http://www.cruiselinefans.com en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:56:55 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.cruiselinefans.com/images/styles/cruiselinefans/misc/rss.jpg http://www.cruiselinefans.com http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44257&goto=newpost Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:46:12 GMT I have just been offered an amazing job, starting on Monday. I will finally be able to afford to take my two kids on a cruise! I'm just wondering how far in advance I should book? I could go in the Fall 2010 or anytime in 2011. I'm just not sure when I should go? What benefits do I get for booking early? I should mention that I have been on two Princess cruises. Thanks! ]]> Princess Cruise Line Leanne1972 http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44257 http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44256&goto=newpost Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:48:30 GMT I think I can do this from what I have seen on here. I am looking for quotes from those who are actually TA's on here. If this is not doable, let me know! I understand that it will be a PM.

I have booked Freedom of the Seas
2/28/2010
Category L inside
price is $589
Final payment due on December 20.

I think the price is very good but was wondering if I transferred to a TA what perks could be thrown in if any. I have heard of people doing this before, but I have never done it this way in the past. I would love to give someone commission as well as get something rather than nothing. Does this make sense? ]]> Ask a Travel Agent http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44256 http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44255&goto=newpost Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:37:46 GMT ByKristen Seymour


If you're taking a quick trip home for the holidays, chances are you don't want to bother with the hassle (or the cost) of checking a bag at the airport. 'Tis the season for cramming your carry-on baggage into the overhead compartment!

But are you sure that bag meets your airline's carry-on regulations? Nothing dampens holiday cheer like learning you have to cough up an extra $20 or so (each way!) to check a bag you planned to carry with you. Never fear, my jet-setting darlings. I've done your research for you. Of course, these are subject to change, so if yours comes close to the limit, it's a good idea to verify this information before you pack.

Voila! Here are your carry-on sizes, listed by airline. Please remember that the personal item is generally assumed to be the size of a purse or laptop bag. Additionally, even if your bag meets the linear measurement requirement, if it's an odd shape and unable to be housed in the overhead compartment or underneath the seat, you'll be required to check it.

• Delta - 45" linear (meaning length + width + height) plus one personal item.
• United - 45" linear plus one personal item
• Continental - 45" linear plus one personal item
• Northwest - 45" linear plus one personal item
• US Airways - 45" linear plus one personal item
• Virgin - 50" linear plus one personal item
• AirTran - 55" linear plus one personal item
• Southwest - 24" x 16" x 10" plus one personal item
• JetBlue - either 26" x 18" x 12" or 24" x 16" x 10" (depending on the plane) plus one personal item

]]> Air Travel sue miller http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44255 http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44254&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:13:58 GMT Image: http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s119/accyste/SamuelCunard.jpg Sir Samuel Cunard was born on the 21st November 1787 Happy 222nd Birthday Sir Samuel :blow1: :party:

Sir Samuel Cunard was born on the 21st November 1787

Happy 222nd Birthday Sir Samuel :blow1:
:party: ]]> Cunard Cruise Line Lanky Lad http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44254 http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44253&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:59:10 GMT An Unprecedented Assembly of Performers, Olympians, Philanthropists and Actors to Preside Over Seven Neighborhoods on the World’s Largest and Most Revolutionary Cruise Ship MIAMI, Nov. 18, 2009 – When Royal Caribbean International officially names its newest cruise ship, Oasis... *Link To Original Article (http://www.cruiseopinions.org/articles/001907.html)* An Unprecedented Assembly of Performers, Olympians, Philanthropists and Actors to Preside Over Seven Neighborhoods on the World’s Largest and Most Revolutionary Cruise Ship MIAMI, Nov. 18, 2009 – When Royal Caribbean International officially names its newest cruise ship, Oasis...

