July 15 Issue - Cruise Noes from Mary

Cruise Notes from Mary
Mary Engram, CTA/MCC Travel Consultant
July 15, 2011


2011/2012 Cruises with Mary
• October 2-9, 2011 – 7 night Mediterranean cruise, roundtrip Rome, $500 deposit
• December 10-17, 2011 – 7 night Mexico – roundtrip Los Angeles, $200 deposit
• December 17-19, 2011 – 2 night inaugural Carnival Inspiration, roundtrip Los Angeles
• February 3-6, 2012 – 2012 Super Bowl Cruise, roundtrip Long Beach, $200 deposit
• March 24, April 5, 2012 - 12 day Fiji cruise, roundtrip Sydney, Australia, $900 deposit
• July 1 - 2012 - 7 day Caribbean cruise, roundtrip Galveston, Texas , $500 deposit
• October 15–27, 2012 - 12 day Mediterranean cruise, roundtrip Barcelona, $900 deposit

WOW!!! I am so honored that so many of you have expressed an interest in Cruising w/Mary on the 12 day Mediterranean cruise in October 2012. The more the merrier so shoot me an email if you are interested. I need a $900 per cabin deposit to hold your cabin. Final payment will not be due until July 2012 and you can make periodic credit or debit card payments.

I have already started talks with my suppliers to arrange private shore excursions in the major ports. I escorted a group on this same itinerary in 2008 and those who went say it was the best cruise ever. Stay tuned as I share more information on future issues of this newsletter.

Royal Caribbean Debuts “Behind the Scenes” All Access Tour of Ships
Royal Caribbean International is launching what it is calling an All Access Tour. The All Access Tour escorts guests into a variety of ‘back-of-house’ areas, including a visit to the bridge, galley, backstage of the main theater, engine control room and other behind-the-scenes operations areas that collectively create the best vacation experience and value for guests. At least one All Access Tour will be offered on itineraries shorter than seven nights, and two tours offered aboard a seven-night or longer itinerary with additional tours added, based on demand. The experience lasts up to three and a half hours and costs $150 per guest. It also can be purchased onboard with the Concierge, Crown & Anchor Society Loyalty Ambassador, or at Guest Relations.

Norwegian Cruises Offers 500 New Europe Land Excursions in Europe aboard the Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Sun, and Norwegian Jade.

Celebrity Cruises New Dining Packages
Celebrity Cruises is offering several brand-new dining packages that vary in price, date and content from ship to ship. Individual Dining Packages are offered at a single per-person price for either three or five specialty restaurant visits. Also available are three Wine and Dine packages that are designed for groups of two.

Other packages include the Savor Package, which includes three dining reservations per couple and three bottles of wine, the Gourmand package, which includes five dining reservations per couple and three bottles of wine, and the Bacchus Package, which offers five dining reservations per couple and five bottles of wine.

These packagers, their prices, and what is specifically included in them, vary by ship and are the result of guest feedback. Beverage packages can be purchased before a cruise.

Silversea Cruises is offering five new single supplement cruises for 2012 aboard the Silver Cloud, Silver Shadow, and Silver Whisper.

Carnival Cruise Lines Launches New Cash Back Promotion
Carnival Cruise Lines launched a promotion offering cash back of up to $150 per stateroom on a variety of 2011-12 voyages. The promotion is good on virtually all of the line’s three- to nine-day cruises to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico and Alaska departing between August and April from a variety of North American homeports. Bookings must be made July 11-31, 2011 to be eligible for the promotion

Royal Caribbean to Revitalize Entire Fleet
Royal Caribbean anounced its decision to invest $300 million in order to provide new innovations as well as its highest guest-rated programs from its Oasis-class ships to the entire fleet. This revitalization is planned through 2014.

They began with the Radiance of the Seas in May of 2011, and will continue with Splendor of the Seas in November of 2011. Following this in 2012, Vision-class ships will be updated starting with Rhapsody of the Seas in March, Grandeur of the Seas in May, and the Radiance-class Serenade of the Seas in November. Each ship will enter dry dock for approximately a month to be updated., with emphasis on dining venues, entertainment options, technology enhancements, and more.

