Nov 18

Travel insurance: Buy or Pass By? | New York Post

You’re more likely to make a claim against a travel insurance policy than you are your home or car insurance. Yet, most people don’t buy it.

There’s really no such thing as being too safe, these days. Back in October, the US Bureau of Consular Affairs expressed serious concern about the threat of violent attacks against U.S. citizens abroad — ISIS and al Qaeda, et al.

So here are some tips about when, and if, to buy insurance.

Never buy travel insurance from your airline, tour operator or cruise line. The policies are weak (for example, pre-existing medical conditions are usually not covered) compared to what you can get directly from a travel insurance specialist like AIG Travel Guard.

Can you afford the loss?

The No. 1 reason people make a travel insurance claim: illness or injury (of either the policy holder or a family member) just before starting a trip. Make sure that you document your medical condition with a visit to a hospital or doctor before making the claim, otherwise it will be most likely be denied. And read the fine print that defines “family member” — some policies are broader than others.

Many experts advise that you only insure a trip that’s of such high value that losing your investment would cause financial hardship (a $3,000 cruise, perhaps, but not a $150 flight to Chicago).

via Travel insurance: Buy or Pass By? | New York Post.

Nov 02

Disney Cruise Line Reveals Ports and Itineraries for Early 2016

Popular Caribbean ports Tortola, British Virgin Islands and Martinique take center stage

CELEBRATION, Fla. (Oct. 28, 2014) – Disney Cruise Line introduces two popular Caribbean destinations — Tortola, British Virgin Islands and Martinique — into the lineup of favorite tropical itineraries for early 2016. The return to the homeport of San Juan, Puerto Rico brings a new itinerary that includes Martinique.

From the warm Caribbean culture of Tortola, capital of the British Virgin Islands, to the exquisite French island of Martinique, these destinations provide Disney Cruise Line guests the chance to relax on pristine beaches, discover natural wonders and indulge in local shopping and cuisine.

Bookings open to the public on Oct. 30, 2014. More details on 2016 itineraries can be found on the Itineraries and Ports for 2016 page of disneycruise.com.

Port Canaveral to Eastern Caribbean, including Tortola

In 2016, Disney Cruise Line will sail from Port Canaveral, Fla. on a seven-night itinerary to the Eastern Caribbean, including a call at Tortola and Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay.

Tortola is an idyllic escape for guests of all ages, from tranquil beaches and stunning scenery to exhilarating activities and authentic Caribbean fare. With a variety of experiences for the family to share together, Disney Cruise Line guests will create memories in Tortola while swimming with dolphins, exploring centuries-old ruins, sampling local spices on Main Street and reveling in the natural beauty of Sage Mountain National Park.

Ports: Port Canaveral; Tortola; St. Thomas; Castaway Cay

Departure dates: Disney Fantasy: Jan. 2, 16, 30; Feb. 13, 27; March 12, 26; April 9, 23; Disney Magic: April 3, 17

Rates start at $1,120 per person for seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises for a category 11C standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy. Taxes, fees and port expenses are not included.

San Juan to Southern Caribbean, including Martinique

Disney Cruise Line returns to San Juan, Puerto Rico in early 2016 as the Disney Wonder sails four seven-night cruises to the Southern Caribbean, including a stop in Martinique on a new itinerary for Disney.

Known as the “Flower of the Caribbean,” Martinique offers a unique island experience complete with breathtaking natural beauty and cosmopolitan culture of French and Creole influence. Nature-lovers will delight in lush rainforests, rushing waterfalls and volcanic landmarks, while guests looking for a more upscale experience will savor superb French cuisine and superlative shopping.

Ports: San Juan; Barbados; Grenada; Martinique; Antigua; St. Kitts

Departure dates: Jan. 10, 17, 24, 31

Rates start at $980 per person for seven-night cruises from San Juan for a category 11C standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy. Taxes, fees and port expenses are not included.

