TRAVEL BLOGS
TRAVEL BLOGS
category: travel
29 Apr 2008

New York, NY (PRWEB) April 29, 2008 — New York’s best ships and itineraries for 2008/09 were named by the editorial staff of Cruising From New York, a web site devoted to passenger shipping from the three ports, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Cape Liberty (Bayonne), NJ.

According to Anne Campbell, editor of Cruising From New York, “Today every major cruise line has several ships that home port in New York for extended seasons of voyages ranging from a one-day party cruise to a 100-plus-day circumnavigation of the globe.”

Today every major cruise line has several ships that home port in New York for extended seasons of voyages ranging from a one-day party cruise to a 100-plus-day circumnavigation of the globe.
Over one million people sailed from New York’s three ports in 2007 and that number is expected to increase in 2008. Since 9/11, the number of ships and passengers has increased to the point that additional berthing facilities were opened in Red Hook, Brooklyn and Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey.

BEST CRUISE LINES AND SHIPS

New York’s Biggest Star: Queen Mary 2. Ballroom dancing to a live orchestra, high tea perfectly served, scholarly guest lecturers, a dog kennel and the ultimate in creature comforts keep the British maritime heritage alive and well.

Best Ship for Families: Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas. A big kid pleaser due to her rock climbing wall, roller blading, ice-skating and private teen club, Explorer of the Seas is hugely popular with cruisers of all ages.

Biggest Bang For The Buck: Carnival Cruise Lines’ ships boast large cabins, the best entertainment and exceptionally good food.

Best Onboard Dining Program: Princess Cruises’ ships. Princess offers the choice of single open seating dining or traditional two seating dining plus a Lido Restaurant that serves great food 24 hours per day.

Best New York Itineraries: Princess Cruises’ Caribbean, Europe and Canada/New England cruises from Brooklyn.

Best Ships For Laid-back Cruisers: Norwegian Cruise Line’s vessels. NCL’s popular “Freestyle Cruising” program means you may dine when and with whom you please in numerous restaurants. And, formal attire isn’t required.

BEST ITINERARIES OF 2008/09

Caribbean: (Princess) Caribbean Princess sails on nine-day Eastern Caribbean voyages round-trip from Brooklyn to Bermuda, Grand Turk, San Juan and St. Thomas

Bermuda: (Royal Caribbean & NCL) RCI’s Explorer of the Seas sails on six-day Bermuda cruises from Cape Liberty and Norwegian Cruise Line’ Norwegian Dawn makes seven-day Bermuda voyages from Manhattan

Canada/New England: (Princess) Sea Princess’ ten-night cruises between Brooklyn and Quebec City calling in Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, Saint John, Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown

Europe: Six-night transatlantic crossings between New York and Southampton aboard Queen Mary 2

Short Cruise: Aug. 29, 2008 three-night cruise to nowhere aboard Holland America’s brand new Eurodam sailing from Manhattan.

Best Long Cruise: Sea Princess’ 14-day Iceland & Greenland voyage from Southampton, UK to Brooklyn departing Aug. 30, 2008. Ports of call: Bergen, Norway; Shetland Islands, Scotland; Faroe Islands, Denmark; Iceland; Nanortalik, Greenland; St. Johns, Nova Scotia.

category: travel
29 Apr 2008

MIAMI, April 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Carnival Cruise Lines — a relative newcomer in European cruising, entering the market just three years ago — is well represented in the recently published Fodor’s Complete Guide to European Cruises, garnering nine “Best of Cruising” designations, more than double the number of any other cruise line.

Fodor’s Complete Guide to European Cruises is an annual publication providing comprehensive overviews of all major cruise lines operating within the region, along with travel tips, detailed port-of-call information and other helpful content aimed at experienced and first-time cruisers alike.

Carnival’s nine “Best of Cruising” awards include:
— Best Regular Dining Room Cuisine
— Best Specialty Restaurants
— Best Cruise Line For Families
— Best Regular Cabins
— Best Beds
— Best Entertainment At Sea
— Best Sports and Fitness Centers
— Best Shops on Board
— Best Fun & Funky Activities

According to Carnival’s Executive Vice President of Marketing and Guest Experience Ruben Rodriguez, Carnival’s nine awards reflect many of the signature elements of a “Fun Ship” cruise — outstanding dining, spacious and comfortable accommodations, modern spa and children’s facilities, and fun- filled activities for guests of all ages, all of which add up to memorable vacations.

“Considering that Carnival has been sailing in Europe for just three years, it is indeed an honor to be named ‘Best of Cruising’ by Fodor’s in so many different categories,” Rodriguez said. “We pride ourselves on providing our guests with fun, high quality vacations — regardless of where our ‘Fun Ships’ are sailing — and this recognition is a wonderful validation of our efforts,” he added.

“By providing the ‘Best of Cruising’ to readers, Fodor’s identifies the cruise lines and ships that offer the highest quality in features sought by today’s passengers. I’m pleased that Carnival Cruise Lines has consistently met and exceeded our expectations in nine ‘Best of Cruising’ categories,” said Linda Coffman, who, along with veteran travel journalists Ralph Grizzle and Lindsay Bennett, serve as editors of Fodor’s “Best of Cruising” section.

Carnival’s entry into Europe began in 2005 with a series of cruises aboard Carnival Liberty and, over the past three years, the line has tripled its number of voyages within the region.

This year, Carnival will deploy two ships in Europe for the first time, including its newest and largest ship, the 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor, which will launch the line’s first-ever 12-day Northern Europe program. Joining the Carnival Splendor will be the Carnival Freedom, which will operate Carnival’s popular Mediterranean, Greece and Turkey cruises. Carnival will deploy two ships to Europe in 2009, as well.

In addition to European cruises, Carnival operates three- to 18-day voyages to destinations such as the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, New England, the Panama Canal, Bermuda and South America aboard its 22-vessel fleet.

For additional information and reservations on the “Fun Ship” vacation experience, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit www.carnival.com .