The Cruise Web Blog - your source for the latest cruise news and travel advice.

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

This coming September, Princess Cruises will host their eighth annual Entertainer of the Year Competition aboard Star Princess. This particular cruise is essentially an expedited American Idol season on the ocean. With a deep talent pool, several live performances and cash prizes, the competition adds an air of sport onboard for Princess guests old and new alike.  The winner of the competition will be decided by the passengers aboard Star Princess’ Northern California Coast cruise on September 22, 2019.

The competition begins with over 2,000 onboard performers who dedicate their lives to understanding and mastering the art of entertainment. Much like an episode of America’s Got Talent, these artists may perform in a variety of fields. Vocalists, dancers, comedians, and many specialty acts go up against each other to compete for a coveted spot in the finale and the $5,000 cash prize. Finalists are selected by members of Princess Cruises’ entertainment management team based on cruiser surveys and audience responses from the past year. The 2019 finalist selection consists of singer Phillip Browne, comedian Doug Funk, ventriloquist Kieran Powell, and impressionist Mike Wilson. On the final evening of Star Princess’ September 22^nd sailing, guests will cast their votes for Entertainer of the Year based on performances they’ve seen over their cruise.

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By The Cruise Web, Inc.

In December of this year, Princess Cruises will debut a new and extravagant show titled Rock Opera. The production will be magnificent in every way, from its expansive soundtrack to its glamorous costume design. Considering that all members of the creative team are luminaries in their fields, guests can be assured that Rock Opera will leave them breathless. Rock Opera will take the stage for the very first time in December 2019 aboard Sky Princess, and continue to impress in June 2020 on Enchanted Princess.

A unique aspect of this show is the impressive span of the musical soundtrack. Though the title highlights opera specifically, the soundtrack covers everything from classic rock to musical theater. A goal of the production is to highlight diversity, not only with the wide range of musical styles, but also by transcending language barriers. As explained by Princess Cruises’ vice president of entertainment experience, Denise Saviss, “Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess guests should anticipate an unforgettable evening of music that transcends language and celebrates the diversity of our crew and guests from around the world. Rock Opera features songs in English, Spanish, Latin and a Princess first—sign language.”

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By The Cruise Web, Inc.

Last week, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 didn’t just treat passengers to a 7-day Transatlantic Crossing as per usual. Instead, she was also the film site for Oscar-winning filmmaker Steven Soderbergh’s new motion picture, Let Them All Talk. The new movie’s stacked cast includes Meryl Streep, Candice Bergen, Dianne West, and Lucas Hedges. Shooting began on August 20^th in New York and will continue in the United Kingdom.

Let Them All Talk stars Meryl Streep as a revered author who goes on a soul-searching trip with some old friends to unwind and heal wounds of the past. Lucas Hedges plays her nephew who travels with the ladies to keep the peace, but finds himself romantically entranced by a younger literary agent. The movie is being produced by Emmy Award-winner Gregory Jacobs with Joseph Malloch and Ken Meyer executive producing. The film is scheduled to be released as original content for HBO Max, the popular streaming platform that brought us compelling content such as Game of Thrones and The Wire.

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By The Cruise Web, Inc.

Seabourn Private Air, announced earlier this month by Seabourn, is a new private chartered jet service available exclusively to guests of the ultra-luxury cruise line. Available now for private transportation to/from port, as well as for overland mid-voyage journeys, Seabourn Private Air combines convenience and luxury through a dependable, worldwide network of private air operators.

The available fleet will accommodate different size groups of travelers through a range of aircraft models, from lighter 5- to 8-passenger jets to larger 9- to 16-passenger aircraft. No matter the group size, we’re confident Seabourn’s guests will see the value in these exclusive air packages.

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By The Cruise Web, Inc.

Eager to make their Caribbean experience unique, cruise lines invest heavily into creating their own private islands—little slices of paradise available exclusively to cruise passengers.

Whether you call them “kays” or “keys,” they’re all amazing and sure to please! Besides, more important than how you pronounce their names is whether or not you enjoy yourself. So consider your choice of escapes—from expansive, pristine beaches to tropical thrill parks—and you’ll discover that there’s an island for everyone when you cruise the Caribbean!

Continue below as we spotlight the best private islands that you can only visit on a cruise vacation:

Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay (Bahamas)

Why you’ll go:
Beach activities galore, the Caribbean’s largest freshwater pool, a helium balloon ride and never-ending family fun at the splash parks, plus complimentary barbecue and Caribbean-style cuisine.

Why you’ll never want to leave:
The Thrill Waterpark with a gigantic wave pool and 13 waterslides, including the 135-foot Daredevil’s Peak—the tallest waterslide in North America!

Perfect Day at Cococay – Courtesy of Royal Caribbean

Learn More & Find Cruises to Perfect Day at CocoCay

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By The Cruise Web, Inc.

Beginning in February 2020, Windstar Cruises will offer a brand new culinary experience called “Star Grill” onboard Star Breeze, Star Legend, and Star Pride. The modern restaurant is a casual outdoor dining option that will be actualized by the distinguished Steven Raichlen. The menu at Star Grill will range from seafood to brisket, all created with impeccably mastered global techniques. With an unbeatable view from the top-deck, this new restaurant will be open to guests for both lunch and dinner. Star Grill will fire up for the first time in February 2020 aboard Star Breeze, followed by Star Legend in July 2020, and Star Pride in November 2020.

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By The Cruise Web, Inc.

Beginning this fall, Norwegian Cruise Line will feature the acclaimed musical, SIX: The Musical on Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Breakaway, and Norwegian Getaway. Created by two seniors of Cambridge University, the show hilariously reenacts the history of King Henry VIII’s many wives. Similar to theatrical hits such as Les Miserables and Hamilton, the show allows history to be retold from previously unheard points of view. SIX will take its maiden voyage on Norwegian Bliss on September 1, 2019, followed by Norwegian Breakaway on November 10, 2019 and Norwegian Getaway on April 23, 2020.

SIX presents history in the form of a pop concert audition as each of Henry VIII’s wives takes center stage to explain her hellish time with the infamous man. All the years of heartbreak are transformed into captivating melodies. With six leading ladies, this show is the definition of girl power! The talents of award-winning songwriter George Stiles, Broadway manager Kevin McCollum, and upcoming writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss all come together beautifully in this rising hit.

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By Seth Woodward, The Cruise Web, Inc.

This July, I had the chance to take a 7-night Alaska cruise from Vancouver to Whittier aboard Coral Princess. The trip immediately became one of my favorites, and my wife and I are already talking about when we should return!

Of course, working at The Cruise Web, I had a good idea of what to expect both onboard and onshore, but you can’t beat experiencing Alaska in person. Throughout my cruise, I could also hear and witness other guests’ expectations versus reality, all of which gave new insight into what travelers need to know about cruising to Alaska.

With that, and a healthy desire to procrastinate on catching up on emails, here are my top ten tips and takeaways for cruising to Alaska:

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By The Cruise Web, Inc.

All across the world, thermometers have been working overtime in 2019, especially in June! According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, the average global temperature in June was the highest it has been in the last 140 years! The sweltering heat has us all dreaming of cool fall breezes and landscapes painted with the reds, yellows, and oranges of the changing leaves.

If your thoughts are on cooler weather and your next cruise, keep reading and we’ll let you in on a little secret: some of the best cruising destinations in the fall are Canada’s Maritime Provinces, and the best way to experience these picturesque ports is on a cruise from The Cruise Web!

Below, we’ve hand-picked some of our favorite places to visit on a fall cruise to Canada! Check them out, and call us at 1-800-377-9383 and make your dreams of cooler weather come true:

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By The Cruise Web, Inc.

Azamara Club Cruises has always been focused on Destination Immersion during their luxury cruises, and in June 2019, they committed their future to in-depth exploration of some of the most fascinating places in the world.

With a new logo, Azamara Cruises has emerged, providing the same unforgettable cruising experience as before, but with expanded horizons. The rebranding comes with the introduction of over 1,700 new land-based programs, the most extensive portfolio in the industry!

To discover more about Azamara Cruises and their broad portfolio of immersive land tours, click below!

Learn More about Azamara Land Programs
 
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