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Azamara may avoid calling at Indian ports in the future

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 10 December 2014 10 December 2014

India’s complicated immigration and customs bureaucracy may have dealt the country’s cruise business another material blow. Alan Lam reports.

Azamara Club Cruises, the luxury subsidiary brand of Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd. (RCCL), is considering dropping Indian port calls from 2017, after its guests and crew having experienced considerable delays and inconvenience upon arriving at Chennai Port on 8 December 2014, according to a media report.

The crew and passengers had to wait at the port gate for about two hours before being allowed to land, owing to duplication of paperwork. Even the media contingent waited 20 minutes before being able to board the ship.

“If India wants cruise liners to call on its ports,” Captain Jose Vilarinho told reporters on his ship Azamara Quest, “then the procedures have to change. When the immigration and customs formalities are completed in a shot time at Indian airports, the [sea] ports can also do that.”

He made it clear that the problem did not lie in port facilities, but with the immigration and customs authorities. “We may not be calling on Mumbai port from 2017 onwards,” he warned, signaling that the RCCL group had been deliberating on this matter.

While both the cruise lines and India’s tourism authorities are keen to develop the country’s cruise potentials, its notorious bureaucracy continues to be one major stumbling block. It has been cited as a main reason for this country’s cruise business being sounderdeveloped, as compared to other similarly dynamic economies in Asia.

Azamara is the latest of a series of cruise lines having suffered this kind of misadventure at the hands of Indian bureaucrats.

Given the nature of and the lead-time required for cruise ship itinerary planning, once the line decides to drop India, it could take a long time and a lot of effort to lure it back again.

Celebrity Constellation to homeport Abu Dhabi

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 10 December 2014 10 December 2014

The Gulf region is once again highlighted as a favourite winter destination, as Celebrity Cruises homeports its 2,038-lower berth Celebrity Constellation at Zayed Port for the 2016-17 season. Alan Lam reports.

The line, which announced this intention in November, will offer itineraries from Abu Dhabi for the first time in winter 2016, undertaking six sailings in the region, starting 28 November 2016 and ending on 11 January 2017, before returning the ship to Singapore.

Cruise business in Abu Dhabi has grown five folds in the last six tear. According to Noura Al Dhaheri, the cruise terminal manager of Abu Dhabi Ports Company, the company responsible for developing cruise business at Zayed Port, 600 ships and more than 900,000 passengers have called at Abu Dhabi since the business began in earnest.

“The fact that Celebrity Cruises has chosen to homeport a ship in Zayed Port,” said Al Dhaheri, “which is a first for the Gulf region, demonstrates how attractive Abu Dhabi has become as global holiday destination.”

Celebrity has previously made calls into Abu Dhabi, but this is the first time the line homeport a ship here. The company is part of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL).

Tropicana Entertainment and Carnival Cruise Lines form strategic casino alliance

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 09 December 2014 09 December 2014

Tropicana Entertainment, Inc., one of the most respected names in the gaming industry, and Carnival Cruise Lines, the world’s most popular cruise line, announced today that they have formed an alliance to offer an array of cruise benefits to Trop Advantage players club members at seven Tropicana-owned casinos in the United States for 2015.

Guests of Tropicana Entertainment’s Atlantic City, NJ; Evansville, IN; Greenville, MS; Laughlin, NJ; and Aruba properties, as well as Belle of Baton Rouge Casino and Montbleu Resort Casino Spa in Lake Tahoe, will be eligible to receive complimentary and discounted Carnival cruises throughout the year aboard Carnival’s fleet, based on their level of play.

“We take great pride in giving Trop Advantage players more fun, variety and value than our competitors,” said Tony Rodio, President & Chief Executive Officer of Tropicana Entertainment Inc. “Carnival Cruise Lines shares our commitment to attentive service, delicious food and drink, and exceptional experiences, making this a meaningful partnership that will greatly benefit our players.”

Trop Advantage players club is designed to allow players maximum flexibility in choosing their own rewards. Trop Advantage offers five reward tier levels and the ability to earn and spend comp dollars, receive invitations to special events and take advantage of generous free slot play programs and giveaways. Membership is free and players can join online or at any of Tropicana Entertainment Inc. casinos.