Port Canaveral and Miami to the Bahamas and Caribbean

In 2016, Disney Cruise Line will sail from Port Canaveral and Miami to the Bahamas and Caribbean on a variety of itineraries. All of these cruises include a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

From Port Canaveral, rates start at $375 per person for three-night cruises, $500 per person for four-night cruises and $1,120 per person for seven-night cruises for a category 11C standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy. Taxes, fees and port expenses are not included.

From Miami, rates start at $352 per person for four-night cruises and $440 per person for five-night cruises for a category 11C standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy. Taxes, fees and port expenses are not included.

– See more at: http://dclnews.com/2014/10/28/disney-cruise-line-reveals-ports-and-itineraries-for-early-2016/#sthash.LCGXOwZI.dpuf

Nov 02

GEARING UP THE SMARTSHIP: FINAL TOUCHES ONOARD QUANTUM OF THE SEAS

Nov 02

ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL TAKES DELIVERY OF QUANTUM OF THE SEAS

Global Cruise Line Debuts The World’s First Smartship

MIAMI, October 28, 2014 – Royal Caribbean International took delivery today of the newest addition to the cruise line’s fleet,Quantum of the Seas, from Meyer Werft Yard. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.’s Chairman and CEO Richard D. Fain (pictured right) and Meyer Werft Yard’s Managing Partner Bernard Meyer (pictured left) attended the official signing ceremony in Bremerhaven, Germany. With Captain Srecko “Felix” Ban at the helm, the ship will begin her journey today to Southampton, U.K., where she will welcome her first guests on November 2, for a trans-Atlantic voyage to her home port of Cape Liberty Cruise Port, Bayonne, New Jersey. Fans and enthusiasts are invited to follow Quantum of the Seas’ through daily webisodes onRoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com and also by following @RoyalCaribPR on Twitter.

Quantum of the Seas will sail from New York harbor to the Bahamas and the Caribbean for her inaugural season before departing for her new homeport of Shanghai (Baoshan), China, in May 2015. Sister-ship Anthem of the Seas will debut in Southampton in April 2015 and sail Mediterranean itineraries.

Quantum-class ships are the world’s most technologically advanced in the world with “boatloads of bandwidth” which allow the cruise line to offer unprecedented connectivity – 500 times more than any other cruise ship; easy-to-use systems that expand guest choices and simplify schedules, plus, RFID technology that speeds up the boarding process and allows guest to track their luggage every step of the way.

The ships offer new unprecedented features, such as RipCord by iFLY, the first skydiving experience at sea; the North Star, an engineering marvel that transports guests more than 300 feet above the ocean; SeaPlex, the largest indoor sports and entertainment complex at sea with bumper cars, roller skating and more; as well as the Bionic Bar powered by Makr Shakr which features the world’s first robotic bartenders.

The ships also showcase the cruise line’s largest and most advanced

staterooms ever, including the industry’s first-ever staterooms with Virtual Balconies, which offer expansive, real-time views of the ocean and exciting destinations from every interior stateroom.

Quantum-class ships span 16 guest decks; encompass 167,800 gross registered tons; carry 4,180 guests at double occupancy; and feature 2,090 staterooms. For more information, please visit www.RoyalCaribbean.com/QuantumoftheSeas.

Nov 02

Quantum Of The Seas Infographic

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Oct 14

ENGINEERING A UNIQUE VIEW: INSTALLING QUANTUM OF THE SEAS’ NORTH STAR

Oct 14

ROYAL CARIBBEAN RAISES THE BAR ON AWARD-WINNING OASIS-CLASS SHIPS WITH ROYAL ADVANTAGE ENHANCEMENTS

Dynamic New Culinary Concepts, Broadway Show and Exciting Retail Offerings, to Debut on Oasis-Class

MIAMI, Oct. 14, 2014 – Sailing aboard the world’s largest and most exciting cruise ships will now come with even more bragging rights. Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas emerges from a 14-day drydock today with a new look including reimagined dining, game-changing high-speed internet, exciting new retail offerings, a new popular and favorite Broadway show, new suites with exclusive suite dining and lounge. Sistership Allure of the Seas will follow suit in May 2015 with nearly identical enhancements. During their respective drydock, each ship’s seven neighborhoods will be enhanced as part of the cruises line’s Royal Advantage commitment to deliver the best vacation offerings and to introduce guests to even more new features and personalized experiences that can only be found when sailing with Royal Caribbean.

