'QUEEN VICTORIA' TO HOST SHIRLEY JONES

Shirley Jones (Cunard)

Cunard Line has announced Academy Award-winning actress Shirley Jones, along with husband Marty Ingels, will sail aboard Queen Victoria as a Cunard Insights speaker during the February 2-17, 2015 Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles segment of the World Cruise. Activities will include a book signing of her recently released biography, Shirley Jones: A Memoir, as well as two Q&A sessions and screenings of her films.

“I am overjoyed to travel on board Queen Victoria,” Shirley Jones said. “I have never sailed with Cunard before, nor have I traveled through the Panama Canal. I look forward to this adventure and the chance to experience Cunard’s heritage, as well as a chance to meet my fans along the way.”

Cunard notes Jones will be a part of Cunard Line’s history of hosting famed entertainers, including Elizabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth, Cary Grant and Clark Gable.

INTRODUCING 'CLASH AND DASH'

My partner -- in this blog and in life -- is a creative dynamo. Like a whirling dervish, she writes novels, she paints, a fabulous decorator, a gourmet cook, an expert photographer  -- I could go on and on. Not content to share in one blog, she is known to have a half-dozen going at the same time. I get to participate in her latest, called CLASH AND DASH. It's a "he-said, she-said" kind of a thing, except I get to be the Left Side, and she is the Right Side (not politics mind you, but position in the picture).  I never knew clashing could be so much fun. Please take a few minutes and check it out. -- Left Side, er, Gerry

NEW SHIPS COMING IN 2015

Here's a nice roundup from the Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA) on the new ships we can expect to see in 2015. By the end of 2014, CLIA projects 21.7 million travelers will have taken a cruise. With these new ships coming online, you can expect that number to keep growing.


Norwegian
Building on the success of Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Escape debuting in fall 2015, features all of the revolutionary experiences of their Breakaway Class, plus a number of new spaces and interactive experiences meant to excite and inspire. Travelers can connect with the sea like never before on The Waterfront, an industry-first offering an oceanfront promenade lined with restaurants, bars and stunning views. Follow every impulse at the heart of the ship – 678 Ocean Place, three dazzling decks of non-stop action. Raise the stakes inside their largest casino to date, featuring our new Skyline Bar. Indulge in popular dining options like Cagney’s Steakhouse and Le Bistro, offering chef-crafted dishes made with the freshest ingredients.

CARNIVAL TO CELEBRATE 3 MILLION 'LIKES'

Carnival Cruises is excited about hitting the 3-million-"Like" mark on Facebook. So much so, they are celebrating with a 24-hour Fun-A-Thon prize giveaway beginning Wednesday, Nov. 19. The online extravaganza will feature three prize giveaways every three hours, including free Carnival cruise vacations and more.

Here are more details from Carnival:

"The giveaway, which will occur on Carnival’s Facebook fan page at facebook.com/carnival, will begin at 12 noon EST on Nov. 19, which is the estimated date on which the cruise line will hit the 3 million fans milestone. Anyone who “likes” the Carnival Facebook page can participate over the course of the 24-hour giveaway period. 

"To enter, fans simply respond with a comment to the posts from Carnival that will occur once every three hours and ask fans a new question. All fan comments posted during each three-hour period will go into a random drawing to determine three prize winners for that period.

"Ten Carnival cruises will be awarded during the 24-hour period and will range in length from three to eight days featuring itineraries that visit a wide variety of exciting Bahamian, Caribbean and Mexican ports of call. Other prizes will include $100 MasterCard gift cards and a mix of fun items such as Carnival-branded tote bags, jackets, backpacks and glassware." 

Find more on the contest here. -- Gerry

WIN AN IPAD MINI

Travel agency CheapOair is back with another holiday giveaway. This time around the lucky winners will get an iPad Mini tablet. One will be awarded every day through Dec. 15. For how to enter, and more details, go to this page. Good luck!! -- Gerry

'QUANTUM' ARRIVES IN THE BIG APPLE

Quantum of the Seas, welcome to the Big Apple. And the Big Apple doesn't get any bigger than this.

NORTH STAR: A NEW VIEW OF THE WORLD

There's been a lot of buzz around the "North Star" observation pod on Quantum of the Seas. Join these guests as they experience what the buzz is all about:

SEE ALL YOU CAN DO AT THE 'QUANTUM' SEAPLEX

They call it the SeaPlex. On Quantum of the Seas, it's where you do everything from bumper cars and flying trapeze to dance parties and XBox. There's more in the latest video dispatch from the ship:

'QUANTUM': REPORT FROM THE BRIDGE

It may not be Capt. Kirk ordering "more power, Scotty," but the captain of Quantum of the Seas has almost as much technology as his disposal. Here's the report from the Bridge as Quantum steams toward America:

VIRTUAL BALCONIES ON 'QUANTUM'

There is a famous advertising line that went, "Is it real, or is it Memorex?" That of course referring to recording tape (yes, once upon a time, we did use tape). That could be applied today to the inside staterooms on Quantum of the Seas, which feature "virtual balconies and sea views," thanks to the wonders of technology. Here's more on how it's done:


Follow the day-to-day updates on Quantum here.

CARNIVAL UNVEILS FASTER WIFI NETWORK

Carnival is the latest cruise line to address the s-l-o-w online connection problem at sea. Their new technology, WiFi@Sea, is due to be deployed fleet-wide and promises 10 times faster speeds. You can get more details here. -- Gerry

SKYDIVING AT SEA ON 'QUANTUM'

Skydiving may not be the first thing you think of when going on a cruise, but it is in fact a new feature on Quantum of the Seas, and you don't have to leave the ship to participate. Take a look:

'QUANTUM' HEADS FOR THE BIG APPLE

The latest Quantum video ... as she departs the UK for New York and her Big Apple close-up!

APPLYING THE FINISHING TOUCHES TO 'QUANTUM'

Here's a new video on Quantum, as they apply the finishing touches: