Telegraph Cruise Show in Britain

For those based in Britain, cruise lovers and those interested in a dream voyage at sea, the Telegraph Cruise Show returning to  Glasgow & Birmingham this October, and London next year gives cruise enthusiasts the chance to meet all the major cruise and specialist operators under one roof and save thousands of pounds with exclusive show-only offers.



Theaters are packed with free presentations offering FREE advice from those in the know and give would-be cruisers and experienced cruisers alike the chance to discover the latest about new ships, latest itineraries, onboard activities and shore excursions.

In fact, the Telegraph Cruise Show is the only such show in Britain where enthusiasts can uncover everything the world of cruise travel has to offer. There is everything on offer from details about hundreds of ships cruising all over the world, information about cruise lines from six-star, luxury comfort to adventure explorations and even cruise ships geared with activities for the whole family .



For more information about the Telegraph Cruise Show which takes place in London (March 2013) and Glasgow and Birmingham (October 2012) visit www.cruisingshow.com



Cunard offers opera in 3D

Acclaimed soprano Liping Zhang stars as Cio-Cio-San in RealD’s "Madam Butterfly 3D,"
filmed live at London’s Royal Opera House. Photo by Ollie Upton.

Cunard Line is one of the first cruise lines to offer opera in 3D as they announce the first shipboard screenings of the 3D feature film, "Madam Butterfly 3D," in association with the Royal Opera House and RealD, the world’s most widely used digital 3D projection technology. 

Combining the excitement of live staging with the immediacy of a feature film, "Madam Butterfly 3D" is a production designed to appeal to novices and opera buffs alike.

Captured during live performances at London’s internationally renowned Royal Opera House, "Madam Butterfly 3D" will be shown aboard Cunard’s flagship, Queen Mary 2, beginning 6 July 2012, the only ship currently scheduled to present the film. 

The film opened earlier this year in the United Kingdom to much popular and critical acclaim and is being released worldwide in almost 40 other countries through the fall of 2012.

Liping Zhang appears as the Butterfly of the title, Cio-Cio-San, a role for which she is acclaimed worldwide – and James Valenti makes an especially dashing Pinkerton, the young officer whose thoughtless toying with love is the catalyst for this tragic story. This revival of Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier’s elegant stage production offers the drama, the musical richness and the sheer enjoyment of great performance that make The Royal Opera truly world class.

For more information about Queen Mary 2 or to book a voyage, consult your Travel Agent, call Cunard toll-free 1-800-728-6273 or go to www.cunard.com.

For more news about Cunard (old and new) as featured aboard Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine visit:

http://www.prowsedge.com/cruise-news-cunard-line-Queen-Mary-2-Best-Luxury-Cruise-Ship.html

http://www.prowsedge.com/cruise-news-cunard-line-weddings.html

Princess Cruises honored for environmental efforts

Princess Cruises has been honored by the ports of San Francisco and Victoria, BC, Canada, with awards for the cruise line’s environmental efforts.



Victoria City Mayor Dean Fortin and the Honorable James Moore, Canadian Federal Minister, present the Ogden Point Eco Award to Princess Senior Environmental Officer Debbie Nylund. (Photo by Jeff Slater)

The Victoria, B.C. Ogden Point Eco Award recognizes cruise lines who go above and beyond in their efforts to reduce emissions while in the port of Victoria, including using low-sulfur fuel. The award cited four Princess ships that called in Victoria during 2011 -- Golden Princess, Island Princess, Sapphire Princess and Sea Princess.

Michael Nerney, Marketing Manager for the Port of San Francisco presents Sea Princess Captain Martin Stenzel with the Cruise Ship Environmental Award

The Port of San Francisco’s Cruise Ship Environmental Award was presented to Sea Princess and Sapphire Princess. The ships earned this distinction during the 2011 season for air emissions reduction, advanced waste-water management, and recycling and disposal programs. Both vessels plugged into the port's new shoreside power system, the first to be implemented in California.





“We are always gratified when our ships are recognized for making a difference in local environmental efforts,” said Rai Caluori, Princess’ executive vice president of fleet operations. “It is important to us that stunning ports such as San Francisco and Victoria continue to offer passengers the natural beauty they come to experience.”



More information about Princess Cruises can be found at Prow’s Edge Cruise Magazine - All About Princess Cruises or by visiting the company's website at www.princess.com.

Helping Charity on a Holland America Line Cruise

A recent Grand World Voyage aboard Holland America Line’s ms Amsterdam saw the creation of 85 blankets and 50 hats by a group of volunteer “blanketeers” which were then donated to the Seattle chapter of Project Linus on Friday, June 1.



Project Linus provides new, handmade blankets, afghans and hats to children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need. 



During each sea day the “Sit and Knit” group aboard the ms Amsterdam of more than 50 guests got together to knit squares, hats and blankets. Both seasoned and novice knitters took part in the effort, including ship captain Jonathan Mercer’s wife, Karen.



On a previous Grand Asia Voyage in 2010, another group knitted 120 hats and 38 blankets that went to hospitals and cancer patients in the Seattle area through Project Linus. 



Plans are underway to continue a Project Linus effort on next year’s Grand World Voyage, departing January 5, 2013, from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.



For more information about Project Linus, visit : www.projectlinus.org.  



To learn more about Holland America Line’s charitable programs, please visit http://www.hollandamerica.com/about-best-cruise-lines/Main.action and click social responsibility.



