No need to risk lives cramming into retail stores this Black Friday. On Cyber Monday, travel buyers can relax also. Cruise Lines will be offering some of their best bargains of the year with value-priced sailings plus complementary bonus extras.
Windstar Announces Sailings To Asia & Arabia
Windstar Cruises has announced that their newest motor yacht, Star Pride, will debut a season in Southeast Asia & Arabia in the fall of 2014.
Windstar will be offering five unique itineraries calling in “small ship ports” throughout Asia, Arabia, and India. Highlights on these itineraries include Luxor, Egypt; the Suez Canal, Mumbai, India; Phuket, Thailand; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; and Hong Kong. All 5 itineraries are now on sale from Windstar.
“Small ship cruising is an incredible way to explore this part of the world. There are tremendous
experiences to be had from the ancient cliff city of Petra to the colorful Ho Chi Minh City,” said Hans Birkholz, Windstar Cruises’ chief executive officer. “This is our first journey beyond Europe, South Pacific and the Caribbean, and we are delighted to announce Star Pride’s Southeast Asia & Arabia deployment.”
Launching in May of 2014, the 9,975-ton Star Pride is the first of three new power yachts to join
Windstar’s fleet. With a guest capacity of 212, the all suite yacht will undergo several upgrades and changes in design and décor to align with Windstar’s casual contemporary style. Star Pride will showcase many signature Windstar experiences, including the line’s famous Sail Away party, yacht deck barbecue gala, and Open Bridge policy.
The Mediterranean On An Italian Cruise Line Is A Different Experience, But Not A Scary One
Sailing on Costa Luminosa in the Mediterranean this week, we’re finding a lot of the cruise experience to be much the same as when sailing anywhere else in the world. Just two days into the itinerary, it has been lots of fun, a unbeatable value and an easy way to travel. Still, some things are uniquely different and knowing about them in advance is helpful. We start with a few tips.
Language Barriers
English is the official language on board Costa Luminosa but those who speak it as their primary language are a small minority. This is not a problem or reason for concern. On an elevator full of other passengers, none of which appear to speak English, it is still OK for you too to smile at the cute baby everyone like everyone else is. Some things are universal. Three 7’s on a slot machine draw comments that need no interpreter to know they mean ‘Nice hit!’
Money matters
Here, Euro is the currency used on board and it is easy to work with. The conversion rate is something one needs to keep in mind for the actual cost to them on the credit card bill upon returning back home. Think one Euro is about one and a half dollars and you’ll do better than fine.
Embarkation
Getting on the ship could best be described as ‘different’ and that’s about it. While on a North American sailing everything is done at the check-in desk before boarding the ship, on Costa Luminosa we gave up our passports for the ship to hold until the end of the journey, registered a credit card after boarding and were given boarding group cards at curbside.
Food Basics
There’s plenty of it, around the clock, just like a North American sailing and it is included in the price. There are a few upgrade/alternative options. Much of what we are experiencing is remarkably similar to other ships from other lines such as Carnival, Princess, Royal Caribbean or Celebrity. Still, there is ‘food’ and there is ‘cuisine’.
Cuisine
There are a few unique gems, like pretty much anything with pasta and any coffee drink other than what is called here “American Coffee”, perhaps with a bit of a tone of disapproval. The up side is that there are some marvelous opportunities to see how coffee beverages should be made and learn from the experience. Yet another nail in Starbucks coffin for me that began on our Viking River Cruise last summer where, from Budapest to Amsterdam we found unique café’s that knew how to do it well.
I’ll have more sailing in the Mediterranean on an Italian cruise line Wednesday when we explore the notion of joining a ship on an itinerary in progress at any one of a number of ports of call.
AIDA Will Base Ships In Tampa From 2014 Through 2016
Tampa is about to meet the happiest looking ships in the cruise industry. AIDA Cruises has announced that they will soon begin sailing from Tampa beginning in 2014.
For the Germany based, smiling cruise line, this will be the first time an AIDA ship will sail year round from a North American port. Beginning in December 2014, AIDA will base the AIDAvita in Tampa, sailing western Caribbean cruises through 2015. In 2015, the AIDAmar will take over the sailings until 2016.
AIDA is now the fifth cruise line to base a ship at the Port of Tampa.
Costa Victoria To Emerge With New Features & Amenities In November
Costa Cruise’s Costa Victoria is set to return to service on November 11th with an array of new features and amenities.
In November, the Costa Victoria will emerge with new balconies, terraces and windows, new restaurants including a terrace buffet and a pizza and noodle bar, as well as an expanded boutique shopping area. The Costa Victoria will emerge boasting an “Italy at Sea” theme that is translated in every detail of the upgraded ship, from the exquisite food to the bright colors and tailored service.
“Our investment in Costa Victoria means she is going to offer our valued Asian passengers the absolute finest and most enjoyable cruising holiday, which speaks to our long-term commitment to the Asia market,” said Buhdy Bok, senior vice president Pacific, Asia and China for Costa Crociere S.p.A. “As the first international cruise company to enter the China market in 2006, Costa Cruises is proud of how we’ve developed alongside China and have been able to satisfy the rapidly growing demand for cruise holidays with innovative and high-quality cruising options.”
The Costa Victoria is currently undergoing a $18 million renovation at Sembawang Shipyard in Singapore.
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