Showing posts with label Hawaii cruises. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hawaii cruises. Show all posts

Friday, February 4, 2011

Holland America Completes Signature of Excellence Program

Holland America Completes Signature of Excellence Program

Coastal Vacations

Word Count:
638
Summary:
Holland America's Signature of Excellence program is just about completed.  What does this mean for vacationers who choose Holland as their cruise line?

Keywords:
Alaska cruises, Hawaii cruises, cruise vacation

Article Body:
© 2006, All Rights Reserved
For some, cruising is all about rock-bottom pricing.  Bare-bone cruising gets you to the destination of your choice, but that's about all it does.  However, cutting corners is not for everyone.  The Holland America Line recognized that many vacationers are still looking for a truly distinctive experience: one that gives them total satisfaction as well as good value.  That way of thinking was what sparked the Signature of Excellence program.
Starting in 2003, Holland America chose to implement a $225-million initiative that would allow them to provide unprecedented destinations and services to passengers like no other cruise line before them.  It was expected that the Signature of Excellence program would take approximately three years to expand throughout the fleet.  Holland America is proud to announce that it's in the final stages of implementation and will complete its program on schedule at the end of 2006.
What enhancements can be found aboard Holland ships since the execution of the Signature of Excellence program?  Extensive improvements throughout every area of the ship.
Accommodations
Providing the most spacious cabins in the premium cruise category, Holland America offers elegantly appointed staterooms complete with Sealy® Euro-Top mattresses, 250-thread count cotton linens, Egyptian cotton towels, massage shower heads, flat-panel televisions and more.  In addition, guests staying in suites can take advantage of personal concierge services, special luxury linens, fully stocked minibars and special embarkation and disembarkation privileges.
Kids Activities
Club HAL is Holland's youth program and was added as part of the Signature of Excellence program.  With permanent, full-time directors and staff, parents can feel confident leaving their children to enjoy a full range of fun activities in a safe, age-appropriate environment.  Club HAL offers the most elaborate children's areas of any cruise line.  Children will find colorful surroundings, art tables, big-screen TVs, games, supervised Internet access, Sony Playstations, board games and a host of family events, including the Family Olympics.
For Teens Only
Kids aren't the only ones that can have fun on these retrofitted ships.  Teens get their own hangouts as well.  The Loft provides a lounge with the feel of a New York artist's loft.  Filled with popular music and videos, Internet access, karaoke and more, teens can have a space all their own.  The Oasis is yet another teen getaway with a teens-only sun deck, a nine-foot-high waterfall and cave, snack machines, sound and laser-light show, and more.
Expanded Dining
One of the most anticipated parts of cruising is undoubtedly the food!  That's why the Holland America Line gave special attention to not only the meals themselves, but also to the environment in which guests would dine.
From the addition of fine art and antiques in the main dining room to elegant Rosenthal china and expert wine stewards, no detail was overlooked in the dining experience.  Now with two servers per table, guests will experience unparalleled service along with exceptional five-course meals under the consultancy of Master Chef Rudi Sodamin.  From reservations-only dining featuring Sterling Silver beef and fresh seafood to healthy alternative meals and complimentary in-room trays, passengers will not be disappointed with any aspect of Holland's food service.
Private Island
The acquisition of a 55-acre private island, Half Moon Cay, is but one of the many highlights of the Signature of Excellence program.  The highest-rated port of call on Holland's itineraries, Half Moon Cay sits adjacent to an international bird sanctuary in the Bahamas.  Repeatedly rated the “Best Private Island” by Porthole Cruise Magazine, guests will find horseback riding, stingray adventures, watercraft adventures, an aqua park and more.
Although the Holland America Line is concluding the implementation of its Signature of Excellence program at the end of this year, the effects of this innovative fleet-wide expansion will continue to impress and thrill guests for years to come.


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Coastal Latinos Club de Vacaciones y Negocio Paquetes de Vacaciones Ganar Dinero en Internet
 

Monday, December 27, 2010

Cruises and Cuisine Go Hand In Hand

Cruises and Cuisine Go Hand In Hand
Word Count:
542
Summary:
Now you can incorporate your love for cooking with your dreams of high seas adventure because more and more cruise ships are offering cooking-related events onboard.