“Royal Caribbean’s legacy of innovation brought the revolutionary Oasis-class ships to life and in that spirit, during the Oasis of the Seas’ and Allure of the Seas’ drydocks we are adding features and experiences to wow our guests even more,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, executive vice president, Operations, Royal Caribbean International. “One of the many exciting new features is Dynamic Dining, which has received an overwhelmingly positive response from our guests. We are expanding this new dining program, in line with our Royal Advantage commitment, to offer our guests and prospective consumers the amenities that appeal most to them according to the feedback we receive.”

Even More New Culinary Concepts

A key element of any vacation, dining provides vacation-goers with the opportunity to experience new flavors and indulge in old favorites. Royal Caribbean’s Dynamic Dining, allows guests to tempt their taste buds with more choice and flexibility than ever before by offering guests a landscape of 20 restaurants, as vast and varied as dining in the world’s most cosmopolitan cities.
Royal Caribbean has recreated the original Oasis-class three-story main dining room into three distinct complimentary venues introducing bold new concepts each with their own cuisine and ambiance:

  • American Icon Grill offers guests a take on the classic American road trip pulling together best-loved regional favorites into one comfort-style menu;
  • Silk is a vibrant and exotic destination where the spices of the Far East bring new flavor to adventurous palates through a Pan-Asian menu;
  • The Grande, where every night is formal night, offers an elegant ambiance and refined cuisine.

Guests will enjoy menus of the new concepts beginning March 14, 2015, onboard Oasis of the Seas. Guests sailing Oasis of the Seas prior to March 14, will enjoy the traditional dining room experience in the newly designed spaces.

As part of Dynamic Dining guests will have full control of their own epicurean journey with a tantalizing selection of specialty restaurants including four new unique concepts:

  • Izumi Hibachi & Sushi, a reimagined Izumi Japanese Cuisine offering a full teppanyaki menu as well as fresh and flavorful sushi rolls and sashimi;
  • Sabor Taqueria & Tequila Bar, first introduced aboard Navigator of the Seas to rave reviews, will feature a mouthwatering menu of authentic, modern and unexpected Mexican dishes including hand-made tableside guacamole. These dishes can be complemented by a curated beverage menu of tequilas, mezcal, and Mexican beers, as well as delicious sangrias and tableside-mixed margaritas;
  • Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine, a unique culinary adventure for the senses where Royal Caribbean chefs twist their culinary kaleidoscopes in a whimsical setting that challenges the imagination with never-before-seen fare;
  • Coastal Kitchen is an exclusive restaurant for suite guests and Pinnacle members, that fuses Mediterranean influences with the unmatched riches of California’s bountiful farmlands and features. The experience is complemented by a robust wine list, curated specifically for the venue.

Finally guests will continue to enjoy Giovanni’s Table, 150 Central Park and Vintage Wine Bar, the hugely successful specialty dining concepts introduced on the Oasis-class in 2009.

Technology

Royal Caribbean’s commitment to provide the best vacation experience is at the heart of its Royal Advantage program which takes its latest innovations and most popular features and expands them to even its newest ships, such as:

  • Boatloads of Bandwidth, the game-changing partnership with technology partner O3b that will offer guests onboardOasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas connectivity that matches fast broadband connections onshore and is greater than all other cruise ships combined. These new capabilities, allow the cruise line to offer affordable, easy-to-use Internet packages so that guests may watch streaming video, check email, share images on social media and enjoy face-to-face video conversations – even in the middle of the ocean.
  • Royal iQ is a new app that puts guests in charge of their vacation choices.  Thanks to the dramatically improved connectivity, Royal iQ is able to continue dining reservations, shore excursions and spa appointments onboard, through both a downloadable app and at freestanding iQ stations around the ship.  Guests also can use Royal iQ as a convenient calendar that provides at-a-glance views of their program and to keep in touch with one another and home via phone and text capabilities.

