|
|
April 20th, 2009 |
|
This weeks features:
Cruiseman
Articles
Cruise
From Seattle
Grand
Turk Island
"Cruising's
Newest Destination"
Happy
Hour
Cruises
from New York / New Jersey
Discounted
Shore Excursions
Travel
Agent Myths
Do
I need Travel Insurance?
Who
is The Cruiseman, anyway?
Cruiseman
Testimonials
Beware
of Travel Scams
Support
the Fair Tax
Passport
Requirements
CDC
Inspections
Top
10 myths about cruising and cruise ships.
9
Things I love about cruising
5
Myths about Cruise Travel Agents
Some
old ships get new lease on life
FLEET INFO:
Carnival
Fleet
Royal
Caribbean Fleet
Princess
Fleet
Holland
America Fleet
Celebrity
Fleet
Radisson
Fleet
|
POPULAR STUFF
Cruises
from:
Norfolk,
Charleston, Baltimore, Philadelphia & Jacksonville
Fund
Raisers, Incentives
& Rewards
Travel
Insurance
Pre-Cruise
Registration
Land
Vacations
|
Cool Tools:
The Cruiseman
Jim Antista,
President
4560 S. Campbell
Suite I
Springfield.
MO 65810
Toll-Free Nationwide:
800-889-7683
From North Carolina:
919-772-8855
From
Springfield, MO
417-881-CRUZ
Monday
- Friday
9
- 5 CST
Saturday
10-2
CST
Closed
Sundays
Email: jim@cruiseman.com
Web Site:
http://www.cruiseman.com
* Free
Cruise Offer:
Winners will
receive a Free 2 Night Cruise, for two adults, to Nassau aboard the Regal
Empress. (you just pay the port taxes of $59pp). The Regal
Empress sails from Ft. Lauderdale year-round.
Reservations are
made by Imperial Majesty Cruise Line, not The Cruiseman. Subject to
restrictions as stated on the certificate. Certificate is
transferable, but may not be sold.
This program is
not a time-share promotion, and there is no purchase of
anything required.
The Fine Print:
* A NOTE
ABOUT RATES:
Unless
otherwise stated, all rates quoted in this newsletter or on our web
site are per person, double occupancy, and include port taxes. Govt.
fees are usually additional. Specials do not usually last very long,
so we advise that you don't spent too much time "thinking about
it". If you see something you like, call us immediately
Past
issues of this newsletter are stored HERE
The
name "The
Cruiseman" is
protected by US Trademark. ™
|
|
From your editor |
|
From
Your Editor
Our
Best Deal! We have some cabins for the Sept. 14th
sailing of the Carnival Fantasy from New Orleans. This
is a five nighter with stops at Cozumel & Progreso. Our
complete rates are just $317.91pp for inside cabins and $367.91pp for
oceanview cabins. These are "group rates" and are way below
today's "regular" rates. And ... each cabin will
receive a $75 onboard credit! Call our office today before they
are all gone! (yes, all taxes are included)
Tips
for Cruisers Have you read our great list of Tips for Cruisers,
yet? CLICK
HERE to check it out. CLICK
HERE if you would like to submit
a "tip" for the list.
Cruiseman
Funnies
A group of young children were sitting in a circle with their
teacher. She was going around in turn asking them all questions.
"Davey, what sound does a cow make?"
Davey replied, "It goes 'moo'."
"Alice, what sound does a cat make?"
Alice said, "It goes 'meow'."
"Jamie, what sound does a lamb make?"
Jamie said, "It goes 'baaa'."
"Jennifer, what sound does a mouse make?"
Jennifer paused, and said, "Uhh... it goes... 'click'!"
We have a huge list of Happy Hour Specials for this week:
These
specials are good tomorrow only (4/21/09)
The
Cruiseman Newsletter is published twice
monthly by The Cruiseman of Springfield, MO. If you wish to
modify, change or cancel your subscription, please use the automated
link at the end of the newsletter. This is a free publication
and we encourage you to forward it to your friends and associates.
|
worldwide destinations -- Northern Europe, Scandinavia,
& Baltic Russia |
|
Northern Europe perennially tops
lists of favorite destinations for North American travelers. Those
who have been there look forward to returning, and those who have not
dream of going.
