Cunard to Celebrate Nuptials at Sea

Cunard Debuts Its First-Ever Weddings at Sea Program
Cunard Line will offer guests the opportunity to be married on board for the first time in its 171-year history. Beginning spring 2012, passengers aboard any of the three Queens will be able to take advantage of several wedding package offerings. The weddings program goes on sale in December.

Carnival Boosts Gratuities to $11.50 Daily
Carnival Cruise Lines has updated its gratuity guidelines for passengers, with increases scheduled to go into effect on Dec. 1. The $1.50 increase brings the suggested gratuity to $11.50 per person, per day. Passengers sailing after Dec. 1 who prepaid their gratuities will not be affected.

Holland America Returns to Oz in 2012-13
Holland America Line will return to Australia and the South Pacific in 2012-13 with two ships – the Oosterdam and Volendam. Together the ships will visit more than 50 ports on a series of 10- to 58-day sailings.

Princess Expands Pacific Coast Cruises
Princess Cruises will expand its Pacific Coast cruise offerings in 2012-13 with a variety of West Coast sailings from Los Angeles and San Francisco. The fall and spring voyages range from overnight cruises to a weeklong California Coastal itinerary. Also: a wine country cruise and four- and five-day samplers of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.

Scenic Cruises to Launch ‘New Generation’ River Ship
Scenic Cruises, which operates luxury river cruises in Europe, will launch a “new generation” of ship with the Scenic Crystal in April 2012. The ship, the line’s sixth, will offer 85 staterooms. Most will have Sun Lounge balconies, which can be fully enclosed if the guest wishes. Initial sailings for the Scenic Crystal will be on the Danube.

Crystal Adds New Ports in Turkey and Brazil
Crystal Cruises has released the remainder of its 2013 calendar and a handful of early 2014 sailings. In all, the line will visit 269 ports in 75 countries between May 2013 and May 2014. Among the ports are several maiden calls, including Baie-Comeau, Quebec; Canakkale, Turkey; Castellon de la Plana, Spain; La Spezia, Italy; Natal, Brazil, and others.

Louis Cruises Sets New Aegean Itineraries for 2012
Louis Cruises revealed next year’s deployment of three-, four- and seven-night Aegean cruises from Athens (Piraeus) scheduled to operate from March 16 to Nov. 2, 2012. Among the schedule are two new programs: the three-night “Greece and Turkey” and three-night “Aegean Legends.” The first includes port calls in Istanbul and Izmir. The second itinerary includes stops at Mykonos (Greece) and Kusadasi (Turkey), which is the gateway to Ephesus, as well as stops at Patmos and Santorini (Greece).

Regent Seven Seas Publishes 2012-13 Winter Sailings
Regent Seven Seas Cruises will sail to several new ports of call this 2012-13 winter season including Hiroshima (Japan) and Huangpu (Canton), China. Also on offer a new 21-night Western Australia cruise and five Grand Voyages, ranging from 54 to 143 nights.
 
Costa Favolosa to Highlight Emirates Ports
Costa Cruises will deploy the Costa Favolosa in the Middle East for the 2011-12 season. The ship sail the Jewels of the Emirates itinerary from Dec. 16 to April 6, 2012. The sailing includes two days in Dubai and one-day calls at Muscat, Oman; Fujairah and Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.; and Khasab, Oman.

Viking Revamps Russian River Cruises
Viking River Cruises will complete the refurbishment and renaming of its four Russian river ships in 2012. The new Viking Rurik, Viking Helgi, Viking Ingvar and Viking Truvar will sail updated itineraries, including a new eight-day Glories of the Hermitage program. Following the refurbishments, all four ships will boast full private balconies in all staterooms on the upper and middle decks, as well as a renovated restaurant, lounge, library and bar.

Oceania Hosts First-Ever Theme Cruises
Oceania Cruises is introducing a lineup of theme cruises in 2012. Programs will explore culinary, wine, music and health and wellness themes. Sailings will feature seminars, hands-on classes, concerts, wine tastings, special guests and more.

Windstar Debuts Hotel Packages
Windstar Cruises has introduced several pre- and post-cruise hotel packages in the Caribbean, Costa Rica and Europe. The 24 hotels in the program are located near sightseeing attractions, and all packages include accommodations for one, two or three nights, taxes, luggage handling and breakfast at most properties.