Royal Caribbean has Europe on sale for 2013

Enjoying the never ending Aussie summer but dreading the upcoming cooler months?  Why not prolong summer and book a European cruise during the Northern Hemisphere summer.

Royal Caribbean has a number of enticing European cruises on sale for 2013, ranging from a seven-night Greek Isles cruise on Splendour of the Seas, starting from $695* through to  longer cruises, such as a 12-night Mediterranean Greek Isles cruise on Serenade of the Seas, priced from $1,235*.

A Royal Caribbean cruise fare conveniently covers your accommodation, meals including room service, and entertainment, such as live music, comedy and contemporary stage shows.  Whether you are cruising at sea and enjoying rock climbing, mini golf or just relaxing by the pool, or whether you are strolling through some of Europe's legendary cities and experiencing diverse cultures, a Royal Caribbean cruise offers as much fun, excitement or pure relaxation as cruisers want or need.

The seven-night Greek Isles Splendour of the Seas cruises departs from Venice, and calls at Dubrovnik (Croatia), Corfu, Santorini, Athens and Katakolon, (all in Greece) before arriving back in Venice. Regular departures are available from May 18 through to November 1, 2013.

The 12-night Mediterranean Greek Isles cruise, on Serenade of the Seas, has departures from May 19 through to November 3, 2013. The cruise departs from Barcelona, and calls at Cannes, Florence/Pisa, Rome (Citavecchia), Athens (Piraeus), Ephesus, Santorini, Naples before arriving back in Barcelona.

For more information and prices, call 1800 754 500 or visit www.royalcaribbean.com.au 

*Prices are per person in AU dollars, based on twin occupancy and include all taxes (which are subject to change) and onboard gratuities or tips. Prices are subject to change and availability.

Carnival cancels cruises

Carnival cancels a dozen cruises following fleet-wide review

Carnival Triumph passengers take to the decks to escape the conditions inside

Carnival Cruise Lines has cancelled 10 sailings on and two European cruises on Carnival Sunshine as part of its fleet-wide comprehensive operational review prompted by technical problems on three of its ships.

Passengers already booked on the affected cruises will receive full refunds, reimbursement for non-refundable travel costs and a 25% discount on a future cruise.

The cruise line said it was making "significant investments" to enhance the level of operating redundancies and the scope of hotel services that can run on emergency power. Earlier this year, passengers on the Triumph were stranded at sea for five days when the ship lost power.

Carnival Dream and Carnival Legend have subsequently suffered power shortages.

Carnival is also further improving each ship's fire prevention, detection and suppression systems.

"Given the necessary lead time to source needed materials and implement the enhancements, Carnival will extend the current out-of-service period for these two ships," it said.

Carnival Triumph will not return to service until June 3 and Sunshine, which is currently undergoing a multi-week dry dock to complete a comprehensive full-ship makeover, will now enter service on May 5.

"We sincerely regret canceling these cruises and disrupting our guests' vacation plans," said Gerry Cahill, Carnival Cruise Lines' president and CEO. "We are fully committed to applying the recommendations stemming from our fleetwide review and to make whatever investments are needed despite the difficult decision to impact people's vacations.

"Our team of experts has worked virtually around the clock to determine the best set of solutions and rapidly develop an effective implementation plan for both of these ships. Moving forward, we will have the ability to source materials and schedule improvements much more expediently, thus minimizing the scheduling impact on other vessels.

"I would like to provide continued assurances that all of our vessels have fully effective safety systems, equipment and training in place. Additionally, our ships receive regular inspections from the United States Coast Guard and other regulatory authorities.

"The changes we are implementing are focused primarily on improvements to better support continued power and hotel services should unexpected issues arise.

"In addition, we are applying new learnings and making enhancements in the area of fire suppression and extinguishing.

"Going forward, the review will focus on the balance of our fleet. While this process will take time, it is our highest priority and has the full support and resources of Carnival Cruise Lines and Carnival Corporation."

Carnival Triumph operates year-round four- and five-day Mexico cruises from Galveston, Texas. Four-day cruises visit Cozumel while five-day cruises call at Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico.

Carnival Sunshine is scheduled to operate a series of nine- and 12-day Mediterranean cruises May 5 to October 20, either round-trip from Barcelona or sailing between Barcelona and Venice.

