TRAINS, TOO?

Pam gets ready to board (Photo: Gerry)

Notice anything different about the blog? Like, that picture of Pam sitting on the train, for example?

We're proud to announce Cruising Squared has expanded! Of course we'll continue to keep you up to date on all things cruise, but will also now include our favorite way to cruise on land: Train travel. We've been hooked on riding the rails since we took an 8,500-mile odyssey on Amtrak several years ago. It covered two weeks, and our itinerary took us from Fort Worth to Chicago, Chicago to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to Seattle, Seattle to Chicago, and back to Texas, with overnights stays at Chicago, Disneyland and Seattle.

Besides the chance to see the country up close and personal, at a leisurely pace, there are other benefits as well. The food is good and you meet the most interesting people. On our trip, we shared our travel with a former CIA operative, a retired oil company executive and a couple from California we stayed in touch with for many years after.

No, you can't be in a hurry. And it can include a fair amount of shake, rattle and roll. But isn't there something unique and nostalgic about boarding a train, hearing the whistle and watching the world go by? It's somewhat akin to cruise travel in that way.

We decided to get reacquainted with trains recently when Pam wanted to go to New York on Amtrak. So we booked a trip on the Silver Meteor, which goes from Miami to the Big Apple. It was an amazing trip, and we'll share the highlights right here. We hope you'll come along for the ride. All aboard! -- Gerry and Pam

LOTS TO TWEET ON #SEATWEETUP CRUISE

(Credit: Norwegian)

What's a social media cruise without lots of social activities? Norwegian's second annual #SeaTweetup cruise sets sail Oct. 12 to the Bahamas, and passengers will be plenty to tweet about. To kick things off, MillerCoors will host a "poolside beer and food pairing session infused with trivia," along with cocktail parties throughout the cruise sponsored by Bacardi.

Other highlights of note:

• In Nassau, the group will be greeted "by the Ministry of Tourism, board a private bus and enjoy a day of cultural delights including a traditional Bahamian breakfast and island tour. Following the tour, attendees will convene at Señor Frog's where they can enjoy the casual vibe of the popular tourist spot and complimentary WiFi to update their social media followers.

HOLIDAY RIVER CRUISING IN EUROPE

European Christmas Market (Credit: AmaWaterways)

At AmaWaterways, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. The river cruising company has two holiday-themed river cruises in Europe guaranteed to get you in the spirit of the season. "From caroling along cobblestone streets of Europe to sipping seasonal hot spiced-wine, AmaWaterways lights up the Rhine and Danube Rivers this holiday season ... Starting in late November, vendors sell local food, hot wine, and sweet desserts like gingerbread and pastries. Local artisans create wooden toys, handmade crafts ornaments and more." Details about the cruises offered:

BREAKAWAY TAKING FITNESS TO NEW LEVEL

The Mandara Spa Salt Room (Norwegian)

Fitness will reach a whole new level -- or rather, two levels -- on Norwegian's newest ship, Breakaway, debuting next April. This week Norwegian released details of the Breakaway's spa and fitness facilities, which span 23,000 square feet over two decks.

The Mandara Spa and thermal suite will feature the first-ever salt room at sea. What a salt room? From Norwegian: "Popular in top spas around the world, salt room therapy has been proven to alleviate respiratory and skin ailments, strengthen the immune system, promote better sleep and have a long-term positive impact on overall lung function. Spa guests visiting the Salt Room will be immersed in a dramatic grotto setting as they enjoy this unique, indulgent and beneficial spa experience. The tranquil thermal suite also offers guests spectacular unobstructed views of the ocean, the opportunity to melt away on one of the 13 heated loungers, vitality pool, whirlpools, sauna, solarium and steam room, along with a full-service salon and barber shop."

More details from Norwegian:

OCTOBER IS NATIONAL CRUISE VACATION MONTH

Hard to believe, but next week we swing into October, which also signals the start of National Cruise Vacation Month. The Cruise Lines International Association reports "more than 5,000 travel agencies in the U.S. and Canada are expected to participate in the event through special events, including online travel agency promotions throughout the month and special live, in-person travel agent events such as Cruise Nights at travel agencies and in partnership with other local businesses."

