New Year Savings with Celebrity Cruises

Premium vacation brand Celebrity Cruises has kicked off a “New Year, New Cruise” booking promotion aimed at helping vacationers to make the most of their time off.

Each week this month, Celebrity is offering up to $150 in stateroom credit, for select cruises in particular destinations.

The savings will be issued in the form of a shipboard credit. Offered to help vacationers make the most of their time onboard, the credit can be used for spa treatments, specialty dining, shopping, shore excursions and more. The promotion is intended to offer guests an added opportunity to enjoy Celebrity’s line-up of onboard experiences as well as to get to know the destinations on the itinerary through shore excursions.

This week (through January 9), guests booking 2011 Australia/New Zealand, Panama Canal and Hawaii sailings are eligible for onboard credit.

From January 10 through January 16, 2011, guests who book Caribbean cruises sailing from March through December 2011 are eligible for onboard credit.

Europe and Transatlantic cruises departing from April through November of 2011 are the focus of the onboard credit offer.

And for those guests booking cruises from January 17 through January 23, 2011, and from January 24 through January 30, guests who book Alaska sailings taking place from May through September of 2011, will be eligible for onboard credit.

For an overview of Celebrity Cruises, take a look at the PROW'S EDGE CRUISE MAGAZINE CRUISE LINE PROFILE - CELEBRITY CRUISES or visit the official web site at www.celebritycruises.com

MSC Mediterranean Cruises from $499

MSC introduces a variety of cruises this winter to the temperate Mediterranean with rates starting from $499 per person plus.

The 8-, 9-, 10-, and 11-night Mediterranean cruises sail to some of Europe’s most historic locales and remarkable landscapes, allowing guests to experience the destinations while enjoying the European and Italian ambiance of MSC Cruises.

Here are some highlights of the Golden Odysseys Mediterranean cruises:

• MSC Magnifica: 8-night, Western Mediterranean cruise roundtrip from Venice, calling in Bari, Italy; Rhodes, Greece; Alexandria, Egypt; Katakolon, Greece; and Dubrovnik, Croatia; February 28 and March 8; rates from $499 per person plus $58.80 in GFTs
  
  
• MSC Splendida: 11-night, Western Mediterranean cruise roundtrip from Civitavecchia (Rome) or Genoa, calling in Barcelona, Spain; Casablanca, Morocco; S. Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands), Spain; Funchal, Portugal; and Malaga, Spain; February 5 and 6; rates from $889 per person plus $47 or $55.90 in GFTs, respectively; (Other available dates include March 9 and 10)
  
  
• MSC Splendida: 11-night, Eastern Mediterranean cruise roundtrip from Genoa or Civitavecchia (Rome), calling in Katakolon, Greece; Heraklion, Greece; Marmarmis, Turkey; Alexandria, Egypt; Piraeus, Greece; and Palermo, Italy; February 16 and 17; rates from $889 per person plus $44.25 or $33.30 in GFTs, respectively
  
  
• MSC Splendida: 9-night, Eastern Mediterranean cruise roundtrip from Genoa or Civitavecchia (Rome), calling in Katakolon, Greece; Heraklion, Greece; Alexandria, Egypt; and Piraeus, Greece; February 27 and 28; rates from $599 per person plus $36.85 or $27.09 in GFTs, respectively
  
  
• MSC Fantasia: 11-night, Western Mediterranean cruise roundtrip from Genoa, calling in Barcelona, Spain; Gibraltar, United Kingdom; Funchal, Portugal; S. Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands), Spain; Arrecife de Lanzarote, Spain; Malaga, Spain; and Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy; March 3 and 25; rates from $599 per person plus $63.40 in GFTs.

In addition to experiencing Europe the European way, guests onboard MSC Cruises will also enjoy the following:

• A family-friendly vacation, with activities, facilities and menus designed with the youngsters in mind. Plus, kids 11 and under cruise free on all European cruises when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults.
• International cuisine with an emphasis on Italian and regional specialties
• Exciting international entertainment
• Superior wellness activities, including the latest spa treatments

For more information about MSC Cruises’ Golden Odysseys this winter, visit www.MSCCruisesUSA.com or a local travel professional or for an overview of MSC Cruises take a look at PROW'S EDGE CRUISE MAGAZINE CRUISE LINE PROFILES - MSC CRUISES

Cunard Float Wins Queen's Trophy at Roses Parade

Cunard Line made its inaugural debut on the streets of Pasadena, California today at the 122nd Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade presented by Honda, winning the prestigious Queen’s Trophy for best use of roses.

Cunard’s float, themed “A Grand Celebration at Sea,” depicted the Cunard fleet of three Queens – flagship Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and the new Queen Elizabeth – and illustrated the ultimate sense of occasion experienced on a luxury cruise vacation aboard Cunard, including Veuve Clicquot champagne toasts, the Royal Court Theatre, ballroom dancing and big band music.