There are plenty of good reasons
for this popularity. The many great cities in this prosperous and
sophisticated corner of the world include London, Paris, St.
Petersburg and many others. Its landscapes include the rugged beauty
of Norway and Finland, the bright flower fields of the Netherlands
and the lush greens of Ireland. The architecture encompasses modern
masterpieces as well as ancient churches and castles.
And of course, the art and music
and literature of this region form a large part of the cultural
fabric of the western world. These also are the heartlands of golf,
tennis, auto racing, equestrian sports, soccer and many of the
world's other favorite sporting pursuits and championships.
Summer is the high season for
cruises in this part of the world; however, some lines offer year-round
sailings from ports in Great Britain and Norway.
London
- Although some small luxury vessels actually sail up the Thames
River to tie up in the heart of London, larger vessels dock at nearby
Tilbury, Harwich or Southampton. Wherever the ship is, the action is
in London Town.
The British Museum - If
there is a master repository of the history of the world's
civilizations, this must be it. Collections built through the long
history of the British Empire and the work of some of the greatest
scholars have created a museum that possibly could not be completely
explored in a single lifetime.
Kings and Castles -
London's many royal buildings embody the history and traditions that
continue today in this constitutional monarchy. Among those open to
the public is the famous Tower of London on the banks of the Thames,
dating back to the 11th Century, where tours allow visitors to see
where the great and the notorious were once imprisoned and executed
and to view the priceless Crown Jewels.
Great Walks - A stroll
through the city's Bankside along the Thames takes tourists past the
new recreation of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern art
gallery, the medieval Southwark Cathedral and a lively shopping and
entertainment district. Other prime locations for leisurely walks
include the legendary Hyde Park and the stately Victoria Embankment,
which leads to the Houses of Parliament.
St. Petersburg
- Although this great city shows the wear and tear it endured as
Leningrad during the decades of the Soviet Union, its essential
grandeur shows through.
The Hermitage - Originally
a palace of the czar, this vast building now houses one of the
world's greatest art collections. It is, in fact, a work of art in
itself, and no visit to St. Petersburg would be complete without a
visit to this great museum.
The Summer Palace - A
short trip from the city, this country home built for Peter the Great
and its surrounding grounds provide a glimpse into the opulence and
elegance of the Czar's court. The tour also takes visitors through
the rural countryside outside St. Petersburg.
Nevskiy Prospekt - St.
Petersburg's main thoroughfare and the heart of its lively shopping
and entertainment district, this broad avenue is lined with shops
carrying the names of world-famous designers, art galleries and
restaurants and nightclubs. The street also crosses over the canals
that earned St. Petersburg the title "Venice of the North."
Norwegian Fjord
- Not exactly fit the definition of a port call but a series of
scenic transits and stops at small villages and cities, the Norwegian
Fjords treat visitors to spectacular scenery and a first-hand view of
the life, culture and history of the land of the Vikings.
Source; cruising.org
For more information,
including the Ports of Call, CLICK
HERE
|
Cruiseman news |
|
Princess Passengers Vote Port of Los Angeles “2008 Port of
the Year”
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (April 8, 2009) – Princess Cruises
passengers have voted, and the winner is the World Cruise Center at
the Port of Los Angeles as the line’s highest rated turnaround
port in 2008.
The annual distinction is awarded to one of Princess’ 33
worldwide turnaround ports that receives the highest passenger
satisfaction scores for an entire year, as indicated by passengers on
each cruise. A turnaround port is where a cruise ends and the
next one begins.
The honor recognizes that a port has provided the service, facilities
and personnel that have enhanced the passenger experience boarding or
disembarking the ship. In total, the voting measured passenger
satisfaction scores from 61 calls in Los Angeles from December 2007
to December 2008.
|
 |
Norwegian Epic Receives Bow
Norwegian Epic's construction, currently underway at STX Europe in
St. Nazaire, France, celebrated a milestone last week when the ship's
bow was lowered into place. This significant step represents the
completion of the lower part of the steel hull, those areas that come
in contact with the sea, and indicates that only the topsides of the
ship remain to be finished. |
"Embarking the bow is a symbolic and strong step in the building
of Norwegian Epic," said Roberto Martinoli, Norwegian Cruise
Line's president and COO. The 4,200-passenger Norwegian Epic is
scheduled for delivery at the end of May 2010.