The ship will sail on a 16-day transatlantic crossing from Barcelona to New Orleans November 17, positioning the vessel for a special six-day Caribbean cruise followed by the launch of year-round seven-day Caribbean service from New Orleans.

Huge Savings on Basque Country to the Panama Canal Cruise Package

Celebrity Infinity

Big Savings On Transatlantic Cruise

SAVINGS of more than $6000 per person are now available through ecruising.travel on a 41-night voyage on a Celebrity Infinity trans-Atlantic crossing England to the U.S., plus an on-board credit of up to $900 if you book by April 10.

The complete air, land and sea package of 45 nights is now available from $6499 per person twin share and includes return economy air fares with Qantas from all capital cities as well as two nights’ pre-cruise at the St Ermins Hotel in London and two nights in San Diego at the Manchester Grand Hyatt before flying home.

The itinerary departs on October 10 with the cruise departing Harwich and making day visits to Le Havre (Paris) and La Rochelle in France, Bilbao, Vigo and Gijon in Spain before calling at Nassau in the Bahamas and Miami, Florida.

The ship then sails to Colombia and through the Panama Canal to Costa Rica, Guatemala and Mexico before arriving in San Diego.

The package also includes meals and entertainment aboard the luxurious Celebrity Infinity, plus use of the swimming pools, spas and sauna. Other facilities include fitness centre, extensive library, Fortunes casino, AquaSpa centre and much more.

Transfer, air taxes and port charges are included in the price.

More information from ecruising.travel on 1300 369 848 or check-out www.ecruising.travel

Queen Mary 2 Makes Maiden Visit to Milford Sound

Photo by James Morgan/Cunard

Cunard's magnificent flagship Queen Mary 2 made history on Saturday March 16, becoming the largest ship to visit Milford Sound in New Zealand's stunning World Heritage-listed Fiordland National Park.

Measuring 345 metres long and reaching 62 metres above the water, the 151,400-tonne liner cruised the waters of Milford Sound as part of her maiden circumnavigation of New Zealand.  

Queen Mary 2 is carrying more than 2500 guests on her 12-day journey around New Zealand which will end in Sydney tomorrow (March 19).

Queen Mary 2 remains the biggest  ship to sail to New Zealand.

P&O Cruises Puts Moreton Island on the Cruise Map

P&O Cruises has become the first cruise line to visit Queensland's beautiful Moreton Island with the arrival of Pacific Jewel on Saturday (March 16) as part of a four-night SeaBreak from Sydney.

The passengers were greeted by Queensland Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey, Carnival Australia CEO Ann Sherry and Tangalooma Island Resort Director David James, before heading off to experience the Island's many attractions including dolphin feeding, canoeing and snorkelling. Passengers were also able to experience the spectacular Champagne Pools and Honeymoon Bay, sand-duning, quad bike tours and bird-watching.

The visit by the 1950-passenger Pacific Jewel was the first of six calls planned for Moreton Island in 2013 which are expected to inject more than $1 million into the local economy. The four-night P&O SeaBreaks featuring a visit to Moreton Island have already proven to be some of the most popular itineraries offered by the cruise line.

Carnival Australia CEO Ann Sherry said she was thrilled to be introducing Australians to one of the undiscovered gems on Queensland's coastline.

"Moreton Island is literally on our doorstep and we're delighted to be giving close to 12,000 interstate visitors the opportunity to experience its beauty for the first time in 2013," Ms Sherry said. "The response from our passengers has been overwhelmingly positive and I know they will return home to spread the word about what an exceptional discovery Moreton Island is."

Queensland Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey said the creation of a new destination at Moreton Island showed it is "full steam ahead" for the cruise industry in Queensland, which is Australia's second biggest cruise state, after New South Wales.

"The addition of Moreton Island to the Queensland cruise map is another win for the state's economy," Ms Stuckey said.

"The most recent available figures show that the cruise industry generated an estimated $590 million for the Queensland economy in 2011-12, including $336 million in direct expenditure.

"Cruising has been the fastest growing segment of the Queensland tourism market during the past year, and the Newman Government is happy to support innovative experiences like the P&O Cruises' visit to Moreton Island."

