Cruise your cares away

by Cruise Maven on February 23, 2010

Aqua Spa Relaxation Room on Celebrity Equinox

Imagine yourself on an exotic cruise, relaxing on your private balcony hearing only the muffled sound of the waves as the ship’s bow quietly cuts through the water.  Think it can’t get any better? Think again.  Designed for the ultimate in relaxation, the spa concept aboard a ship has transcended into the latest trend in cruising:  the spa cabin.

Carnival Cruise Line: Conveniently located on Central Florida’s Space Coast, Port Canaveral is home to the new Carnival Dream.  The Dream, along with her sister ship, the Splendor in California, sport the only spa cabins in the entire fleet.  Accessible via a private elevator and with priority access to the Cloud 9 Spa, Carnival’s spa staterooms also offer a bit of luxury.  On my inspection and tour of the Carnival Dream in December, I noticed that the spa cabins have Elemis bath and beauty products in your bathroom.  There are only 65 spa staterooms on the Dream (68 on the Splendor) and they share the private elevator with the suite guests.   Also, if you book a spa stateroom, you have unlimited access to the Thalassotherapy pool, Aromatherapy room, complimentary fitness classes as well as use of Cloud 9 Spa logo bathrobes, slippers and ultra-plush towels.

Holland America:  Holland America’s newest ship, the Nieuw Amsterdam, will feature the first purpose-built spa staterooms.  You can luxuriate in the serenity of a new Spa Suite or Stateroom, featuring modern spa amenities such as yoga mats, an iPod® docking station, and a countertop water feature in-room. Also available are exclusive spa treatments from the nearby Greenhouse Spa and Salon. On Statendam-class ships, twelve staterooms near the spa (on Deck 9) also will have verandahs added, and along with three inside staterooms, become ‘spa staterooms’ featuring a variety of enhanced spa amenities. On the Rotterdam, 23 staterooms on Verandah deck will become spa staterooms.

All totaled, six of Holland America’s ships will feature spa accommodations by the middle of 2010; the Eurodam, Ryndam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Veendam, Statendam and Rotterdam.

Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Cruises Solstice-class ships (so far, it’s the Solstice and the Equinox, soon the Eclipse and Silhouette) will delight your senses with their Aqua Class.  On the same deck as the Aqua Spa Relaxation Room, these balcony staterooms are similar to the deluxe balcony staterooms but have wonderful in-room amenities; oh-so-soft bathrobes, slippers, a special five-head Hansgrohe shower and Elemis bath and beauty products to sample.  You can relax to spa serenity music via the in-room entertainment system. Perhaps the best kept secret is the privilege of having your own dining room.  Guests in the Aqua Class have complimentary dining in Blu, a specialty restaurant featuring California and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and wines.  Suite guests are the only other passengers with access this healthfully delicious restaurant (but they pay a $5 per person fee.)  Feel like instant relaxation? Put on your robe and slippers and head down the hall from your spa cabin towards the Relaxation Room at the bow of the ship.  Enter the glass enclosed quiet room, stretch out on the heated, curved, tile chaise lounges while gazing at the sea through panoramic windows.

If you’ve been there, done that AND bought the t-shirt on the usual Caribbean cruises, why not make your next cruise a spa vacation at sea?  If you’ve experienced the joys of Grand Cayman with six mega-ships in port, stay onboard, book your spa treatment and stay far from the madding crowd.  You’ll return home refreshed, renewed and hopefully rebooked for your next cruise!

See you in the spa!

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Princess adds new Alaska shore excursions

by Cruise Maven on February 12, 2010

Evening whale watching quest

Finally, something new has been added.  Princess Cruises, a longtime leader in the Alaska cruise market, has updated their shore excursion offerings with 20 new ways for passengers to see the wilderness,  including  a unique opportunity to join a scientific expedition while in Juneau to help study climate change and wildlife behavior patterns.  Guests can also get closer to the dramatic glaciers of Tracy Arm, pilot their own zodiac on a tour of Ketchikan or enjoy the opportunity for animal encounters at a film trainer’s wildlife park.

Princess currently offers an extensive array of 215  shore excursions plus the new 20, all of which will begin operating in May, 2010.

Here is the list (courtesy of Princess Cruises) of new tours available to Alaska cruise passengers:

Whales & Glaciers Citizen Science Adventure (Juneau) — This unique tour will give participants a taste of what it’s like to be a research scientist in the wilds of the Last Frontier. Passengers join a science-based excursion giving them the opportunity to participate in a GPS time-lapse photo project at the Mendenhall Glacier that documents the effects of climate change on the Juneau Icefield. Citizen scientists can also collect water samples, net plankton and record humpback whale and other marine wildlife behavior. This observational data will improve scientists’ understanding of the many variables that affect Alaska’s marine ecosystem. In addition, passengers will enjoy a whale-watching cruise, with guaranteed whale sightings.

