RELAX IN STYLE IN AN NORWEGIAN CABANA

"Cabana on the Cay" (Courtesy, NCL)

Recipe for relaxing -- Take one private island in the Bahamas, add a private cabana, throw in some lounge chairs, beach towels, a shower and voila! On the relaxation scale of 1-10, that's scores an 11.

Norwegian Cruise Line calls it "Cabanas on the Cay," the newest addition to Great Stirrup Cay, their private island in the Bahamas. There's only 10 of them. Each accommodates up to six guests and can be reserved for $249 per day.

According to Norwegian, "Located to the west of the island’s main beach . . .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 also get 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."

The cabanas are available on a first-come-first-serve basis and can be pre-booked as a shore excursion online or through the Shore Excursion Desk on board.

Wonder if you can also order a bunch of grapes and a palm fan?

-- Gerry, for Cruising Squared

FIND US ON CRUISE PLANNERS

Pam and I are excited to announce our affiliation with American Express Cruise Planners, an organization representing over 800 cruise specialist franchisees. They will be featuring selected posts from Cruising Squared on their blog, such as this review of 150 Central Park on Oasis of the Seas. When you get ready to plan your next cruise, you need to get with one of their cruise experts. They know all the latest deals!

'GRANDEUR' LIVING UP TO ITS NAME

Royal Caribbean is in the midst of a multi-million dollar revitalization of its fleet. One of the latest ships to have a makeover is the Grandeur of the Seas. The result? Stunning! Check out the video:

CAPTAIN, BRIDGE DEAD AHEAD!

It's been a tough year for cruise ship captains. Like what happened recently when the captain of a new luxury cruise ship in China misjudged the clearance for going under a bridge. Roll tape...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GEKiC28lqc

SHORE EXCURSIONS - YES OR NO?

At port in Nassau (Photo: Gerry)

Should I sign up for a shore excursion?

Whether you are a first-timer or a cruise veteran, that usually lands in the "frequently asked questions" column.

Here are a few observations based on our own experiences:

• Generally speaking, most port visits are eight hours or less, and if you've never been there before, a shore excursion is a good way to see a lot in a short time. It also can provide an insurance policy against the captain's stern admonition that anyone not back on board by sailing time risks watching their friends wave goodbye from their stateroom balconies. Ship-sanctioned tours guarantee you won't be left behind.

'BEATLEMANIA' COMES TO THE OASIS

Pam and I were leaving for a nightcap aboard Oasis of the Seas when who should we run into in the hallway outside our stateroom than John Lennon.

Or rather, the musician who portrays John Lennon in the show, "Beatlemania Live!"

We had actually just seen the show a few hours before and "John" was going to his stateroom, guitar over his shoulder, on the same deck as ours.

The show is amazing, and just as advertised, you think you are seeing The Beatles in their prime. The first set is many of the early classics -- like "I Want to Hold Your Hand," "Twist and Shout," while the second half is devoted to "Sgt. Pepper," complete with costumes.

I had to tell "John" I thought their live act was actually better than when The Beatles were performing. He said one reason is they have the advantage of a lot of technology the original Beatles didn't have.

We told him about our own "close encounter" with Paul McCartney when I was the rock music writer for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Interviewing Paul was a high point for me, and Pam and I both got to be starstruck backstage. Read about it here.

If you ever get the chance to catch "Beatlemania Live!," don't miss it! 

-- Gerry, for Cruising Squared

ADULTS ONLY ON ROYAL CARIBBEAN OASIS

A tasteful sign says it.

Now, don't get me wrong, I adore children. Love 'em.

However, encountering this message on our recent adventure aboard,
The Oasis of the Seas, was a welcome sight. Indeed.

Why?

Because I think the ship has devoted almost its entirety to family and children. And, that is lovely.

Realizing the Solarium area is an Adults Only (well, almost adults) area made me exhale, realizing we could relax in the peaceful ambience of it all.

And, we did.

Thank you, Royal Caribbean.

Adults being treated so elegantlly in this simple fashion is royal!

