'PORTHOLE' READERS HONOR CUNARD

Courtesy: Cunard

Sending out congrats to all our friends at Cunard. The readers of Porthole Cruise Magazine recently selected the best in cruise lines, itineraries and services in the 14th annual Readers’ Choice Awards. Cunard earned top honors in three categories:

• Best Onboard Educational Programs
• Best Transatlantic Itineraries
• Best World Cruise Itineraries

Having earned recognition for attending three Oxford lectures aboard Queen Mary 2 during our Transatlantic crossing, I can personally vouch for the first two. Well done, Cunard! -- Gerry

CRUISE PLANNERS MEETING AT THE HARD ROCK

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fl. more accurately could be called "Cruise Central" this week as the annual convention host for Cruise Planners - American Express Travel, the nation's largest home-based travel agent franchise network. Nearly 500 agents are in attendance to hear the latest developments in the "Cruisitude Revolution." Vice President of Technology Brian Shultz announced a consumer smartphone app is coming in January for iOS and Android. He also announced new features to their websites, including MyTrips, "a client portal where anyone authorized can login to view upcoming trips and share them with friends and family via social media." Shultz also talked about Client Snapshots, which allows agents "to see an intelligent view of their clients’ buying and travel patterns as well as the highly-anticipated Cruise Fare Reduction tool that allows agents to easily see if a cruise fare has dropped since booking." 

In their press release, Vicky Garcia, executive vice president of sales and marketing, reinforced the importance of using social media to stay current and engage with clients. She also announced the company’s new social media platform, CPSocialsm. "The social media platform will provide a user-friendly dashboard for managing Facebook pages with suggested content and a calendar setting so posts can be scheduled to coincide with promotions and other news. The new platform will also incorporate Twitter, LinkedIn and Flickr to the dashboard system in the first quarter of 2013." Sounds like the very definition of "high tech, high touch." -- Gerry

PRINCESS CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS

Let it snow (Credit: Princess)

"Let it snow" is a familiar refrain on Princess ships during the holiday season. On most of their ships guests can experience a daily "snowfall" featuring flakes that vanish on contact. Along with the lavish holiday decor, there are a plethora of other holiday activities for all ages, like the “gingerbread challenge,” where teams compete to construct the most creative gingerbread structure. Since we all know Christmas is for kids, there's plenty for the junior cruisers. Such as Christmas cookie decorating, balloon making, face painting, games and other competitions. Princess also notes: "The youth centers will host holiday parties for each age group, and kids can make decorations to display on the center’s Christmas tree. Youngsters can get creative with other holiday-themed arts and crafts projects throughout the cruise, and they will have an opportunity to sing Christmas carols for passengers. For parents who want to stay up later to celebrate the holidays, free late-night group kid sitting sessions will be available on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve." 

NY SHIP ADDS SABRETT HOT DOGS, BROOKLYN BEER

Courtesy: Norwegian

Passengers on Norwegian Breakaway, which will make it inaugural sailing from her home port of New York next May, will likely feel they've never left the Big Apple. The latest New York touches announced for the ship is Sabrett Hot Dogs and Brooklyn Lager beer. Located on the Waterfront, pool deck and forward deck, "three Sabrett hot dog carts will sport the brand’s iconic yellow and blue umbrellas and offer up the same all-beef frankfurters that New Yorkers have voted the #1 hot dog for more than 50 years," says Norwegian. Brooklyn Brewery’s Brooklyn Lager beer will also be offered in the Uptown Bar & Grill. Wonder if they are also considering the "Soup Nazi" of "Seinfeld" fame? -- Gerry

NORWEGIAN LAUNCHES ITALY CRUISETOURS

Italy (Courtesy Norwegian)

When visiting a great port of call in Italy, ever wish you had more time? We have. One day in Rome or Florence just isn't enough. Now guests on select Norwegian sailings can explore the best of Italy with their new Cruisetours, available on 2013 sailings and beyond. Ranging in length from 11 to 15 days, all tours feature "an English-speaking Italian tour manager, first class hotels, time for optional exploring, whisper technology-enhanced touring, some meals including wine and mineral water, and air-conditioned motor coach transportation."

Here are more details from Norwegian:

NEW WEBSITE SPOTLIGHTS CRUISE VIDEOS

There's a new cruise website coming to town. It's called MyCruiseVideos, officially launching in early December, it aims to offer "the largest collection of hand-picked and categorized videos that make it fun and easy for prospective cruise passengers to visualize every aspect of a potential cruise vacation." The site features "thousands of hand-picked and categorized videos." There's also a way to add "a witty or useful email to the video library for viewing by family members or travel companions." We say welcome aboard, and bon voyage! -- Gerry

PRINCESS SETS NEW CRUISES TO ASIA

Diamond Princess (Credit: Princess)

Today Princess Cruises announced two new opportunities to visit Asia: "Departing in October and November 2013 aboard Diamond Princess, these 10- and 11-day Asia cruises sail round trip from Singapore," with ports of call that include "Bangkok, Bali, Nha Trang and Phuket, as well as two ports not usually visited on Diamond Princess itineraries – Penang, Malaysia and Sihanoukville, Cambodia."