But the headline for the month is "save big on cruise travel." You can start your hunt for bargains on CLIA's special NCVW page, www.cruising.org/vacation/welcome to find exclusive deals during National Cruise Vacation Week, Oct. 21-27, from participating member cruise lines. Promotions 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. Twenty-five CLIA member lines representing more than 200 cruise ships are offering deals on cruises with a wide array of choices in itineraries, price and length of cruise." -- Gerry

PRINCESS UNVEILS 'ROYAL' TOP DECK FEATURES

The Royal Princess (Credit: Princess)

If you thought the SeaWalk debuting on the new Royal Princess is a way cool idea,how about a Bellagio-style water and light show, and an island oasis amid fresh water pools? Those are some of the new features Princess unveiled today for their newest ship, coming in June, 2013. This video previewing the top deck features provides more details, as does their release below. With entertainment like this, Princess may find their biggest challenge is getting passengers to leave the ship!  -Gerry



Among the new top-deck features of Royal Princess are:

LOTS OF CHOICES IF YOU LIKE STAYING ACTIVE

As you know, cruises offer something for everyone. Like to exercise and stay active? No problem! Royal Caribbean has you covered. Take your choice: Hit the gym; climb a rock wall; try surfing or go for a jog. Look for Pam and I by the pool, cheering you on. (Well, somebody has to do it!) Here's more in this week's video:

ORNSTEIN JOINS CRUISE PLANNERS

Jodi Ornstein

Congrats to Jodi Ornstein, who joins Cruise Planners - American Express Travel as the company’s new director of marketing. They note that Ornstein joins Cruise Planners from the editorial department of The PPI Group, publisher of Porthole Cruise Magazine. With more than a decade of experience as the managing editor at The PPI Group, Ornstein supervised the editorial process of Porthole Cruise Magazine as well as numerous custom publications for major cruise lines. "We are thrilled Jodi has joined our Cruisitude Revolution as her experience will certainly add new dimensions to our marketing team,” said Vicky Garcia, executive vice president of sales and marketing. Welcome aboard, Jodi! -- Gerry

PANAMA CANAL A 'MUST SEE'

View of a lock at the Panama Canal (Photo: Gerry)

One of the items on our "cruise bucket list" was the Panama Canal. Last year we got to experience it aboard the Queen Victoria. It's every bit as amazing as you've read about. Here is one of the locks -- up close and personal. If you get the chance, don't miss it. It truly is one of the Wonders of the World. -- Gerry

READER WILL LOVE PRINCESS SEAWALK

Faithful reader Don -- the BBQ master of Holy Smoke fame -- wrote to say how cool the bridge photo was -- like "flying over the ocean." Don, you will love what Princess Cruises is offering on their new ship, Royal Princess, which debuts next summer: A glass-bottom "SeaWalk" that extends 28 feet away from the ship and features a bar. Check out this video:

THE VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE

Watch that first step ...While touring the bridge on Cunard's Queen Victoria, we found ourselves in an area with glass inserts placed in the floor. Decision time. Should I stand on that or not? Throwing caution to the wind -- where it can sometimes blow back in your face -- I stood on it long enough to snap this pix. No doubt about it, the crew on the bridge has some amazing observation options! -- Gerry

'ESCAPE COMPLETELY' ON PRINCESS CRUISES

Ever want to "escape completely," as in run away and join the circus? Thanks to Princess Cruises, you can, and without applying clown makeup or watering the elephants. Through Nov. 6, Princess is launching “The Campaign to Escape Completely” complete with chances to win free cruises and gifts.

They describe it as a "light-hearted 'anti-negativity' campaign was inspired by the line’s employees who wanted to play off the current election theme but instead spread some cheer and help people escape from the discouraging headlines. The campaign will feature a series of videos which are cast entirely with Princess Cruises employees who rally to deliver happiness and fun to passengers.

