Disney Cruise Expands With New Homeports, Itineraries

Disney Cruise Expands With New Homeports & Itineraries
Disney Cruise Line will sail from three new homeports in 2012 – New York, Seattle and Galveston, Texas. New destinations for the line include New England/Canada, Hawaii and the Pacific Coast. The line will also continue its sailings in Alaska, which it began this year. The Disney Magic will operate 20 New York departures, beginning May 25, including eight-night Bahamas and five-night New England/Canada sailings. The fare for the Bahamas itinerary includes a one-day Walt Disney World Park Hopper ticket and roundtrip transfers between the ship and Disney World. Beginning Sept. 12, the Disney Magic will then sail 12 seven-night cruises out of Galveston to the Western Caribbean. The Disney Wonder will sail 14 seven-night Alaska cruises from Seattle, beginning May 28. Also new in 2012 will be a 15-night voyage from Los Angeles to Hawaii and seven-night Pacific Coast cruises aboard the Disney Wonder. The Disney Wonder will continue to sail seven-night Mexican Riviera cruises out of Los Angeles for most of the year. The Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream will continue to sail Caribbean and Bahamian itineraries out of Port Canaveral.

Celebrity Introduces Asia Sailings
Celebrity Cruises will offer its first Asia itineraries in the winter of 2012-13 aboard its Celebrity Millennium; the ship will be upgraded to include Solstice-class amenities in April 2012. The Asia season will consist of 14-night open-jaw cruises between Singapore and Hong Kong. Itineraries will visit nine countries new to the brand, including Vietnam, Thailand, and China, among others. Overnight stays in Singapore, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City and others will be offered, as well as five-night pre- and post-cruise tour options out of Hong Kong. Also planned are two 14-night sailings roundtrip from Singapore, with overnight stays in Bali. Bookending the Asia season will be two transpacific voyages.

New: Standby Fares on Crystal
Crystal Cruises introduced a standby program that provides savings of up to 75% off brochure fares to last-minute travelers. Standby fares are available on five May/June sailings in Alaska, the Baltic and North Cape. Based on availability, the fares require a $500 per guest deposit upon reservation. Bookings will be confirmed no earlier than 45 days prior to departure. Eligible cruises include: 12-day Alaska, roundtrip San Francisco, May 9, 21 and June 2; 11-day Scandinavia/Russia, Hamburg to Stockholm, May 22; 14-day North Cape/Arctic Circle, Copenhagen to Stockholm, June 13. Standby fares do not include taxes, fees or Crystal’s As You Wish spending credits.

Louis Cruises Joins CLIA
Louis Cruises became the 26th member line of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) when it joined the association earlier this month. Cyprus-based Louis Cruises specializes in small-ship cruising in the Mediterranean.

Oceania Promotes Binder, Appoints New President
Oceania Cruises and its parent company, Prestige Cruise Holdings, has promoted Oceania president Bob Binder to vice chairman and president of Prestige Cruise Holdings, effective May 1. Replacing Binder as president of Oceania will be Bruce Himelstein, a former senior Kerzner International and Ritz Carlton executive. Binder will oversee strategic initiatives, including the global expansion of Prestige Cruise Holdings brands, which include Regent Seven Seas Cruises. He also will maintain relationships with several of the company’s largest retail partners.

MSC Forms New Partnership for Air Program
MSC Cruises has made ISS Global Marine Travel (GMT) its preferred provider of air fares. GMT specializes in providing both published and special negotiated air fares. To book air for clients, agents should register online with GMT’s CruiseLink. The program allows agents to establish their own booking service charge and provides round-the-clock emergency support for clients in transit. MSC Cruises’ reps will continue to assist agents with air for MSC Yacht Club bookings and special group requests.

