cruising

Movie Screens on Cruise Lines, Good Idea Or Not?

USA Today's Cruise Blog recently reported on the fact that Princess Cruises is adding 300-square-foot screens on the top decks of seven more of its Princess ships over the next three years (it already has the screens on the top decks of seven ships already). The giant LED screens can show movies day and night as well as broadcasting sporting events such as the Super Bowl and concerts and plans to broadcast an exclusive-to-the-cruise-industry concert by top-selling recording artist Josh Groban. Personally I'm no fan of the giant screens but some of the hard-core cruisers seem to really like them. Other lines including MSC Cruises and Carnival Cruises offer movie screens on deck on some of their ships.

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Tags: cruise, cruising, entertainment-awards, ship

Small Canadian Cruise Company Puts Yacht Up For Sale

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

Some boutique travel companies seem to be having a rough time in an economy where people are traveling less. I recently reported on GrandLuxe Rail Journeys and now here comes news of trouble for Canadian Sailing Expeditions Inc. The company offers seven-day luxury cruises in the Atlantic region, Quebec and the Caribbean on board the beautiful 243-foot Caledonia, a sailing vessel that holds 75 passengers. The restoration of Caledonia for cruising ran almost $1 million over budget putting the company in financial trouble. The yacht relaunched in its newly refurbished state in March.

The Chronicle Herald reports that on September 3 the Nova Scotia Supreme Court granted the company an extension of its protection from creditors while it tries to restructure. Meanwhile the company has had to put the Caledonia on the market for around $12 million but they are hoping to hold onto the yacht and save the business by refinancing or chartering the boat on a long-term basis to other organizations. The company says that winter bookings are strong and believes that a market for small cruise ship sailing does exist. They believe they can make the company stay afloat if given enough time. Meanwhile the yacht is listed by brokers Northrop and Johnson on Yachtworld. The listing pictures are in the gallery below.

Gallery: Caledonia Yacht

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Tags: caledonia, canadian sailing expeditions, CanadianSailingExpeditions, cruising, sailing, travel, yacht

Rough Waters Ahead For Cruising? Royal Caribbean Cuts 400 Jobs

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Hard times for the world of cruising? Royal Caribbean Cruises announced today that they have cut 400 jobs and are making other cost-cutting measures to reduce annual expenses by $125 million. Chairman and CEO Richard Fain has named soaring fuel prices and the economic downturn as a factor in the moves. The announcement followed lower-than-expected second quarter earnings. So far though, bookings have been holding up well with no decline in the number of people booking cruises. The last few years have been strong for the cruise industry as the growing number of baby boomers have fueled the upscale cruising market. I suspect that the economic fallout for the cruise industry may be slower to occur since cruises are often booked farther in advance. Royal Caribbean's dramatic cost cutting may be a way to try and head off the storms ahead.

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Tags: cruises, cruising, royal caribbean, RoyalCaribbean

Pinot Lovers' Cruise

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spirits, Yachts & Sailing

The second "Pinot Lovers' Cruise" is scheduled for May 31 - June 12, 2009, and combines the wines of August West with Freeman Vineyard & Winery. The 12-day trip on Oceania Cruises' Insignia makes stops in 12 cities, starting in Rome and ending in Istanbul. Oceania only carries 650 passengers and is known for its relaxed, no-tie policy, and gourmet cuisine, overseen by Executive Chef Jacques Pepin. The cruise includes a private winemakers' dinner, wine tastings and discussions, tours of top Italian wine-estates and plenty of Pinot parties.

Freeman has been named as one of the Magnificent 30 "Hottest Pinots" by the Wine Spectator, while the San Francisco Chronicle recognized August West as one of its top 10 wineries of 2005. Both wineries have received multiple 90+ scores from Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast and the Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine.

Cruise prices range from $3,649 - $7,049 per person double, including free airfare from 20 major U.S. airports. Book by September 1 and receive prepaid gratuities, worth up to $300 per cabin.