Back Country Zodiac Expedition (Ketchikan) — Passengers can be their own captain for the day as they skipper their custom-built motorized inflatable along the coastline of Revillagigado Island for a unique Alaska adventure. Participants will follow their guide on a journey that explores Native culture with a view of Saxman Native Village, and a search for wildlife such as bears, eagles, whales, seals and more. The group guide will explain the area’s history, geology, culture and ecology.

Alaska Wildlife Park (Princess Exclusive — Skagway) — Visitors can meet many types of animals at the Kroschel Films Wildlife Park Center. The park is run by trainer Steve Kroschel who has a lifetime of experience working with wild animals for movies such as “Never Cry Wolf” and the PBS “Wild America” series. His center provides a home for numerous orphaned wild animals including wolves, Arctic fox, lynx, porcupine, pine marten, mink, reindeer and wolverines. Guests will enjoy hands-on, face-to-face encounters and intimate close-up photography of many of these animals as they learn about the behavior of these intriguing creatures and gain an understanding of the time and trust required to train them.

Whales, Bears & Glaciers Adventure (Princess Exclusive — Juneau) — This excursion offers an opportunity to experience the perfect Alaska trifecta: whale watching, bear viewing and a scenic flight over the glaciers of the Juneau Icefield. Visitors will see two of Alaska’s most impressive creatures with a whale watching cruise that guarantees sightings, plus a bear search at a salmon-bearing stream. The tour caps off with a flight over the Juneau Icefield and the Mendenhall Glacier on the way back to town.

Tracy Arm Fjord & Glacier Explorer (Juneau) — Sapphire Princess passengers have a new way to get a close-up look at the glaciers of Tracy Arm as they cruise aboard a luxurious, high-speed catamaran for an in-depth exploration of the twin Sawyer Glaciers. The adventure begins just before Sapphire Princess reaches the entry to Tracy Arm, as participants board their catamaran directly from the ship. After viewing glaciers from a much closer vantage point than is possible from a cruise ship, they will travel to Juneau to rejoin Sapphire Princess.

Adventure Park & Zip Lines (Skagway) — Thrill-seeking passengers can walk along raised balance beams, cross suspension bridges and fly through the air on a series of zip lines with this adventurous excursion. The exciting course will keep passengers challenged and exhilarated as they soar through the air on a series of six zip lines through the lush Alaska canopy.

Juneau Jeep Adventure (Princess Exclusive) — Visitors can experience Juneau’s most scenic and historic locales in the rugged comfort of a Jeep Wrangler for a small group adventure. A diver/guide will take each group on a tour through Juneau, to a scenic view of Mendenhall Glacier and other local sites, ending with a stop at the award-winning Alaskan Brewing Company for a final taste of Juneau.

Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter & Salmon Bake Combo (Princess Exclusive — Juneau) — This unique tour combination gives passengers a stunning aerial view of the famed Mendenhall Glacier plus the chance to feast on wild Alaska salmon. Participants will enjoy a glacier landing where they can explore the glacier’s surface and learn how glaciers form, flow and shape the landscape. Once they’ve worked up an appetite, visitors join the salmon bake festivities for an all-you-can-eat meal.

Historical Ketchikan Walking Tour (Princess Exclusive) — Visitors can gain a unique understanding of Ketchikan and its Tlingit culture on this guided walking tour of Alaska’s “First City.” Led by a former city mayor of Tlingit descent, the tour offers personal knowledge of the many changes Ketchikan has experienced over the years. Visitors will also learn the significance of totem poles within Native culture, see the former red light district, and visit a salmon ladder to see the incredible journey salmon endure as they return to their spawning ground.

Bear Country & Wildlife Expedition (Ketchikan) — Passengers can view black bears in their natural habitat on a wildlife experience just a short drive from downtown Ketchikan. Participants will enjoy a nature walk on their way to a stream where more than 100,000 Pacific salmon return each year to spawn. Large concentrations of bears and other wildlife gather to feed on the huge runs of salmon. In addition to the bears, bald eagles wait for scraps, while mink, marten and wolf frequent the area, and seals can usually be seen feeding on the bountiful fish harvest.