Should there be more areas on cruise ships devoted to adults? Just adults? Should they increase the age to eighteen?

~Pam, Cruising Squared

DANCING CHAMP GOING DISNEY CRUISING

What comes after winning Season Fourteen of, Dancing With The Stars?

According to current champ, Donald Driver, it is not simply Disney World. He and his family plan to take a Disney cruise!

Sounds perfect to me, so dance on, Donald.

~Pam, Cruising Squared

THE BIG LETTUCE BATH

Our tour group is awe-struck by the giant vegetables and the "white water rapids" lettuce washing machine on the Oasis of the Seas galley tour.

BEHIND THE SCENES ON THE ROYAL PRINCESS

There's nothing like getting a sneak preview of a new ship. In this just-released video from Princess Cruises, the interior designers take you behind the scenes on the Royal Princess, debuting in June, 2013. You can get the back story behind "the new ship design, from the ethereal feel of the marble and glass spiral staircases in the atrium to the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright in the décor of the aft dining room." Passengers on this ship will feel royal, indeed.

-- Gerry

OASIS OF THE SEAS: GALLEY TOUR

There are so many things that seem like "Mission: Impossible" when you think about the daunting task of hosting almost 9,000 people a week on a cruise ship. Not least of which is feeding those people 24/7. But that's the job Executive Chef Thomas takes on every day on Oasis of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship. Working with a staff of hundreds, the German-born, 14-year veteran of Royal Caribbean ships personally oversees every dining venue aboard, which means lots and lots of walking. After taking the tour of his galleys, our hat's off to you, Chef Thomas!


-- Gerry, for Cruising Squared

NO MUSTER DRILL? NO CRUISE FOR COUPLE

Did you see this cruise news item this week:

"Elderly Couple Kicked Off Luxury Cruise Ship After Refusing to Attend Muster Drill"

According to the story on CruiseCritic, the couple (he's 90, she's 84) was on the Seabourn Sojourn. When it came time for the mandatory muster drill, the wife wouldn't budge from their cabin, saying she wasn't feeling well. Given recent events, cruise lines are taking safety more seriously than ever. So they were sent packing.

Agree? Disagree? Cruising Squared definitely sides with the captain. Safety first, always.

OASIS SAND ARTISTS CREATE MAGIC

When Pam and I attended the "Frozen in Time" ice show aboard Oasis of the Seas, we expected to see fabulous ice skating and topnotch production (right, on both counts).  What we didn't expect was to be mesmerized by two artists from the Ukraine who told a story in sand.

The show is based on the fairy tales of Hans Christian Anderson, and features magnificent skating and choreography. At one point in the show, the lights are darkened, and two people walk to a lighted box. Those two people are Aleksandra Vodnytska and Sergii Scherbinin.

As the audience watched on monitors, the couple started telling Anderson's "Ole Lukejo," -- the Sandman -- through the medium of, appropriately enough, sand. As the sand was sprinkled on a lighted shadow box surface, their hands and fingers flew through it, creating faces, umbrellas, and clocks in delightfully unexpected ways.

Given the number of "oohs" and "aahs" we heard (including ours), the audience was enthralled.

Sergii, Pam and Aleksandra
(Photo: Gerry)

Afterwards, we spoke to both Aleksandra and Sergii, both accomplished designers and artists, about their craft and the show.

As you might expect, creating those magical minutes onstage requires hundreds of hours of practice. "It starts with pencil sketches," said Aleksandra, "and from there step-by-step with the sand and the music." They told us there are probably less than a dozen people in the world who perform "sand art" professionally.

You can learn about them at their website, www.vodnytska.com, and at their blog, where you can view the "Ole Lukejo" performance via a YouTube video.

Bravo Aleksandra and Sergii! Cruising Squared is giving you a standing ovation.

-- Gerry and Pam, for Cruising Squared

PRINCESS BLOG ASKS, WHY DO YOU CRUISE?

Just about every major cruise line is taking advantage of social media and the "blogosphere," knowing that's a great way to connect with their customers.


On the blog side of things, Princess Cruises is especially active. Last year they had their "50 Essential Experiences." They asked their employees to answer the question, “You’ve seen it all. What places do I really need to have on my travel bucket list?” This year the theme is Inspired to Cruise: A Year of Reasons to Get Away from the Everyday, "offering readers a new collection of touching passenger stories about the many things that can inspire travelers to vacation at sea." Each week during 2012, "the blog explores the celebrations, accomplishments, milestones and other inspired reasons to cruise, each told by a different passenger."


The latest reasons to cruise, from their press release, are:

JAMES ROYAL PALM COMING TO SOUTH BEACH

The James Royal Palm
(Credit: James Hotel Group)

The sizzling Miami South Beach hotel scene is getting a new addition this fall when the James Royal Palm opens. From the press release:


"The James Royal Palm will be the brand’s first hotel in Florida, with 179 guest rooms and 211 studios and suites, the majority of which have ocean views. Located just steps away from the beach and world-famous Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue, the hotel will also boast two swimming pools, a chef-driven, signature restaurant, a poolside bar, a lobby lounge, coffee bar, a full-service spa with salt-infused treatments, Lil’ James offerings for children, retail shop and over 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space. One of the restaurants will be CATCH, EMM Group’s flagship dining phenomenon which is coming to Miami for the first time."


The James Royal palm is now accepting reservations at www.jameshotels.com/Miami 

-- Gerry, for Cruising Squared
 

 
 

GAVIN MACLEOD MEETS GAVIN MACLEOD

Gavin MacLeod, left, meets Gavin MacLeod, right
(Credit: Princess Cruises)

The famous captain of the Love Boat recently met a bridge officer on the Island Princess who shares his name. Quoting from the release:

"When Island Princess Third Officer Gavin MacLeod, who hails from Inverness, Scotland, joined Princess in 2010, he never gave much thought to the fact that he shared a name with the actor who made the role of “Captain Stubing” an iconic part of television history. But last week when Island Princess called at the port of Los Angeles, the two men met on the ship’s bridge and enjoyed lunch together at Sabatini’s restaurant. The pair also signed several navigational charts to be auctioned for charity."

If only they could meet Charlie's Angels on Fantasy Island, the reunion of 70s TV icons would be complete.

-- Gerry, for Cruising Squared

LYCHEE, OASIS: A MARRIAGE MADE IN FOOD HEAVEN

Lychee tree (Photo: JLS Farms)

Twenty years ago, some 800 lychee trees were planted in the dry, rocky soil near Miami called the Redlands.

More than a decade later, Royal Caribbean started the gargantuan task of building the world's biggest cruise ship.

Who could have known in 2011, both would come together via a James Beard-award winning chef. But that's exactly what happened, and Ellen Samimy was sitting in the Solarium on deck 16 of Oasis of the Seas to tell the story.

RIDE-ON CARRY-ON IS GENIUS

It's luggage. It's a stroller. It's luggage again.

Invented by a flight attendant who is also a mom, it's both. So,  let's take a look at the Ride-On Carry-On.

Luggage becomes a stroller.

After just returning from a seven-day cruise where we were joined by many families with small children requiring massive strollers, my interest was piqued when I saw this on, Good Morning America, this morning.

Although, sometimes things look better on television than in real-life, I found many positive reviews about this little gem.

CRUISING AND THE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

Browsing the shops of St. Thomas

This is a topic I take quite seriously, both on land and on sea.

Frequently, I am asked about shopping while on-board or in the various ports-of-call.

My advice?

SAILING WITH CREATIVE CUPCAKES

Cupcake decorating class on The Oasis of the Seas

What's the next best thing to eating cupcakes while cruising the ocean blue?

That sounds a bit like a trick question because the answer, in my opinion, is: Nothing!

However, there is something very close to the pleasure of eating cupcakes.

Decorating cupcakes could be the next best thing.

Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas offers the opportunity to gather inside their cupcake shop and apply frosting to cupcakes.  I think of it as cupcake-art.

That's a class I would stay after any day of the week!