Quoting from the release: “Because we’ve rescheduled Diamond Princess’ drydock during this time, it has opened up a great opportunity for us to present travelers with some intriguing new Asia options,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president.

VINTAGES: A HAVEN FOR WINE LOVERS

Whether you are a serious wine connoisseur or a more casual drinker, like David Haden Church's character in "Sideways," you'll find something for every taste in Vintages, the wine bar aboard select Royal Caribbean ships. That also describes the vibe: Upscale but inviting. It's the perfect place to discover a new favorite or experience a multi-course tasting, as we had the pleasure of doing on a recent voyage. This week's video tells you more. Let's raise a toast to the good life -- cheers! -- Gerry

WHAT'S A BEACH BBQ WITHOUT CAVIAR?

Over at Fodor's Travel Blog the topic of the day is "Top Five Cruise Ship Beach BBQs." Don't think brisket and apple cobbler. These BBQs are more about caviar and champagne. For example, author Andrea Rotondo cites what Seabourn Cruises offers: "Every Seabourn vessel hosts 'Caviar in the Surf' during warm weather cruises. The beachside BBQ often takes place on Prickly Pear Island in Virgin Gorda when in the Caribbean. Seabourn's maritime bar team sets up a surfboard in the surf that's piled high with caviar and loaded with dozens of bottles of champagne." Personally, for all things BBQ we defer to Don, the Texas grill master over at Holy Smoke!!, who could show those cruise chefs what a "meat and greet" is all about. Anyway, here's a video that shows more. -- Gerry

A PHOTO TOUR OF THE 'GRANDEUR'

As noted earlier, we got an up-close and personal look at the revitalized Grandeur of the Seas last week. We wanted to share a tour of the ship in photos. Ready? let's roll--

Grandeur has been fitted

with new appointments throughout.

This is the elevator

 signage on Deck 7. Snazzy.

(All photos by Gerry)

The main dining room is

 called the Great Gatsby.

It has capacity to accommodate

 1,039 guests and includes

  the Chef's Table, a private dining experience for
up to 12 people. 

WIN A CABIN FOR THE DAVE KOZ AT SEA CRUISE

Need more proof the holidays are here? Sunday night saxophone legend Dave Koz brought his Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2012 to the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, a show that has become one of our annual traditions. Dave never disappoints. This year his friends included Sheila E., vocalist Margo Rey, "The Voice" winner Javiar Colon and of course, his partner and pianist extraordinaire, David Benoit. During the performance Dave talked about his upcoming "Dave Koz and Friends at Sea" cruise, set for Sept. 22-29, 2013, on Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas. It departs from Rome and tours the Greek Isles (be still our beating heart). Onboard will be Koz, Sheila E., Michael McDonald, Mindi Abair, Gerald Albright, Brian Culbertson, Keiko Matsui, Kirk Whalum, Peter White and others. Talk about your all-star lineup! You can go to Dave's website and register to win a free cabin. -- Gerry

'GRANDEUR' MAKES GRAND IMPRESSION

The aerial show in the Centrum
(Photo: Gerry)

MIAMI -- The day before Thanksgiving, Royal Caribbean scheduled a "coming out party" to show media and travel agents the revitalized Grandeur of the Seas, making a stop here on her way to Panama. From her shiny new appointments and new specialty restaurants to the spectacular new aerial show in the atrium, Grandeur made a grand impression.

Originally launched in 1996, the 74,000-ton Vision-class ship accommodates just over 2,000 guests. In June, Grandeur completed a $50 million makeover that included:

• Three new specialty restaurants: Chops Grille, Giovanni's Table and Izumi. 
• The R Bar, combining sophistication with a retro feel.
• A poolside LED outdoor theater screen
• New furnishings and appointments throughout
• An aerial theater in the six-story Centrum atrium

The venues and new technology, such as the touch-screen location finders throughout, will be familiar to anyone who has sailed on Oasis or Allure. Royal Caribbean is taking the best of what's been deployed on those ships and upgrading the rest of the fleet with those features.

My overall first impression? In a word, elegant.

'BREEZE' LAUNCH FEATURES GIANT TURKEY, CONTEST

(Credit: Carnival)

Carnival celebrated the arrival of its newest ship, Breeze, by erecting a 50-foot-tall inflatable turkey atop the ship. The 1,250-pound nylon turkey — wearing a straw beach hat and colorful Hawaiian shirt — sits 14 stories above the waterline. Breeze made its inaugural sailing from Miami on Thanksgiving. Carnival also announced a social media contest to name the giant turkey. The “Name the Giant Turkey Twitter Contest” runs from Nov. 21-25. To participate, contestants use the hashtag #TurkeyOnDeck. Carnival will pick the top three names on Monday, Nov. 26, with the winner announced later that day.  The prize is a $500 gift card to fund the winner’s next holiday party. -- Gerry

CUNARD 'INSIGHTS' SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED

Sir Jackie Stewart (Cunard)

Cunard has a rich history of hosting distinguished guest speakers as part of their Cunard Insights program. A new slate of speakers has just been announced for their winter voyages. Among them is auto racing champion Sir Jackie Stewart. During his career, Stewart had 27 Grand Prix wins in 99 races and three world championships. After retiring from the track, he now has a successful media and business career. Stewart will join Queen Mary 2 for her 20-day Dubai to Hong Kong World Voyage Segment departing Jan. 28 , 2013. Now, the bad news -- this voyage is already sold out. But here are some of the other speakers announced: 

• Celia Imrie, British actress. Sailing on the Queen Mary 2's Transatlantic crossing from Southampton to New York, Dec. 15, 2012.
• Martin Bell, BBC News correspondent. Sailing on the Queen Mary 2 departing Jan. 10, 2013 (Dubai World Voyage Segment).
• Jane Asher, actress and author. Sailing on Queen Victoria's Transatlantic crossing, Jan. 10, 2013 Southampton to New York.
• Sir Alan Collins, UK diplomat. Sailing on Queen Elizabeth, departing Southampton Jan. 6, 2013.
• Lord Richard Dannatt, 40-year British soldier, retired Chief of the General Staff. Sailing on the Queen Mary 2 from Singapore Feb. 9, 2013.

CHOOSE THE 'REAL' VENICE

By Brian Wilson
Cruising Squared UK Correspondent
Photos by Brian Wilson

So you are thinking of a cruise next year and it is starting or ending in Venice – what are you going to do? Do you think there is any other answer than “stay a few days in the magnificent city”? Whether you add these extra days before or after the cruise – here are some ideas to make your visit even more enjoyable.

My wife, Mo and I have visited Venice on numerous occasions and we cannot wait to return. Venice can be very expensive and full of tourists rushing around trying to do the impossible - “doing Venice in 1 or 2 days” - so here’s a few tips:

Motorscafi and the Doge's Palace

First of all chose your hotel in one of Venice’s less “touristy” sestieri, or districts, each having its own distinctive atmosphere. This time we chose Santa Croce district and we were not disappointed. Now do not think that staying away from the “touristy parts” centered on San Marco will cause problems. The Water bus, or vaporetto, is an excellent way to get around Venice.

'BREAKAWAY' STARS AT RADIO CITY

A scale model of Breakaway (Credit: Norwegian)

Norwegian is celebrating the holidays in grand New York-style in partnership with the Radio City Music Hall and the world-famous Rockettes. Newly unveiled is a Norwegian Breakaway interactive exhibit in the Grand Lounge of the Music Hall, featuring a scale model of their newest ship, which is the largest to home port year-round from the Big Apple beginning May 2013. Norwegian also launched their “Spectacular Sweeps,” giving Radio City Christmas Spectacular attendees a chance to win a Breakaway cruise.

The Rockettes will christen Breakaway as the official Godmothers on May 8, 2013. 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. On select sailings, guests will have the exclusive opportunity to meet two of the Rockettes.

The Rockettes at Radio City (Norwegian)

To celebrate the holiday season and introduce Norwegian Breakaway’ legendary godmothers, Norwegian invites guests to experience the Rockettes’ dazzling performance first-hand and is offering a 25 percent savings on tickets to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, now through December 30, 2012. For more information, visit www.radiocitychristmas.com/cruise and use promotional code “Cruise.” -- Gerry

MORE WAYS TO RELAX ON ROYAL PRINCESS

The Sanctuary (Credit: Princess)

Details continue to emerge about the newest Princess ship, Royal Princess, which makes her debut in June, 2013. The latest news is all about one of the primo reasons we like to cruise: Relaxation. Princess has announced they are enlarging the Sanctuary with fresh decor and for the first time, adding private cabanas to both it and the adults-only Retreat Pool. As a bonus, "cabana guests looking for a gourmet treat can order one of the ship’s new cabana picnic baskets, packed with artisan edibles paired with a premium wine." 