Behind the Scenes at Butchart Gardens (Victoria) — One of Victoria’s premiere attractions, Butchart Gardens is a beautiful place to explore independently. However, with this tour, guests have the unusual opportunity to go beyond the usual self-guided visit, and enjoy an exclusive in-depth guided tour behind the scenes. Visitors will learn the history of the gardens and explore the Mediterranean Garden and botanist’s greenhouse, plus see a demonstration by the gardens’ ceramics master as he displays his skills in flower-pot making.

If you are already booked on an Alaska cruise, you can easily reserve your tour at the Cruise Personalizer on Princess.com.  Don’t wait too late as many shore excursions are quickly filled before the ship ever sails.

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Moving day

by Cruise Maven on January 24, 2010

I decided to try a new theme for my blog.  The good news is, it’s working.  The bad news is that not all of my posts transferred over.  I’ll have to manually copy all posts from October 2009 to the present.

Please be patient while this gets done.  Thanks very much and please check back often.

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Equinox day four – St. Thomas

by Cruise Maven on December 19, 2009

St. Thomas harbor at sunset

If a visit to St. Thomas, USVI, conjures up the idea of awesome shopping at ridiculously low prices, those days are over.  St. Maarten has taken the lead at the best prices in the Caribbean.  Nevertheless, downtown St. Thomas is a fun shopping area with its narrow cobblestone streets, shops with old doorways of heavy wood and iron and tucked-away cafes.  The currency is the US dollar and people shop til they drop.

With a safe harbor and easy access to town, St. Thomas attracts an amazing amount of luxurious private yachts.  In the harbor today was the Rising Sun, Larry Ellison’s ship.  Equipped with a silver-colored funnel, I wouldn’t call this a yacht; it was a ship.  We docked next to Havensight Mall, rows of cinder block buildings housing dozens of shops and a few restaurants.  A quick walk from the ship and you are in the mall area.  If you don’t want to venture into downtown, you can find many of the same shops here, on a smaller scale.  If you do want to go into downtown to shop, eat and browse, Havensight mall is a decent walking distance.  If you are not so inclined, there is a shuttle van that goes back and forth into downtown every few minutes.

Activities onboard were plentiful, but again I didn’t find my way to participate. Some of this afternoon’s activities included a Beatles music challenge, Wii Games, table tennis and bocci ball tournaments, line dance class and many more.   The cruise director is Gary Walker, a high-energy Brit whose love of what he does really shines.  The entertainment tonight was Lindsay Hamilton, a former West End theater performer and singer.  Among her repertoire of songs were mostly big Andrew Lloyd Weber hits and a couple of religious melodies.

Another night in the buffet to get caught up on this blog.  More vegetable curry, beef stew and rice, with a salad.  Funny, there was not a bit of cheese, sliced, crumbled or cubed, at the salad bar.  When I politely asked the server for more blue cheese salad dressing I was curtly told, “No, I’m trying to close down the salad bar.”  Okay…someone was having a bad day and it wasn’t me.   No problem, I went with the vinagrette.

St. Kitts is our next stop on this ten night cruise.   One of the most beautiful of the Caribbean islands, it reminds me of Hawaii, I plan to make it a beach day.   My shore excursion ticket simply says, “Beach Tour” so it will be interesting to see where we end up for our tour.

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Celebrity Equinox day three

by Cruise Maven on December 18, 2009

Second day at sea en route to St. Thomas from Ft. Lauderdale.  Second day of more wine tasting, but breakfast must come first.  Trying room service one more time, my breakfast was delivered at the time I requested.  If you like the coffee you make at home, be prepared for a stronger version when you are on a ship.  I love my coffee, but sometimes it’s just too strong.  To circumvent a misguided uber-sugaring, order a pot of hot water whenever you order or pour your own coffee.

“Wines Around the World” tasting

When am I ever going to get outside! The $20 prepaid wine tasting began at noon…and would last for an hour.  Lunch would have to be upstairs in the buffet.  The “Wines Around the World” event began at the Cellar Masters Bar with six tasting stations set up within the area.  There probably were not more than forty people signed up so it wasn’t crowded and there was easy access to the various wines, snacks and all-important dump bucket.  It was a cleverly organized event with some very good wines.

With a lot of writing to catch up on, I decided it was best to sequester myself in the buffet for dinner.  A nice feature that is catching on with many cruise lines is the extended pizza/pasta bar.  While I haven’t met a pizza I didn’t like, except maybe that weird Hawaiian pizza concept, it’s good to note that you can request a made-to-order pizza.  The pizzas on the Equinox aren’t the personal size (by my standards) but closer to a 12” pie.  No, I didn’t get the pizza.  I opted for the salad bar, a wonderful spicy vegetable curry with jasmine rice and a small piece of some kind of baked fish.  Not knowing what I missed in the main dining room, I was quite happy with my choices in the buffet.  Bar service is also available, but by now I was up to my eyeballs in wine and an iced tea was perfect.