Link To Original Article ]]> Cruise News cruisenews http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44253 http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44252&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:56:06 GMT . . . And this time the Maersk vessel way ready for them! Four suspected pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama on Wednesday off the coast of Somalia, but this time the ship escaped hijacking by firing small arms and blasting noise from large circular speakers. When the Maersk was taken by Somali pirates back in April, there was no such security detail. Vice Admiral Bill Gortney, commander of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, praised the change in tactics saying “Due to Maersk Alabama following the maritime industry’s best practices such as embarking security teams, the ship was able to prevent being successfully attacked by pirates.” That’s a big change in tactic, and one that is much more readily embraced by Americans. Read full story here: U.S. Learning From Past Pirate Attacks « Liveshots (http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/11/18/u-s-learning-from-past-pirate-attacks/) . . . And this time the Maersk vessel way ready for them!

Four suspected pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama on Wednesday off the coast of Somalia, but this time the ship escaped hijacking by firing small arms and blasting noise from large circular speakers.

When the Maersk was taken by Somali pirates back in April, there was no such security detail.

Vice Admiral Bill Gortney, commander of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, praised the change in tactics saying “Due to Maersk Alabama following the maritime industry’s best practices such as embarking security teams, the ship was able to prevent being successfully attacked by pirates.”

That’s a big change in tactic, and one that is much more readily embraced by Americans.

Read full story here: U.S. Learning From Past Pirate Attacks « Liveshots ]]> Africa canarymoon http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44252 http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44251&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:55:53 GMT . . . And this time the Maersk vessel way ready for them! Four suspected pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama on Wednesday off the coast of Somalia, but this time the ship escaped hijacking by firing small arms and blasting noise from large circular speakers. When the Maersk was taken by Somali pirates back in April, there was no such security detail. Vice Admiral Bill Gortney, commander of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, praised the change in tactics saying “Due to Maersk Alabama following the maritime industry’s best practices such as embarking security teams, the ship was able to prevent being successfully attacked by pirates.” That’s a big change in tactic, and one that is much more readily embraced by Americans. Read full story here: U.S. Learning From Past Pirate Attacks « Liveshots (http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/11/18/u-s-learning-from-past-pirate-attacks/) . . . And this time the Maersk vessel way ready for them!

Four suspected pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama on Wednesday off the coast of Somalia, but this time the ship escaped hijacking by firing small arms and blasting noise from large circular speakers.

When the Maersk was taken by Somali pirates back in April, there was no such security detail.

Vice Admiral Bill Gortney, commander of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, praised the change in tactics saying “Due to Maersk Alabama following the maritime industry’s best practices such as embarking security teams, the ship was able to prevent being successfully attacked by pirates.”

That’s a big change in tactic, and one that is much more readily embraced by Americans.

Read full story here: U.S. Learning From Past Pirate Attacks « Liveshots ]]> Africa canarymoon http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44251 http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44250&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:09:17 GMT RCI has updated it's photo gallery with tons of pictures in all areas of this magnificent new ship!!!

Oasis Of The Seas ]]> Oasis of the Seas AdmiralTye http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44250 http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44249&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:45:05 GMT Did you know that, back in 1962, when John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth, he returned to us via Grand Turk?

yep.

It's a fact.
the Mercury capsule splashed down in the waters fo the Turks and Caicos Islands, and our astronaut was taken to Grand Turk for his medical exam and de-briefing.

So it was, that Glenn returned to the US from orbit via Grand Turk.


Did you knnow that? ]]> Grand Turk canarymoon http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44249 http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44248&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:44:10 GMT Size: 225,282 Gross register tons Length: 1,187 feet Width: 208 feet Height (from the water line): 213 feet Draft: 30 feet Cruising speed: 22.6 knots Passenger decks: 16 Passenger capacity (double occupancy): 5,400 Passenger capacity (maximum): 6,296 Crew: 2,165 Total cabins: 2,706 Cabins with balconies: 1,956 Oceanview cabins: 254 Interior cabins: 496 Cabins with more than two berths: 683 Wheelchair accessible cabins: 46 Size: 225,282 Gross register tons
Length: 1,187 feet
Width: 208 feet
Height (from the water line): 213 feet
Draft: 30 feet
Cruising speed: 22.6 knots
Passenger decks: 16
Passenger capacity (double occupancy): 5,400
Passenger capacity (maximum): 6,296
Crew: 2,165
Total cabins: 2,706
Cabins with balconies: 1,956
Oceanview cabins: 254
Interior cabins: 496
Cabins with more than two berths: 683
Wheelchair accessible cabins: 46 ]]> Oasis of the Seas timwilloughby http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44248 http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44247&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:33:22 GMT Majestic Research analyst Matthew Jacob issued an interesting report about the possibility of price softening of fares aboard Oasis of the Seas, which has up to this point, seen a distinct overage in price above and beyond that of their regular fleet. In fact, some prices differences are still as high as 104% over a similar berth on another Royal Caribbean ship.

Jacob asserts that the OTS is possibly self-cannibalizing their own fleet by forcing down premiums on other Freedom class ships, as well as other brands owned by RCI.

Jacob says that, excluding Oasis, Royal Caribbean's net yields -- a measure of the amount of money it brings in per cabin -- actually could be down in the first quarter as the "halo effect" from Oasis that many industry watchers were expecting has not materialized.

What does this all mean and why am I writing about it? Want a great value for a cruise?

Seriously take a look into the Royal Caribbean's three Freedom class ships, who have seen fares plummet more than 25% since third quarter of 2009. ]]> Oasis of the Seas timwilloughby http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44247 http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44246&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:09:22 GMT Holland America Line Wins Nine Porthole Readers' Choice Awards





Premium Cruise Line Attracts Top Itineraries, Best Private Island & Most Eco-Friendly Honors


