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The Hills…And Coastlines, Bays And Coves… are alive
with color on Canada and New England Cruises
World Cruises: Exploration In Style
Cruises Through a Europe Less Traveled
Cunard's Queen Victoria to Sail 2008 European
Voyages
Cruise Passengers Face Long Wait!
Europe Cruises the Best Value With Current Exchange
Rate
Cruise Traveler Magazine Resource Locator
New Shore Excursions Connects Travelers With The
Real Alaska
New Passport Requirments For Cruises
Family Escape to the Caribbean
Understanding Family Rates For Cruises
Growing Cruise Popularity Reflects Strong Guest
Satisfaction And High Preceived Value, Says New
Study
Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific Isles
Showcase Incredible Diversity Down Under
South America Draws Travelers in Search of the
Exotic and Adventurous
Cruise Vacations Pamper Guests With A Sea Of
Services And Amenities
Family Travel Is On The Rise
Eating Healthy On A Cruise
Kids Rank Cruises Tops
Wine Tasking Made Easy With Progressive Wine Lists
Tips On Taking Great Pictures On A Cruise
Travel Tips for Older Americans
Cruising Tips. How To Book And Board
A Royal Crossing on the QM2
Why should I use a travel agent?
Why Cruise Rates Change
Getting Your Child a Passport
Avoiding Pre-Cruise Problems
Top 6 Family Cruise Lines
Destinations Uncovered:Memorable Martha’s Vineyard
Favorite Cruise Lines For Traveling With Your Kids
And Teens
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The world's biggest ships, two 220,000- ton, 5,400-passenger ships, set to sail in fall of 2009, will be called Oasis of the Seas and her sister ship Allure of the Seas will debut in the summer 2010.
The names were chosen by the public as a result of Royal Caribbean's innovative "Name That Ship" Contest. In conjunction with USA Today, some 91,000 names were submitted (with many duplicates). Contest players were encouraged to submit a pair of names that, according to Royal Caribbean's announcement today, "best encapsulate the universe of experiences a Royal Caribbean cruise provides guests."
Royal Caribbean said that the winning Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas names were submitted by George Weiser, of Livonia, Michigan. The names were judged by a panel of judges appointed by Royal Caribbean.
Royal Caribbean announced in April of 2008 at an event at New York's Hudson Terrace that its 220,000-ton, 5,400-passenger Oasis and Allure of the Seas will feature a lush park the size of a football field -- a courtyard of tropical plants and walkways, and a town square with dining and entertainment -- rising five stories from Deck 8 of the 16-deck ship. Central Park is the first in a series of seven "neighborhoods" that will be unveiled on the ship.
"The 'wow' is what we're all about," Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Chairman and CEO Richard Fain told a crowd of journalists and travel agents who gathered at New York's Hudson Terrace for the big announcement. "Getting our customer to say 'wow' is our inspiration."
Central Park will feature real, living foliage much like the Lawn Club on sister line Celebrity's upcoming Solstice. Central Park is an area about as long as the Royal Promenade on Voyager- and Freedom-class ships -- and twice as wide -- highlighting a number of features and amenities including:
254 Park-view balconies (four will be wheelchair accessible), and 80 Park-view windowed staterooms. What's unique about the construction is that it allows for more outside staterooms -- even those facing inward on the Park have balconies, fresh air and a view. Only about 20 percent of all the cabins onboard are inside.
Boutique shops featuring upscale merchandise such as The Parkside Gallery, selling original artwork, and Picture This, a portrait studio.
Seven restaurants, cafes and bars. Chops Grille will be there, with tables indoor and out, as well as Vintages wine bar. Other's include 150 Central Park, Central Park Cafe and Giovanni's Table.
The Canopy Bar serves drinks underneath a glass dome, while the Rising Tide bar will actually glide up and down, as its name implies -- the first moving bar at sea. Evening entertainment, including al fresco concerts and "street" performances
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Landscaped gardens including the Pergola Garden (featuring Caribbean vegetation), the Sculpture Garden (with artwork from artists from around the world) and the Chess Garden (featuring giant pieces for a game of chess or checkers). An on-site horticulturalist will teach guests about the gardens and gather gardening techniques as well as lessons on the ecology of Caribbean plants. There will also be trees and "Green Walls," showcasing flowering vines.
The ship may feature larger staterooms that offering roomier accommodations over a wider variety of staterooms.
Both Oasis-class ships will homeport in Ft. Lauderdale's Port Everglades for at minimum their first year of service. Actual itineraries will be available the middle of next year.