Buffett dinner at Oceanview Cafe

Tomorrow morning would be St. Thomas and hopefully we’d dock at Havensight Mall, not at the industrial area at the other side of town.  No shore excursions are planned, just a day to take advantage of AT&T access in the USVI.

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Celebrity Equinox day two at sea

by Cruise Maven on December 17, 2009

Leaving Florida can lead to a bumpy ride across the Florida Straits. Not last night. The ocean was calm and being at the bow of the ship made no difference. Room service arrived on time with my strong coffee, eggs over medium, croissant and melon. Celebrity is one of the few large cruise lines that offer Room Service breakfast with freshly cooked eggs, not the pre-scrambled powdered variety. As the person who delivers your Room Service order is usually not your room attendant, I always set out a dollar bill on the dresser before I go to bed. Then when I foggily answer the door, I have their gratuity in hand and don’t have to fumble through the safe to find my wallet.

Traditional sabering of the champagne cork demonstration

At 11:30am in the main dining room, was the first of five wine tasting events. This one was complimentary for past Celebrity guests. Luckily there were small cubes of cheese and breadsticks to munch on as I don’t usually have wine before lunch. Mike, the main Sommelier, gave us a brief lecture on two white wines, two red wines and one champagne which we sampled while he spoke. Lunch in the main dining room and I was ready for a nap.

Looking for something new for dinner, I opted for Select Dining, Celebrity’s answer to the popular dine-when-you-want craze. Arriving at an early six-thirty, it still took nearly two hours to get through dinner. I’m not sure if all the waiters in the Select Dining area are ready for this new experience. Or perhaps the wait staff has been reduced and each waiter has more tables in their station. I definitely will try Select Dining again, as it is very convenient, but hope it doesn’t take two hours again. It’s the same entrees as in the formal seating.

Incredible beef carpaccio with shaved parmesian cheese and horseradish sauce.

Speaking of formal, the second night out is always formal night. On this occasion, there were people in the dining room who decided to go to dinner in polo shirts and slacks. This is a recurring situation on all ships. Even though it clearly states in the daily planner what is to be worn to the dining room on formal night, people show up in casual clothes. It is up to the Maitre’d to decide whether or not to allow them into the dining room. Lately, it seems not to matter to the Maitre’d if the person next to you is in jeans and a baseball cap and you are in your formal attire. I guess they don’t want to risk alienating anyone and losing a future cruise booking.

Since I ate early I was able to get to the first show in the Celebrity Theatre. Another variation on the old Broadway tunes with the singers and dancers, but this time there was a twist: all Stephen Sondheim music including three numbers from Les Miserables which were beautifully and energetically performed. Definitely the high point of the evening’s entertainment.

That was it for my evening. A quick walk on the outside deck and I headed back to my stateroom, hoping to watch a movie on my 32” flat panel television.

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Celebrity Equinox day one

December 16, 2009

I’m not sure what it is about a Celebrity ship that makes you smile when you first step onboard. Ask anyone who’s cruised on Celebrity and they’ll tell you there is something pleasantly recognizable. It could be the warm welcome and glass of champagne that is handed to you the moment you come through the [...]

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It’s a long “E” sound…EEE-quinox

December 13, 2009

Celebrity Cruises has a new baby; the Equinox. Being someone who doesn’t mince words, let alone mispronounce them, I found myself saying over and over is it “EEE-quinox” or “ECK-quinox?” Finally after several sleepless nights I turned to http://www.thefreedictionary.com/equinox to hear it correctly pronounced.
While we’re on the subject of mispronounced travel-related words, here’s another common [...]

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MSC Poesia – Now that’s Italian!

December 11, 2009

In November 2009, amid media hoopla and fanfare, the MSC Poesia arrived at Port Everglades from her home in Italy to begin her maiden Caribbean season.  Meaning “Poetry” in English, this beautiful ship will sail 3-5-7-10 night amazing itineraries throughout the Caribbean including the Yucatan, Panama Canal and Bermuda during her first season in North [...]

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Seven tips to get the best cruise deals

November 4, 2009

If you’ve ever taken a cruise, one of the most common conversations between passengers is “So, how much did you pay for your cruise?”  It seems everyone is dollar-conscious and comparing the cost for similar cruise accommodations is an unfortunate but frequent occurrence.
Rather than play guessing games with your cruise-mates, here are some suggestions that [...]

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