Tangalooma Island Resort's David James said tourism and business operators in the Moreton Bay and Islands group were excited to welcome P&O Cruises' passengers to the region.

"We are thrilled to showcase Moreton Island's spectacular natural beauty and leisure experiences to our P&O Cruises guests," Mr James said. "No doubt, many will be surprised that a treasure like this exists so close to home."

Celebrity Cruises Sale: Picking your next cruise holiday as easy as 1 2 3 with Celebrity Cruises

Three special offers to choose from on all worldwide sailing on Celebrity Cruises

If you are dreaming of a luxurious, relaxing and indulgent holiday this year, Celebrity Cruises offers a modern luxury style of cruise holiday in every continent of the world.  Now a Celebrity cruise holiday has been made even sweeter thanks to their 1 2 3 Go Sale.

Holidaymakers can select one of three special offers for any Oceanview booking or above made by the 15 April 2013 on all Celebrity Cruises worldwide sailings departing between June 2013 and March 2014 (excluding Celebrity Xpedition).

Those who fancy exploring Europe by sea have it even sweeter – they can choose up to two of the below special offers for any Europe sailing departing between June 2013 and March 2014 and booked by 15 April 2013.

Celebrity Cruises' three exceptional offers are:

• Free "Classic Beverage Package" for two - Valued at $US88 a day, guests can pair Celebrity's delectable cuisine with their favourite beverages. The offer includes beers up to $US5 per serving; spirits, cocktails and wine by the glass up to the value of $US8 per serving, all soft drink selections, freshly squeezed and bottled juices, premium coffees, specialty teas and non-premium bottled water. Server gratuities are also included.

• Free gratuities - Representing a value of up to $US210 per stateroom based on a 7-night sailing, the offer covers tips for stateroom attendant, waiter, assistant waiter and head waiter gratuities. Guests can relax on their cruise, knowing tips for Celebrity's attentive staff are covered.

• Bonus onboard credit of up to $US300 per stateroom and available for guests to use towards shore excursions, specialty dining, wine tastings, spa treatments, boutique items, or any other onboard purchases. Onboard credit amount varies by length of cruise: three to five night sailings receive $US100; six to nine night sailings receive $US200; and $US300 for cruises of 10-nights and over.

Fares start from $1,949 per person for an Oceanview stateroom onboard Celebrity Solstice for a 12-night Auckland to Sydney sailing, departing 10 December 2013. This sailing offers a savings of up to $490 per person and allows guests to choose one of the three specials from the 1 2 3 Go Sale.

Sail the Mediterranean for 12-nights, with an overnight stay in Venice onboard Celebrity Equinox from $2,049 per person for an Oceanview stateroom. Roundtrip from Barcelona and departing 8 October 2013, this sailing calls at Nice (Villefranche), France; Florence, Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples and Venice, Italy; Kotor, Montenegro; and Dubrovnik, Croatia, with guest also able to select two of the exceptional offers from the 1 2 3 Go Sale.

All prices are per person in Australian dollars based on twin occupancy and inclusive of all taxes and fees. The Celebrity 1 2 3 Go Sale applies to new and individual bookings of Oceanview stateroom and above, on all Celebrity worldwide cruises of three nights or longer departing between 1 June 2013 and 31 March 2014 (excluding Celebrity Xpedition). All worldwide Celebrity Cruises bookings (excluding Celebrity Xpedition) can choose one of the three offers, and Europe bookings can choose up to two of the three offers. Bookings must be made between 15 March 2013 and 15 April 2013. Some further terms and conditions apply.

For further information or to book a cruise, see your local travel agent, phone 1800 754 500 or visit www.celebritycruises.com.au.

This Weeks Great Deals from ecruising.travel

NEWSLETTER #649 - 14 Mar 2013
Click here to view this newsletter in a browser window  

Hi Cruisers,

Another big week in cruising with Celebrity announcing one of their best sales yet with the '123GO' offer! Make a new booking in an Oceanview category or higher stateroom between 15 March and 15 April 2013 and choose from the following three exciting options: Free Beverage Packages, Free Gratuities, or Onboard Credit. Plus if you book a Celebrity Europe sailing, then choose two of the three options! Choose your offer and save your way! It applies to new bookings only.