Seattle, Wash., November 19, 2009 – Among the nine 2009 Readers’ Choice Awards that Holland America Line has received from Porthole Cruise Magazine are five that recognize the line’s varied and port-intensive cruise itineraries. Readers of Porthole conferred awards for Best Central America/Panama Canal, Best Northern Europe, Best Alaska, and Best Australia/New Zealand Itineraries, and Best Private Island for Half Moon Cay, the line’s exclusive Bahamian port call that appears on most Caribbean cruise itineraries.
In the 11th annual awards, the line also took top honors as most Eco-Friendly Cruise Line and for having the Best Spa Facilities, as well as a pair for Best Overall Facilities for Physically Challenged Passengers and Best Medical Facilities.
“Being recognized for five cruise itinerary regions is a true testament to our goal of delivering unique and in-depth cruise itineraries for our guests,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “We are also very proud to be recognized for our commitment to environmental stewardship and the three additional awards for access, medical facilities and our luxurious spas are a great acknowledgement of the services we provide to our guests. We are delighted.”
”Porthole Cruise Magazine is the top source of cruise and destination content for savvy travelers,” said Bill Panoff, publisher and editor-in-chief of the magazine. “Our readers appreciate the quality and overall cruise experience that a premium line such as Holland America Line delivers every day.”
Artful Itineraries Blend World Sights with New Discoveries
Known for its longer, port-heavy cruise itineraries, Holland America Line picked up its five cruise itinerary-themed awards for destinations spanning the globe. In Alaska, the line operates three major cruising itineraries — Glacier Bay Inside Passage, Glacier Discovery and Alaskan Explorer cruises — that showcase the highlights of Alaska with distinctive options to suit the various wishes of Alaskan-bound travelers. Northern Europe cruises combine the best of the Baltic with British Isles and Norwegian Fjord exploration. Departure ports now include Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Dover or Greenwich (London) and Copenhagen.
Australia/New Zealand sailings offer a mix of 14-day Sydney roundtrip and Sydney to Auckland adventures as well as the new 34-day circumnavigation of Australia with five days in the Great Barrier Reef. Among the line’s most popular itineraries, Panama Canal cruises sail the engineering marvel on five ships or guests can opt for a day visit to the canal on a 10-day roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale that includes several Caribbean ports.
In 2009, Half Moon Cay received its ninth Best Private Island acknowledgement from Porthole readers. Built as a sustainable port of call, the island’s offerings provide private beach cabanas, an exclusive over-water bungalow, a full beachside water park for children, and an array of shore excursions that include horseback riding by land and sea, personal watercraft adventures and an opportunity to swim with stingrays.
Top Awards for Environment and Spa, Too
Holland America Line won the Most Eco-Friendly Cruise Line award for their commitment to responsible environmental practices through comprehensive and innovative fleet-wide programs. The program emphasizes waste reduction and recycling, use of cleaner-burning propulsion technology and cutting-edge solutions. Holland America Line’s ships currently meet or exceed all provisions of the international regulations governing the environmental management of marine operations.
Holland America Line also has a history of embracing new environmental technologies such as shore power while ships are in port — one of two cruise lines to utilize this eco-friendly power — and being the first cruise line to install state-of-the-art, level-four water treatment systems and implement a whale strike avoidance program.
According to Meadows, the nod for Best Spa comes from the line’s focus on unique offerings in the Greenhouse Spa and Salon offered as a part of the $525 million Signature of Excellence enhancement program. The Greenhouse Spa and Salon with fitness center offers guests relaxation and rejuvenation as well as beauty and wellness rituals ranging from tai chi to hot stone couples massages.
Completing the awards, Holland America Line received recognition for its accessibility and medical facilities. Holland America Line ships accommodate guests with a variety of special needs including those requiring wheelchairs, scooters or service animals; those who have sight or hearing impairments; and those using oxygen.
And each Holland America Line ship has a medical center carrying much of the standard equipment found in North American hospital emergency departments. The onboard medical center accommodates most emergencies and routine medical procedures and is staffed by two to four registered nurses, a crew physician and the ship’s doctor — all certified in advanced cardiac life support. For additional information, consult a professional travel agent, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com. ]]> Holland America Cruise Line Krazy Kruizers http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44246 http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44245&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:07:54 GMT *Holland America Line Adds New Affordable Sales Tools to Travel Agent Headquarters Online* *Seattle, Wash., November 12, 2009 — To assist travel sellers in boosting their sales, Holland America Line has enhanced its popular personalized direct mail and e-mail sales tools that are available at Travel Agent Headquarters via www.hollandamerica.com (http://www.hollandamerica.com/). Now, travel sellers have access to more cruise destinations and creative offerings under Holland America Line’s direct mail marketing program and customized e-mails for all destinations containing the latest cruise fares. * *“We have received great feedback from the travel seller community on how cost effective and user friendly our new marketing tools are,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “We also are very pleased about the impact these tools are having on converting bookings for travel sellers.”* *At TAHQ, travel sellers have easy access to create dynamic new marketing tools as well as to a vast array of other helpful features ranging from news and training to the popular booking tool POLAR Online. Several new sales tools feature personalized direct mailings, Build-Your-Own E-mail and daily pricing leads to make marketing materials more current. * *Free E-Mail Tool Maximizes Sales With new free e-mails, travel sellers can now select and create customized, free e-mails on all product destinations from Europe and South America to Bermuda and Alaska to Australia/New Zealand.* *“I have been thrilled with the Build-Your-Own E-mail tool on the website,” said Amy Ochoa, marketing manager with Morris Murdock Travel in Salt Lake City, Utah. “We are working hard to encourage our agents to engage in more personal marketing, especially by using tools like these.” * *To create the e-mail, travel sellers choose a destination topic for the e-mail, select a currency in either United States or Canadian dollars, and choose up to five sailing dates, promotional copy and the photo image header of their choice. After proofing the final e-mail, the travel seller will receive a pop-up window with the full HTML code to be inserted into the software used by the agency to blast e-mails.* *Customizable Direct Mail Schedule for 2010 Set on TAHQ A 2010 direct mail schedule with sign-up deadlines can now be found at TAHQ, too. Upcoming direct mail pieces cover Europe, Mexico and Caribbean, Southern Hemisphere and family cruising vacations. * *“In visiting with Holland America Line executives at the American Express National Convention, I saw first hand a demo of TAHQ. When I returned to the office, I walked our marketing team through TAHQ, which is user friendly and has a simple ordering system. The marketing team was excited about the 36-cent direct mail pieces,” said Debbie Myers, senior vice president, marketing, The Travel Authority, in Jeffersonville, Indiana. “The next direct mail piece available is in January and The Travel Authority will take advantage of it.” * *The new customizable direct mail program offers travel sellers the opportunity to put a personal touch on four-color promotional mailing projects at a reasonable cost. An agency registers under the Customizable Direct Mail tab under the Marketing Tools pages and follows instructions to add company information, logo, phone number, contacts and personalized sales messages. Full-color itineraries, pictures, maps, pricing and product copy are provided by Holland America Line in a mock-up to be approved by the travel seller. Payment is made by credit card and the travel seller submits a mailing list — typically from 100 to 1000 — to an independent party for completion of the project. Project costs start at 36 cents per piece for production, handling and postage.* *TAHQ is Leading Resource Center for Travel Professionals Reorganized into eight easily manageable sections for travel sellers, TAHQ provides quick navigation between sales tools, training, marketing tools, news, recent promotions, Group Advantage Program (GAP) details and access to new and existing reservations through the booking interface POLAR Online. The latest training can also be found with Holland America Line’s Signature Webinar Series and award-winning HAL Academy training program that features several on-line accredited courses. Agents can log in to TAHQ with a POLAR Online login. * *For more information and to use Holland America Line’s travel seller marketing tools, visit **www.travelagentheadquarters.com* (http://www.travelagentheadquarters.com/)* or call 1-800-544-0443.* Holland America Line Adds New Affordable Sales Tools to Travel Agent Headquarters Online








