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