Here are more details from Princess:

THE SWEET AROMA OF FRESH BAKED BREAD

Who can resist the aroma of fresh baked bread? It always evokes memories of good times, good food, family and friends together -- just like the day we celebrate this week, Thanksgiving. In that spirit, Royal Caribbean's latest video chronicles what's behind those delicious and abundant breads and baked goods aboard their ships. Enjoy, and Happy Thanksgiving to all! -- Gerry

CANADA PROVIDING AMTRAK EXTRA CARS

We know Thanksgiving is one of the busiest holidays when it comes to travel, and that includes traveling by rail. This year VIA Rail Canada is partnering with Amtrak to provide extra passenger cars to serve the hurricane-impacted Northeast. The VIA Rail equipment being provided includes ten coach cars and two dome cars. From Nov. 20 - 27, the Canadian equipment will be used on the New York state-supported Adirondack service operating between Albany-Rensselaer and Montreal. Amtrak notes that "VIA Rail and Amtrak have a long-standing partnership and jointly transport passengers across the U.S. - Canadian border, facilitating train transfers between New York and Toronto, New York and Montreal, and Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, B.C." Last year, they report more than 724,000 passengers traveled on Amtrak trains for the Thanksgiving holiday period, the most ever. -- Gerry

EXCLUSIVE TULIP TO MARK MILESTONE

What better way to mark the 140th anniversary of Holland America than with a tulip? Not just any tulip, but one developed exclusively for the cruise line by Keukenhof Spring gardens in the Netherlands. They note: "Master grower Jan Pennings, exhibitor at Keukenhof Gardens, chose a white-petaled variety to honor the company that was originally founded in Rotterdam on April 18, 1873, as a trans-Atlantic cargo and passenger company."

First bulbs handed over (Credit: Holland America)

The new tulip will be harvested next spring. Last Friday, Pennings handed over the first bulbs to Holland America Line Captain Edward van Zaane; Nico Bleichrodt, Senior Director of Sales, North and Central Europe; and Martin Schröder, member of the Holland America Dutch advisory board. The tulips are scheduled to bloom in spring, 2013. An official christening and naming of the new tulip will be held in April, 2013 at Keukenhof.

"Known as the Garden of Europe, Keukenhof is the world's largest flower gardens, situated near Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. Approximately seven million flower bulbs of 1,600 varieties are planted annually at the park. The Keukenhof is only open for two months per year, from March 21 through May 20, and attracts more than 800,000 visitors from around the world."

VIKING SHARES AN APPLE CRANBERRY TART

Apple Cranberry Tart (Credit: Viking)

When you ask someone to name their favorite holiday, many will vote for Thanksgiving. Maybe it's the gathering of family and friends; maybe it's the anticipation of great food, or could be the football games. It's more likely the combination of all three -- it's a holiday with something for everyone.

But I think we can all agree it's the food that takes center stage. In that spirit, the folks at Viking River Cruises have shared a recipe for Apple Cranberry Tart, who provide this description: "Here is one of the recipes we have collected while traveling through France—the almond paste, an ingredient often used in French baking, gives this delicious dessert a Continental flavor. Serve alone or top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Enjoy many apple-based pastries on a Paris & the Heart of Normandy cruise through a region famous for its apple orchards." You can find the recipe here. Thanks, Viking! -- Gerry

CUNARD WORLD VOYAGE VIDEOS: EPISODE 2

We always say if you can't actually be on a world cruise, the next best thing may be others who have taken the trip sharing their stories of amazing sights and adventures. Cunard knows a thing or two about world voyages, having done the first in 1922. Below is Cunard's second episode in their World Voyage chronicles (here is the first one). Pour yourself a glass of wine, relax and you can almost touch the stones on the Great Wall ...
-- Gerry

TRAVELERS NAME TOP DESTINATION

TripAdvisor recently named their 2012 Travelers’ Choice Destinations on the Rise awards, representing the places "that have seen the greatest increase in positive traveler feedback and traveler interest, year-over-year." South America captured three out of the top four spots, with Mar del Plata, Argentina, coming in at number one. They note, "Argentina's top beach resort town, Mar del Plata boasts 10 miles of sandy beaches." We think that's all the excuse we need to bring out Fred and Ginger in "Flying Down to Rio." Don't miss the classic dance on the airplane wings. Happy Friday!

PRINCESS TO CRUISE FROM HOUSTON

This is a big day for the Port of Houston. Along with the earlier announcement from Norwegian, Princess Cruises also will launch new service from there beginning in 2013 when it starts sailing from the state-of-the-art Bayport Cruise Terminal. The details:

"Princess Cruises and the Port of Houston Authority confirmed an agreement Nov. 15 for the line to make passenger cruise calls during the 2013-2014 cruise season at the port’s cruise facility. The new service is scheduled to begin in November of 2013. A total of 26 departures are planned for the season.

"The inaugural cruise is an unprecedented sailing aboard the Caribbean Princess to support U.S. veterans. The historic cruise, which will sail between Nov. 5 and Nov. 9, is expected to raise $1 million for two U.S. veterans organizations, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) and Operation Homefront." -- Gerry

'DANCING' COMING TO HOLLAND AMERICA CRUISES

Live, from Holland America, it's "Dancing with the Stars." That's right -- the popular ABC series will be featured on select Holland America Line cruises next year. Six theme cruises in 2013 and early 2014 will feature “Dancing with the Stars” events including dance lessons; a chance to meet the dancers, ask questions and take photos; and a production starring celebrities and the dance pros. Scheduled to appear are two-time champion pro dancers Mark Ballas and Kym Johnson; pros Tristan MacManus and Lacey Schwimmer; and "some of your favorite celebrity competitors." More dance pros and celebrities to be announced. Check out more in this video.

In addition to the theme cruises, every sailing on all 15 ships in the Holland America fleet will feature an exclusive “Dancing with the Stars” program including dance lessons and an opportunity for some guests to dance center stage in a dance-off performance. These activities will feature the ships’ professional dancers and will be developed in collaboration with the show’s dancers and choreographers.

The “Dancing with the Stars” theme cruises are: Feb. 16, 2013 ms Eurodam 7-day Eastern Caribbean; Jun. 22, 2013 ms Veendam 7-day Canada & New England; Jun. 30 and Jul. 7, 2013 ms Oosterdam 7-day Alaska; Jan. 5, 2014 Nieuw Amsterdam 7-day Eastern Caribbean; and Jan. 12, 2014 ms Nieuw Amsterdam 7-day Western Caribbean. -- Gerry

NORWEGIAN 'JEWEL' COMING TO HOUSTON

Norwegian Jewel (Norwegian)

Houston, we have a cruise ship. Today Norwegian Cruise Line and the Port of Houston Authority announced Norwegian will sail seasonally from Houston for three years, totaling 75 calls, with an option to extend for up to two years. Norwegian says: "Beginning in the fall of 2014, Norwegian will bring the 2,374-passenger Norwegian Jewel to Houston to sail seven-day Western Caribbean cruises. The line’s return to Houston marks the first time Norwegian has had a ship sailing from the city since Norwegian Dream in 2007. Economic activity from the cruise line each season is expected to generate $50 million annually, including local purchases of $3.6 million. A total of 222 jobs will be touched, including the creation of almost 100 new jobs. An estimated $941,000 in state and local taxes is anticipated." -- Gerry

CARNIVAL 'GLORY' READY FOR SOME 2.0 FUN

Carnival Glory (Carnival)

One of Carnival's ships is back in all its "Glory." Carnival Glory returned to service today following an extensive, multi-million dollar renovation that brought it up to Fun Ship 2.0, a $500 million product enhancement initiative that is being rolled out across the Carnival fleet. Following a special three-day cruise from Miami to Nassau, Glory will launch a winter schedule of seven-day Caribbean voyages beginning Nov. 18. In June 2013, the ship will reposition to Boston for a series of four- and five-day Canada voyages before heading to New York for four- to seven-day Canada/New England departures through October. -- Gerry

NORWEGIAN WINNER OF 'TZOO' AWARD

Congrats to Norwegian Cruise Line, winner of a 2012 Travel Zoo "Tzoo" Award for "Best Overall Provider of Cruise Deal by a Cruise Line." This year's finalists and winners were celebrated at the sixth annual Travelzoo Awards cocktail party Nov. 14 at The Westin Kierland in Scottsdale, Ariz.  -- Gerry

TAKE A 'RAIL AND SAIL' VACATION

A few posts back we told you about the new Amtrak "Rail and Sail" program, which combines a train trip with a cruise option. Amtrak's cruise partner is Celebrity Cruises. They offer a number of rail and sail options, including a cruise that departs New York for Bermuda and one out of Seattle to Alaska. For example, their New York/Bermuda vacation: "Soak up the sun and play in the sand with a two nights' stay in New York City and a Celebrity Cruise to Bermuda. Begin this trip to paradise with a two nights' stay in New York City and explore the Big Apple with a 1-day sightseeing pass. Then it's off to the cruise port in a private sedan transfer. Relax on board the Celebrity Summit on a beautiful 8 days/7 nights cruise to Bermuda." The package starts at $1,900. Go to their website for more information. -- Gerry

CUNARD DECKING THE HALLS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Cunard's three Queens -- Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and
Queen Mary 2 -- will be "dressed to the nines"  for the upcoming
 holiday season. There are numerous holiday cruises
from which to choose, from the Caribbean to the Canary Islands.We
can't think of a better way to "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

GODMOTHER NAMED FOR CARNIVAL BREEZE

Tracy Wilson Mourning
(Carnival)

Carnival has named the godmother for its newest ship, Carnival Breeze. It's Tracy Wilson Mourning, motivational speaker, author and founder of the Honey Shine mentoring program for young girls. She will preside over the traditional naming ceremony on board the 130,000-ton ship at its home base of PortMiami on Dec. 8. Carnival also is making A $25,000 donation To the Honey Shine program.

