|
7 Seas Cruise News Archives Index
|
Subscribe
|
|
| << July18, 2005 - 7 Seas Cruise News |
August15, 2005 - 7 Seas Cruise News >> |
|
Greetings, Cruise Fans, Welcome to the August 7 edition of the 7 Seas Cruise News. It's miserably hot down here in So. Florida, and from what we hear from other parts of the country, it's a hot summer almost everywhere-except maybe Ventura County, CA. We're spending almost every minute indoors or running from air conditioned car to air conditioned house. We're counting the days until fall and with school starting tomorrow down here, it looks like fall can't be too far off. Pat has asked me to remind all of you to get your passport application in now! As soon as people catch on to the need for one as of January 1, 2006, there will be lines and backlogs and the wait to get a passport will double! Beat the rush! If you have any plans to travel that will see you returning to the US after December 31, you must have a passport to sail! If you need to know how to get yours, visit www.travel.state.gov and follow the directions you'll find there. There are some excellent fares available now for cruises this fall. A couple of hurricanse last season has scared away a lot of travelers and the cruise lines are responding with great prices! Now, you may say, why do I want to sail if there is a threat of a hurricane? Mostly because you will never be even close to a hurricane! At the first sign of a threat, cruise lines move those multi- million-dollar assets way out of harm's way. Of course they don't want anything to happen to you, but they certainly don't want anything to endanger that enormous investment either! So, come along and join the fall fun! The islands are beautiful, the weather is still plenty warm, the crowds are down, and the prices are fantastic! Give Pat a call to talk about it. 1-866-424-1090 toll-free. And now, some cruise news... Carnival Cruise Lines, the world's largest cruise operator, and The Coca-Cola Company, the world's largest soft drink manufacturer, have teamed up to create " Club O2," a new teen program aboard the line's 21 "Fun Ships." The 1,000- to 1,800-square-foot teen clubs include a dance floor with a DJ, a state-of- the-art sound and lighting system and large- screen plasma TVs displaying the latest movies and music videos. There's also a "Coke- tail" lounge where guests can enjoy Coca-Cola products and various non-alcoholic specialty drinks. The rooms are enhanced by a distinctive d?©cor along with plush sofas and comfortable seating. Select teen clubs also feature a library with popular teen-oriented books and magazines, video game units, 16-monitor "video walls," and " listening stations" where teens can plug in and hear the latest tunes. Throughout the voyage, teens can enjoy a wide range of activities such as karaoke sessions, nightly themed parties, late- night movies, video game contests, basketball, ping- pong and other sporting events. Following the latest "reality TV" craze, games based on " The Bachelor/Bachelorette," "Fear Factor" and " Survivor" are played daily. Activities start in the early afternoon and run well into the evening. Activities are coordinated by a "Club O2" teen director aboard each ship. Teens-only shore excursions are also available, providing older kids an opportunity to experience Carnival's exciting destinations together as a group. Outings are accompanied by a member of the teen staff and include such options as cave tubing in Belize, horseback riding in Cozumel, and swimming with stingrays in Grand Cayman. Meanwhile, Pat has learned of a new promotion from Carnival Cruise Lines, offering complimentary "best available stateroom upgrades" and special discounted fares are available on " Fun Ship" bookings made in the month of August. The month- long promotion is offered in conjunction with new individual bookings made between July 31 - Sept. 2, 2005, and valid on virtually all three- to eight-day "Fun Ship" departures between Aug. 1, 2005, and April 2, 2006. Rates begin at $249 per person double occupancy for three- and four-day Bahamas/ Caribbean cruises; $299 for four- and five-day Caribbean voyages; and $499 for six- to eight-day Caribbean departures. The promotion is capacity controlled and not applicable with any other discount offer. Minimum purchase of category 4A stateroom required and upgrades are available within like stateroom categories ( interior to interior, ocean view to ocean view, balcony to balcony). Fare