Fall of 2012. And when she does, she’ll boast all the attributes that have netted Celebrity’s Solstice Class the broadest array of honors in the brand’s 20-year history – including Celebrity’s #1 ranking in the large-ship category of the prestigious annual Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards – and a host of entirely new features, including a significantly expanded array of luxury suites. [Read more →]

A compilation by The Cruise Web employees.

One of the best aspects of cruising is that you’ll never run out of opportunities to do something new and adventurous (unless you’ve done it all – in which case, stop bragging). Aim to do something that makes your friends back home jealous! Need inspiration? Take a walk on the wild side and explore our favorite adventures!

Heather W.
“I have had many wonderful adventures while cruising. Some of my top memories include snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, caving with glowworms in Dunedin, New Zealand, zip lining in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and skydiving in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Ice-skating in the middle of the Caribbean is always a fun adventure too!” [Read more →]

Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises.

Celebrity Cruises wants its guests to spend more of their time enjoying their vacation on its luxurious ships, and less time arranging the details of what they are going to do onboard. Following the success of its award-winning beverage package program, Celebrity has added new flavor to its packaging strategy by introducing a new specialty dining package program aimed at offering vacationers a simple way to explore fresh tastes while at sea. [Read more →]

Courtesy of Seabourn.

As the sun set over the waterfront of this Spanish Mediterranean city, Seabourn introduced the new 450-guest Seabourn Quest to the world on June 20th during a glittering naming ceremony presided over by Blythe Danner. The award-winning actress served as godmother to the new luxury vessel, Seabourn’s third new ship and the sixth to join its fleet, completing a three-year expansion for the line. [Read more →]

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

I’ve often felt that the most bittersweet hour on any cruise vacation begins once the ship pulls away from port and starts sailing towards its next destination. You brood over all the memories and magic of the day and wish you could have spent just a little more… time. You had a glimpse of paradise, and now it’s gone.

It’s amazing, though, because the moment you step away from that railing, and stop staring at that rapidly shrinking island, it’s like you find yourself suddenly transported onto the nexus of Las Vegas, Broadway, South Beach, and your local ‘Good Times’ bar, all rolled into one! The nightlife on contemporary cruise ships is incredible and simply has to be experienced. [Read more →]

A compilation by The Cruise Web employees.

No matter where your “night moves” take you, if you’re on a cruise ship, you’re probably going to have a good time. This month, we’re highlighting the variety of nighttime activities available at sea with another employee compilation. Continue reading as our team shares their favorite nightlife activities:

Adam W.
“Movies Under the Stars” on Princess Cruises is very cool, especially watching movies and sports on chaise lounges on warm Caribbean nights!

Mike H.
On my last cruise, our group found out that they were selling 2-for-1 martinis in one of the lounges for happy hour. I felt like James Bond, except I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t catch Mr. Bond with two bright pink drinks in his hand. [Read more →]

Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines.

Camp Carnival Night Owls – featuring fun-filled children’s parties offering a full schedule of late-night activities and premium giveaways, along with nightly babysitting services – is being rolled out on all 23 Carnival Cruise Lines ships.

Perfect for when parents want some much-needed “me” time, Night Owls further bolsters Carnival’s distinction as the leader in family cruising, with complimentary children’s programs for three age groups catering to the 670,000 children who sail with the line annually. [Read more →]

Courtesy of Silversea Cruises.

Ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises is pleased to announce that four additional voyages this year will feature the exclusive “Relais & Châteaux L’École des Chefs” interactive cooking school.

Rudi Scholdis, Silversea’s director of culinary development, said: “Our L’École des Chefs cooking school is proving extremely popular with guests and we’re pleased to roll it out to more voyages this year.”

The new L’École des Chefs voyages for 2011 are: [Read more →]

Courtesy of Cunard Line.

In addition to the compelling series of Cunard Insights speakers and other activities aboard a luxury cruise vacation on Queen Mary 2, the ship’s 2011 Transatlantic Crossings season will feature a robust line-up of some of the world’s most sought-after music performances. Aboard Cunard Line’s flagship, guests will have the rare opportunity to intimately experience the world-class talents of virtuoso violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn, musicians from New York’s famed Juilliard School, and London’s in-demand National Symphony Orchestra under Conductor Anthony Inglis.