Keywords:
cooking cruises, Alaska cruises, Hawaii cruises

Article Body:
© 2006, All Rights Reserved
From weekend workshops to full-service culinary academies, men and women are drawn to cooking lessons.  Now you can incorporate your love for cooking with your dreams of high seas adventure because more and more cruise ships are offering cooking-related events onboard.
Originally attributed to small cruise ships that needed an incentive to gain bookings, cooking cruises have grown over the years and are now found aboard large vessels.  One of the most recent announcements is from Holland America.  Working in conjunction with Food & Wine magazine, Holland America's Culinary Arts Center will offer demonstrations and seminars from world-renowned chefs, wine experts, cookbook authors and more.
A fleet-wide enhancement, the Culinary Arts Center will be retrofit onto all 13 existing ships and will also be incorporated into the upcoming 14th ship due to launch in summer 2008.  Each Culinary Arts Center will include theater-style seating, state-of-the-art show kitchen, plasma screens that allow every participant to see, a display counter for easy viewing and space for guests to participate in preparing some of the dishes. Upgrades to all Holland America’s ships will be complete by summer 2006 allowing each ship to include Culinary Arts Center activities during each cruise.
One small cruise company offers tours featuring chefs from the world-famous Le Cordon Bleu.  As you cruise the Baltic Ocean or the Mediterranean Sea, you can enjoy studying under talented instructors.  Other small ships sail to Greece, Turkey and other worldwide destinations offering cooking classes based on each region visited.
Over 60 top chefs are slated to appear during the next 12 months on Holland America’s ships including Nick Stellino, chef and host of Nick Stellino's Family Kitchen V; Jacques Torres, chocolatier, pastry chef and cookbook author; Aaron Sanchez, chef and owner of Paladar, New York City; Michelle Bernstein, owner and chef of MB restaurant in Cancun; Neal Gallagher, chef of Oceana (and voted Best New Chef of 2003); Charles Dale, founder of Aspen's Renaissance, Range and Rustique restaurants, and the list goes on.
Food preparation, wine tasting, cooking classes, seminars, book signings, question-and-answer sessions and market tours in port are just a few of the activities passengers on various ships can look forward to.
When booking a cooking cruise, look for themes such as grilling, desserts, healthy entrees, Italian, Mexican, etc.  In addition, also ask about group discounts.  Holland's Culinary Group Program offers special fares for groups of 25 or more, a cabin for a guest chef, two one-hour demonstration sessions, a complimentary wine tasting or cocktail party and a color group photo.
Most cooking cruises allow you to eat what has been prepared, so you can literally taste the fruits of your labor.  However, samples may not be enough for an entire meal.  If the cooking tour you book is aboard a smaller ship rather than a large vessel with onboard restaurants, you might be wise to ask if a meal will be served prior to booking your reservation.
Whether you opt for an intimate-sized ship with only a few hundred passengers and a defined itinerary or a large vessel capable of sailing the world, cooking cruises are fun, entertaining and exciting for every member of the family.  Ask your travel agent for the details on cooking cruises available in the destinations you want to sail.


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Coastal Latinos Club de Vacaciones y Negocio Paquetes de Vacaciones Ganar Dinero en Internet
 

Monday, December 6, 2010

Crown Princess Debuts June 14th With a Host of Firsts

Crown Princess Debuts June 14th With a Host of Firsts
Word Count:
570
Summary:
Departing from New York in June 2006, the all-new Crown Princess offers a host of firsts designed to captivate passengers and provide exciting new adventures on and off the ship.

Keywords:
alaska cruises, hawaii cruises, princess cruise line

Article Body:

