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| << November10, 2003 - 7 Seas Cruise News |
December02, 2003 - 7 Seas Cruise News >> |
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Greetings, Cruise Fans, A hearty welcome to this edition of the 7 Seas Cruise News. It's been a great week with some great weather down here on the sandbar. Florida, for all its oddities, is not without its charms. This green-year-round, for example, is very appealing--although that also means cutting the grass all year. But even Pat is not complaining about that. Anything you don't have to shovel is just fine with him! So as winter begins to shake his (her?) fist at the rest of the country, it's time to think about a nice winter getaway. And for most of us, that means a cruise! Right now, Pat has some fantastic last minute holiday cruise deals, especially for Christmas week. ( A few for New Years, too. And in January and February there are some excellent prices-- right up until spring break when prices start edging up. So, if you want to know more, give Pat a call at the toll-free numnber, 1-866- 424-1090. Check out the website, www. 7seascruises.com--and remember that Pat can usually beat those advertised prices. Drop him a line at cruiseplanners7seascruises@msn. com and talk about the possibilities! Among the great deals that Royal Caribbean is advertising right now include an inside cabin on the Nordic Empress (7 night/ West Caribbean) $449 per person on 12/13 or $699 on 12/20. The best balcony deal is 12/6 on the Grandeur of the Seas--$727 per person. For the holidays, you can't beat Adventure of the Seas--a 7-night Southern Caribbean sailing from San Juan. An ocean-view cabin is $1599 per person, but the air add-on is only $ 199 from DTW. In January, there is some $99 air available from ATL, BOS, BWI, CLT, DCA, IAD, ORD, ORF, RDU or RIC. And for the Vision of the Seas on May 23, there is $99 air available for this Alaska cruise from LAS, LAX, ONT, PDX, PHX, SAN, SEA, SFO, SLC, SNA, YVR and only $149 from DFW, FAR, FSD, MCI, MSY, OKC, OMA, ORD or STL. And now, a little cruise news... Holland America has that it is committing $ 225 million to a new "Signature of Excellence" initiative. "Signature of Excellence" consists of over 60 different elements, all falling into four categories: Dining; Staterooms; Public Rooms; and Programs. Some, like the construction of an entirely new children??™s facility, are major. Others, like the addition of lighted make-up mirrors, fall into the cosmetic category. (no pun intended!!) Some of the enhancements ??“ particularly service-related initiatives like flexible embarkation and disembarkation ??“ are already in place while others will wait for each ship??™s scheduled dry-dock. In brief, the "big projects" are: The Greenhouse Spa, currently found on Zuiderdam and Oosterdam will be expanded to the Statendam- and Rotterdam-class ships. As a result of adding Greenhouse-style accouterments, such as a hydrotherapy pool and thermal suite, the spa on the Statendam- class ships will be 30 percent larger! Rotterdam- class vessels will also be expanded though not by quite that much. The creation of the Culinary Arts Theater with a state-of-the-art teaching kitchen that will be built into a stage-like setting that will accommodate both chef demonstrations and hands-on culinary workshops. The theater will host films at night. A Sidewalk Café will be created as the result of a redesign of existing small rooms ??“ the library, Internet Café, and card room into one large flowing area. The area will also be themed around destinations served by each ship so there will also be an educational component. Ryndam is the line??™s first ship to get the treatment; it is slated for a two-to-three week dry-dock next autumn. In-Cabin: Sooner or later, all staterooms will get an amenity makeover (though changes will occur first in suites. Goodies include 100 percent Egyptian cotton sheets and plush new mattresses. Bathrooms will get massage showerheads and lighted magnifying make-up mirrors and hair dryers. All passengers will be provided with terry cloth "loaner" bathrobes. Cheap plastic ice buckets will be replaced with stainless steel. In suites, goodies will also include duvet covers on the beds, mini-bars, DVD (or VCR) players, and personalized stationary. The Pinnacle Grill will go fleetwide. The Lido, HAL??™s upper- deck casual breakfast- lunch-and-dinner buffet will get a makeover for evening dining, with the addition of waiters and a made-to-order menu option. While main dining rooms will maintain the set- seating, set-tablemate tradition, actual dinner times will be staggered, offering passengers four different choices--Carnival style. HAL is adding attractions at Half Moon Cay, the private island in the Bahamas, including a new aquatic park for kids, and a ???Wave Runner Park.??? Other new activities are horseback riding and a stingray lagoon experience. Just the other day, CostaFortuna, the largest ship ever built in Italy was handed over from Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente shipyard to Costa Crociere--that's Costa Cruises in its native Italian. CostaFortuna's sister ship, CostaMagica, is under construction in the same yard. CostaFortuna will be positioned in Europe through this summer and will make the transatlantic crossing to the U.S. next autumn. CostaFortuna will be based, next winter, at Port Everglades, and will sail Caribbean itineraries. Once again, I have run out of space tonight. We will get around to the rest of those Baltic ports. Please be patient! No newsletter next Sunday. We'll be aboard the Carnival Jubilee for a Thanksgiving family trip. See you the Sunday after Thanksgiving with a review of the Jubilee and the 7-ports-in-7-days whirlwind Southern Caribbean cruise! Until then, may each of you have a joyous Thanksgiving with all of those you love the most! Teri |
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| << November10, 2003 - 7 Seas Cruise News |
December02, 2003 - 7 Seas Cruise News >> |
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