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New Cruise Ships Head to U.S. Homeports

10/28/2014

The Regal Princess will have its naming ceremony next week in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

By John Roberts

Brand new cruise ships will be in the news in the coming weeks as Princess Cruises Regal Princess comes to the United States for its naming ceremony and Royal Caribbean's innovative Quantum of the Seas makes its crossing from England to New Jersey for its inaugural season and christening.

Regal Princess has been sailing a Mediterranean season since May and will be in Fort Lauderdale on November 5 for its big festivities. The ship's godparents are the cast members of the classic TV show Love Boat, and dozens of stars who made appearances on the show will be on hand for the event that also kicks off the 50th anniversary year for the Princess Cruises line.

Quantum of the Seas will makes its transatlantic eight-day voyage November 2 from Southampton, England, to Cape Liberty in Bayonne, N.J., where godmother Kristin Chenoweth will lead the festivities.

Quantum of the Seas will offer a skydiving simulator, "Dynamic Dining" (a choice of themed dining venues instead of a traditional main seating room), a high-tech interactive entertainment space, robot bartenders and what Royal Caribbean says will be the fastest Internet speeds at sea.

I sailed on the 3,500-passenger Regal Princess in May. It is a fantastic ship, with great decor and wonderful food and service. It's probably my favorite ship I've been on out of 25 total sailings. Regal Princess will be sailing Caribbean itineraries out of Fort Lauderdale.

I hope to get onto the 4,180-passenger Quantum of the Seas one of these days to give you a review of the ship, which will be sailing to the Bahamas out of New Jersey for six months before heading to its permanent homeport in China.

Elsewhere . . .

Costa Cruises also will be christening a new ship, Costa Diadema, on November 7 in Genoa, Italy. The ship will sail seven-day itineraries in the Mediterranean.

Norwegian Cruise Line announced that its new ship, the 4,200-passenger Norwegian Escape, to launch from its year-round Miami homeport in November 2015, will feature a Tobacco Road bar onboard. The bar celebrates the famed Miami tavern of the same name.

Cruisers now can get information from the U.S. Department of Transportation website, which has been updated to include cruise industry regulations and consumer rights when booking a cruise vacation.

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13 Reasons You'll Enjoy a Transatlantic Voyage

10/15/2014

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Princess Cruises is offering a 17-day transatlantic voyage on Regal Princess for as low as $1,599 per person

By John Roberts

We love being on the go in our travels, always trying to stay busy, see as much as we can. Of course! That's what it's all about, right.

But I admit to sometimes wanting to just take it easy sometimes too. Every so often I want to chill and recharge and replenish my wanderlust reserves.

A transatlantic cruise offers you the perfect opportunity to set your own pace on a sailing. Here, I highlight 13 reasons to love what a transatlantic crossing has to offer. Been on this kind of cruise before? Tell us why you like them -- or why you don't -- in the comments at the end.

1. The cost: Transatlantic crossings or repositioning cruises tend to be priced way below the average itinerary that features a lot of port stops. Norwegian Cruise Line, for example, offers a 14-day voyage this month from Barcelona to Miami, with stops in Madeira, St. Maarten and St. Thomas, on Norwegian Epic, for $999 per person.

2. Longer trips: Retired or need a long vacation? The sailings generally last more than a week. And some itineraries give you a nice mix -- front loaded with port stops, followed by a batch of sea days while you cross the Atlantic Ocean. For example, Princess Cruises offers a 17-day maiden voyage this month starting at $1,599 per person as the line brings its brand-new Regal Princess from Europe to its homeport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The cruise starts in Venice -- with stops in Messina, Naples and Rome, Italy, and France, Spain and Portugal before heading across.

3. Sea days: The sailings offer a lot of sea days -- up to six in a row or more -- giving you a blank slate to set your schedule as you wish to relax, play or do whatever you choose.

4. Catch up on reading: What could be better than sitting on your balcony, poolside or any other quiet area you find on the ship to crack open that book you haven't had time to get to or revisit a favorite classic. Maybe you're a writer. A transatlantic cruise gives you tons of time to crank out your next piece.