Tags: August West, AugustWest, cruise, cruises, cruising, Freeman, Jacques Pepin, JacquesPepin, pinot noir, PinotNoir, wine

What is the Future of Cruise Ships for 2008?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Yachts & Sailing

What is the future of cruise travel in 2008? A recent AP article sums up some of the trends and predictions regarding the cruise industry for 2008. Cruising has steadily grown over the past few years and cruising has evolved. Now finding cruise ships with rock-climbing walls, bowling alleys and even mechanical waves for surfing is commonplace. Joining these activities will be a chance to play on a lawn while onboard. In December 2008, Celebrity Cruises will launch Celebrity Solstice which will have a half-acre lawn of real growing grass on the top deck.

More ships are also offering shore trips that range from simple sightseeing to more adventurous excursions such as bike tours. Entertainment and education have also improved on ships. Princess ships will host a film premiere the week of February 11, showing "Bonneville," starring Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates and Joan Allen before the movie is in theaters on February 29. Wine tastings and cooking classes are also common on cruises now as are far more sophisticated spa services than were available even just a couple of years ago.

According to the Cruise Lines International Association an estimated 12.6 million people cruised in 2007 and they predict 12.8 million passengers for 2008. The weakening economy is a concern and so there may be some deals to be had, especially for those who are willing to jump in at the last minute or cruise on one of the older ships in a cruise line. Of course that takes some of the fun out of it. Another more serious concern that really takes the fun out of it is the green factor. A recent post on our sister site Green Daily asks whether or not cruise ships are "floating eco-bombs?" Some companies are making moves to offset the toll on the environment but the green quotient of your desired cruise is yet another actor to consider when planning your dream vacation.

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Tags: cruises, cruising, tourism, vacatiion

River Cities Condos

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Yachts & Sailing

I've seen cruise ships on the ocean offering condos before (a trend that seems to have begun with Residensea) but this is the first time I have seen condo boats for river cruising. River Cities Condos is selling floating condos that will travel through the intracoastal waterways of the U.S. Amenities include a grocery store, restaurants, concierge service, a rooftop lounge, theaters, activity rooms, a library, hot tubs and pools, fitness equipment, walking tracks, a rooftop chipping course and even fishing. The condos range from studios to two bedrooms and cost between $161,000 and $499,000. Shared expenses for the staff of 30 range from $6,700 to $23,100.

[via Twin Cities]

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Tags: condominiums, condos, cruises, cruising, river cities condos, RiverCitiesCondos

The Longitudinal Cruise

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Yachts & Sailing

I love this idea, the Norwegian Coastal Voyage has introduced a 67-day Longitudinal Wold Cruise that goes from pole to pole. Guests board the 318-passenger MS Fram, begin their adventure in Iceland on September 18, chase the fall foliage down the coast through October and head for the Equator and Spring just as colder temperatures take over.

Overall the 17-country, four-continent expedition takes in 44 ports of call and offers 102 optional shore excursions. Optional shore trips include a bicycle tour of Nova Scotia's rugged coastline; lunch with an astronaut at Kennedy Space Center; cave tubing in Belize; dolphin encounters; tour of a banana processing plant and a visit to Chilean ghost town. The ship also has an Internet café, a large glass-enclosed observation salon , restaurant with ocean views, wellness center with saunas, work-out room and two glass-screened heated outdoor whirlpools. Full cruise rates are $10,999 to $39,999 per person, double; with segments from 8 to 52 nights offered at prices of $2,499 to $25,599.

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Tags: cruising, longitudinal cruise, norwegian cruise, NorwegianCruise, tourism, travel, world cruise

Mulder's 73 Wheelhouse Yacht Launched

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

This traditional cruising yacht is Float, a Mulder 73 Wheelhouse built by the Netherlands-based company for a Swiss owner. The yacht has an all-aluminum construction and twin Caterpillar C12 engines so that the boat can hit a top speed of 24 knots. The exterior features a champagne hull finished with metallic paint and and underwater lighting aft. A transom door hides a tender. The interior of the yacht is done in white-washed teak and wengé wood and there is an iPod docking station with a Denon sound system in each cabin.