“We are excited to align our Carnival brand with such a progressive, entertainment-oriented organization such as Tropicana Entertainment, said Marty Goldman, Carnival’s Senior Vice President of Global Casino Operations. “We look forward to welcoming Trop Advantage players aboard our ships and providing them with a lifetime of wonderful vacation memories.” Goldman noted that the cruises can be booked through any of Carnival’s reservations channels, including its valued travel agent partners.

2015 themed cruises on MSC Divina revealed

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 09 December 2014 09 December 2014

MSC Divina, one of the most elegant and ultramodern ships sailing from Miami to the Caribbean – is offering travelers a series of themed cruises in Winter/Spring 2015.

“MSC works hard to create the best vacation experience possible,” said Hans Hesselberg, senior vice president of hotel operations for MSC Cruises. “These special themed cruises add an extra layer of fun and excitement and promise to make the cruise even more memorable for our guests.”

2015 themed cruises on MSC Divina include:

Post-New Year Extravaganza (2-night) – Jan. 11 departure to Nassau, Bahamas

MSC Divina is continuing the New Year’s celebrations and helping guests start 2015 off right! The ship’s festivities will include a New Year’s Party on the pool deck, complete with a countdown to midnight, and New Year’s themed decorations and noisemakers. Prices start at $99 per person for double occupancy.

Valentine’s Day/Mardi Gras Celebration (4-night) – Feb. 14 departure to Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas:

MSC Divina’s Valentine’s Day cruise is the perfect getaway for couples and singles looking for romance. The cruise will feature a special Valentine’s Day party where guests can send secret messages to their Valentine; Valentine’s Day-themed couple competitions; special arts and crafts activities for kids; a special ‘Tulip of Love’ dessert and dedicated list of Love Potions; and a Valentine’s Day package that guests can purchase for their significant other. In addition, for those looking for love, MSC will host a fun “singles mingle” party and is offering a special single occupancy rate. Adding to the fun, on Feb. 17 MSC will celebrate Fat Tuesday with a festive Mardi Gras themed party. Prices start at $369 per person for single occupancy and $299 per person for double occupancy.

Songs of the 60s: (4-night) – April 22 departure to Cozumel, Mexico

Guests sailing aboard MSC Divina will be transported back in time, with groovy 60’s and 70’s music from the Mellow Yellow band. The band will pay tribute to the 60’s and 70’s with truly authentic renditions of some of the genre’s greatest songs during an immersive musical theater show. In addition, throughout the 4 nights, guests will participate in 60’s and 70’s themed activities including a Saturday Night Fever Disco & Costume Party; Mellow Yellow Deck Concert and Deck Party; Summer of Love Prom Formal; 60’s/70’s trivia; and 60’s/70’s karaoke. Prices start at $299 per person for double occupancy.

Baseball Greats (7-nights): Feb 7, Feb. 21, and March 7 departures to Philipsburg, St. Maarten; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas

Awarded “Best Themed Cruise” by Porthole Magazine’s 2014 Reader’s Choice Awards, MSC’s 7-night Baseball Greats cruises feature instructional clinics, Q&As, story-telling sessions, passenger pitching contests, baseball trivia games, and a complimentary autograph session with the baseball stars on board. Hosted by former Yankee star Stan Bahnsen, 2015 itineraries will feature former baseball pros such as Art Shamsky (New York Mets), Gorman Thomas (Milwaukee Brewers), Randy Hundley (Chicago Cubs), and Ken Griffey (Cincinnati’s “Big Red Machine”). Prices start at $349 per person for double occupancy.

Carnival Cruise Lines to offer series of longer voyages in 2015-2016

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 December 2014 07 December 2014

Carnival Cruise Lines will offer a series of 10- to 14-night voyages on six different ships between October 2015 and February 2016 that feature extended calls at magnificent destinations throughout the Caribbean, Bermuda, Mexican Riviera and The Bahamas.

