** Carnival Fantasy Gets An Overhaull
While Carnival Fantasy may be one of Carnival’s oldest ships, she’s still popular on four- and five-day Caribbean itineraries from New Orleans.  This fall she will undergo an extensive upgrade during dry dock with a new aqua park featuring a 300-foot-long water slide, an exclusive adults-only area, and a totally [...]

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Seatrade Insider, published by Seatrade, the primary association of shipping, ran a story this morning that, effective Feb. 18, passengers departing from U.S. ports will be required to check in earlier due to new U.S. rules.    To learn how individual cruise lines are handling this, go to the newsletter.
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Few items can run up the final tab of a cruise like shore excursions.  A couple on a one-week Caribbean cruise spending an extra grand on activities they purchased from the cruise company?  No problem.
Cruise lines impose a huge markup in the tours they sell to passengers.  Don’t be surprised if you find a tour [...]

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For months I’ve been working to build a new web site, Cruising From New York,  which finally opened today!
After 15 years of traveling all over the planet, I’ve come to the conclusion that New York is the best city on earth.  And, the number of ships has mushroomed to the point two additional ports — one in Brooklyn, [...]

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One of my very favorite ways to visit Europe is by riverboat.  Pure Bliss!  The best part is staying in port overnight, most often in the middle of a city with the best sightseeing only steps away.  And, since you purchase the cruise (including sightseeing, dining, cabin) in dollars, it’s still affordable despite the weak U.S. dollar.
So, imagine [...]

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Royal Caribbean always launches the first ship in a new series with what company executives call the “wow” factor.  The first Voyager ship: rock climbing. The first Freedom-class ship: “flow-rider surfing”.  So you can be sure that Celebrity Cruises, which is owned by RCI, will also float the brand new Celebrity Solstice with bells and [...]

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If you take enough cruises, eventually you’ll run into a real dud.  Moreover, I think the chances of having a lousy vacation increase exponentially when traveling with a little-known company in a exotic location. 
My worst cruise experience was in China, a ten day Yangtze River cruise aboard a Victoria Cruises boat.   When I visited in 1999 Victoria Cruises was purported [...]

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Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) gave journalists a state of the cruise industry report today and, in short, everything is going gangbusters. 
In 2007, 12.52 million people took a cruise worldwide, an increase of 4.6% over the previous year.   Occupancy averaged 105% (including third- and fourth-berth passengers); that number is expected to increase “slightly” in 2008. 
In 2008, CLIA-member cruise [...]

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During a recent cruise, the ship’s hotel director said to me, “I wish they (passengers) told me about a problem during the cruise, so I don’t have to read it in a report later.” I’ve heard similar comments from a number of these hard-working officers who are responsible for all food, service and entertainment areas.
When [...]

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*** Carnival Cruise Lines has a innovative contest.  As part of a Valentine’s Day promotion, the line is awarding a free cruise to a couple who submits the most romantic story to the web site, Carnival.  Simply submit your story of how you met, a special Valentine’s Day or other memorable experience from Jan. 14 [...]

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