Seattle, Wash., November 12, 2009 — To assist travel sellers in boosting their sales, Holland America Line has enhanced its popular personalized direct mail and e-mail sales tools that are available at Travel Agent Headquarters via www.hollandamerica.com. Now, travel sellers have access to more cruise destinations and creative offerings under Holland America Line’s direct mail marketing program and customized e-mails for all destinations containing the latest cruise fares.
“We have received great feedback from the travel seller community on how cost effective and user friendly our new marketing tools are,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “We also are very pleased about the impact these tools are having on converting bookings for travel sellers.”
At TAHQ, travel sellers have easy access to create dynamic new marketing tools as well as to a vast array of other helpful features ranging from news and training to the popular booking tool POLAR Online. Several new sales tools feature personalized direct mailings, Build-Your-Own E-mail and daily pricing leads to make marketing materials more current.
Free E-Mail Tool Maximizes Sales
With new free e-mails, travel sellers can now select and create customized, free e-mails on all product destinations from Europe and South America to Bermuda and Alaska to Australia/New Zealand.
“I have been thrilled with the Build-Your-Own E-mail tool on the website,” said Amy Ochoa, marketing manager with Morris Murdock Travel in Salt Lake City, Utah. “We are working hard to encourage our agents to engage in more personal marketing, especially by using tools like these.”
To create the e-mail, travel sellers choose a destination topic for the e-mail, select a currency in either United States or Canadian dollars, and choose up to five sailing dates, promotional copy and the photo image header of their choice. After proofing the final e-mail, the travel seller will receive a pop-up window with the full HTML code to be inserted into the software used by the agency to blast e-mails.
Customizable Direct Mail Schedule for 2010 Set on TAHQ
A 2010 direct mail schedule with sign-up deadlines can now be found at TAHQ, too. Upcoming direct mail pieces cover Europe, Mexico and Caribbean, Southern Hemisphere and family cruising vacations.
“In visiting with Holland America Line executives at the American Express National Convention, I saw first hand a demo of TAHQ. When I returned to the office, I walked our marketing team through TAHQ, which is user friendly and has a simple ordering system. The marketing team was excited about the 36-cent direct mail pieces,” said Debbie Myers, senior vice president, marketing, The Travel Authority, in Jeffersonville, Indiana. “The next direct mail piece available is in January and The Travel Authority will take advantage of it.”
The new customizable direct mail program offers travel sellers the opportunity to put a personal touch on four-color promotional mailing projects at a reasonable cost. An agency registers under the Customizable Direct Mail tab under the Marketing Tools pages and follows instructions to add company information, logo, phone number, contacts and personalized sales messages. Full-color itineraries, pictures, maps, pricing and product copy are provided by Holland America Line in a mock-up to be approved by the travel seller. Payment is made by credit card and the travel seller submits a mailing list — typically from 100 to 1000 — to an independent party for completion of the project. Project costs start at 36 cents per piece for production, handling and postage.
TAHQ is Leading Resource Center for Travel Professionals
Reorganized into eight easily manageable sections for travel sellers, TAHQ provides quick navigation between sales tools, training, marketing tools, news, recent promotions, Group Advantage Program (GAP) details and access to new and existing reservations through the booking interface POLAR Online. The latest training can also be found with Holland America Line’s Signature Webinar Series and award-winning HAL Academy training program that features several on-line accredited courses. Agents can log in to TAHQ with a POLAR Online login.
For more information and to use Holland America Line’s travel seller marketing tools, visit www.travelagentheadquarters.com or call 1-800-544-0443. ]]> Holland America Cruise Line Krazy Kruizers http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44245 http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44244&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:05:17 GMT Chicago Pastry Chef Meg Galus to Sail on Holland America Line's ms Prinsendam February 23