-- Pam, for Cruising Squared

BREEZE READY FOR HER CLOSE-UP

In an earlier post we told you about the restaurants aboard the new Carnival ship, Breeze, debuting next month. Here are some recent pics from the Breeze sea trials. All aboard!

Photos: Carnival Public Relations

CARNIVAL'S NEW $65 MILLION CRUISE CENTER

Carnival is making a big bet on the Dominican Republic with the announcement of a new, $65 million cruise center there, Amber Cove. From the press release:

Photo: Carnival Public Relations

"Groundbreaking ceremonies for the Caribbean’s newest destination, the $65 million Amber Cove Cruise Center, were held yesterday in the Dominican Republic at the project site on the Bay of Maimon located near Puerto Plata in the country’s North Coast.

"The new facility – which represents one of the largest cruise industry investments ever made in the Dominican Republic – is scheduled to open in 2014. The project is designed to re-establish the Dominican Republic’s North Coast as a popular cruise destination. The last cruise ship to call at Puerto Plata was nearly 30 years ago.

"A joint project between Carnival Corporation & plc and the Rannik family of Grupo B&R, the new two-berth Amber Cove Cruise Center will be able to accommodate up to 8,000 cruise passengers and 2,000 crew members daily. The facility is expected to host more than 250,000 cruise passengers in its first year of operation.

"Amber Cove will encompass 30 acres of waterfront property and will feature a welcome center with a variety of retail offerings, including a marketplace for locally sourced Dominican crafts and souvenirs, as well as a wide range of themed restaurants and bars and an exciting water attraction."

DAY OF THE DELINQUENT IGUANA

This St. Thomas Iguana Breaks The Rules

JUST FOR GRINS!

Apparently this iguana, hanging at the port in St. Thomas, is no saint and just can't be bothered obeying signs.

Well, at least we didn't catch it throwing rocks.

NAVIGATING THE OASIS IS A BREEZE

Sana Keller, and her Mother, Kathleen Shearer (seated) of Toronto at the Champagne Bar.

One of the best things, for me, on a cruise is the opportunity to meet fascinating people from around the world, or simply from your home state.

Therefore, it was my pleasure to meet the beautiful Sana Keller of Toronto and her very charming mother, Kathleen Shearer.

The ladies were kind enough to meet me in the elegant Champagne Bar, on-board The Oasis of the Seas, where we had the opportunity to chat for a moment.

I discovered from Sana, a seasoned cruiser and traveler, that her mother had been discouraged from cruising by concerned friends.

Who on earth would discourage someone from cruising, and why?

PBIA BEGINS FLIGHTS TO SAN JUAN

Big news from The Palm Beach County Convention and Visitor Bureau today:

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla (May 15, 2011) —JetBlue Airways today launched the first-ever, year-round, non-stop daily flight between San Juan, Puerto Rico and The Palm Beach International Airport (PBIA) in Florida. To kick off this new flight, JetBlue is offering fares as low as $93 each way from Palm Beach County today through May 25, 2012, at www.jetblue.com/new.  This introductory fare is valid for travel between May 29 and June 21, 2012.  The new service operates with the airline’s 150-passenger Airbus A320, departing PBIA at 8:50 a.m., arriving at SJU at 11:20 a.m., and departing SJU at 12:10 p.m., arriving at PBIA at 2:54 p.m., each day.

CRUISING SOCIAL IS NOT SQUARE

Won't you join us, socially?

Friend us on Facebook! We will friend you back!

Tweet with us!


See you there.

MEET MICHAEL'S TEAM

Sommelier Eric Larkee

Left to right: Incoming 150 Central Park chef de cuisine Luciano Bonci,
 current 150 Central Park chef de cuisine James Seyba,
 Michael's Genuine Food & Drink (Miami) chef de cuisine
 Bradley Herron and Michael Schwartz. (Photos: Gerry)

We told you about the FABULOUS new menu debuting at 150 Central Park on Oasis of the Seas, now here's the team that created it. Take a bow, gentlemen!

-- Gerry, for Cruising Squared

BRIAN AND MO SING FOR THE QUEEN, CUNARD

Oh Yes, both Mo and I have worked (unpaid of course) for Cunard - as we have both sung in front of our Queen when she named the new Cunard liner “Queen Elizabeth” in October 2010.

As some of you may know, both Mo and I sing – we sing with 3 choirs each week and also sing with 2 other choirs on an ad hoc basis. So, in 2010 we were invited to join Bournemouth Symphony Chorus (an amateur choir that sings to a professional standard) at the naming ceremony of Cunard’s new liner – the Queen Elizabeth.

DRINK OF THE DAY -- WHAT'S YOUR FAV?

In the great tradition of cruising, we present the Drink of the Day. And what's your favorite?

--Gerry, for Cruising Squared

ZIPPING AROUND THE OASIS

No, that is not Gerry, bravely zipping high above the Boardwalk on the Oasis. Not that he wouldn't do it. Taking photos is as close as I got to this, but plenty of folks eagerly embrace all the challenging activities offered while at-sea or in-port.

No, cruising on Royal Caribbean's, Oasis of the Seas,  is not just about the fabulous food (yes, it's a tremendous part of it).

So, whether you want to zip-it, rock-it (they have an amazing rock wall with various degrees of difficulty), run-it (they have an excellent track for running, jogging or walking), or golf-it (on their mini-course), you can.

So, if you're ready-it all waits!

-- Pam, for Cruising Squared

CRUISING SQUARED PHOTO OP

You never know where Cruising Squared will show up next. One-half of the Cruising Squared team made it into the photo posted over at The Genuine Kitchen blog, where fans of Miami chef Michael Schwartz can keep up with the latest. We'll actually be posting more about sommelier Eric Larkee's wine tasting here soon. In the meantime, thanks to Jackie Sayet, Michael's Brand Director, for all her help during the Oasis of the Seas event. Here's the link to the Genuine Kitchen post and photo:

http://thegenuinekitchen.com/2012/05/11/sailing-away-in-gewurztraminerville/

-- Gerry, for Cruising Squared

NORWEGIAN GETAWAY OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY

Big ships aren't born full grown. They get there one piece at a time. The first piece of steel that eventually will become Norwegian Getaway was officially cut on May 4 at MEYER WERFT shipyards in Germany. Getaway will call Miami its year-round home, and will make its debut in the spring of 2014. At 144,000 metric tons, it will accommodate 4,000 passengers.

Earlier coverage:

http://cruisingsquared.blogspot.com/2012/04/new-norwegian-ship-will-call-miami-home.html

http://cruisingsquared.blogspot.com/2012/04/norwegian-breakaway-more-details.html

-- Gerry, for Cruising Squared

NEW MENU DEBUTS AT 150 CENTRAL PARK

When the biggest cruise ship in the world teams with a James Beard-award winning chef and local Florida farmers offering the freshest seasonal produce, everyone wins, and especially the diners at 150 Central Park on Oasis of the Seas.

The chef is Miami's Michael Schwartz, who brought his extraordinary culinary creations to Oasis in a headline-making partnership with Royal Caribbean last year. Schwartz's restaurants, Michael's Genuine Food and Drink and Harry's Pizzeria, are mainstays in the Miami dining scene.

As June approaches, the winter menu gives way to the summer fare Schwartz and his team have been perfecting. Cruising Squared was among the group that got a "sneak preview" of the new dishes, along with the accompanying wine parings for each.

150 Central Park is, as the name would indicate, one of the specialty restaurants on Oasis in the Central Park neighborhood on deck 8. Surrounded by over 12,000 living trees and plants, the open air expanse mimics much of the ambiance of its New York City namesake.

CELEBRITY THEME CRUISES CELEBRATE LIFE

Have you ever been on a "theme" cruise? Whether the theme is food and wine, rock and roll or even the Civil War, theme cruises seem to be more popular than ever. We caught up with Dominique Bonavita, the  Director, Product Development, at Celebrity Cruises, to find out more.