"The campaign offers two ways to win a free cruise:

"Free Cruise Giveaways in Consumer Emails – Consumers who are registered to receive emails from Princess will have a chance to win a free Getaway cruise. Princess will hide a “Golden Ticket” in 10 emails each week of the campaign.

“Ballot Box Trivia Challenge” – In addition, Princess is promoting a sweepstakes for a chance to win a cruise on the new Royal Princess. Play the four different trivia games on princess.com for additional entries. Plus, the first five people who answer all questions correctly will win a gift to use on their next cruise, including a $200 Lotus Spa treatment or Chef’s Table experience for two, among others. More details about “The Campaign to Escape Completely,” can be found here: www.princess.com/campaign."

Now there's a campaign every voter can get behind. -- Gerry

CUPCAKES AT SEA? GREAT IDEA!

If there were a PH.d available for Cupcake Appreciation, Pam and I would qualify. Seriously. Who else do you know who would book a trip to L.A. just to buy cupcakes at Sprinkles in Beverley Hills? Or a trip to New York to pop into Magnolia Bakery? Royal Caribbean appreciates cupcakes, too. In fact, they have a store right on the ship called Cupcake Cupboard, where you can not only buy these delightful little treats but learn how to decorate them as well. Let's roll the tape ... er, video:

ROCKETTES WILL BE BREAKAWAY GODMOTHERS

The Rockettes (Courtesy: Norwegian)

Norwegian promised a New York "icon" as the Godmother for their new ship, Breakaway, and today they didn't disappoint, with the news that none other than the Rockettes, of Radio City Music Hall fame, are the ship's official Godmothers. Here's the complete release:

"Norwegian Cruise Line and MSG Entertainment announced today that the Rockettes, one of New York’s most illustrious and beloved icons, will christen Norwegian Breakaway as the official Godmothers, further strengthening the ship’s strong ties to New York. The christening ceremony will take place in New York City on May 8, 2013 on board Norwegian Breakaway, the largest ship to homeport year-round in New York. The partnership with the Rockettes will include Norwegian Cruise Line as the designated 'Official Cruise Line' of the Rockettes and Radio City Music Hall, and as the 'Official Partner' of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. As part of their role as Godmothers, two Rockettes will sail aboard the first six sailings of Norwegian Breakaway, beginning May 12, 2013, and the first sailing of each month thereafter, taking part in special events for guests to enjoy.

NORWEGIAN PREPS BREAKAWAY NEWS

Norwegian's PR team is teasing us again when it comes to news about their newest ship, Breakaway:

"We will be announcing some exciting Norwegian Breakaway news tomorrow! Make sure to stay tuned as we reveal who the Godmother is in the early afternoon – she will epitomize New York City!"

Wonder who that can be? Any guesses? I'm thinking the Statue of Liberty -- what lady better represents New York? We will definitely stay tuned! -- Gerry

VIKING'S 'GRAND EUROPEAN TOUR'

Amsterdam (Credit: Viking)

Sometimes the brochure sounds too good to be true. But in this case, I'm pretty sure that's not the case. Viking River Cruises is promoting their 15-day "Grand European Tour" and "grand" is the right word: "From Holland's windmills to Germany's fairytale castles, from the engineering marvel of the Main-Danube Canal to the picturesque vineyards of Austria's Wachau Valley, this epic voyage presents the highlights of Holland, Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. . . .Savor a decadent Sachertorte in a Viennese café and panoramic views of imperial Budapest—and along the way, discover the legend of the Lorelei, the ancient art of glassblowing, the music of Mozart and more. Guests who choose this voyage soon see why it is our most popular itinerary."

In case you don't know what a "Sachertorte" is, Wikipedia to the rescue. It is "a specific type of a chocolate cake, or torte, invented by chance by Jewish Austrian Franz Sacher in 1832 for Klemens Wenzel von Metternich in Vienna, Austria. It is one of the most famous Viennese culinary specialties. The Original Sachertorte is made only in Vienna and Salzburg, and it is shipped from both locations. The only place where the Original Sachertorte is available outside of Austria is in the Sacher shop of Bolzano (Bozen), Italy." Here at Cruising Squared, we look it up so you don't have to.