New Exclusive Suite Experience

Royal Caribbean is introducing 10 new suites on Oasis-class ships, offering breathtaking views of the ocean or the ships’ signature AquaTheater and Boardwalk neighborhood and includes, two Royal Suites, six Grand Suites and two Royal Family Suites, which can accommodate up to six guests. These suites offer a new level of sophistication when paired with the variety of new exclusive suite amenities that include:

  • The Suite Lounge, an exclusive lounge area for suite guests to relax offering unmatched expansive views of the ship and sea;
  • The Sun Deck, a new sun deck area that gives suites guests the chance to soak-up and relax in the Caribbean sun with lounge furniture, shaded and seating areas and private service;
  • Coastal Kitchen is a suites only full-service restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner with a Mediterranean flare.

New Broadway Show

Oasis of the Seas’ introduced the first-ever, fully-licensed Broadway show at sea and now, the ship will bring one of the longest running productions on Broadway, Andrew Lloyd Webber’sTony award winning CATS to sea for the first time.  Beginning June 2015, sister ship Allure of the Seas will feature MAMMA MIA!, the smash hit musical based on the story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs.

Superior Shopping at Sea

Known for its first at sea offerings, Royal Caribbean is introducing the playfully sophisticated designs of kate spade new york to Oasis-class on its popular Royal Promenade, a first at sea. Rounding out the diverse onboard shopping are two guest favoritesMichael Kors and the Britto Art Gallery, as well as a whole new line-up of merchandise and fashion jewelry such as, Alexis Bittar, Uno de 50, Lauren G Adams, and Nina Nguyen.

These enhancements take many of the best features the cruise line has created in recent years and introduces them to its newest ships, by building on Royal Caribbean’s best-in-class global vacation offering and delivering to guests the Royal Advantage – the industry’s most innovative cruise ships, combined with exciting itineraries and destinations, and world-renowned friendly and engaging Gold Anchor Service.

Sep 21

Construction of NCL Escape Begins

 

Papenburg, 19 September 2014 – Norwegian Cruise Line executives and officials from MEYER WERFT took part in the Keel-Laying Ceremony of Norwegian Escape on Friday, September 19, 2014. During the official ceremony, block number 35/41, one of 86 blocks that will comprise the 164,600 gross ton vessel, was lifted into the covered building dock. This is the start of the block assembly for Norwegian Escape.

In the dock, Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s president and chief executive officer, laid the traditional “lucky coin,” before the 400 ton block was placed by the 800 ton crane.

“We are pleased to start construction of Norwegian Escape”, says Sheehan. “The start of the block assembly is a significant milestone and we eagerly anticipate the delivery of Norwegian Escape in the autumn of 2015.” The Norwegian Escape is the first of four ships with a length of 324.6 meters and a width of 41.4 meters that MEYER WERFT will be building for Norwegian Cruise Line until 2019.

“Today we placed one of 86 blocks”, says Bernard Meyer, MEYER WERFT’s managing director. “We are proud to begin the construction of the new series and continue our partnership with one of the most innovative cruise lines in the world.”

Starting from October 2015, Norwegian Escape will begin seven-day cruises from Miami to the Eastern Caribbean, taking 4,200 guests to the tropical destinations of Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas, American Virgin Islands and Nassau, Bahamas. The newbuilding will unite all the exciting and innovative features of both Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway. On top of that, she will feature a series of new public rooms and interactive experiences.

via Press Release | Keel laid for Norwegian Escape.

Sep 19

SONIC SOUNDS TAKE CENTER STAGE: CAST OF MUSIC ODYSSEY GETS READY TO MAKE WAVES

Sep 19

Quantum Ems Conveyance – Infographic

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