http://www.cruiselinefans.com en Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:40:16 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.cruiselinefans.com/images/styles/cruiselinefans/misc/rss.jpg http://www.cruiselinefans.com http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44259&goto=newpost Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:24:43 GMT Hi all of you, Cruise Line Fans! :hug:

What a nice surprise I had today, I just discovered that a section was added for Portugal.:cheer2: At least I had never seen it before!

I live in Funchal/Madeira as some of you already know. Madeira Island is a Portuguese autonomous region and one of the most beautiful places in the entire world, or so they say.

Anybody coming to Madeira and in need of some help, feel free to bring all your doubts on to me, as I'll always be very pleased to answer you.

And for those who don't have Madeira in their plans...well, give it a second thought, or a third or a fourth for that matter. Madeira is visited by lots and lots of cruise ships, so it won't be difficult for you to find a cruise coming this way and that pleases you, for sure.

All of the best to everybody, :thumb:

Eusébia. ]]> Portugal biaria http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44259 http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44258&goto=newpost Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:33:41 GMT Maria's dad and brother like us to contact them a couple of time while on vacation. What does it cost to contact them by Email on the RCI BOS? We do not take a computer with us. We take a cell phone. Is it cheaper to SMS them? Is it cheaper to send an email while in port (internet cafe)? Thanks in advance for your help. Lee :thumb: ]]> How To Save Money on a Cruise luckybluesman http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=44258 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