Question: Theme cruises seem to be gaining in popularity. True? Why do you think that's the case?

Answer: Theme cruises have been around for a very long time and have always been popular with experienced cruisers.  I think it is the recent modern make-over and diversity of themes that may be driving more interest and awareness.  

Q: How many theme cruises does Celebrity hold in an 'average' year?  

A: This year we will host a total of 25 theme cruises beginning with our Celebrity Life Plus eastbound transatlantic sailings, and later in the fall an additional five Celebrity Life Plus westbound transatlantic sailings.  Celebrity Life Plus builds upon our robust enrichment program Celebrity Life and will provide guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in various interest tracks while enjoying special lectures, appearances, and classes from Smithsonian Journey's destination speakers, sports personalities, Zumba instructors, and artists from ArtCenter/South Florida.  Also in our theme cruise line-up are our seven Wine Cruises on Celebrity Constellation featuring special on-board programming and enriching cultural and wine education shore excursions while visiting popular wine regions throughout France and Spain.  And inspired by the pages of our lifestyle book published last year, Excite the Senses, our own James Beard-featured culinary team and special wine and spirit educators will host eight "Excite the Senses" culinary theme cruises.   

Q: How are themes chosen? What are the key factors that go into that decision?  

A: Having a good understanding of what our guests' interests are, paired with our culinary and enrichment expertise, shape what we offer.  Building on our expertise and delivering on our guests' interests ensures we provide them with an enriching and memorable theme cruise vacation experience.   

Q: What about the logistics and planning? It seems there must be a lot that goes into making all the arrangements. Is there a specific team of people who do that?  

A: Theme cruises require an incredible amount of logistics and planning, which must be done well in advance, so we can promote and sell the sailings.  We have to be very forward thinking about the experience we're developing. There's no single, dedicated team.  While we in Product Development coordinate a lot of the efforts, it's often many operational teams working toward a common goal to develop each theme and ensure proper planning and execution on board.  We actually approach most of our on-board programming development that way and it works well for us.     

Q: Upcoming themes: Any plans to do something outside of food and wine?  

A: Yes, we're always planning, but there's nothing in the pipeline that we can share at this time, Stay tuned!

Readers: Have you ever been on a theme cruise? Tell us about it!


--Gerry, for Cruising Squared

'SUPER MOON' FROM THE OASIS OF THE SEAS

The "super moon" viewed from Oasis of the Seas
(Photo: G. Barker)

While Royal Caribbean maybe didn't schedule it that way, Oasis of the Seas departed for a seven-day cruise of the Eastern Caribbean on the same day the moon made its closest approach to the earth -- May 5. Meaning those of us on board got a great show on the very first night. Of course, it's hard to capture the experience on camera, but trust me, it made for a beautiful sight in the evening sky from deck 17. (Click on the photos for a better view.)


--Gerry, for Cruising Squared

Passengers gather topside to view the "super moon"
(Photo: G. Barker)

A CHANCE TO WIN A TRIP ON 'BREEZE'

The “BlueIguana Cantina Fight for Your Appetite” sweepstakes runs through May 10 on Carnival’s Facebook fan page. "Fans are asked to choose their favorite taco and burrito toppings in a series of head-to-head competitions pitting such options as guacamole vs. sour cream or breakfast burritos vs. traditional tacos. All participants who vote are entered into a drawing for a Carnival Breeze Caribbean cruise for two, as well as round-trip air transportation, that will be awarded on May 17."

The sweepstakes includes a feature in which fans can "digitally throw images of burrito and taco toppings and other BlueIguana Cantina food items at their fellow Facebook enthusiasts’ pages."

A Facebook food fight ... bring it!

       

SUSHI COMES TO CARNIVAL

Here is some news Pam will love: Carnival's newest ship, Breeze, will feature Carnival's first full-service sushi restaurant, Bonsai Sushi, described as:

"Bonsai Sushi offers a wide variety of Asian-inspired delicacies with a contemporary decor featuring artwork by world-renowned graffiti artist Erni Vales, colorful koi kites flown during impromptu celebrations, and, of course, several Bonsai trees. Located along Promenade Deck, Bonsai Sushi includes a number of varieties of sushi, sashimi, and rolls along with bento boxes and the venue’s own interpretation of a sushi boat – in this case, a sushi “ship” – with prices ranging from $1 for appetizer-sized portions to $15 for a sushi ship for two."

