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Royal Caribbean announces unprecedented five-day WOW sale

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Latest offers Latest offers

Published: 15 August 2014 15 August 2014

Just because summer is drawing down doesn’t mean that vacationers should forget sunny days, blissful beaches, and surprising cultures. To help ease the transition into autumn, Royal Caribbean International today announced an unprecedented five-day WOW Sale – happening Aug. 16 through 20, 2014 – to help consumers plan for their next vacation and have an unforgettable experience to look forward to. During the WOW sale, vacationers can receive up to $200 onboard credit per stateroom when making a new booking on itineraries through spring 2016 aboard Royal Caribbean’s currently sailing fleet. For more information, please visit www.RoyalCaribbean.com/WOWSale.

“Royal Caribbean’s WOW Sale is the best time for vacationers to plan their next adventure and enjoy great bonuses when they sail with us,” said Carol Schuster, senior vice president of Marketing for Royal Caribbean International. “Consumers can take their pick among our fleet of the industry’s 21 most innovative ships that calls at more than 230 exciting destinations in nearly 70 countries worldwide. Our world-renowned friendly and engaging staff and crew will deliver WOW after WOW, creating memories for a lifetime.”

For all new individual U.S. and Canadian bookings made from Aug. 16 through 20, 2014, vacationers will receive $50 onboard credit per stateroom for five-night or shorter itineraries; $100 onboard credit per stateroom for six- to nine-night itineraries; and $200 onboard credit per stateroom on 10-night and longer itineraries. As part of the WOW Sale, vacationers also can make a reservation with only a 50 percent reduced deposit, starting as low as $50 per guest, based on double occupancy. The offer is applicable to staterooms that are part of group space booked by U.S. and Canadian travel agents, provided those staterooms become named berths during the offer window, and excludes Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas.

Vacationers who make a new individual booking also can combine the upcoming WOW Sale offer with some existing Royal Caribbean promotions below, including up to $1000 savings per stateroom. For details about each offer, please visit www.RoyalCaribbean.com/DealsAndMore.

– Bahamas Upgrade (valid Aug. 1 through 31, 2014): Vacationers can enjoy an oceanview stateroom at the price of an interior stateroom aboard Majesty of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas’ three- and four-night Bahamas cruises, departing from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, 2014.

– Choose Your WOW (valid Aug. 1 through Sept. 15, 2014): Aboard any sailing departing on or after Oct. 15, 2014 (except sailings from Dec. 15 through 31, 2014), vacationers have a choice of Buy One Guest, Get Second Guest 50 percent off; third and fourth guests sail free; or receive up to $1,000 savings per stateroom when they book their flights with Royal Caribbean’s ChoiceAir flight booking system.

– Holiday Travel Our Way (valid Aug. 8 through Sept. 15, 2014): Buy one and get the second guest at 50 percent off on three- to eight-night Bahamas and Caribbean holiday itineraries. The offer is applicable for sailings departing Dec. 15 through 31, 2014.

All offers above are only applicable for new bookings during their applicable promotional window; exclude sailings aboard Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas; and have additional restrictions.

American Cruise Lines announces 2014 holiday cruises

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Latest offers Latest offers

Published: 09 August 2014 09 August 2014

American Cruise Lines (www.americancruiselines.com), operator of the newest riverboats and small cruise ships in the United States, announced today the details and events of its 2014 holiday cruises. Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve cruises will offer festive activities that showcase the beautiful regions cruised, as well as the spirit of the holidays.

Thanksgiving, Nov. 22 Sailings

Offered on the Mississippi River and Historic South & Golden Isles cruises which depart on November 22, American Cruise Lines has again partnered with Connecticut Food Bank to help feed the hungry by donating $50 per ticket sold on the designated Thanksgiving sailings. Last year, the line raised over $10,000 for Connecticut Food Bank through the program. The money raised will help put food on the tables of needy Connecticut residents and spread joy this holiday season. In addition to the rewarding feeling of knowing their bookings will help those in need this holiday season, guests will enjoy Thanksgiving in some of the most spectacular areas of the country. Onboard, a team of world class chefs will prepare a special feast with everything that could be expected at a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Guests will enjoy turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans, apple pie and more. The day before, guests may even join the head chef to learn how he makes the cornucopia.

Christmas, Dec. 20 Sailings

Offered on Mississippi River and Historic South & Golden Isles cruises which depart on December 20, American Cruise Lines is offering two unique ways to celebrate the Christmas holiday.

New Orleans Roundtrip: This year’s special events include a tour of Oak Alley Plantation in its holiday splendor, along with a holiday concert in the music room of the beautifully preserved J.N. Stone House in the Historic Natchez.  Onboard, guests will join a traditional Reveillon-style feast with mouth-watering regional favorites prepared by expert chefs.  Gingerbread house and ornament making workshops will also be offered, as well as Christmas carol sing-alongs. This cruise also features a complimentary pre-night celebration on December 19, including dinner at Antoine's, one of New Orleans’ most historic and famous restaurants.  

Historic South & Golden Isles: Guests will explore the holiday traditions of the Historic South as they celebrate Christmas on the Intracoastal Waterway aboard the beautiful Independence. Holiday-themed events include a tour of the Amelia Island Gingerbread house, Charleston's Holiday Festival of Lights and a private dockside Oyster Roast on the gorgeous Sapelo Island. This cruise also features a complimentary pre-night celebration on December 19, including dinner at the elegant Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island.