From a shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, the Crown Princess has been taking shape over the last year.  Though you would never know it from seeing construction photos, this massive body of steel beams will soon be sculpted into a luxury vessel boasting a list of firsts including innovative features, fresh amenities and new ports of call that will sail you off into the sunset of your choosing.
Several distinctive differences are noted about Crown Princess.  Upon her maiden voyage in June 2006, she will be the first in the Princess Cruise fleet to sail roundtrip Caribbean itineraries from New York (Red Hook, which is located in Brookland).  Unique destinations await passengers including the Eastern Caribbean port of Bermuda.  Equally fascinating are the added ports of Grand Turk and the Turks and Caicos Islands which have been virtually undiscovered until now.
Along with the Grand Turks port comes 20 new shore excursions.  As innovative as the port itself, adventures of all activity levels will be available to passengers from exhilarating Harley rides to relaxing super-sized pools.
According to Princess Cruise Line, "Hop-On/Hop-Off Island Tours are first of their kind island tours that operate as a hop-on-hop-off tour which includes stops at a restored 1800s prison and a historic lighthouse."  Also available: Harleys In Paradise, where passengers to St. Maarten can tour the scenery on Harley-Davidson motorcycles; zip line tours amid the canopy of St. Lucia's tropical rainforests; river tubing on Grenada's Balthazar River and more.
If you think you've heard the name "Crown Princess" before, you are correct.  Initially built in 1990 by controversial designer Renzo Piano, the original Crown Princess has been transferred to a sister cruise line where she serves under a different name.  As for the new Crown Princess, she is totally redesigned with cruising in mind and features numerable amenities not found on other ships.
Onboard the Crown Princess you'll find more firsts including Movies Under the Stars - an exclusive to Princess Cruise Line - where you can view blockbuster hit films outdoors on a gigantic, 300 square foot, LED screen.  Passengers can make complimentary chaise lounge reservations for available features. Cocktail specials are available as well as free popcorn and other movie munchies.  Atrium dining is also a specialty of Princess Cruises as well as Personal Choice Dining that allows you to choose seating at any restaurant at any time. 
From exciting nightclubs to digital golf simulators and a nine-hole putting course, from four pools to a sports court and jogging track, you'll find something for everyone, including one of the largest casinos afloat.
Kids and teens even get their own special spaces with The Fun Zone, Off Limits Teen Center, a video arcade and the Chill Out splash pool.  That's the perfect place for them to hang out while adults visit the Sanctuary - a quiet poolside area of the ship just for adults to relax and unwind.
According to Princess officials, Crown Princess' summer season will include 12 departures from New York between May 12 and September 6 on the Eastern Caribbean.  Ports include Bermuda, San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Grand Turk. In fact, her inaugural season is expected to be such a success that a second season in New York has already been slated. 
Departing from New York in June 2006, the all-new Crown Princess offers a host of firsts designed to captivate passengers and provide exciting new adventures on and off the ship.


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Coastal Latinos Club de Vacaciones y Negocio Paquetes de Vacaciones Ganar Dinero en Internet
 

Celebrity Century Emerges From Dry Dock Ready To Provide Five-Star Service

Celebrity Century Emerges From Dry Dock Ready To Provide Five-Star Service
Word Count:
437
Summary:
Celebrity Century has emerged from a five-week dry dock in which she underwent an aggressive restoration to make her the more up to date and luxurious than ever.

Keywords:
Alaska cruises, Hawaii cruises

Article Body:

On May 30, 2006, Celebrity Century emerged from a five-week dry dock in which she underwent an aggressive restoration.  Sailing since 1995, the goal of the revamp was to bring Century up to date and make her more luxurious than ever.  Many favorites that are currently found on newer Celebrity ships were added to Century's deck plan, and some additional surprises were also incorporated.
<B>New Dining Options</B>
Most notably, a new dining option was added to Century: Murano.  Adorned with sparkling chandeliers handcrafted from Murano glass in jewel-toned colors, Murano bears a theme exploration of the New World. 
Michel Roux is the culinary mastermind behind Murano and its first-at-sea tableside cooking, carving and flambé.  The entire setting will be one that sets passengers' senses on edge as they see, smell and taste the experience.
Grand Restaurant has received a thorough refurbishment and recaptured an essence of grandeur, glamour and sophistication.  A favorite of most diners who sailed onboard Century prior to her makeover, Grand Restaurant has retained her dedication to impeccable service and truly world-class menus.
Another first for Celebrity is the addition of a 76-seat sushi bar.  Many guests will want to indulge in this popular form of dining, and they can do so in an atmosphere specifically created to reflect the Asian trends.
<B>Improved and Expanded Staterooms</B>
Century now boasts an additional 314 verandahs, 14 new suites, 10 new staterooms and 174 more Concierge Class category staterooms.  Passengers will also find attentive touches, including fresh-cut flowers, upgraded bathrooms and personalized stationery.  (Amenities are dependent on cabins.)  Staterooms also now offer in-cabin wireless Internet service - a lifesaver for those who simultaneously work and play.
<B>Popular Onboard Activities</B>
A golf simulator can be found onboard Century for those who can't get enough of hitting that little white ball.  Enclosed for comfort and safety, guests can look out over the open sea as they practice their drives.
Enrichment Programs will continue on Century, offering passengers a wide range of exceptional opportunities to learn about such topics as astronomy, journalism, wine tasting, cooking, acting and much more.
Of course, the long-standing favorites including swimming pools, spas, athletic clubs, dance clubs, martini and other specialty bars, and much more are available aboard Century.
The new, improved Century is currently sailing to Europe, the Baltic and the Mediterranean.  Beginning in November 2006, Century will add another first: short cruises of four and five nights through the Caribbean, departing from Miami, Florida.
Keeping everything that was loved about Century and adding innovative, exciting new features, restaurants and amenities will make this $55 million renovation worth every penny to those who book passage.