For more information about Holland America Line’s cruises and cruisetours visit :  www.hollandamerica.com.



For more about Holland America Line and other cruise lines visit Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine

Olympic Games on Celebrity Cruises

An anticipated one-billion people will be watching the London Olympic Games on TV this year, and Celebrity Cruises has arranged the rare opportunity for guests sailing on its modern luxury fleet to be among them.

For the 17 days of the games, Celebrity Cruises intends to broadcast 'live' via satellite the swimming, diving, gymnastics, rowing, cycling, athletics, and basketball events, in addition to airing daily compilations of highlights from all 26 sports featured in the Games of the XXX Olympiad. On Celebrity ships sailing in North America, the events initially airing live also will be re-broadcast during more convenient times of day for guests to enjoy.

Whether sailing on Celebrity Constellation in Scandinavia and Russia; in Iceland and the Fjords on Celebrity Eclipse; in the Eastern Mediterranean on Celebrity Equinox; in the Adriatic on Celebrity Silhouette; in the Mediterranean from Venice on Celebrity Solstice; in Bermuda on Celebrity Summit; or in Alaska on Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Infinity and Celebrity Century, Celebrity's guests can stay on top of the Games while vacationing. 
                                                                 

Celebrity's guests will be able to view the Olympic Games within the comfort of their stylish staterooms and suites, or in several hip bars and lounges on every Celebrity ship (with the exception of Celebrity Xpedition, which sails year-round in the Galapagos Islands). The specific locations and event times will be listed within each Celebrity ship's daily newsletter.

For more information about Celebrity Cruises take a look at www.celebritycruises.com, and Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine at  http://www.prowsedge.com/cruise-lines-celebrity-cruises.html

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

Taking a break from the usual top cruise lines pandering the usual destinations around Alaska and the Caribbean, many cruisers are now looking for something different and are finding it with Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, the world’s only authentic boutique cruise line™.

LATEST NEWS ABOUT UNIWORLD CAN BE FOUND ON PROW'S EDGE NEWS PAGES AT  http://www.prowsedge.com/cruise-news-Uniworld-Boutique-River-Cruises-Asia.html

 

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is recognized among the “World’s Best River Cruises” by Travel + Leisure.

In fact, Uniworld was voted the“#1 River Cruise Line in the World” in Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards, was named to Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious Gold List and their Platinum Circle for having made the list consistently for the past five years, and won “Best River Ships” in their Readers’ Poll, which ranked River Queen and River Beatrice #1 and #3 of all cruise ships in the world, respectively, along with eight other highly ranked ships in the top 40 river ships category.

Uniworld’s cabins and dining are also ranked among the top three in the world by Zagat Survey®, with Uniworld being the only river cruise line named in the Zagat Survey® amongst the best of the best in the cruise industry.

Uniworld features luxurious boutique ships with an average capacity of 130 guests, included shore excursions fully hosted by local experts, world-class gourmet cuisine, and award-winning, personalized hospitality. Uniworld offers over 500 departures sailing on over 13 rivers in more than 20 countries throughout Europe, Russia, Egypt, China, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

For more details, visit uniworld.com or visit Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine for even more cruise lines that are not the norm.

Norwegian Cruise Line private cabanas

Norwegian Cruise Line have introduced exclusive private cabanas with VIP service and amenities,  on Great Stirrup Cay, the line’s 250-acre private island in the Bahamas.

The launch of “Cabanas on the Cay” marks another significant addition to the island as part of the $25 million dollar enhancement project.

Located to the west of the island’s main beach, these perfectly-appointed private Cabanas boast exclusive service and amenities to provide guests with the ultimate island escape and total relaxation.

Available for $249 per day, each Cabana accommodates up to six guests and is fully furnished with lounge chairs, tables, cooler, beach towels and a shower. Cabana rental also includes a $50 food and beverage credit; up to six all-day passes to the Hippo Waterslide, a $120 value; and one large float, a $25 value; for guests to enjoy during their time on the island.

Guests who reserve one of the 10 “Cabanas on the Cay” will enjoy priority tender service to the island and, upon arrival to their private cabana, will receive six complimentary bottles of water and a refreshing fruit basket. As they relax on one of the comfortable lounge chairs, guests will have the opportunity to use their $50 food and beverage credit towards pre-ordered “Cabanas on the Cay” food and beverage  selections.

For more information visit  www.ncl.com.

St Helena Island RMS Cruise

The unique cargo-passenger ship, the RMS St Helena, one of the last working Royal Mail ships in the world, offers several exiting cruises including one to Saint Helena Island in the South Atlantic.

One of the most remote, inhabited islands on earth, St Helena offers everything from desert landscapes and 1,000 ft-high cliffs of volcanic rock, to luscious green valleys playing host to unique plants and wildlife.

Cruising en route to St Helena Island, the RMS St Helena takes in several unique ports of call, from Capetown in South Africa to Weymouth Bay and Portland Port, and unspoilt and peaceful Ascension that is known for it's wild landscapes and 44  volcanic craters rather than gaudy, modern resorts and hotels.

Carrying under 130 passengers, the 6,767 gross toned St Helena offers a cruise unlike the usual offerings from more commercial cruise lines in that it also works as a local lifeline for residents at St Helena.

Life on board is without the usual gaudy over-kill of theatres and casinos, but nevertheless offers high class accommodation and leisure areas as well as world renowned food including everything from traditional afternoon teas to a six-course dinners.

For more information take a look at http://rms-st-helena.com/