Nov 16 2012 Cruise Notes from Mary

Cruise Notes from Mary
Mary Engram, CTA/MCC Travel Consultant
November 16, 2012

Good Friday Morning

Soul Train, Smooth Jazz, Malt Shop, Halloween , Country Music and Celtic Thunder Cruise

Don’t delay and contact me today.  Cabins are sailing fast on these special music theme cruises. 

Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring aboard their own wine

Royal Caribbean International has changed a long-standing policy that prevented guests from bringing their own alcoholic beverages on a cruise.  Previously, passengers were not allowed to bring any sort of beverage on the cruise, and alcoholic beverages seized on embarkation day were not returned to guests.

The new policy allows for two 750-milliliter bottles of wine per cabin. The wine can be consumed in a guest cabin or on a balcony without charge. If the wine is consumed in a public space, there will be a $25 corkage fee. The policy requires that the wine bottles must retain the original manufacturer’s seals and exhibit no signs of tampering.  If a guest brings more than two bottles, the additional bottles will be secured by ship personnel and returned just prior to the end of the cruise, Royal Caribbean said.

Princess Cruises® first charity cruise — Cruising for a Cause: U.S. Veterans

This 4-day cruise departing November 5, 2013 from Galveston, Texas will raise funds for two charities committed to supporting the U.S. Armed Forces.  A portion of your cruise fare ranging from $100 to $300 per person, depending on stateroom category, will be evenly donated on your behalf to two Section 501(c)(3) exempt public charities, The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Inc., which preserves the legacy of fallen soldiers from the Vietnam War, and Operation Homefront Inc., which provides emergency financial support and other assistance to families of veterans and wounded warriors. Princess Cruises will match every dollar of these donations, up to $500,000, to contribute to these very important organizations. If you join me, Princess Cruises will provide you with a written acknowledgment of your charitable contribution for your tax records

 

Royal Caribbean to offer legal weddings at sea
Royal Caribbean said it will offer valid weddings at sea for the first time after a new law enabling the change was enacted in the Bahamas.  Previously, couples seeking to be married could go through a ceremonial wedding that would not be legally recognized. The procedure would have to be repeated in port or in another land venue to be binding.

Under the newly passed Marriage Act, the Bahamas allows for marriages in international waters outside the 12-mile territorial limits of any nation.  Royal Caribbean has a Romance at Sea package that includes the wedding ceremony, flowers, cake, music and other amenities. It is complimentary when the wedding party books 12 or more cabins on a cruise of 5 days or longer

"Dancing with the Stars" debuts on Holland America Line

Holland America Line has announced a new "Dancing with the Stars" cruise experience.  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 famed dance pros, complete with costumes and routines from the TV show.

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-dayAlaska; Jan. 5, 2014 Nieuw Amsterdam 7-day Eastern Caribbean; and Jan. 12, 2014 ms Nieuw Amsterdam 7-day Western Caribbean.

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

Princess Cruises to Set Sail From Port of Houston Cruise Terminal

Princess Cruises will launch new service from the Port of Houston beginning in 2013 when it starts sailing from the state-of-the-art Bayport Cruise Terminal. Princess and the Port of Houston Authority confirmed an agreement Nov. 15 for the line to make passenger cruise calls during the 2013-14 cruise season at the port’s cruise facility. The new service is scheduled to begin in November 2013. A total of 26 departures are planned for the season.

The inaugural cruise is a sailing aboard the Caribbean Princess to support U.S. veterans. The 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

Princes Cruises Onboard Credit for Active & Retired Military Personnel
Princess Cruises® would like to thank the brave men and women of the American and Canadian military for their service.  On every sailing, Princess offers an onboard credit of up to $250 per person to both active and retired military personnel.*

Use this credit to take home professional photos from onboard photographers, or treat yourself to a variety of gifts in the boutiques.  You can also use your onboard credit for a great-tasting meal in one of the specialty restaurants, such as Sabatini’s.SM Or use the onboard credit to indulge in a relaxing massage or rejuvenating treatment at the Lotus Spa.®

Onboard credit amount per person:*

6 days or less   $50 per person
7–13 days         $100 per person
14+ days          $250 per person
On behalf of Princess Cruises, thank you for your service.

*Offer is valid for eligible military personnel in the U.S. and Canada only. Maximum of two onboard credit offers per stateroom. This offer cannot be used for casino credits/charges and gratuities, discretionary hotel and dining charges. Offer excludes Travel Agent and Interline fares. Offer is combinable with other Onboard Credit offers. Other restrictions may apply.

Eligibility includes active military, retired military and disable military veterans with proper verification as outlined below.
Please ensure that documentation provided has any Social Security Number crossed out.
a. Active personnel currently serving in the following service divisions:
i - United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard or Reserves with a copy of a military verification certificate confirming active duty status available for free online at http”//www.defense.gov/faq.
ii - Canadian National Defense — NDI 20 – Canadian Forces Identification Card
b. Retired Personnel defined as A) enlisted personnel or officers with a minimum of 20 years of service, B) medically retired, or C) 100% disabled. Proper identification for United States is a BLUE or TAN Uniformed Identification Card. For Canadians, NDI 75 – Record of Service Identification Card or CF 75 or certificate of discharge; is used.
c. Veterans with an Honorable Discharge serving a minimum of 2 years or 6 months in an active war zone in any of the United States service divisions listed above or in the Canadian National Defense.
Proper identification in the form of a DD 214, plus a current photo ID is required. For Canadians, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) Health Identification Card is used.  Promotion code: ZMB

Thought for the Month
Wishing everyone a happy and blessed Thanksgiving holiday season. 

Mary Engram, CTA/MCC

Your Personal Travel Consultant