Luckily, they haven't forgotten the non-sushi diners among us (like me). For us there's Fat Jimmy's C-Side BBQ: "Reminiscent of a backyard barbecue, this complimentary open-air dining venue located on Promenade Deck offers a mouth-watering array of grilled favorites, including barbecued chicken breast, kielbasa, Italian sausage, and Fat Jimmy’s signature item, pulled pork sandwiches, along with traditional sides like baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw and mini-corn muffins."

I may never leave.

And if sushi or BBQ isn't your thing, no worries. There are also these options:

MO AND BRIAN ASK: 'BIG' OR 'SMALL'?

Dear all at Cruising Squared:

Hi - we are the Brits; Mo (short for Maureen) and me (Brian) and we are new to cruising.

Now, I'll admit that until last year we have not thought of cruising, but we succumbed to the idea and took our first cruise around the Caribbean on the Queen Victoria.

We met lots of people - and struck up many friendships - especially our very good friends Pam and Gaz (just to embarrass you two good folks - when shall we meet again?).

We liked it so much that we went on another cruise, with Cunard in the late autumn (sorry for our US readers - the "fall") choosing a Princess Grill suite - and believe you me, it was well worth the extra cost.

LIVE! FROM THE ROYAL PRINCESS

Princess Live! (Credit: Princess Cruises)

If you want to find out what's going on around the ship, you normally have to check the daily bulletin in your stateroom or tune the TV to your friendly cruise director channel.

Now Princess Cruises is going that one better. How about a live show in TV-styled studio? That's what guests will find on the new Royal Princess, set to launch in June, 2013.

Called, appropriately enough, Princess Live!, it's both a talk show and an entertainment venue, where, according to Princess:

THE WEBBY TRAVEL AWARDS

We all know how mainstay the Internet is when it comes to travel, whether we are planning it, booking it or just dreaming about it. The Webby Awards recognize the best of the web, and the winners have just been announced for the 16th edition. Here are the travel sites that won:

Kayak.com won both The Webby Award and The People’s Voice Award for Best Travel Website. It also won The People’s Voice Award for Best Travel App, but FlightBoard won The Webby Award in the same category.

In the Best Tourism Website category, The New York City Tourism Bureau won The Webby Award for NYC The Official Guide and Greenland.com won The People’s Voice Award.  Norway’s Tourism Bureau won The Webby Award for Best Home/Welcome Page for Visit Norway 360.

In the Online Film & Video categories, From Peru for Peru won both The Webby Award and The People’s Voice Award for Best Travel & Adventure Online Video and “Sonia’s Travels” won the People’s Voice Award for Best Web Personality/Host.

Congratulations to all and a note to the judges: How about a category for "Best New Cruise Blog in the Last 30 Days?" Find all the winners are here.

-- Gerry, for Cruising Squared

RIVER CRUISE WITH CIVIL WAR THEME

The American Queen

"Theme cruises" continue to gain in popularity, as does river cruising. One of the latest that combines both is the "Epic Civil War Journey," marking with 150th anniversary of the Civil War and premiere of a new documentary. Here's more info from Crown Vacations:

"Celebrate PBS' award-winning history series American Experience in luxury, aboard the newly refurbished American Queen.

"Sails Aug. 9-21, 2012 (12 nights, 10 aboard plus pre- and post-voyage luxury hotel stay), from New Orleans to Chattanooga, Tenn., on the American Queen, owned and operated by the Great American Steamboat Company.

"Join as Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Ric Burns and acclaimed producer Mark Samels, of television's longest-running and most-watched history series, American Experience, present the Epic Civil War Journey. This is a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and premiere the highly-anticipated documentary "Death and the Civil War."

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU CRUISED?