In floral and architectural celebration of Cunard’s rich tradition of elegance and grandeur, the float stood at 24 feet high, 18 feet wide and 55 feet long as it made its way down the parade route. A big band orchestra and ballroom dancers animated the Line’s famed Royal Nights Themed Balls. Representing Cunard’s hallmark brand of service, eight White Star Bellmen walked alongside the floral liner. A whistle sound from the new Queen Elizabeth, who will make her maiden call in Los Angeles on 29 January, completed the Cunard float.

Black Magic roses, purple phalaenopsis orchid sprays, green cymbidium orchids and hypericum, and white Casablanca lilies bordered the float, while more than 45,000 red Opium roses carpeted the steps and floors. Layers of black onion seed and crisp white sweet rice accented the distinctive shape of Cunard’s elongated bow, while shimmering deep brown flax seed replicated the rich texture of hand-polished mahogany woods throughout the architectural features. White roses, dendrobium orchids and phalaenopsis orchids swept over oceans of light and dark blue iris, delphinium and hydrangea blossoms to create the water waves of the high seas.

For more information and to book a voyage aboard a Cunard ocean liner, contact your travel agent, call toll free 1-800-7-CUNARD (1-800-728-6273) or go to www.cunard.com.

For an overview of Cunard Line take a look at the PROW'S EDGE CRUISE MAGAZINE CRUISE LINE PROFILE FOR CUNARD LINE or see what it was like across the Atlantic with Cunard in CROSSING THE POND.

Crystal Hawaii Golf Cruise

On Crystal Symphony’s first-ever Golf Experiences of Discovery to the Hawaiian Islands, golfers can tee off at three of the region’s most stunning courses, and perfect their swings with instruction from PGA pros on the way.

The 14-day itinerary conveniently sails round-trip from Los Angeles April 24, with play in Kauai, Oahu and Maui. The courses, featuring some of the most spectacular scenery on the islands, include:

Poipu Bay Golf Course (Kauai) – Named one of the top courses in Hawaii by the likes of Golf.com and The Los Angeles Times, where one is just as likely to reach the surf as the green.

Ko’olau Golf Course (Oahu) – Listed as one of Golf Magazine’s ‘Top 100 Places You Can Play’, the course encompasses over 280 acres of plush forest, and poses a fun challenge for low-handicappers.

Ka’anapali Golf Resort (Maui) – The Royal Course at Ka’anapali has hosted greats from Arnold to Nicklaus, featuring broad fairways and sloped greens.

In addition to play at the destination’s top-rated courses, Crystal’s “Hawaiian Dreams” golf programming also features on board presentations and tips from former U.S. Open champion Ken Venturi and golf historian Jack Mishler.

The Crystal Golf Program includes onboard practice with brand new TaylorMade equipment – the No. 1 driver on the PGA Tour – cocktails, caddy and cart service on the greens, and complimentary cleaning and storage of golf clubs and golf shoes after each round.

The cruise calls in Hawaii/Hilo, Kauai/Nawiliwili, Oahu/Honolulu, Maui/Lahaina, Hawaii; and Ensenada, Mexico. Promotional, Two-for-One cruise fares start at $4,955 per person, double occupancy, and include complimentary air transportation and $500 per person ‘All Inclusive – As You Wish’ shipboard credit.

For more information and Crystal reservations, contact a travel agent, call 888-799-4625, or visit www.crystalcruises.com.

For general information about Crystal Cruises take a look at PROW'S EDGE CRUISE LINE PROFILES- CRYSTAL CRUISES and cruise with Ursula and Eldrid Retief to Alaska aboard the Crystal Harmony in INTO THE LAST FRONTIER.

Photo: Poipu Bay Golf Course

About Adventures by Disney

As Disney Cruise Line revolutionized – and in some ways defined – the family cruise vacation, award-winning tour operator Adventures by Disney has re-created the way families think about vacationing together.

Launched in 2005, Adventures by Disney provides immersive, hassle-free and unforgettable guided family vacation experiences to destinations in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australia. Families traveling with Adventures by Disney receive exceptional service while taking part in extraordinary experiences from Cape Town to Paris, Yellowstone to Costa Rica, the ruins of Pompeii to the ruins of Machu Picchu, the Great Barrier Reef to the Great Wall of China and more.

For the second year in a row, Adventures by Disney was named World's Leading Luxury Tour Operator and North America's Leading Tour Operator by the World Travel Awards, which sets to recognize and celebrate excellence in global tourism, hospitality and travel. It also received two Travel Weekly Magellan Awards for its website and consumer collateral, awarded for the second year in these categories.

With Disney-trained Adventure Guides, engaging activities, VIP experiences and personal touches throughout, Adventures by Disney excites and delights every member of the family.

For more about the specific offerings of Adventures by Disney take a look at the news item “Adventures by Disney” at Prow’s Edge Cruise Magazine, or to book a vacation, guests can contact their travel agent, visit adventuresbydisney.com or call Adventures by Disney at 877/728-7282.