code CPBA must be requested to be eligible for this promotion. For more information, call Pat at 1-866-424-1090 toll- free! Over at Holland America, the emphasis is on food! Believe me, food is something Holland America knows about, especially a chocolate cake that Pat is still talking about, even though we haven't sailed Holland America since 2003! Holland America has assembled a group of culinary experts and big name chefs for the cruise line's new Culinary Arts Centers, presented by Food & Wine magazine. The program will feature more than 50 culinary experts on Holland America Line cruises and provides guests with an opportunity to experience demonstrations and seminars conducted by top chefs, wine experts and leading cookbook authors. Holland America Line is spending more than $13 million to create and install the Culinary Arts Center facilities, which are already on half of the line's 13-ship fleet and will be in place across the fleet by mid-2006. Resembling the elaborate show kitchens used by celebrity chefs on cooking programs, each Culinary Arts Center features an innovate theater- style venue with a large plasma video screen to display overhead and close-up video views of food preparation, and a large cooking display counter where guests can learn new cooking techniques and dishes. Food & Wine also will design and provide recipe cards and wine-tasting notes that guests can take home along with copies of the magazine. Other opportunities might include book signings, question-and-answer sessions, market tours in ports of call, specially designed on-board menus and more. Culinary experts joining the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine are: Michelle Bernstein, executive chef/owner of MB Restaurant, Co-host of "Melting Pot," sailing on the September 9, 2005, Alaska cruise aboard the ms Statendam. Jimmy Bradley, chef/owner, Beanstalk Restaurants, sailing on the September 10, 2005, Alaska cruise aboard the ms Zaandam. Greg Atkinson, director at Culinary Consulting, sailing on the September 11, 2005, Alaska cruise aboard the ms Ryndam. Paulette Mitchell, author of 11 cookbooks, sailing on the September 18, 2005, Europe cruise aboard the ms Westerdam. Charles Dale, founder, Range and Rustique, sailing on the September 24, 2005, Panama Canal cruise aboard the ms Zaandam. Mike H. Davis, chef/owner, 26 Brix, sailing on the September 25, 2005, Pacific Coastal cruise aboard the ms Ryndam. Susan and Alison Sokol Blosser, owners, Sokol Blosser Winery (Oregon), sailing on the September 25, 2005, Pacific Coastal cruise aboard the ms Veendam. Ying Chang Compestine, chef and cookbook author, sailing on the October 6, 2005, Asia/Pacific cruise aboard the ms Amsterdam; and the December 22, 2005, Hawaii cruise aboard the ms Amsterdam. Three Divas: Vicky McCaffree, chef; Cameon Orel, chef; and Jessica Campbell, pastry chef, sailing on the October 14, 2005, Europe cruise aboard the ms Rotterdam. Dean Max, chef, 3030 Ocean, sailing on the November 2, 2005, Hawaii cruise aboard the ms Statendam. Fran Bigelow, chocolate expert, founder of Fran's Chocolates, sailing on the November 7, 2005, Mexico cruise aboard the ms Ryndam. Cornelius Gallagher, executive chef, Oceana, sailing on the November 13, 2005, Caribbean cruise aboard the ms Westerdam. Cat Cora, Iron Chef America and host of "The Cat Cora Show," sailing on the January 7, 2006, Australia/New Zealand cruise aboard the ms Statendam. Mark Bittman, New York Times food writer, chef and cookbook author, sailing on the January 11, 2006, South America cruise aboard the ms Rotterdam. Laura Werlin, cheese expert, sailing on the January 21, 2006, Australia/New Zealand cruise aboard the ms Statendam. Marko Karakasevic, artisan vodka maker of Charbay Vodka, sailing on the January 22, 2006, Caribbean cruise aboard the ms Volendam. Brad Farmerie, chef of Public Restaurant in New York City, sailing on the March 20, 2006, Asia/ Pacific cruise aboard the ms Statendam. Bradford Thompson, chef, Mary Elaine's, sailing on the April 3, 2006, Asia/Pacific cruise aboard the ms Statendam. Johnny Iuzzini, executive pastry chef, Restaurant Jean Georges, sailing on the April 5, 2006, Caribbean cruise aboard the ms Noordam. Hsiao-Ching Chou, Seattle Post-Intelligencer food writer and food historian, sailing on the April 17, 2006, Asia/Pacific cruise aboard the ms Statendam. Max McCalman, Ma?