tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29768906528414903532009-11-27T12:11:04.412-05:00The award-winning cruise travel news, information, and editorial blog.Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.comBlogger822125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-50465928805808013412009-11-27T00:00:00.004-05:002009-11-27T00:00:01.500-05:00

If you're cruising to Alaska in summer 2010, there are a lot of things you'll want to see and do when your ship docks in ports of call. Many of those must-do experiences are rather pricey, but you can get 2-for-1 savings on some of the most popular shore excursions with a copy of the latest edition of the Great Alaskan TourSaver.Just in time for Black Friday shopping, the Great Alaskan TourSaver

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From our home to yours, we wish everyone a peaceful and Happy Thanksgiving.Like many of you, I'll be watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on television while preparing our holiday feast. I'm always struck with a how'd-they-do-that moment when the massive balloons float by so I was delighted by this video from Disney Cruise Line featuring the making of the Sailor Mickey Balloon. Enjoy!

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Don't want to cook your own holiday goose or turkey or ham? You don't have to go over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house for a perfect holiday meal or even stay at home. Sure, that's the American Dream version, but I admit I'm not much of a cook. Although I try, I've always wondered how other women manage to put everything together to serve a festive meal all at once. They

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For more than 70 years, Cunard ships graced with the name Queen Elizabeth have been a significant part of maritime history, British heritage and an unparalleled cruise liner experience. And now, with less than a year to go until her maiden voyage, the legendary letters that will identify the newest addition to Cunard’s regal fleet of Queens have been welded onto the bow of Queen Elizabeth at the

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When MSC Poesia arrived in the United States the Musica-class ship had a second christening of sorts as she was welcomed to Port Everglades by television icon, author, and entrepreneur Suzanne Somers.The five-night sailing was also the President's Cruise and Richard Sasso, CEO & President of MSC Cruises USA was on hand to host activities and events, such as this cooking demonstration. Sasso and

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For the second time in just a little over a year a glitch in the FAA flight plan system caused widespread flight cancellations and delays throughout the nation this past Thursday.Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Intl Airport, the world's busiest airport, was affected as early as 8:00am, with JetBlue and Delta cancelling and/or delaying numerous flights. Everyone in the south knows that when Hartsfield

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Royal Caribbean has spent nearly a week now wowing pre-inaugural guests aboard Oasis of the Seas and at least one of them is prepared to wow the cruise line right back. As an invited guest of Royal Caribbean Intl and Celebrity Cruises, Senator Ricky Skerritt, St. Kitts' Minister of State for Tourism, spent last Sunday and Monday nights aboard the massive Oasis, docked at Florida's new Port

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Yesterday was a really big day for which officials at Port Everglades have spent months preparing. It marked a crucial test of Cruise Terminal 18 as the 225,282 ton Oasis of the Seas boarded guests for an overnight sailing. Today, more guests will arrive for a scheduled two-night preview cruise. By the time Cruise Terminal 18 greets Oasis' first revenue passengers on Dec 1st and those who've

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With seven "neighborhoods" to christen on board, the world's largest cruise ship Oasis of the Seas will have seven (count 'em! seven!) Godmothers to do the honors. We know that much for certain, but other details are sketchy and, despite a phone call to Royal Caribbean for confirmation, the Godmother names below were not verified until hours after we learned them. However, unless someone hacked

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While Academy Award and Tony Award winning actress Marcia Gay Harden officially named Carnival Cruise Lines’ newest and largest ship, the 130,000-ton Carnival Dream, during a shipboard ceremony in New York last Thursday, Hailee Steberger acted as a sort of Junior Godmother during a second christening ceremony.Attired in a Carnival wet suit, 9-year-old Hailee, of Egg Harbor Township, NJ,

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Anyone who has combed through displays of the many (many!) photos taken by shipboard photographers may be dreading that process aboard the world’s largest cruise ship. Now there’s word that you won’t have to.When Oasis of the Seas debuts at Port Everglades this month, also debuting will be the world’s most advanced photography system at sea. Image, Royal Caribbean’s photo concessionaire for 22

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Last year when Norwegian Cruise Line chose Las Vegas as the venue to present the nightlife options planned for their newest, largest and most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship to date, debuting in June 2010, Norwegian Epic, that was a clue that the entertainment to be presented on board would be a bit out of the norm for cruise ships as well.First NCL revealed that they landed the popular Vegas