Official Confetti Sponsor of Times Square New Year’s Eve Lets Visitors Add Personal Wishes for 2011 to the Celebration

For the first time ever, Carnival Cruise Lines is infusing its fun spirit into the world’s largest New Year’s Eve celebration in New York’s Times Square. Carnival today announced it is the official confetti sponsor of the Times Square New Year’s Eve 2011 celebration, bringing its signature fun and popular brand to the annual gathering of more than a million revelers. The sponsorship includes multiple opportunities to associate the “Fun Ship” brand with the annual excitement and engage Times Square visitors and Carnival fans online with the option to have their wishes for 2011 added to the celebration’s confetti.

Carnival’s Senior Cruise Director John Heald will lead the official confetti air-worthiness test in Times Square in late December. He will then grace the main event stage on December 31 to lead the New Year’s Eve celebrants in a practice countdown, complete with 500 pounds of Carnival-colored red, white and blue confetti, the first confetti drop of the New Year’s Eve 2011 party. At the stroke of midnight on January 1, 2011, a ton of colorful Carnival Confetti, hand-tossed by approximately 100 “confetti dispersal engineers,” including a number of lucky Carnival employees, will fill the New York City skyline. Carnival will also engage the crowd through billboard advertisements and a text to win cruise giveaway on New Year’s Eve.

“Carnival is thrilled to be part of New York City’s New Year’s Eve celebration and add our brand of participatory fun to the festivities,” said Jim Berra, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Carnival Cruise Lines. “There is no place more iconic and energetic than Times Square on New Year’s Eve, so the opportunity to be the official confetti sponsor of this celebration is a great way for us to reinforce the fun our guests experience and to kick off the New Year for our brand. We’ll also be sending warm thoughts of Caribbean climes and tropical breezes to the revelers braving the cold by giving away a Carnival cruise vacation to one lucky person.”

For an overview of Carnival Cruises see the Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine profile of Carnival Cruises.

Silversea Opens 2012 Cruises for Sale

Announcing that cruises for 2012 are now open for sale, Silversea Cruises have revealed a line up of more than 200 cruises to almost 450 destinations in more than 100 countries on seven continents.

"The world is an amazing place, and it's our goal to create opportunities for travelers to explore its marvels in exceptional style and comfort," said Steve Tucker, Silversea's vice president of field sales for North America. "Our 2012 schedule has been carefully designed to offer a broad range of travel choices, including multiple-day calls and overnight stays showcasing traditional must-see destinations, as well as journeys to remote regions that are inaccessible to mega-ships."

Some of the exciting destinations include eight new Silversea destinations: Santander, Spain; Porto Novo, Cape Verde; Larnaca, Cyprus; Kuwait City, Kuwait; Sihanoukville (also known as Kampong Som), Cambodia; Christiansted, St. Croix; and Ireland's Foynes and Killybegs.

For more about the 2012 cruises take a look at the latest Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine news page at SILVERSEA CRUISES FOR 2012 or take a look at the official web site at www.silversea.com

An overview of the cruise line can found at PROW'S EDGE CRUISE LINE PROFILES - SILVERSEA

Cunard Makes History with First Female Captain

When Inger Klein Olsen assumed command of Cunard Line's Queen Victoria on Wednesday, 1 December 2010, she made history by becoming the venerable shipping line's first female captain.

Captain Olsen’s first task at the helm of Queen Victoria was to take the ship, without passengers, to drydock in Hamburg for its planned refit. Next Wednesday, 15 December, she will be on the bridge as the ship sets sail with a full complement of guests.

Forty-three-year-old Captain Olsen was born and raised in the Faroe Islands, which accounts for her maritime abilities, and she joined Cunard in 1997 as First Officer on board Caronia. In 2001 she transferred to the Seabourn fleet, which at that time was part of Cunard. She sailed on Seabourn Sun and Seabourn Spirit before being promoted to the rank of Staff Captain on Seabourn Pride in 2003.

Following some years with other companies within the Carnival Corporation group, Captain Olsen returned to Cunard in August this year as Deputy Captain of Queen Victoria.

“While we are far from being the first shipping company to have a female captain, it is nonetheless noteworthy when such a long-established British institution as Cunard makes a break with its captaincy tradition,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard. “But as Mark Twain drily observed, 'the folks at Cunard wouldn't appoint Noah himself as captain until he had worked his way up through the ranks.’ Inger has certainly done that,” Shanks continued, “and we are delighted to welcome her as our first woman driver.”

Olsen will helm Queen Victoria during the ship's debut Americas season, commencing from New York to Los Angeles on 13 January. During the first 17-day voyage, the ship will call on Ft. Lauderdale and Bonaire, transit the Panama Canal, and visit three ports in Mexico - Huatulco, Acapulco and Manzanillo - before arriving into Los Angeles on 30 January. Captain Olsen will take her leave on 13 February.

Queen Victoria's Americas season continues until 18 March, and features several transits through the Panama Canal, four calls to Los Angeles, two roundtrip voyages from Los Angeles to Hawaii, and one Getaway voyage to Mexico.

Captain Olsen lives in Denmark.

For more information about Queen Victoria and to book a voyage, consult your travel professional, call toll-free 1-800-7-CUNARD (1-800-728-6273) or go to www.cunard.com.