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Tags: boat, boating, cruising, mulder, netherlands, powerboat, yacht

Aquariva Cento Boat

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

The Aquariva Cento, a special edition created to celebrate the hundredth unit of the main Aquariva model, is a hot property. In just two days, the ten limited edition units produced by the shipyard on the base model of the 100th hull have already been sold out. The only one left is the real number 100, which will be put on auction on November 15th at the Roundhouse in London, during the "Invest in Futures" gala night, organized by the Prince's Trust. The gleaming wood Italian cruiser is the ultimate in elegance. After the jump, a few press shots of this Bentley of the sea which comes complete with a leather picnic basket and wood bottle holder.

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Tags: boat, cruising, riva yacht, RivaYacht, wooden boat

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Fast Track To Power Cruising Program

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

If you'd like to learn how to navigate a power boat but are wary of spending your summer taking boating classes, the Fast Track to Power Cruising could be your dream working vacation. Steve and Doris Colgate, founders of the Offshore Sailing School have partnered with NauticBlue charters to offer a six-day live-aboard learning vacation in the Bahamas and British Virgin Islands. The course which starts June 1, will use 35 - 47 foot power catamarans. Participants are trained by US Cruising Power Boat Certified instructors and learn about on-board systems, docking, anchoring, navigation, engine maintenance and more so that they can confidently handle boats up to 50 feet. Up to four participants live aboard with an instructor during the program.

[via BYM News]

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Tags: boat instruction, boating vacation, boats, charter, cruising, marine, power boats, water

Best Places To Take Your Yacht

by Matthew Collins (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

Chartering a yacht is a great way to vacation. It's like a motorhome that doesn't offend our design sensiblities and happens to have a crew to cater to your every whim. But the often overlooked benefit of chartering a yacht is the ability to explore locations that are far from the "hot lists" and hubs of tourism that direct most travel today. Certainly, there is no substitute for mooring your Feadship at Port Hercule for the Monaco Gran Prix, but yachts give their owners and charter clients the ability to explore the world on a far more exclusive and exciting level.

Tags: cruise, cruising, yachting, yachts

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IFA Yacht Ownership Club

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

AME Info covers the IFA Yacht Ownership Club, which is a different concept than I have seen before. Instead of fractional yacht ownership, members pay an annual fee which gives them access to the club's services which include a fleet of luxury yachts. Different membership levels give different amounts of credits that can be used to reserve cruising days. The club currently has three Maiora yachts which are 75 to 89 feet in length in three ports, Dubai, Beirut and Cannes. The yachts can travel to a variety of places and cruise at speeds up to 28 knots. Each yacht has a captain, deckhand and steward and sleeps eight in four cabins. The yachts can also meet you in a variety of cruising destinations.

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Tags: boats, charter, cruising, fractional yacht ownership, ifa yacht ownership, IfaYachtOwnership, yachts

Phoenix Yacht for Charter

by Matthew Collins (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

Interested in getting away this winter? Well, if the Caribbean is on your mind, why not take a cruise? Of course, I'm not talking about a 3,000 passenger, floating feeding trough. How about a 200 ft. Lurssen motoryacht for you and 11 of your chums. Launched in 2004, Phoenix won Showboats Internationals "Best Interior" award and features an Art Deco design from superstar yacht designer Andrew Winch.

The interior features loads of marble and lacquered panels. A Dakota Jackson Steinway anchors the main salon while a vaulted ceiling illuminates the upper deck living area. The two story owner's suite has a stateroom and baths (yes, plural) on the main deck, and a panoramic study on the upper deck. Phoenix comes with all the prerequisite toys such as jet skis, water skis, and diving gear, all of it tucked away in two aft garages. If you decide you want to take Phoenix out for a week this winter, call the nice folks at Moran Yacht and Ship. The price for a getaway on Phoenix is $480,000 plus expenses. Bon Voyage!

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Tags: caribbean, cruising, megayacht, phoenix, vacation, yacht

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