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April14, 2003 - 7 Seas Cruise News >> |
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Hello again, cruise fans. Sorry about the hold up in this week's publication. My fault. As Pat and I prepare to move 7 Seas Cruises from Greenfield, Indiana (Indianapolis) to Americus, Georgia, we are in partial chaos. But all is going well, and I will soon be starting my new job with Habitat for Humanity International. These cross-country moves are always challenging. Whew! This week in cruising finds some fantastic markdowns in Europe! NCL has chopped the price on their Baltic Capitals cruise on the Norwegian Dream this summer by $800 per person for an inside cabin. If Europe is appealing to you this summer, call Pat about the Dream or check out Pat's price on the Transatlantic on the Grandeur of the Seas. Amazing air deals are now available! Pat is ready to take your calls at 1-866-424-1090 toll-free, or drop him an e-mail at cruiseplanners7seascruises@msn. com And now, some cruise news... Carnival Cruise Lines' 1,486-passenger Celebration resumed year-round service from Galveston on Monday following a multi-million-dollar refurbishment that included an overhaul of the purser's lobby, redesigned dining rooms and cabins, and cosmetic enhancements to virtually all public rooms and areas. The upgrades, completed during a recent 70-day drydock in Freeport, Bahamas, were overseen by Tillberg Design, which is also serving as the lead architect for Cunard Line's 150,000-ton Queen Mary 2. The Celebration launched year- round four- and five-day Mexico cruises from Galveston in September 2000. Perhaps the most noticeable change is when guests first step aboard the 48, 000- ton SuperLiner, whose virtually all-new purser's lobby includes new carpeting, furniture, wall coverings and artwork, creating a more contemporary atmosphere. Another noticeable change is within the Vista and Horizon formal restaurants, which, in addition to a new pastel-hued décor, have been reconfigured to provide diners with a greater feeling of spaciousness, openness and comfort. Each of the Celebration's 743 staterooms also received new curtains, carpeting and wallpaper, as well as upgraded bedding, linens, pillows and bedspreads. New leather-bound directories, similar to those found at high-end hotels, were placed in each cabin, while bathrooms are now equipped with in-shower soap and shampoo dispensers and were re-tiled where necessary. Other design highlights include new corridor carpeting, as well as upgraded elevator lobbies and stair landings. Various technical and mechanical upgrades were also completed. The ship's pool decks and public rooms, including the Red Hot piano bar, Endless Summer lounge, Admiral's library, Rainbow Club casino, and the multi-level Astoria Lounge, the site of Carnival's lavish Las Vegas-style revues, also underwent minor cosmetic enhancements. Carnival is currently accepting reservations for the Celebration's four- and five-day Mexico cruises from Galveston. Holland America announces that its Rotterdam and Oosterdam will be used as floating hotels in Pireaus, the port of Athens for the Olympics in the summer of 2004. Cunard has already announced that its not-even-launched Queen Mary 2 will also be on hand. You can't book one of these as a cruise, however. They are strictly there are floating hotels for Olympic fans. Celebrity has found a way to further "dress up" its cruise experience. Separate from the line' s onboard enhancement effort, Celebrity's new ConciergeClass is available only to passengers who purchase premium ocean-view cabins with verandas and only to those traveling on the line's Millennium-class vessels--for an additional fee. Passengers should prepare to pay a surcharge of about $10 per person per day for ConciergeClass accommodations on deck nine on Constellation, Infinity, Millennium and Summit. Cabins measure 191 square feet with a 41-square-foot veranda but the real news is the extras--a complimentary bottle of champagne on arrival, fresh flowers, personalized stationary and a leather key holder! Other amenities include better-than- normal- Celebrity bath essentials, from extra- thick robes to a Hansgrohe showerhead. Other in- cabin pluses include pillow-top mattresses and a pillow menu. The veranda is uniquely outfitted with a table large enough for dining plus cushioned chairs and even binoculars. Special services to which these passengers are entitled include priority luggage delivery and shore excursion bookings. Among the added features on the "new" Norwegian Crown, which will debut from its autumnal seasonal homeport in Baltimore, are three new restaurants--NCL's signature Le Bistro, The Pasta Cafe and Chopsticks, with an Asian theme. Other areas overhauled during the ship's February drydock include an expanded Lido Bar, a renovation of its Monte Carlo Court Casino, and a complete re-do of its Mandara Spa. Added was a new teen and children' s center. In the stateroom arena, there are four new penthouses. And the ship's hull has received a spiffy new coat of white paint. I just hope that NCL allows the ship to keep and use its distinctive Crown china. The Crown has been in the NCL stable before, and when I sailed her to Bermuda a few seasons ago, the highlight of the dining room was the gorgeous blue, white and glistening gold Crown china. If ever I wanted to make off with a cup and saucer, it was then! Wow! I can't imagine a more elegant table in Buckingham Palace! Since Norwegian Crown is not slated to join the NCL fleet until fall, it has returned back to Orient Lines for spring and summer cruising. Currently, the ship is in the middle of a 52- day Mumbai/Bombay-to-Rome itinerary and will spend the summer in the Mediterranean. For those who would prefer an adults-only cruise environment, Celebrity has three for you to consider. On June 7, the Century will sail a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary. On July 4, the Summit offers a 7-night Alaska itinerary, round-trip from Vancouver. And on December 29, the Mercury will do an adults-only 11-night Mexican Riviera trip. If you want to know more, give Pat a call. We've also had some questions about security measures aboard ships. Royal Caribbean recently issued a memo to cruise agents that is most reassuring. Here are just a few of the steps the cruise lines are taking to keep you and me safe while we sail: comprehensive screening of all luggage, carry-ons and provisions coming aboard ship; screening with x-ray machines, metal detectors, canine teams, human searches; a "no exceptions" policy of positive IDs for all guests, crew members and visitors aboard the ships; manifests reviewed by U.S. authorities; the SeaPass system which tracks who is on board and not on board with digital photos; and highly trained military veterans as Security Officers aboard ship. During times like these, Royal Caribbean is adding some additional services, too, like CNN available in public rooms and guest cabins; airing a security video on stateroom TVs; a daily news round-up to be distributed to staterooms and posted in librairies; and religious services added to the ships' daily programs. Speaking of Royal Caribbean, Pat got some great prices today, like 7-night Caribbean cruises for as little as $389 per person inside or $519 per person oceanview. Oceanview cabins for 7- night Alaska cruises or 7-night Bermuda are available (but in limited supply) for as little as $799 oceanview. Not bad for such attractive itineraries! So, what are we waiting for? Let's go cruising! Until next week, let's go up to the top deck and see if they're putting out the midnight buffet yet. Teri |
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April14, 2003 - 7 Seas Cruise News >> |
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