5. Get fit: With an abundance of workout equipment and other exercise options of the latest ships, you can turn a voyage into a wellness vacation. Take part in the fitness classes offered or break in those new sneakers on the jogging track as you enjoy the views of the blue skies and waters.

6. Brush up on your trivia: You can join the multiple trivia contests hosted onboard in the lounges. The prizes handed out (pens, keychains and other trinkets) won't inspire you, but we always have fun and meet new friends when participating.

7. Enjoy the spa: Check out the ship's spa services. You deserve a massage, don't you? Couple massages, teeth whitening, aromatherapy, seaweed wraps are among the services I've seen onboard.

8. Pool games: The ship's activities staff work hard to keep the fun going poolside. Even if you don't aim to participate, you might find yourself suddenly having a great time on a team for pool Olympics or volleyball or amazed that you were thrust into the spotlight as a contestant in a belly-flop or hairy legs contest. It can be a blast, whether you are in on the action or simply watching.

9. Get wet: With so many sea days, you now have ample time to try out all the swimming pools and hot tub areas.

10. Tour the ship: Not so sunny out or maybe you need a break? Head to the ship's library to peruse the magazines, books and games. We've played Scrabble, cards and dominoes on some of our sailings. Many ships also have impressive art collections or unique decor as part of their design. Wander around. You'll probably notice something new every day.

11. Nap time: No guilt here. An afternoon nap helps me rejuvenate so I can finish the day strong!

12. What to watch: You have days with no set schedule hustling around in port, so there is time to take a break from the sun for an in-room TV show or movie. Many ships offer free flicks on-demand in your room. Some also feature movies on the big screens in dedicated theaters on the ship or on the pool side screen.

13. Beats flying: If you want to get from one continent to another, a transatlantic cruise offers a neat alternative to a flight. The cost per person can be fairly comparable, but way more relaxed. Plus, it has meals and activities and a comfy bed included. If you have the time, a slow trip across is ideal compared with a hectic cramped flight.

With all those seas days, you won't have to choose which of these to do. You have time for all of it.

Thanks for reading, and travel happy!

JR

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A Short Cruise Can Be a Cost-Effective Weekend Getaway

10/7/2014

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Your getaway weekend could be right here, sailing on a Princess Cruises ship to the Bahamas, with movies under the stars, for a comparable price to a land-based trip.

By John Roberts

It's Cruise Week, an annual industry event meant to entice travelers with special offers and discounts. That means there are good sales going on until Oct. 13 or Oct. 14 depending on the cruise line.

That got me thinking about short cruises and how some of them stack up favorably to the average weekend getaway on land if you live close enough to drive to a cruise port.

Let's run some of the numbers on a few sailings I quickly researched.

Princess Cruises is offering free prepaid gratuities in addition to fare discounts. For example, a four-day sailing out of Fort Lauderdale, you and that special someone can enjoy a long weekend sailing to the Bahamas and back for about $600.

Norwegian Cruise Line gives 10 percent back in onboard credit for its Cruise Week special. Book a four-day sailing on Norwegian Sky out of Miami to the Bahamas and it will cost you less than $400 for a two-person vacation.

Carnival Cruise Line's two-day sailing from Los Angeles to Ensenada, Mexico, on Carnival Imagination comes with a $50 onboard credit per stateroom and will end up costing a couple about $400.

Remember: For all these cruises, meals, shows and accommodations are included. Plus, you have access to a broad range of onboard amenities like waterslides, hot tubs, pools, casinos and more. You'll pay more if you want to drink alcohol, of course.

Compare these trips with a traditional land-based getaway that includes a hotel stay for two or three nights, buying all your meals and entertainment such as movies and theater shows. You're right in the same price range. Plus on a cruise, you can be sunning on a beach in the Caribbean or Mexico.

When I see deals like this, I often wish I lived within a short drive of one of these departure ports.

Travel happy!

Thanks for reading,
JR

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New Cruise Ships Head to U.S. Homeports

13 Reasons You'll Enjoy a Transatlantic Voyage

A Short Cruise Can Be a Cost-Effective Weekend Getaway

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