®tre Fromager and dean of curriculum at the Artisanal Cheese Center, sailing on the April 22, 2006, Hawaii cruise aboard the ms Statendam. Jacques Torres, chocolatier extraordinaire and creator of his own confectionery shops in New York City, sailing on the May 7, 2006, Alaska cruise aboard the ms Ryndam. Patricia Yeo, chef of Sapa in New York City, sailing on the May 14, 2006, Alaska cruise aboard the ms Veendam. Robert Kinkead, chef/owner, Kinkead, sailing on the May 26, 2006, Europe cruise aboard the ms Rotterdam. Michael Lomonaco, chef, professor, author and co- host of Epicurious on the Discovery Channel, sailing on the July 28, 2006, Europe cruise aboard the ms Rotterdam. John Howie, chef/owner, Sport and SeaStar, sailing on the July 30, 2006, Europe cruise aboard the ms Noordam. Mark Fiorentino, master bread baker at the renowned Daniel Boulud Restaurants in New York City, sailing on the August 11, 2006, Europe cruise aboard the ms Amsterdam. John Besh, executive chef, Restaurant August, sailing on the September 8, 2006, Alaska cruise aboard the ms Statendam. Aaron Sanchez, chef, Paladar, and regular on TV Food Network, sailing aboard the September 17, 2006, Alaska cruise aboard the ms Westerdam. Charles Dale, founder, Range and Rustique, sailing on the September 18, 2006, Europe cruise aboard the ms Noordam. James Mazzio, executive chef, The Studio of Long Grove, sailing on the September 20, 2006, Panama Canal cruise aboard the ms Zuiderdam. Marcus Samuelsson, chef/owner, Aquavit and Riingo, sailing on the October 22, 2006, Mexico cruise aboard the ms Zaandam. Anthony Giglio, wine expert, sailing on the November 25, 2006, Mexico cruise aboard the ms Oosterdam. Jos?© Andr?©s, chef/owner, Jaleo, Caf?© Atlantico, sailing aboard the December 8, 2006, Australia/ New Zealand cruise aboard the ms Statendam. And, at Royal Caribbean... In May 2006, the ship that revolutionized cruising will depart Miami for Barcelona, Spain, marking the 3,114-guest Voyager of the Seas' European debut. From May 27 to July 8, 2006, and again Sept. 9 through Nov. 11, 2006, Voyager of the Seas will offer seven-night Mediterranean sailings roundtrip from Barcelona, calling on Marseille and Villefranche (Nice), France, and Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Civitavecchia (Rome) and Naples, Italy. Voyager of the Seas also will sail seven-night Mediterranean-Malta sailings July 15 through Sept. 2, 2006, making stops in Villefranche (Nice); Civitavecchia (Rome); Palermo (Sicily), Italy; Valletta, Malta; and Palma De Mallorca, Spain. Starting April 29, 2006, Empress of the Seas will begin a series of seven-night Bermuda sailings from Philadelphia, marking the first time Royal Caribbean will sail a full season from the historic Pennsylvania city. Empress of the Seas' new cruises will call on St. George's and Hamilton, Bermuda, until Oct. 28, 2006, when Empress repositions to San Juan for the winter. Vision of the Seas moves to Seattle in May 2006 to offer a series of seven-night roundtrip Alaska Fjord sailings until Sept. 1, 2006. Vision's Alaska cruises call in Juneau, Skagway and Icy Strait Point, Alaska, and Victoria, British Columbia, in addition to cruising through the breathtaking Tracy Arm Fjord and the Inside Passage. Bookings opened in March for Royal Caribbean's newest ship, the 3,600- passenger Freedom of the Seas. Set to debut in the United States in May 2006 and enter service on June 4, 2006, Freedom of the Seas will be the most innovative and forward-looking ship the line has introduced to date. Featuring an interactive water park called H2O Zone, a dedicated sports pool, and cantilevered whirlpools extending 12 feet over the sides of the ship in the adults- only Solarium, Freedom of the Seas will offer a wide range of unique activities for guests of all ages. Freedom of the Seas will sail seven-night Western Caribbean cruises from Miami. Whew! Lots of news this week, and it's my fault for skipping a couple of issues. I will try to do better, but those of you with full-time jobs will sympathize, I'm sure! My apologies nonetheless. Until next week, here's wishing all of you a week of smooth sailing, sunshine and cool sea breezes. Sounds good, doesn't it? Teri |
|
| << July18, 2005 - 7 Seas Cruise News |
August15, 2005 - 7 Seas Cruise News >> |
|
7 Seas Cruise News Archives Index
|
Subscribe
|
|
|
Archives powered by Zinester's Mailing List Service
Details on 7 Seas Cruise News |
Browse for more newsletters at Zinester's Ezine Directory
Managed by Zinester's Mailing List Management |