Mexico Seeks to Allay
Safety Concerns
NEW YORK - The Mexico Tourism
Board and its affiliates are reaching out to the travel agent
community to ensure that Mexico's vacation destinations are safe
despite the recent State Department Travel Alert on Mexico.
"We are trying to set the
record straight regarding all of the negative publicity," said
Carlos Behnsen, executive director of the Mexico Tourism Board, here.
"The violence occurring in Mexico is concentrated in five
municipalities in the northwest side of Mexico. It is far removed
from the resort areas."
Though approximately 6,000 deaths
have been tallied from the conflict between the drug cartels and law
enforcement officials in Mexico, there have been no reports of
tourists being affected by the violence, which is predominantly
located along the US-Mexico border, according to Behnsen.
|
FLL's new Terminal 18
The vibrancy of the cruise industry was evident last week in myriad
announcements and news from the Cruise Shipping Miami conference in
Miami Beach. One of the most interesting “reveals” was a
look at the new state-of-the-art Terminal 18 at Port Everglades, FL,
set to handle Royal Caribbean International’s 5,400-guest Oasis
of the Seas, the world’s soon-to-be-largest ship, later this year. |
 |
Already under construction to
triple its existing size, the terminal will become the largest in the
world designed to serve one ship at a time. The 240,000-square-foot
layout will allow guests for one cruise to check in before
debarkation is completed for the previous cruise, thus expediting the
boarding process.
With exterior colors of blue and
green that mimic the sky and sea, Terminal 18 will also feature
natural lighting from a 4,000-square-foot skylight; 1,010 parking
spaces within walking distance; and a children’s play area. The
centerpiece of the interior will be artwork from Michele Oka Doner.
The Queen's Great American Adventure
It's strange how cruise lines
seem to have suddenly discovered Southern California. Not only are
they upsizing their ships to ones with more features, but they are
also opening more and more new itinerary options.
The latest to plant a flag in
California is Cunard. Cunard is certainly no stranger to California
having made many calls there over the years, but their 2010-2011
schedule, which just opened for sale today, includes a lengthy series
of Queen Victoria turnarounds in Los Angeles in early 2011, allowing
those in the Southwest to sail in Cunard's luxury without flying
hours and hours to get to the ship (or home).
Royal Caribbean secures
Oasis financing
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. said
it arranged commitments for unsecured financing of $1.05bn, or 80% of
the contract price for Oasis of the Seas.
The facility will be 95%
guaranteed by Finnvera, Finland’s export credit agency, and
amortizes over 12 years. Finnvera originally had committed to an 80% guarantee.
HAL fleshes out 2010 Alaska deployment
Along with the recently announced
new 14-day ‘Alaskan Adventurer’ cruises, sailing round-trip
from Seattle to Anchorage, Homer and Kodiak, Holland America
Line’s 2010 Alaska deployment spans eight ships with week-long
cruises from Seattle, Vancouver and Seward.
The schedule offers 149
departures, compared to 158 this year. The change is due to the
longer ‘Alaskan Adventurer’ itinerary replacing a seven-day program.
Four ships will homeport in
Seattle, sailing a total of 63 seven-day ‘Alaskan Explorer’
cruises round-trip. Amsterdam opens the season with two week-long
cruises in early May before shifting to the new 14-day route.
|
cruiseman contest - |
Last Time's Question:
Carnival,
Royal Caribbean, Holland America and Princess have announced that
they are going to cut back on ships next year going to what destination?
The
Answer is :
Alaska. Every entry, except two, was correct!
Here
are our two winners:
Bobby
Callahan -- Noble, OK
Anthony
Vetro -- Bridgewater, NJ
This
weeks Cruiseman Contest Question:
What port
was voted 2008 "Port of the Year" by Princess passengers?
Incomplete
entries will be
tossed out!
You must
follow the instructions below.
HINT:
"Postal Address" is not your email address!!!
THE
INSTRUCTIONS
1.
Don't change the subject line.
2.
Type your answer in the message
area, not
the subject line.
3.
Do not copy and paste from the newsletter.
4.
Include your name
& postal address
(in case you win!).
5. DO
NOT hit your reply button,
or your entry will go to the wrong
address!
6.
One entry per household, please.
OKAY,
To enter The Contest: CLICK
HERE TO ENTER
|
|