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Coastal Latinos Club de Vacaciones y Negocio Paquetes de Vacaciones Ganar Dinero en Internet
 

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Brooklyn, New York Opens Its First Cruise Ship Port

Brooklyn, New York Opens Its First Cruise Ship Port
Word Count:
456
Summary:
A new cruise ship port in Brooklyn, NY opened in April 2006 with a great reception from the cruise ship industry as well as passengers.

Keywords:
Alaska cruises, Hawaii cruises

Article Body:
© 2006, All Rights Reserved
In 2003, New York announced the grand opening of a new alternative port for cruise lines.  Because ports in Florida were becoming more and more crowded, additional docking facilities in interesting cities on the Eastern Seaboard were needed to provide cruise lines with a new home port.  The port has been wildly popular.  So much so that another has been added in nearby Brooklyn.
The Red Hook terminal in a neighborhood in Brooklyn opened in April 2006 and welcomed its first permanent resident, Cunard's Queen Mary 2 (formerly docked in Manhattan).  Located on the Buttermilk Channel, the Brooklyn terminal gave the first increase in New York cruise ship pier capacity in over 30 years.  With the likes of Cunard and Princess cruise lines as eager residents, the terminal has already become a success.  Most other major cruise lines have also assigned vessels to sail from Brooklyn.
Princess Cruise lines will launch the Crown Princess from the Brooklyn dock in June 2006 for a Caribbean cruise.  From June to October, Princess will offer numerous Caribbean tours, including calls on ports in popular destinations such as the Virgin Islands, Grand Turk and Jamaica.  Star Princess will begin cruises from Brooklyn in October 2006 visiting ports up and down the New England and Canadian seacoast.
But Brooklyn?  It doesn't seem like the most exciting location for a cruise ship port.  On the contrary.  While not normally publicized as a vibrant city with plenty to do, Brooklyn offers cruisers an opportunity to spend a few days in New York before or after their tour. 
Very similar to Manhattan, Brooklyn offers a trendy nightlife as well as diverse cultures and eclectic cuisine.  Bars, clubs and restaurants line the streets, offering a tremendous variety of options for visitors and locals alike. 
If culture is your thing, Chinatown is always a wonderful experience.  In addition, Flatbush offers the largest Caribbean population in the United States.  In either place, you'll delight in the authentic sights, sounds and tastes on every corner.
With spectacular views of many popular attractions, including the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty, the Red Hook terminal also offers exciting options for sightseers.  However, New York City is just a short cab ride away and opens a virtual treasure trove of attractions, shows, museums and affairs. 
Overall, Brooklyn offers greater value (with lower rates on hotels) and a central location, making it a wonderful choice for both vacationers and the cruise lines.  If New York is closer for you than Florida, or if you've been longing to visit the Big Apple, consider booking your next cruise from the Red Hook terminal in Brooklyn.  Your travel agent will have a complete listing of which cruise lines sail from Red Hook and the destinations available.


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Coastal Latinos Club de Vacaciones y Negocio Paquetes de Vacaciones Ganar Dinero en Internet