Here's more from Carnival:

"Embodying her credo of 'Be Comfortable Being You,' Mourning founded the Honey Shine mentoring program in 2002 as a way to make a difference in the lives of young girls by pairing them with female role models in the community. Through a combination of classroom training, spiritual education and collaborative experiences, Honey Shine’s goal is to empower young women and create future leaders in our communities, fulfilling the organization’s mission of 'Inspiring Young Girls To Shine As Women.' In addition to the Honey Shine program, she and her husband, NBA legend Alonzo Mourning, donate much of their time to a variety of other philanthropic causes that benefit the youth of South Florida."

Carnival Breeze kicks off its new Miami-based schedule with a special two-day cruise operating Nov. 22-24, followed by the launch of year-round six- and eight-day Caribbean departures Nov. 24, 2012.

NEW AMTRAK VACATIONS GUIDE AVAILABLE

(Amtrak Vacations website)

Thinking about a train trip and want some ideas on where to go? Amtrak Vacations has released their new brochure for 2013-2014 that features 22 new vacation packages that include escorted rail journeys, independent rail journeys, rail getaways and -- the best of both world -- a new rail and sail program. They note the number of departure dates for the escorted rail journeys has doubled. 

Using the Amtrak Vacations Early Booking Discount, travelers can save up to $600 per couple for 2013 Escorted Rail Journeys or up to $300 per couple for 2013 Independent Rail Journeys booked by December 31, 2012. You can order a brochure online at AmtrakVacations.com. -- Gerry

GET MARRIED AT SEA ON ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Romance and cruising just naturally go together, and what could be more romantic than a wedding at sea? Now comes news couples can tie the knot on a Royal Caribbean ship. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas has cleared the cruise line to conduct legal weddings at sea. Engaged couples should check out Royal's new "Sweethearts at Sea" introductory offer when booking 12 or more staterooms on a 2013 sailing. This news calls for a clip from one of our favorite flicks, "Romance on the High Seas":

LOTS OF OPTIONS FOR A HOLIDAY CRUISE

European Christmas Market (AMAWaterways)

With the holidays fast approaching, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is spotlighting all the great choices you have to celebrate at sea. Here's a sampling from the list they've compiled:

• Discover venerable Christmas traditions on the great rivers of Europe: AMAWaterways, Avalon Waterways and the Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection all have holiday voyages on the Rhine, Main, Danube and other rivers that flow through Austria, Germany, France, Hungary, Switzerland and the Netherlands. In addition to the great churches, music and cultural traditions that have shaped much of America’s celebration of Christmas, many of the trips feature the historic Christmas markets where tourists mingle with local residents in cobblestoned village squares to shop for handcrafted ornaments and celebrate the season with mulled wine, Schnapps, gingerbread, pastries and sweets.

• Spend the holidays with Mickey and all the other Disney characters: Disney Cruise Line will have four ships celebrating the holidays in the Caribbean, making five- to eight-night voyages from such ports as Miami, Galveston and Port Canaveral.

VIKING HONORS VETERAN'S DAY

As we honor our men and women who served this country on Veteran's Day, I wanted to share this special video from Viking River Cruises.

BOOK YOUR 2014 WORLD VOYAGE NOW

It's not too early to start planning that around-the-world voyage in 2014. Cunard has just announced their 2014 world voyages are  now available for booking. Something to keep in mind -- in 2014, Queen Mary 2 will mark her 10th anniversary (hard to believe it's been 10 years). That will make her world voyage doubly special. -- Gerry

007 COMPOSER GUEST ON QUEEN MARY 2

Monty Norman (Cunard)

With the latest James Bond movie, "Skyfall," opening here tomorrow, we hear Monty Norman, the composer of the famous Bond theme song, and the score for the first Bond film, “Dr. No,” made his inaugural Transatlantic Crossing aboard Cunard’s Queen Mary 2. When asked how he enjoyed his voyage, Mr. Norman said, “Marvelous! I’ve never been on a Crossing, but will certainly do it again.” Norman recently attended the world premiere of  “Skyfall” at the Royal Albert Hall, where he received a standing ovation for his work.

NEW FEATURES DETAILED FOR 'SUNSHINE'

Question: What does it take to transform a cruise ship?

Answer: A 49-day dry dock and $155 million.