Holland America Increases 2012 Alaska Capacity
Beginning May 2012, Holland America Line will increase its guest capacity in Alaska by about 6%. The line will offer four itineraries on seven of its mid-sized ships from May 2 through Sept. 23. Seven- to 14-day cruises will sail roundtrip from Seattle or Vancouver, as well as between Vancouver and Seward. From Seattle: The Amsterdam will offer 14-day Alaskan Explorer voyages starting June 1, plus two shorter itineraries on May 18 and 25. Also, the Oosterdam and Westerdam will sail seven-day Alaskan Explorer voyages departing May 6 and 12, respectively. From Vancouver: Three Holland America ships – Volendam (Wednesday departures), Zuiderdam (Saturday departures) and Zaandam (May 6, Sept. 16) – will sail roundtrip on seven-day Inside Passage voyages. Vancouver to Seward: The Statendam and Zaandam will sail Glacier Discovery cruises with Sunday departures May 15 through Sept. 16.

Hurtigruten Offers Port-to-Port Pricing
Hurtigruten has added port-to-port pricing that allows travelers to customize their Norwegian cruise vacations by combining the Classic Norwegian Coastal Voyage itinerary with extended stays ashore in any of the 34 ports of call. Daily departures and an array of optional excursions are available. Nightly rates for an unspecified cabin are priced at: $119, winter; $142, autumn/spring, and $202, summer. Rates for guaranteed outside cabins are $127, $158 and $250, respectively.

Royal Caribbean Announces 2012 Alaska Schedule
Royal Caribbean International unveiled its 2012 schedule of Alaska cruises and cruise/tours aboard the Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas. Radiance of the Seas will sail seven-night northbound and southbound itineraries between Vancouver and Seward. Rhapsody of the Seas will sail seven-night Alaska cruises roundtrip from Seattle. New for 2012 are three cruise/tours in conjunction with Radiance of the Seas’ Vancouver to Seward sailings.

AmaWaterways Unveils AmaVerde
AmaWaterways’ newest river ship, the MS AmaVerde, begins operating 14-night sailings from Amsterdam to Budapest in October. Like its sister ship, the AmaBella, the AmaVerde features a twin balcony stateroom design, consisting of a French balcony plus a full-size outside balcony. Other cabin amenities include flat-panel TVs providing, free Internet access, first-run Hollywood movies, robes and slippers, and bathrooms with multi-jet shower heads.

Crystal’s Voluntourism Programs Focus on Kids, Conservation
Conservation and disadvantaged children will be the focus of voluntourism excursions this spring and summer under Crystal Cruises new You Care, We Care program. Options include: removing invasive weeds on Oahu (5/1); supporting the operation of the salmon hatchery and/or marine-life exhibits at the Sitka Sound Science Center (5/14-8/18); and helping troubled youth in Dublin (7/29).

Paul Gauguin Offers 20-Night Cruise/Hotel Package
Paul Gauguin Cruises announced a 20-night itinerary that includes a 17-night South Pacific island cruise, hotel nights in Australia and free air from Los Angeles. Departing Jan. 23, 2012, the itinerary includes three free days in Sydney and flights to Brisbane to board the Paul Gauguin. Guests receive 50% off standard cruise fares.

New Itinerary for Windstar
Windstar Cruises has launched two nine-day sailings between Athens and Malta for this fall. The itinerary includes a seven-day cruise with five ports of call, as well as two days in Athens. Departure dates for Hidden Treasures of the Ionian are Oct. 15 and Oct. 22.

Norwegian Cruise Line Opens Online Boutique
Norwegian has opened an online shopping portal at http://www.nclgiftshop.com, offering branded merchandise, including apparel, travel items, embossed pens, wine sets and more. Travel agents who order promotional items and giveaways from the store receive 10% off when they enter the code PARTNER at checkout.

Royal Caribbean’s Royal Wedding Package
In honor of the upcoming British royal wedding, Royal Caribbean International is offering a Royal Wedding package for couples looking to symbolically tie the knot at sea. The package, available for purchase through December, includes a bride’s tiara, a 12-rose bouquet plus boutonniere, strawberries and champagne, toasting flutes, keepsake server and dinner at the Captain’s table. Also, a dedicated wedding planner, photographer, save-the-date announcements and a tiered wedding cake. The line has also launched a new honeymoon registry.