Seattle, Nov.12, 2009 — Meg Galus, pastry chef of TRU Restaurant in Chicago, Ill., is scheduled to sail as part of the guest-enrichment program on the Feb. 23, 2010, segment of the 70-day Grand South America Explorer and Antarctica Voyage aboard Holland America Line’s ms Prinsendam. Galus will join the vessel on Feb. 23 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and sail until March 12 when Prinsendam overnights in Manaus, Brazil. During Galus’ time onboard, the ship will call at a variety of ports including Montevideo, Uruguay; Rio de Janeiro, Salvador da Bahia, Recife (Olinda), Fortaleza, Belém, Santarém and Boca da Valeria, Brazil.
While cruising, the epicurean expert will perform cooking demonstrations and hands-on classes for guests in the ship’s state-of-the-art show kitchen.
Meg Galus opened her first “restaurant” at the age of 9, in her family’s DeKalb, Ill., home. Over time, her ingredients may have changed, not to mention her kitchen and her clientele, but she still displays the same creativity and innovation at TRU as she did in the kitchen of her rural Illinois home.
In 2005, Galus earned her certificate in L’Art de la Patisserie from the French Pastry School in Chicago. She quickly built up a reputation as a strong pastry student. Later, she interned at Patisserie Vanille creating elaborate wedding and specialty cakes. After graduation, Galus‘ reputation earned her an externship at TRU under world-renowned pastry chef Gale Gand. She quickly worked her way up through TRU’s various pastry stations and in 2007, Galus was named pastry chef at the highly acclaimed, four–star restaurant.
Galus’ baking style blends her Midwestern upbringing with her formal French training to craft pastries that are regionally-specific, highly progressive, and unique. She describes her approach to cooking as one of “constant evolution” with fresh ideas, interesting flavor profiles, and novel techniques.
Holland America Line’s Culinary Arts Center
Holland America Line’s Culinary Arts Center is featured on each of the line’s 14 ships. A first-class “show kitchen at sea,” the Culinary Arts Centers presented by Food & Wine magazine resemble the elaborate show kitchens used by celebrity chefs on television cooking programs. The facilities offer demonstrations, tastings and hands-on cooking classes aboard every Holland America Line sailing.
Each facility features a theater-style venue, with two large plasma video screens and a large cooking display counter where guests can learn from and interact with the masters. In partnership with Food & Wine magazine, Holland America Line will schedule approximately 60 celebrated chefs and wine experts to sail in 2010. On cruises that do not have a celebrity chef on board, hands-on classes and demonstrations in the show kitchen are scheduled with Holland America Line’s own expert chefs.
Holland America Line also offers a youth Culinary Arts Center activity program to teach kids and teens how to cook. The program incorporates dishes from breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in complimentary 45-minute-long classes. Kids under eight years old learn to make theme cookies, fruit roll-ups, ice cream sandwiches, salad people art and scones. Kids eight and over make soft pretzels, granola bars, pita chips and hummus, and saltwater taffy. Teens also can attend adult culinary demonstrations.
For a full schedule of Holland America Line’s culinary guest program, visit http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-onboard/Enrichment.action and click on the Culinary Arts Center tab.
For cruise brochures or for more information, consult a professional travel agent, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com.
Editor’s Note: Photography available at http://www.cleanpix.com/cleanpix/portal/WhTS:eKT:Pxp ]]> Holland America Cruise Line Krazy Kruizers http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44244 http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44242&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:34:45 GMT Boston's Cruise Port gets $8MM in Upgrades