Reservations opened Friday on 11 different voyages offered on Carnival Miracle, Carnival Dream, Carnival Glory and Carnival Sunshine which depart from Long Beach, Calif., Port Canaveral, Fla., San Juan, Miami, and New Orleans and visit more than two dozen tropical destinations, including less traveled ports like Bonaire, Martinique, Dominica, Grenada and, for the first time on a Carnival ship, Tobago. Several of the 10- and 11-day voyages can be combined into three-week-long Caribbean adventures providing an unmatched combination of breathtaking ports of call, amazing experiences ashore, and fun-filled sea days, all at an incredible value.

These new voyages are in addition to a previously announced series of nine 10- to 14-day departures to the Caribbean and Bermuda offered on Carnival Triumph from Galveston and Carnival Pride from Baltimore in 2015-16.

“Based on feedback from our guests and travel agent partners, we’re delighted to offer these longer length voyages which provide vacationers an opportunity to visit some of the world’s most breathtaking destinations while enjoying all the wonderful on-board innovations and features found aboard Carnival’s ships,” said Terry Thornton, Carnival’s senior vice president of itinerary planning.

The new voyages include:

Carnival Dream

– Oct. 4-15, 2015: 11-day Caribbean/Bermuda cruise from New Orleans to San Juan featuring Nassau, King’s Wharf, Bermuda (overnight call), St. Maarten and St. Thomas.

– Oct. 15-25, 2015: 10-day Caribbean cruise from San Juan to New Orleans with calls at St. Thomas, St. Kitts, St. Maarten, Grand Turk, and Falmouth, Jamaica (the above two cruises can be combined to create a 21-day round-trip voyage from New Orleans).

– Jan. 3-14, 2016: 11-day southern Caribbean cruise from New Orleans to San Juan with stops at Grand Turk, Aruba, Bonaire, St. Kitts, Antigua and St. Maarten

– Jan. 14-25, 2016: a 10-day Caribbean cruise from San Juan to New Orleans calling at St. Thomas, Dominica, St. Kitts, Grand Turk and Falmouth (the above two cruises can be combined to create a 21-day round-trip voyage from New Orleans).

Carnival Glory

– Oct. 31–Nov. 14, 2015: 14-day Caribbean cruise round-trip from Miami visiting Aruba, Bonaire, Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Thomas and St. Maarten.

· Jan. 23-Feb. 2, 2016: 10-day cruise from Miami to San Juan calling at the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk, Antigua, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and St. Thomas.

– Feb. 2-13, 2016: 11-day cruise from San Juan to Miami visiting St. Croix, St. Maarten, Dominica, Grenada, Bonaire, Aruba, and Curacao (the above two cruises can be combined to create a 21-day round-trip voyage from Miami).

Carnival Sunshine

– Nov. 28-Dec. 9, 2015: 11-day Caribbean/Bahamas voyage from Port Canaveral, Fla., to San Juan visiting Grand Turk, St. Thomas, Tortola, St. Kitts, Dominica, St. Lucia, Antigua and St. Croix.

– Dec. 9-19, 2015: 10-day Caribbean cruise from San Juan to Port Canaveral featuring St. Thomas, Antigua, Dominica, Martinique, St. Croix, and Grand Turk (the above two cruises can be combined to create a 21-day voyage round-trip from Port Canaveral).

– Feb. 21-March 5, 2016: 13-day southern Caribbean cruise round-trip from Port Canaveral calling at St. Maarten, Dominica, Barbados, Scarborough (Tobago), Grenada, Martinique, St. Kitts and St. Thomas.

Carnival Miracle

– Jan. 31- Feb. 12, 2016: 13-day Mexican Riviera voyage round-trip from Long Beach, Calif., calling at Cabo San Lucas (two-day call), La Paz, Mazatlán, Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa, Manzanillo, and Puerto Vallarta (overnight call).

In addition to fantastic dining, entertainment and activity options available on board, each of these destinations offers beautiful beaches, interesting historical attractions and natural landmarks, and unique sightseeing, dining and shopping opportunities. During these cruises, guests can zipline across the lush countryside, view centuries-old architectural structures, visit world-class museums, and snorkel and scuba dive in crystal-clear waters teeming with tropical fish and other sea life.