New Year’s Eve, Dec. 28 Sailings  

Offered on Historic South & Golden Isles and Mississippi River cruises departing on December 28, American Cruise Lines offers one of the best and most memorable ways to ring in the New Year, including a fireworks display over Savannah (Historic South) or lights tours at Oak Alley and Houmas House Plantations (New Orleans roundtrip). Onboard, Guests will enjoy a specially-themed New Year’s Eve cocktail hour, dinner and evening entertainment, as well as a midnight countdown and champagne toast. A festive and sumptuous New Year’s Day brunch will also be featured. New Year’s Eve cruises also feature a complimentary pre-night celebration on December 27, which includes welcome festivities and exclusive dinners at the renowned McCradey’s Restaurant in Charleston (Historic South) and Antoine’s Restaurant in New Orleans (New Orleans Roundtrip).

AmaWaterways launches limited-time 'Balcony Celebration' sale

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Latest offers Latest offers

Published: 06 August 2014 06 August 2014

AmaWaterways today kicked off its first-ever Balcony Celebration sale, offering travelers up to $1,500 off balcony staterooms for 2015 travel. As an added bonus, the line is also offering solo travelers up to $750 off single occupancy staterooms or a waived single supplement fee on select cruises.  Hurry - this special offer must be booked by October 31, 2014.*

"This special offer is a way for us to celebrate recent accomplishments - including several industry awards and accolades - and showcase our spacious, distinctive balcony staterooms," said Kristin Karst, AmaWaterways' Executive Vice President and Co-Owner.  "Our ships feature a majority of twin balcony and French balcony accommodations, which are an extremely popular option with river cruisers. The Balcony Celebration is also a fantastic opportunity for travel professionals to entice their clients with savings and book them into staterooms they will love."

The Balcony Celebration sale is available on 12 different itineraries, including sailings along all European rivers on which AmaWaterways cruises. Offers are valid on stateroom categories C through AA.  Sample itineraries include:

–    The Enchanting Rhine - 7-night cruise from Amsterdam to Basel from $3,048 per person (embarking March 26 and April 29; price is $500 off)

–    Provence & Spain - 7-night cruise from Lyon to Arles from $3,798 per person (embarking July 16 and August 13; price is $1,000 off)

–    Tulip Time Cruise - 7-night round-trip cruise from Amsterdam from $2,548 per person (embarking March 24; April 1, 7, 27 and 28; price is $1,500 off)

The promotion also encompasses the following new themed cruises for 2015:

–    Art Illumination Cruise: Paris & Normandy - 7-night round-trip sailing from Paris from $3,648 per person (embarking August 13; price is $1,500 off)

–    Jewish Heritage Cruise: The Romantic Danube - 7-night cruise from Vilshofen to Budapest from $3,848 per person (embarking August 12; price is $500 off)

–    Wine Cruise: Paris & Normandy - 7-night round-trip sailing from Paris from $3,448 per person (embarking April 23; price is $1,500 off)

In addition to these special cruise only fares, land extensions are also available on select voyages and can be purchased at an additional cost per person.

Compagnie du Ponant publishes 2015-16 South America programme

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Latest offers Latest offers

Published: 05 August 2014 05 August 2014

Compagnie du Ponant, the only French-flagged, luxury expedition cruise line reveals new South America programme for 2015 – 16. From the wild open spaces of Patagonia to the tropical forests of Panama, the well-crafted itineraries take passengers at the heart of each destination to meet with the locals and explore the most emblematic and off-the-beaten-track sites.

With a 30% discount on the brochure fare for early bookers* and Open Bar on all cruises, sales are now open for ten departures between October 2015 and March 2016 on board LE BORÉAL, L’AUSTRAL and brand new (launching in April 2015) LE LYRIAL.

Compagnie du Ponant is also launching new “Green Expeditions” involving regular Zodiac® outings on the Amazon and Orinoco, in the Darien National Park, the San Blas Archipelago in Panama, as well as Ecuador, the Chilean fjords and Cape Horn.

Example itineraries include:

Acapulco – Fuerte Amador (12 days / 11 nights) on board Le BORÉAL, departing 2 October 2015. From €2,490 per person

Rio de Janeiro – Dakar (18 days / 17 nights) on board L’AUSTRAL, departing 7 March 2016. From €3,570 per person

Recife – Bridgetown (18 days / 17 nights) on board LE LYRIAL, departing 16 March 2016. From €3,860 per person

Price on all cruises includes the following:

·         English speaking lecturer

·         All meals while on board the ship (from dinner on the day of embarkation to breakfast on the day of disembarkation)

·         Captain’s welcome cocktail and gala dinner

·         Tea, filter coffee, water, a selection of cruise wines white, red and rosé offered during meals; afternoon tea

·         Evening entertainment and events

·         Luggage transfer from pier to the ship and vice versa

·         Room service 24h (special selection)

·         Water sports activities (except scuba diving) using the ship’s equipment, when permitted by local authorities and confirmed by ship Master according to safety and sea conditions onsite

·         Park entry fees into protected area

·         “Open Bar” (pouring wines, house champagne, alcohol except premium brands...list available upon request)

*for a limited period and depending on availability