Ports are being prepared to handle Oasis -- both in terms of increased passenger load and infrastructure. A new Jamaican cruise port, Falmouth, is being constructed to accommodate theses large ships. The port is one of six that will be ready to accommodate the Oasis and Allure of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships:
Adventure of the Seas • Brilliance of the Seas • Empress of the Seas • Enchantment of the Seas • Explorer of the Seas • Freedom of the Seas • Grandeur of the Seas • Independence of the Seas • Jewel of the Seas • Legend of the Seas • Liberty of the Seas • Majesty of the Seas • Mariner of the Seas • Monarch of the Seas • Navigator of the Seas • Oasis of the Seas • Radiance of the Seas • Rhapsody of the Seas • Serenade of the Seas • Sovereign of the Seas • Splendour of the Seas • Vision of the Seas • Voyager of the Seas • Oasis of the Seas ( 2009 ) • Allure of the Seas (2010 )
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Oasis of
the Seas
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Allure
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Marty & Raye Trencher
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Raye & I are a
husband and wife team with more than 30 years
experience cruising the world. Our commentary
has been quoted by MSNBC, CNN, Budget
Travel, Chicago Tribune, the New York Times and
in syndicated travel columns and online sites
across the country. We are publishers of
Cruise Travel Magazine, and are also
editors of
Cruise Reviews Online. Our mission is
plain and simple. To provide real-life accounts
and expert advice, not just a flood of
information. We literarily have cruised "round
the world", sailing thousands of nautical miles,
visiting ports of call, inspecting ships,
sampling itineraries and critiquing shore
excursions... And now we hope to pass on that
knowledge and information to you. Our stories
offer the best possible cruise options based on
your lifestyle, interests, budget, travel
experience, etc....plus we'll point out where to
get group rates( without joining a group!), free
upgrades, shipboard credits and other amenities
or discounts. Get advise about tipping; packing;
clothing; flights and schedule options; shore
excursions, proper immigration documentations
and much more. We tell you how to avoid travel
scams and common travel mistakes, and share
insights on the latest cruise news and how it
affects your vacation planning.
View our complete profile
C lick here
View
a
slideshow of
great
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MUST
READS
One
of our favorite cruise bloggers is Ralph
Grizzle, publisher of The Avid Cruiser. Check
out his article about
Cruising Into 2008
Official
State of Alaska Publication |
This
Great Land is full of wonders. But it
would take a lifetime to explore them
all! So let us help you get started,
click here. |
Packing For Your Cruise.
Everything
you need to take on a
cruise vacation......the packing challenge
simplified.
Our
Ultimate
Packing List
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Need help choosing a destination or
cruise? We are pleased share our
knowledge and point you in the right
direction.
Get started here |
travel agents
to advertise prices lower than the cruise lines
offer to those who book directly with the cruise
line. However, some do allow travel agencies to
discount by rebating part of the commissions,
when dealing directly with a potential customer.
If you are shopping the Internet for cruise
prices, you're most likely going to find many
travel sites quoting the same price. But, the
price you're seeing on a travel agent's web site
is not necessarily the best price that travel
agency is able to offer you. To find out a
travel agency's best price on a particular
cruise, you should call them, or e-mail them a
request for a price quote. Most travel agencies
have toll-free phone numbers. Don't hesitate to
call or email them-- you could save a lot!
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Read hundreds of cruise reviews
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Ports Of Call |
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Click here for a
list of every port
visited by every cruise
ship in our database.
Hint: If you would like
to see all of the
sailings that visit a
port, click on the port
name.
For example, if you
are interested in a
cruise that stops in
Venice, Italy,
click the link for
Venice, Italy.
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Family Cruises |
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Ultimate Family Cruise
Guide, children's
programs at sea, tips
for cruising with kids,
teenagers,
grandchildren, toddlers
and details on cruise
line family discounts...
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Noteworthy Comments
From Our Guests
(
read more
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"Marty, thanks
for your help you made selecting this Alaska
trip very easy with all the knowledge you
shared. You are everything the books say a
travel agent should be."
"Hi
Marty, Just got back from our cruisetour to
Alaska on Princess. Everything was excellent.
The hotels and the ship was rated tops by all in
our party. The help with the 8 month old was
fantastic and the excursions were great. Thanks
for all of your help. We are looking forward to
another cruise next year, possibly the
Mediterranean and working with you. Thanks
again."
CRUISE TIPS
Sponsored by Marriott International
We recommend arriving at the city of your port
of embarkation one day prior to the day your
ship sets sail. You may encounter during the
winter months or at times of bad weather, or
flight problems, an en-route delay on sailing
day. Be sure to ask your Cruise Travel Advisor
about custom air, and pre-cruise hotel packages.
After all, you don't want to be waving goodbye
on the pier as the ship sails out of port
without you!
If you are flying on the same day as your cruise
sets sail, plan to be at the pier for check-in
at least least 4 hours prior to the time the
ship is scheduled to depart. Also, due to
heighten security at the pier and at the
airport, when planning your return flight home
allow for several hours between the time you get
off the ship and the time you need to board your
flight home. We suggest no earlier than 1:30PM
for a flight home .
more cruise tips
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Marriott International, Inc. is a
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Click on the Marriott logo
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Marriott's brands
include JW Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard,
Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn, TownePlace Suites,
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International, and Marriott Executive
Apartments. Marriott has nearly 2,900 lodging
properties in over 69 countries worldwide.
Marriott's Look No Further Best Rate Guarantee
is assurance that you are getting the best
available room rate when booking on Marriott.com.
If you book through Marriott.com and then find a
lower publicly available rate within 24 hours
for the same hotel, room type and dates anywhere
on an internet travel site, through a travel
agency, travel management company, or even
another Marriott reservations channel, Marriott
will match the lower rate and give an additional
25% off. Subject to terms and conditions.
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