Among the electronic enhancements are flat-panel televisions in staterooms, electronic mustering, pervasive Wi-Fi, and iPod docking stations. LCD touch-screen signs are also planned to be placed throughout the ship for the purpose of displaying real time destination updates and information, as well as ship factoids. Outdoor LED video walls will also be installed to enhance outdoor entertainment and programming.

Also planned is a newly-refurbished staterooms and nurseries for children aged 36 months to six years old. New dining options are also planned, which include the Chef’s Table, a five course dinner co-hosted by the executive shef; Izumi, a pan-Asian restaurant featuring a sushi bar and hot rock cooking; Chops Grille, Royal Caribbean’s signature steakhouse; Park Café, casual dining with gourmet salads, sandwiches, soups, and pastries; Rita’s Cantina, a casual Mexican restaurant; and the Boardwalk Doghouse, a casual grill serving brats, links, wieners, and dogs.

Norwegian Cruises Rewards Early Bookings for 2012 and 2013
Cruises in 2012 or 2013 that are booked between July 11 and August 14, 2011 can take advantage of special offers on Norwegian Freestyle Cruising voyages to Alaska, Bahamas & Florida, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Europe, and Hawaii. Benefits include same-category upgrades, reduced cruise deposits fleet-wide, and up to $100 per stateroom to spend on board.

Also, for a limited-time, guests who are looking to set sail on a cruise vacation through Europe can receive up to $300 to spend on board (based on stateroom category) on new reservations made on the Norwegian Epic by July 31, 2011. Norwegian Epic’s Western Mediterranean sailings from Barcelona, Spain sets sail to Naples, Rome (Civitavecchia), Florence (Livorno), Italy; Nice (Villefranche), and Provence (Marseille), France

Oceania Reveals Inaugural Itineraries for New Riviera With Free Hotel
Oceania Cruises has announced inaugural itineraries for its new 250-guest Riviera, which will depart on its maiden voyage April 14 from Barcelona. Those who book by Aug. 31 will receive a free hotel stay and bonus savings of up to $3,000 per stateroom. Fares begin at $1,999 per person and include free roundtrip economy-class air from 22 North American cities.

From April 14 through Nov. 29, 2012, the Riviera will operate 21 departures of 13 itineraries calling on ports in France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal and Turkey as well as Israel, Croatia, Cyprus, Montenegro, Morocco and Monaco.

Riviera’s maiden voyage is a 10-day “Mediterranean Tapestry” cruise from Barcelona to Piraeus (Athens). Ports of call include Marseille (Provence), Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Civitavecchia (Rome), Taormina, Amalfi/Positano, Kusadasi (Ephesus) and Santorini.
From Piraeus, Riviera operates a 12-day “Ancient Grandeur” itinerary to Istanbul, departing April 24. Ports include Alexandria, Port Said, Haifa (overnight), Ashdod (Jerusalem), Rhodes, Patmos and Kusadasi.

On May 6, Riviera departs Istanbul on a 10-day “Greek Glory” voyage that includes calls at Mitilini and Cephalonia (Argostoli), Greece, the latter a maiden call for Oceania. The cruise is repeated, departing Aug. 3, 2012.

Another highlight of the inaugural season is the 10-day “Accent on Italy” cruise, which sails between Civitavecchia and Venice. Ports of call include Monte Carlo, La Spezia (for Cinque Terre), Livorno, Amalfi/Positano, Taormina, Corfu, Kotor, Dubrovnik and Venice (overnight). This itinerary departs June 27, Aug. 13, Sept. 24 and Oct. 24.

Rivera’s Europe season concludes with a 12-day “Mediterranean Medley,” departing Nov. 3, 2012, from Venice. The voyage calls at Dubrovnik, Corfu, Messina, Sorrento/Capri, Civitavecchia, Livorno (two days), Monte Carlo, Marseille, and Barcelona (overnight).

Thought for the Month
Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.

Love and Hugs

Mary Engram,
Your Personal Travel Consultant
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