At least, that's the recipe Carnival is using to turn Carnival Destiny into Carnival Sunshine. Today, the cruise line released more details about what to expect when the ship re-enters service April 13, 2013. Carnival is also hosting the “Bring Home Some Sunshine and Win” contest on its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/carnival) that will award a free Carnival Sunshine cruise for submitting “before and after photos” of a space that was transformed incorporating “sunshine.” You can get a sneak peek of the ship's new features at www.carnival.com/sunshine..

WaterWorks (Credit: Carnival)

Here’s a look at the features only available on Carnival Sunshine, from their release:

WaterWorks, an all-new water park featuring five different slides with 40 different interactive water features, including a 300-gallon drenching bucket that will serve as the signature element of the SplashZone kids’ water play area. The enclosed 334-foot-long Twister slide – Carnival’s longest – features a crystal clear turn that extends out over the edge of the ship, offering dramatic views with each twist and turn.

FARE GOING UP FOR NORWEGIAN HAWAII CRUISE

Pride of America (Credit: Norwegian)

For our first trip to Hawaii, Pam and I opted for a cruise. We figured that gave us the best opportunity to experience the islands in a limited time. We booked a trip on Norwegian's Pride of America, and had a great experience. Today Norwegian announced that "based on strong demand for its Hawaii cruise, it will raise fares an average of 10 percent on Pride of America for new bookings beginning January 1, 2013." Even if the fare is more, it's still one of your best options for seeing all Hawaii has to offer. It sails year-round from Honolulu and overnights in both Maui and Kaua`i. Ports of call include Kahului, Maui; Hilo, Hawai`i; Kona, Hawai`i; Nãwiliwili, Kaua`i; and an afternoon cruise past Nãpali Coast. --Gerry

RE-KINDLE A ROMANCE? TAKE A CRUISE

Want to re-kindle those romantic flames? The answer, at least for those who participated in a recent P&O Cruises survey, is take a cruise. The website Central Telegraph reported on the results, which were pretty interesting. For example, the most popular choices for a cabin-mate were George Clooney, Prince William and Kylie Minogue. The least popular? Sarah Jessica Parker and Lady Gaga. Speaking of Sarah, I bet "Mr. Big" would be in the running with George and the Prince. -- Gerry

VISIT THE SPA AND PLANT A TREE

This is what you a call a "win-win": "Guests who have a spa treatment on any Celebrity Cruises ship Thanksgiving week, Nov. 19-25, will automatically participate in the Earth Day Network's Canopy Project, an initiative that has planted more than a million trees in 16 countries since 2010." What a great idea, championed by The Onboard Spa by Steiner, the company that operates Celebrity Cruises' AquaSpa by Elemis.

What is the Canopy Project? Quoting from the release, "Earth Day Network's Canopy Project plants millions of trees in areas of the world most in need of reforestation. In many cases reforestation takes places in regions that have been damaged by forest fire, flood or stripped bare of trees by logging. The Canopy Project hand-selects tree planting locations that do not just heal the planet, but also help strengthen communities, restoring lands and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people of all backgrounds, faiths and nationalities throughout the world."

Here are the promotion details:

"From Nov. 19-25, every Celebrity Cruises guest who books any 50-minute face or body treatment will be responsible for the planting of one tree through the Canopy Project. The Onboard Spa by Steiner has guaranteed to plant up to 10,000 trees ($10,000). Limited to one tree per guest." Spa treatments that also replenish the planet -- nice! -- Gerry

IZUMI: ASIAN CUISINE AS AN ART FORM

Hot rocks dining at Izumi (Photo: Gerry)

If you looking for a specialty restaurant that delivers great food and authentic atmosphere, may we recommend Izumi, the Asian cuisine eatery from Royal Caribbean. On a recent cruise on Oasis of the Seas, Pam and I opted for the Ishiyaki (hot rocks) menu, which means your cook your food on a rock surface heated to 575 degrees. It makes for a meal that is both delicious and entertaining. Izumi restaurants are currently available on their Oasis-class ships, as well as Splendor of the Seas. It's also the topic for this week's video (in which I also learned Izumi means "natural spring" in Japanese). Enjoy! -- Gerry

'COOL' FEATURES FOR BREAKAWAY ICE BAR

The Breakaway Ice Bar (Credit: Norwegian)

One of the "coolest" features on Norwegian Epic -- literally -- is the Ice Bar, where beverages and guests are kept at a balmy 17 degrees. You might remember this post about the honeymoon couple's visit there. Today Norwegian announced details for the Ice Bar aboard their newest ship, Breakaway, which debuts next May out of New York City. In keeping with the New York theme, it will feature ice sculptures of the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty and the Chrysler Building.

Here are more details from Norwegian:

4 FINALISTS FOR PRINCESS ENTERTAINER AWARD

Princess Cruises has announced the finalists for their second annual Entertainer of the Year competition. They will be competing for the top honor aboard the Crown Princess’ Feb. 9, 2013 sailing to the Western Caribbean, where passengers will vote for their favorite. The four are:

Alfred and Seymour – Who says stand-up has to stand still? Cousins Alfred and Seymour combine “incredible hip-hop dancing with side-splitting comedy” for one of the most unique comedy concepts to grace the stage since Vaudeville.

Sarge – A multi-talented film, television and stage entertainer, comedian Sarge not only keeps the crowds laughing from his stand-up performance, but also sings, plays piano and does impressions as diverse as Harry Connick, Jr. and Kermit the Frog for a high-energy show.

ENJOY DUTCH SOUP ON YOUR RIVER CRUISE

Dutch Cheese Soup (Credit: Viking)

As Fall weather begins to take hold, what could be more satisfying than a great bowl of soup, especially if you're enjoying it while taking in the sights along the Rhine River? Viking River Cruises shares this recipe for Dutch Cheese Soup, one of several soups guests can enjoy on their spring "Tulips and Windmills" cruise or a "Rhine Getaway." Viking notes: "The Dutch are great soup eaters, often featuring soup as a meal's main dish. This hearty soup is perfect for a fall or winter evening—serve it piping hot with thick slices of a delicious dark bread."  -- Gerry

A VISIT TO NYC'S LITTLE ITALY

If you happen to be in the vicinity of Canal and Mulberry in lower Manhattan, you will find a confluence of cultures as Chinatown ends and Little Italy begins. On our recent Amtrak excursion to the Big Apple, we headed to one of our favorite eateries in the heart of Little Italy, Caffe Napoli. Whether you are enjoying an afternoon respite from heavy-duty shopping, a casual lunch or a leisurely, long dinner, it's the perfect place to grab a corner sidewalk table, people watch and soak up the closest thing to Italy without actually being there. Cappuccino or sangria, you can't go wrong. -- Gerry

Pam enjoys a cappuccino at Caffe Napoli

Gerry relaxes from carrying Pam's shopping bags

MENU FOR 'POP-UP' DINING EVENT

(Photo: Gerry)

Here's a follow-up to this post about the upcoming Celebrity Cruises "pop-up" dining event in San Francisco. The menu has been announced: "A five-spice crusted Cervena venison loin with celery root fondant, wilted spinach, red cabbage marmalade and lingonberry sauce from the classic specialty restaurant Murano, and the 'Strawberry Fields' dessert from the 'uniquely unordinary' specialty restaurant Qsine." If you happen to be in the Bay Area, bon appetit! -- Gerry

HOLLAND AMERICA EXPANDS ALASKA TOURS

(Credit: Holland America)

Passengers on Holland America will have more options for sight-seeing in Alaska. They are expanding its Alaska CruiseTour program to include "three new Triple Denali itineraries, four new short pre/post tours for guests with limited time and other enhancements to existing CruiseTours." Four of its most popular tours will also begin and end in Seattle.

From the release:

"Ranging in total length from 10 to 20 days, all CruiseTours combine a three-, four- or seven-day Inside Passage Holland America Line cruise with in-depth overland tours. CruiseTours are created to highlight the best of Alaska’s wilderness, wildlife, native culture and history. Six tours also feature Canada’s Yukon Territory with its Klondike Gold Rush heritage and pristine national parks such as Kluane National Park and Tombstone Park. Departures are from May through September." -- Gerry

1,000 REASONS TO VISIT EUROPE ON CELEBRITY

How about a discount of $1,000 per stateroom? That's what Celebrity Cruises is offering with their "Air Today, Relax Tomorrow" promotion. Guests who book a veranda-category stateroom or suite on any Celebrity Europe cruise or cruise tour departing from April through September 2013, then book air however they choose, qualify for the discount. Celebrity’s Captain’s Club members can book this from Nov. 1-7, 2012, with a special bonus of double the loyalty credits. It is then available the general public from Nov. 8-Dec. 2, 2012. Contact Celebrtiy for full details. -- Gerry

'GETAWAY' HAS KEEL CEREMONY

You could say Norwegian's new ship, Getaway, is one block closer to its first cruise. The official Keel Laying Ceremony took place at the German shipyard where she's under construction Oct. 30. Block number 34, "the first of 73 blocks that will comprise the 146,600 gross ton vessel, was lifted into the covered building dock, marking the start of the block assembly."

Norwegian Getaway will begin weekly seven-day cruises from her home port of Miami to the Eastern Caribbean starting Sunday, Feb. 1, 2014. The ship will be the largest ship to home port year-round in Miami, carrying 4,000 guests. Norwegian has two 4,000-passenger vessels, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway, under construction for delivery in April 2013 and January 2014, along with one larger “Breakaway Plus” vessel for delivery in fall 2015. More info about the ship can be found at www.getaway.ncl.com. -- Gerry