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Most passengers don’t give the cleanliness of their cruise ship a second thought because everything appears spotless and there are crewmembers present vacuuming and polishing at all hours. However, there are people who care very deeply about cleanliness in areas most passenters will never see. Did you know that the Center for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) developed its Vessel Sanitation

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It’s been a really big week for first-time ship arrivals in United States port cities.The activity started as Port Everglades greeted Seabourn Odyssey at dawn on Nov 10 and MSC Poesia arrived on Nov 11. Finally, the Fort Lauderdale port welcomed brand-new Oasis of the Seas at the brand-new Terminal 18 on Nov 13.There was real excitement in New York City aboard Carnival Dream as she arrived in

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The majority of passengers aboard MSC Poesia for this week's 5-night inaugural Caribbean cruise are Americans (about 2,400 of the 2,612 sailing) and there’s plenty to keep them busy.All day long you’ll find exercise classes, table soccer, tennis, mini-golf, pool games, cooking demonstrations, and bingo. Making an appearance today is a unique challenge—lasersport clay pigeon shooting. While “real”

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Have you ever wondered how your cabin steward intuitively knew when you left the stateroom? He seems to magically appear as soon as you’re gone and when you return the bed is made and towels replaced. Here’s how they do it aboard MSC Poesia…When you enter your stateroom, you must insert your key card in a slot by the door. That activates the stateroom overhead lights and also lights up a small

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Yesterday marked the introduction of MSC Cruises's MS Poesia to North America and the beginning of her maiden Caribbean season.While MSC Poesia was christened in Dover, England by Ms. Sophia Lauren in April 2008, she had a second christening of sorts as she was welcomed to Port Everglades by television icon, author, and entrepreneur Suzanne Somers. Probably best known as a star of Three’s Company

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An ancient practice of shipbuilders is to perform a traditional Coin-Under-the-Mast ceremony when a ship is "floated out." It's said to bring good fortune to the vessel.Two special coins used in the recent floating out ceremony of Holland America Line’s ms Nieuw Amsterdam, currently under construction at Fincantieri shipyard at Marghera, Italy, were minted to commemorate the 400th anniversary of

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Fans of soap opera stars will have the rare opportunity to spend four days with their favorite actors at sea, when Celebrity Century again hosts "Soap Cruise," departing from Miami on Jan 28, 2010. Soap Cruise, the third voyage of its kind, is a special offering that pairs Celebrity's exceptional service with exclusive activities allowing guests who have purchased the Soap Cruise package the

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The largest cruise ships in the world need the world's largest cruise terminal and now they have one in their Fort Lauderdale homeport at Port Everglades. Terminal 18 officially opened on Friday, Nov 6, one week prior to the arrival of Royal Caribbean International's 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas.Local county and city officials, as well as Royal Caribbean executives, were on hand for the

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Pictured here, Silverseas Cruises' soon-to-be introduced Silver Spirit recently completed final Sea Trials in the Adriatic Sea.Silver Spirit's Grand Inaugural Voyage, a 91-day extended journey designed to introduce Silversea's newest ship to the Americas, departs Fort Lauderdale on Jan 21, 2010. Silver Spirit is set to explore over 20 countries and 45 ports for the very first time. She will set a

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After more than 16,000 suggestions from more than 40,000 travel agents and fans around the world, the names of the 16th and 17th ships in the Costa fleet have been selected. The two sister ships, set to debut in 2011 and 2012, will be named the Costa Favolosa and Costa Fascinosa.The Costa Favolosa and Costa Fascinosa, (114,500 gross tons with a double occupancy of 3,000 each) will be delivered in

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Last week the 1,452-passenger Holiday sailed its final voyage for Carnival Cruise Lines when it departed on a 5-day western Caribbean cruise from Mobile, Alabama. For the past 24 years, the 46,052-ton vessel has operated a wide variety of itineraries for the line, playing a critical role in the company’s rise to world’s largest cruise operator.Launched in 1985, the Holiday was revolutionary for

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While both Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Dream & Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas are crossing the Atlantic, there's good news and bad news from their respective headquarters. Carnival's is good, so we'll share that first.To celebrate the launch of its newest, largest and most family-friendly "Fun Ship" ever, Carnival Cruise Lines has announced that Academy Award-winning actress Marcia Gay

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It’s pretty much a given that we cruise travelers are a compulsive lot. We plan months in advance to insure that we encounter only smooth sailing once underway on our highly anticipated cruises. That includes our dining choices. To that end, Oceania Cruises is introducing a new online portal that will allow booked guests make advance reservations for specialty restaurants from the comfort of

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