Click here to see all the applicable sailings! Or click here for domestic cruises (Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific)
*See below for full terms & conditions*

A great way to take full advantage of this offer is with this rather special 45 night package on board Celebrity Infinity from London all the way across the Atlantic & through the Panama Canal to San Diego. Departing Harwich in England, you begin with 2 nights accommodation at St Ermins Hotel, London before transferring to the port to board your ship for an unforgettable 41 night cruise.

The first leg of your journey starts with an immersive wine focused cruise around the Bay of Biscay. Your first stop is a 2 day call at Le Havre (Paris) followed by the historic port of La Rochelle where you'll spend another 2 days in port. You'll then head to Bilbao in Spain for yet another 2 day stop and then on to Vigo and Porto in Portugal, returning to Essex for a day in port at Harwich.

You'll then have the opportunity to revisit some of your favourite ports as you cruise to La Rochelle again, visit Gijon and re-visit Vigo in Spain. A final European call is made at Lisbon before you head west across the Atlantic with a whole week at sea to make use of all the facilities or just relax. Things will start to heat up as you stop in at Nassau in the Bahamas and on to Miami for a day.

You're now ready to tackle the Panama Canal as you head first to Cartagena in Colombia and then Colon in Panama. The next day you'll spend transitting the famous Canal during daylight hours - a spectacular experience! Next up is Puerto Quetzal in Guatemala and Vallarta & Cabo San Lucas in Mexico before disembarking in San diego for a 2 night stay at the Grand Hyatt before your flight home. Along with Qantas flights, we've also included transfers. As you are essentially doing 3 cruises, you can get $900 OBC as well a drinks package for the first 12 nights. Sounds like a good deal to me! from only $7,259.00 for an Oceanview or $8,719.00 for a Veranda! Click here for details

In other exciting news this week, we have just introduced a book-online facility for Holland America (cruise only) sailings. All you have to do is point, click & pay and you could be off on a cruise on board Oosterdam or Volendam. It's that easy! Click here for details

Star Cruises' recently refurbished SuperStar Gemini (formerly Norwegian Dream) will be sailing from Hong Kong to Shanghai 1 April and we've got a great last minute deal! This 7 night packge has you flying Qantas in to Hong Kong where you'll spend a night at the Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel before boarding Gemini for a 5 night cruise. Along the way you'll visit Keelung (Taipei) and Ishigaki, an Island near Okinawa before disembarking in Shanghai where you'll spend a night at the Fairmont Peace Hotel before your flight home. A great last minute Easter getaway from just $2,239.00 for an inside or $2,489.00 for a balcony! Click here for details

Also with Star Cruises is this 9 night package visiting Burma. Departing 26 May & 11 Aug 2013, you'll begin your holiday with a 3 night stay at the Eastern & Oriental Hotel in Penang before boarding SuperStar Virgo for a 6 night cruise. You'll visit Krabi in Thailand on your way to Yangon, Myanmar (Rangoon, Burma) before a last stop in at Phuket on your way back to Penang. We've included transfers as well as return flights with Singapore Airlines from only $2,749.00 for an inside or $2,899.00 for an oceanview! Click here for details

Seabourn is offering FREE upgrades and $500 Onboard Credit on selcted sailings for a very limited time. Why not join the six star Seabourn Quest on this 15 night package along the French Riviera from Monaco to Barcelona departing 27 August 2013. You begin by flying in to Nice airport and transferring down the road to Monte Carlo where you'll be spending 2 nights at the Fairmont Monte Carlo prior to joining your new home for the next 10 nights.

Cruising the Riviera in all inclusive luxury, you'll call at Le Lavandou in France, San Remo in Italy, Provence & Sete in France and then on to Ciutadella, Ibiza, Cartagena and Valenica in Spain before disembarking in Barcelona for a 3 night stay at the Hilton Diagonal Mar before your flight home. Along with transfers, we've even thrown in a Barcelona City Sightseeing pass. Buy an Oceanview Suite for $7,469.00 and get a free upgrade to a Veranda Suite! Click here for details

Just a quick reminder - you have until Friday 15 March 2013 to book a range of domestic cruises on P&O, Princess and Carnival Spirit and you will receive up to an additional $100.00 Onboard Credit plus half price deposit on selected cruises!

Brett & the ecruising team