There's also this icing on the cake: "If you go in November, you can leave the holiday cooking to us and enjoy a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. And late November and early December departures will feature Europe's famous Christmas Markets." Plus it's on sale. All the details are here. -- Gerry

CRUISE THE MEDITERRANEAN ON A BIKE

Credit: BikeToursDirect

While most of our cruises occur on the water, we do our share of "land cruising" by car and train as well. We  also know there are a lot of you who cruise on pedals, as in bicycling. This item caught our attention, if only to dream what it would be like to "cruise" the Mediterranean on one of these outings from BikeToursDirect. Here is a sampling of their fall tours:

Undiscovered Cyprus
(Self-guided daily departures - land costs start at $680.)
The Karpaz peninsula of North Cyprus is the most unspoiled and beautiful part of the island. Cycle through traditional villages with churches and mosques standing side by side, passing almond, carob and olive groves. Along the Cyprus coast, beautiful, pristine beaches beckon cyclists to take a swim or walk in the warm sea.

CUNARD VIDEOS TAKE YOU AROUND THE WORLD

Reading about a cruise around the world is impressive; seeing it through the eyes of those who have experienced it first hand is even better. That's the idea behind the debut of a new video series from Cunard. In this first video," Michigan residents Richard and Pat Donahey (Belleville), Dr. Martin and Linda Weissman (Birmingham) and Maryland residents Peggy and Pamela Zirkle (Berwyn Heights) share some of their favorite World Voyage experiences and memories."

The next video in the series "will highlight the travel experiences of these guests, ranging from exploring India’s Taj Mahal and touring the Egyptian Pyramids, to walking on the Great Wall of China and climbing Australia’s famed Sydney Harbour Bridge."

Cunard relates their "2014 World Voyage Season will cover more than 116,000 nautical miles across six continents and visits to 85 unique ports of call in 40 countries. The program features three World Voyages ranging from eight to 133 days aboard Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, with embarkation points in Southampton (England), New York, Fort Lauderdale and San Francisco."

To view the complete 2014 World Voyage schedule, visit www.cunard.com/2014wv.

CRUISING 'ROUND THE OCEAN NEAR HOME

When Autumn begins to edge into South Florida it is subtle and somewhat difficult to feel a seasonal difference.

One especially lovely thing?

Car-cruising and finding a quiet location in Palm Beach to enjoy the cool ocean breezes early on a Sunday morning.

Just a few of your besties and you, because sometimes you don't need a ship to feel the power of the sea.

 

Happy September!

FOUR CHEFS ADDED TO CULINARY CRUISE

Fabio Viviani

Four new "chef'testants" have been added to the "Top Chef: The Cruise," aboard Celebrity Constellation, which sails from Miami April 11, 2013. Additions include "Top Chef All Stars" winner Richard Blais, "Top Chef Just Desserts" season one winner Yigit Pura, "Top Chef: Texas" winner Paul Qui, and "Fan Favorite" winner Fabio Viviani. They will join hosts Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons, along with 11 previously announced Alums, on this first-ever culinary journey. More info at www.topchefthecruise.com and http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef/season-9/videos/all-chefs-on-deck. -- Gerry

EXPLORING ALASKA IN STYLE ON CELEBRITY

One of the most awesome sights in Alaska is
watching a glacier "calving" (Photo: Nesoff)

Part 1 of 2

Traveling with Bob and Sandy Nesoff

Not so many years ago the only ways to reach Alaska were either to fly in or try to navigate the often muddy and impassable Alcan Highway. The choice of the road was somewhat akin to the cable television show “Ice Road Truckers.”

Alaska was a foreboding place with great settings for adventure writers and movies but not a place most people had high on their bucket lists for luxury vacations.

The first big opening came along with the construction of the Alaskan Pipeline bringing thousands of construction workers to the 5oth state. Along with them came merchants providing for their needs, families, schools and ancillary amenities. Many of those who came for the massive building project stayed and began to build the state.