The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) announced plans today for a new passenger check-in, screening, and boarding area within the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal that will improve passenger comfort, increase terminal efficiency and position Cruiseport Boston for continued growth.

“These critical upgrades address customer needs and will bolster the popularity of Boston with cruise passengers and cruise lines,” said Thomas J. Kinton, Jr., Massport’s CEO & Executive Director. “Our ability to build on the success of Boston’s cruise business will bring significant economic benefits to the region.”

According to the Cruise Lines International Association, Massachusetts accounted for more than $434 million in cruise industry direct spending in 2008, a 6.5 percent increase over 2007. The Greater Boston Convention and Visitors’ Bureau
estimates that a cruise passenger visiting Boston for a day spends on average between $100-$150 on retail, dining, sightseeing or cultural attractions.

The renovations will create separate processing areas for arriving and departing passengers of a single ship, and involves the renovation of about 83,000 square feet of unused warehouse space on the terminal’s third level as well as improvements to first and second floors. New stairs, escalators, elevators and an inclined moving walkway will also be added to move passengers between floors.

The project is still in its design phase, and currently incorporates several sustainable features including solar shading and natural ventilation to reduce the cost of cooling, energy-saving LED lighting, and energy-efficient elevators.

Departing passengers will enter the terminal at the East end where they can check their baggage and proceed directly to the third floor. Additionally, new bathrooms and a companion-care restroom will be built. Arriving passengers will get off the ship on the second floor and can use an elevator or the new inclined moving walkway to bring them to a new baggage claim area one the first floor. Passengers will exit the terminal via the building’s West end.

The $8 million project is expected to generate 60-75 construction jobs, and is scheduled to begin in February 2010 and be completed by the end of the year. The new enhancements will be funded by an increase in the passenger facility charge beginning in the 2011 cruise season. The terminal upgrade is the second phase of a larger $11 million project to upgrade the Black Falcon terminal. Earlier this year, the Massport Board approved $3 million for exterior painting, lighting, and signage enhancements currently underway and due for completion by the beginning of the 2010 cruise season.

In 2009, for the third consecutive year, Boston’s cruise business set a new record for passengers using the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal. There were 299,736 cruise passengers traveling through the Port of Boston, which is an 11% increase over last year.

The Port of Boston’s activity supports 34,000 jobs, and contributes more than $2 billion to the local, regional, and national economies through direct, indirect, and induced impact.

11/19/09 - Cruiseport Boston Gears Up for $8M in Facilities Improvements ]]> Canada / New England timwilloughby http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44242