CLIA National Cruise Vacation Week

An annual cruise event coming up again soon is CLIA’s National Cruise Vacation Week.

Planned to take place from October 21 to October 27, this special event offers the cruise industry’s most  exclusive promotions and features a wide array of special events and offers from twenty-five CLIA member cruise lines representing more than 200 cruise ships.

Planned special deals include up to $13,000 in bonus savings on a luxury cruise, $1,500 per couple savings on a river cruise in Europe, two-for-one pricing, free airfare, complimentary shore excursions, and up to $500 in shipboard credits.

Visit CLIA’s special NCVW page, www.cruising.org/vacation/welcome to find impressive potential savings as well as credits for shipboard spending valued at up to $500, upgrades to suites, or other incentives such as complimentary shore excursions, free airfare, free hotel packages, deposit waivers and more. 

Some of the cruise lines involved are AmaWaterways, American Cruise Lines, Avalon Waterways, Azamara Club Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Hurtigruten, Louis Cruises, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Paul Gauguin Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection and Windstar Cruises.

Keep track of the Prow's Edge blog here for actual details of the special cruise deals.

Making Sure You don't Miss the Games

In some parts of the world, it’s called football. In others, it’s known as soccer. But across the globe, consumers love the sport, which culminates with the FIFA World Cup™. So, to ensure their guests won’t miss a minute of the action, even while vacationing, Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International have obtained rights to air all games of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ while at sea in international waters on every ship across the three fleets.

Guests sailing with any of the three cruise lines during the entire series of the matches – airing from June 11 to July 11, 2010 – can watch them in the comfort of their staterooms, and in designated onboard lounges. FIFA World Cup fans can combine a memorable Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International vacation and still cheer on their team with fellow likeminded guests in special onboard programs that include themed activities, food and beverages. On some ships, guests also can participate in onboard tournaments, workshops and other special 2010 FIFA World Cup-themed activities.

Games featured for public viewing will vary by ship itinerary, time zone and demographics.

The Constantly Changing Face of the Cruise Industry

One of the exciting things about the cruise industry is that it is constantly evolving. New cruise ships enter service (see New Ships for 2010), new cruise lines are being established, and existing companies are rebranding.

Azamara Club Cruises, for example, is the the result of reshaping the original Azamara Cruises brand.

Azamara Cruises – the two-ship brand launched in 2007 with the 694-guest Azamara Journey and sister ship Azamara Quest – became “Azamara Club Cruises,” last month with a newly refined focus, and a series of new attributes designed for upmarket, experienced travelers.

Azamara Club Cruises President & CEO Larry Pimentel and his team
have reshaped the new Azamara Club Cruises, whose most distinguishing new attributes will be in effect by April 2010.

Said Pimental, “Azamara Club Cruises will distinguish itself by delivering the destination like no other line.”

Azamara Club Cruises will visit 140 ports in 50 countries in 2010, with itineraries featuring more overnight stays to allow guests to immerse themselves in communities and cultures.

“We’re going to slow down the tempo, and allow our guests to not just see the destination, but to live it,” said Pimentel. “Consider destinations like St. Tropez or St. Petersburg, Russia. If you’ve experienced them only by day, you haven’t really experienced them. With Azamara, through more overnight stays and late-night stays, you can.”

Among the overnight locations are Istanbul, Turkey; Sorrento, Italy, which offers a host of tour options along the Amalfi Coast and Capri; a full three days and two nights in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Azamara’s Scandinavia and Russia Itineraries; and multiple overnight stays in Azamara’s Southeast Asia region, including Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong.

The destination focus of Azamara Club Cruises inspired the brand’s new tag line – “You’ll love where we take you”

For more information about Azamara Club Cruises call your travel agent, dial 1-877-999-9553, or visit the official web site at www.azamaraclubcruises.com

or visit the Prow’s Edge Cruise Magazine profile for Azamara Club Cruises at www.prowsedge.com/cruise-lines-azamara-cruises.html