“At Cunard Line, we pride ourselves on providing glamorous experiences to our guests, whether it is through our formal nights or extensive entertainment options,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. “The caliber of these accomplished musicians will certainly heighten the grand sense of occasion that our guests enjoy whilst sailing on a Cunard voyage.”

Elizabeth Pitcairn
Having set sail on 17 May from New York, celebrated American virtuoso violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn will perform in partnership with one of the world’s most legendary instruments, the Red Mendelssohn Stradivarius of 1720, said to have inspired the Academy Award(r)-winning film “The Red Violin.” Ms. Pitcairn appears in the 10th anniversary Meridian Collection edition of the film in a special feature documentary interview.

Influenced by the musical and comedic genius of legendary Hollywood stars Judy Garland, Jackie Gleason and Victor Borge, as well as the beauty and talent of concert violinists David Oistrakh and Jascha Heifetz, Pitcairn has created her own signature style of performance. During the summer of 2011, she will become the first successive executive director of the Luzerne Music Center and Chamber Music Festival in New York in more than 30 years. An alumna of the intensive summer camp in upstate New York, she was chosen by the founders to carry on the tradition of building young artists and audiences of the future. She is an alumna and former adjunct professor at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, and is currently on the faculty of the Colburn School of Performing Arts in Los Angeles.

Prior to Tuesday’s embarkation, Queen Mary 2′s Entertainment Director Paul O’Loughlin presented Pitcairn and Luzerne board member Michael Conway with a donation from Cunard of $7,500 to support the school’s summer camp performing arts programme for instrumentalists, composers and conductors, ages 10-18.

Juilliard School Jazz Ensemble
As part of Cunard Line’s ongoing partnership with the renowned Juilliard School, jazz musicians from the famed performing arts institution will return for a second year to demonstrate their extraordinary talents on an even greater number of Crossings. With performances scheduled in the Chart Room and the Royal Court Theatre, guests will also have the opportunity to attend fascinating Q&A sessions with the musicians. They will sail aboard these select Transatlantic Crossings: 17 May, 10 June, 20 July, 15 August, 22 August, 5 September, 23 October, 10 November and 12 December.

The National Symphony Orchestra with Conductor Anthony Inglis
Following their spectacular Transatlantic Crossings in 2009 and 2010, the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) will perform on the 7 October Eastbound Transatlantic Crossing. Once again, guests will be invited to sing with the NSO on the stage of the Royal Court Theatre.

Additionally, guests will have the opportunity to attend rehearsals with NSO Conductor Anthony Inglis, and prepare for Cunard’s Last Night of the Proms to be staged at the end of the Crossing. A Grammy(r)-nominated conductor, Inglis has been featured more times at London’s Royal Albert Hall than anyone else in the iconic venue’s history. He leads a prolific international career, appearing with some of the greatest orchestras in concert halls from Australia to Scotland.

The NSO is one of the busiest freelance orchestras in the United Kingdom, working with Katherine Jenkins, Russell Watson and many other popular classical artists. Members of the NSO can be heard on many major film soundtracks, and among the luminaries with whom they have appeared include Reba McEntire and Sir Cliff Richard, who was backed by the ladies of the NSO string section at the Royal Albert Hall.

Queen Mary 2′s Transatlantic Crossings reflect the pinnacle of civility and refinement in ocean travel. The only company offering regularly scheduled Transatlantic liner service, Cunard is sailing 21 classic Transatlantic voyages between New York and Southampton, with extended Crossings between New York and Hamburg. In addition, “Grand” voyage options are available, roundtrip from New York, combining classic European itineraries with a Transatlantic Crossing on either side.

The Cruise Web, Inc.
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A compilation from The Cruise Web employees.

Cruising as a single is a wonderful way to vacation. You are able to do as you please and be on your own schedule. It is also a great away to get away from everything and just relax! Some of The Cruise Web staff members have some wonderful tips for you when traveling as a single.

Ellicia A.
Partaking in shore excursions is a great way to meet new people who enjoy some of the same activities as you. Also, I tend tend to visit the same establishments on the ships each day and meet people who also become “regulars.”

Viviane T.
When booking dining for your cruise consider anytime dining and ask for a larger table, it gives you the opportunity to meet new people everyday. [Read more →]