Cruise
Football legends lead NFL-themed Crystal cruises
Crystal Cruises is offering a showdown of gridiron greats during a spring "NFL Legends"-themed voyage. The May 8 transatlantic sailing from New York to Dover features a football-focused "Ocean Views"panel discussion and each guest individually sharing inspiring personal stories from decades on the field, as well as hard-won tools for success in any field, since everyone faces teams, competition and occasional losses and victory dances in work and life. Scheduled motivational speakers include: Hall of Fame coach Don Shula; Super Bowl MVP and Hall of famer Larry Csonka; Jim Tunney, "The Dean of...
Carnival launches new agent rewards program
Carnival Cruise Lines has launched its Travel Agent Rewards Program, which allows travel partners to register and redeem points for a variety of actions completed through the line's travel agent portal, GoCCL.com, or their GDS. Through the program, partners may earn and redeem points for themselves or their clients toward a variety of Carnival-branded logo items, gift cards, or Apple iPads. Once enrolled in the program, agents may register their point-redeeming actions and track their earnings in order to redeem points for gifts. The program is part of Carnival's "Working Smarter, Not...
Sapphire back in service after extensive makeover
Sapphire Princess has set sail after an extensive three-week makeover to add a host of signature Princess Cruises' features to the ship. Currently sailing on a cruise to Hawaii, Sapphire Princess passengers can now enjoy a new Piazza atrium with the International Café and Vines wine bar, plus the new Alfredo's Pizzeria. On the top deck, the cruise ship now features a giant Movies Under the Stars screen, and passengers can also relax in the ship's "pocket of tranquility,"the adults-only Sanctuary. Also part of the renovation were several relocated and upgraded venues, including the Art...
Windstar unveils new renovation renderings
Windstar Cruises has unveiled renderings for Wind Star and Wind Spirit renovations, which can be viewed at http://blog.windstarcruises.com . The renovations are part of Windstar's previously announced $18 million fleet refurbishment plan. The vision for the renovations is classic, stylish yacht luxury that dramatizes Windstar's brand position of a "boutique yacht vacation"that is "180 Degrees from Ordinary."Each yacht will receive new furniture, upholstery, art, lighting, wall coverings, carpeting, ceiling finishes, window treatments and floor coverings. New furnishings will complete the look...
GLP offers agents special booking incentives
GLP Worldwide Expedition Travel & Tours is offering agents special incentives for bookings made through May 31. Agents can earn a $50 gift card (of the agent's choice from either The Bay, Wal-Mart, Starbucks or Tim Hortons) for one booking of two passengers or earn a free iPad after five bookings if 10 passengers in total are booked. Any GLP Worldwide air, cruise and land package and cruise only booking valued more than $5,000 CAD is applicable. The above incentives apply to full air, cruise and land packages only and do not apply to group bookings....
Costa plans Concordia removal
Costa Cruises has outlined its plans for the removal of the Costa Concordia. In a prepared statement, the cruise company said that "immediately following the Costa Concordia accident" it began working "to ensure the least possible environmental impact to the waters surrounding Isola del Giglio and to safeguard the island's business activities and tourism." Costa said that "from the outset the measures drawn up by the company have been shared with and approved by the relevant Italian authorities in the spirit of full, transparent and total cooperation." It has already engaged international...
Disney Cruise Lines sails back into YVR in 2013
Disney Cruise Lines has officially released its itineraries for the 2013 season, and Vancouver is once again a port of call. The Disney Wonder debuted its cruises to Alaska in Vancouver last year, but switched to Seattle in 2012. However, Vancouver's closer proximity to Alaska and positive feedback from travellers contributed to Disney's decision to reinstate Vancouver as the departure point. Starting May 27, the Disney Wonder will depart Vancouver with 16 scheduled sailings throughout the season, travelling through the fjord at Tracy Arm and docking in the Alaskan ports of Skagway, Juneau...
American Safari sailings include boutique hotel stay
Travellers needing an escape to sunny Baja have one more reason to book a Sea of Cortés yacht adventure with American Safari Cruises -- all new reservations for cruises departing through April 14 receive one complimentary hotel stay at Casa Natalia, a boutique hotel in San José del Cabo, Mexico. The 22-passenger Safari Quest sails week-long "Aquarium of the World"adventure cruises from La Paz, Mexico through April. The offer is good only for guests flying into Cabo. The Safari Quest package includes transfers between airport, hotel and the yacht in La Paz, plus one complimentary...