AZAMARA SHIPS GETTING MAKEOVER

Azamara Journey

If you want your cruise to be a little more intimate than what the 6,000-passenger megaships offer, the two "boutique" ships run by Azamara Club Cruises may be just your ticket. With a capacity of just under 700, plus crew, the Azamara Journey and Quest can provide a more personalized vacation, as well as visit ports the big ships can't.

Last week it was announced both ships are scheduled separately to enter drydock in 2012, where each will receive a shipwide facelift and a new profile with a new dark-blue hull. Here are the details from the press release:

ENJOY A 'BARBIE PREMIUM EXPERIENCE'

A Barbie stateroom (Credit: Royal Caribbean)

Around Cruising Squared World Headquarters, we are well-acquainted with the charms of Barbie. Pam has been collecting Barbie dolls in all shapes, sizes and fashions for years. So I'm guessing she is especially thrilled by the news that Royal Caribbean is launching a "Barbie Premium Experience" that includes specially-appointed staterooms, tea parties, fashion shows and more. The cost will be $349, and what parent could possibly say no? In fact, Pam may be packing her Barbie suitcase right now!

To mark the occasion, Royal Caribbean also has launched the "Barbie Win a Cruise Vacation" contest, which includes lots of weekly prizes. -- Gerry

CELEBRITY CLAIMS 18 MAGELLAN AWARDS

We're sending our congratulations to Celebrity Cruises, who claimed 18 Magellan Awards from Travel Weekly's annual competition, which honors the best in travel. Their haul of 11 Gold Magellan Awards and seven Silver Magellan Awards is more than any other cruise line this year. Way to go!

Here's the complete list:



Celebrity’s 2012 Gold Magellan Awards:

Cruise - Overall

Blog - Solsticizing Blog
Mobile App - Celebrity Xplorer
Premium Ship - Celebrity Silhouette (Celebrity’s second consecutive win in this category)
Large Cruise Ship - Celebrity Silhouette
Loyalty Program - Captain’s Club

SE HABLA ESPANOL? NORWEGIAN DOES

Ole! "Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that the company’s North American website and booking engine is now available in a Spanish language version. Approximately 35 million residents in the United States speak Spanish as their native language and it is the world’s third most commonly used language on the Internet. Therefore, the launch of the Spanish language version of ncl.com reinforces Norwegian’s commitment to this audience by making it easier for Spanish-speaking guests to make a Norwegian cruise reservation. Spanish speaking guests can access the new Spanish version of the line’s website directly at es.ncl.com or by clicking the Español link on ncl.com’s homepage header." -- Gerry

SUBMIT AN AMAZING PHOTO AND WIN A TRIP

We love contests. Doesn't everybody? For all you shutterbugs out there (us included), here's a new contest from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and National Geographic Traveler. It's called the "My Thailand, My Story” contest. From now through Sept. 30, amateur photographers can share their original photography online at NationalGeographic.com for the opportunity to win a trip to Thailand with a National Geographic Travel photographer and have their work showcased in New York City.

And no, the photographs don't need to be of Thailand. Just submit up to three images that capture "the essence of a sense of place. These can be thematically varied including shots of culture, cuisine, or people." The website says seven lucky travelers will accompany National Geographic Travel Photographer Alison Wright on "an amazing all-expenses paid trip to Thailand! There you'll travel to the cities of Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket and photograph your journey along the way. Upon return to the United States, your best photographs from the trip will be placed in an online photo album, and will be voted on by the general public for a chance to win your very own prestigious photography exhibition in New York City in 2013."

SELL TRAVEL -- NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Ever thought about selling cruise travel as a business but didn't think you had the necessary credentials? Not a problem, according to our friends at Cruise Planners - American Express Travel, the cruise industry's largest home-based travel agent franchise network. They are finding many of their new franchise owners are enjoying success without any prior experience in the travel industry. CEO/Co-founder Michelle Fee cites training and innovative marketing as two keys to their success, saying, "The data we collected on our new franchise owners is clearly a testament to our turn-key business model." Quoting from their release: "From stay-at-home moms to former pet sitters and retired real estate agents, Cruise Planners has seen an influx of new franchise owners from all walks of life with no previous familiarity in selling cruise or land travel, yet have exceeded all expectations by selling hundreds of thousands of dollars in travel bookings." 

Headquartered in Coral Springs, Florida, Cruise Planners has more than 800 franchisees across the country that independently book cruises and associated travel. For more information, visit www.cruiseplanners.com.

PRIDE OF AMERICA GETTING MAKEOVER

New suites will be added (Credit: Norwegian)

When we started planning our vacation to Hawaii, trying to decide what islands to experience made for some tough choices. Then we discovered Norwegian's Hawaii cruises on the Pride of America, where you can visit just about all the islands over seven days. Sold! We had a great time and came back with tons of photos, and memories.

Today comes news that Pride of America will get a major makeover, entering drydock next March, and emerging $30 million dollars later with new suites, restaurants and appointments throughout.

Here's the rundown from Norwegian on what to expect:

SHORTER CRUISES GROWING IN POPULARITY

The Caribbean is a popular short cruise destination
(Photo: Gerry)

Don't have time to take a two-week cruise? A little short on cash? No worries! This week the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) reports on the growing popularity of short cruises, saying: "These 'mini' or 'sampler' cruises are proving popular with frequent as well as first-time cruisers." If you live close to a port, you can enjoy a long weekend getaway on many of the major cruise lines. The main message here is there are lots of options to fit almost any budget or schedule.

Here's CLIA's press release:

THE FINE ART OF TRAINING 7,000 WAITERS

Have you ever wondered how Royal Caribbean's 7,000-plus waiters provide such consistently good service, dishing out such consistently good food, thousands of times every day? One word: Training. Lots of it. This week's video from Royal Caribbean takes you behind the scenes of their culinary academy at sea:

PETER MAX PAINTS BREAKAWAY HULL

Peter Max painted the hull of Norwegian's Breakaway
(Credit: Norwegian)

Any cruise ship based in New York should look the part, right? Norwegian Breakaway, which will call the City That Never Sleeps its home when it debuts next April, will be cruising Big Apple-style with hull artwork designed by world famous artist Peter Max. This is the first time Norwegian has commissioned an artist to paint the hull on one of its ships. In this case, the "canvas" is 40,000 square feet. I bet that meant a few extra trips to Home Depot!

More from the press release:

“While it has been an honor to have my art exhibited in museums and galleries, I have also enjoyed creating giant ‘canvases’ for public view, including my 600 ft. Woodstock stage, a giant World’s Fair mural, the body of a Continental 777 super jet, and now, the hull of Norwegian Breakaway,” said Peter Max from his New York studio. “The artwork is a composite of New York City and cosmic imagery— the Statue of Liberty, the Manhattan skyline, a giant sunburst, planets, stars, and musical notes. That’s my New York! And now Norwegian Breakaway is my New York cruise ship ‘canvas.’”

“Norwegian Breakaway is New York’s ship and this colorful artwork by Peter Max will make the ship an instant icon,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer. “The Big Apple is known for its love of art and its many galleries – and now, Norwegian Breakaway becomes a floating piece of art that will cruise in and dock every Saturday on New York’s West Side. With this distinctive design, unlike anything else on the water, the ship will be recognizable to the millions of New Yorkers who will see her as she journeys up and down the Hudson River each week.” -- Gerry

ENJOY A 'PICNIC' ON LABOR DAY

Can you name the famous movie featuring this dialogue?

"Nobody works today -- it's Labor Day." 

Of course that's the neighbor, Mrs. Potts, speaking to the just-arrived-in-town drifter, Hal Carter, played by William Holden, from Joshua Logan's 1955 classic, "Picnic." Watching the movie every Labor Day has become a tradition for Pam and I, and this year will be no exception. Who could ever tire of one of the hottest movie scenes ever, where William Holden and Kim Novak dance beneath the Chinese lanterns to the song "Moonglow"? Or the brilliant performance by Rosalind Russell as the old maid school teacher, Rosemary. In "Picnic," Logan and screenwriter Daniel Taradash create an indelible portrait of the American heartland in simpler times.

Gotta run and get the popcorn ready! Happy Labor Day, all! -- Gerry