MINIMUM AGE TO SAIL: 4 months
WHY THEY’RE GREAT: Parents of children younger than 5 receive a pager for use during the cruise in case they need to be contacted. Toddlers don’t have to be potty-trained (parents supply diapers and wipes) to participate in Camp Carnival’s free program for 2- to 5-year-olds.
Here, kids can play picture-bingo to win prizes, finger-paint, put on puppet shows and listen to stories. Mascot Fun Ship Freddy (modeled after Carnival’s trademark ship’s funnel), poses for photos and joins dance parties (plush Freddys are for sale in the gift shops).
Children younger than 2 can take a turn with the toys during designated Family Play Times, when accompanied by a parent.
Baby-sitting services for children younger than two are available at Camp Carnival during limited hours (check when you board, rates are $6 for the first child/$4 each additional). Activity books and crayons are available in dining rooms.
MINIMUM AGE TO SAIL: Varies by itinerary: 6 months for some sailings, 1 year for transatlantic and many of the exotic itineraries.
WHY THEY’RE GREAT: On Queen Mary 2 and new ship Queen Victoria, nannies take care of children age 1 and up. Onboard nurseries are stocked with everything from Lamaze toys to Fisher Price Little People and Little Tikes Light and Sound Toys. Diaper changing and naps in the nursery’s full size cribs included (the program is gratis for all ages).
Preschoolers can go on treasure hunts, jump around in a soft play area, and attend a pirate party.
Queen Mary 2 has a 3-4 foot deep Minnows pool for families, plus a 6-12-inch-deep splash pool for smaller sailors. (QV has no children’s pool, but the Play Zone for ages 1-6 features a nursery for infants/toddlers, video games, arts and crafts, a large plasma screen for videos and movies and a secure outdoor area with climbing.)
Be sure to escort your little one to the Children’s Tea, served in King’s Court every evening with balloons, artwork place mats, crayons and kid-friendly treats.
Queen Mary 2 has the largest library at sea with more than 8,000 books including a well-stocked children’s section.
Topics: 'CARNIVAL'
The Florida Attorney General’s Office, responding to more than 150 consumer complaints, is looking into whether the fuel supplement fees that major cruise lines began charging last fall are appropriate and properly disclosed to passengers.
”Our office has received more than 150 complaints about this issue and we are engaged in ongoing discussions about this with the cruise lines,” said Sandi Copes, press secretary for Attorney General Bill McCollum.
Copes said the Attorney General’s Office “is conducting a preliminary review. We’re looking into whether or not it’s appropriate and whether or not they are accurately disclosed at the point of sale.”
Tim Gallagher, a spokesman for Miami-based Carnival Corp., the world’s largest cruise operator, acknowledged that Carnival and other cruise lines are under review. ”We believe our fuel supplement complies with applicable laws and we are cooperating with the review,” he said.
Last Nov. 7, as fuel prices soared to record highs, Carnival Corp., which operates 11 brands, announced it was tacking on a $5-per-person, per-day ”fuel supplement” at Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. Those lines will carry some 8 million passengers this year.
The cruise giant, which capped the charge at $70 per person per voyage, had previously added a fuel charge on European brands.
Other big cruise operators, including Miami-based Royal Caribbean Cruises and Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line, soon followed suit with their own versions of fuel-supplement fees.
Logo from Carnival.
Carnival Cruise Lines has placed its $80 million creative and media advertising account into review, according to the marketer.
Coral Gables, Fla.-based CooperDDB, part of the DDB Worldwide network at Omnicom Group, is the lead agency on the account. CooperDDB will be invited to participate in the review, the marketer said. The agency helped Carnival earlier this month launch a new branding campaign that promotes the value in fun, memorable vacations for couples and families. A DDB spokeswoman referred calls to the client.
The review comes shortly after the company lost its senior VP of sales and marketing, Vicki Freed, to rival cruise line Royal Caribbean International earlier this month. Royal Caribbean late last year concluded a $90 million media and creative review in which a WPP Group team composed of JWT and MindShare emerged the winner.
Miami-based Carnival spent $82 million on U.S. measured media in 2006 to market its flagship Carnival Cruise Lines brand, according to TNS Media Intelligence, and spent $60 million between January and September 2007.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is looking into an outbreak blamed for making 143 people sick Carnival Cruise Lines’ “Holiday.”The ship returned to port this
morning, after a 4-day cruise to Cozumel. According to Matt Albright with the CDC, 121 passengers and 22 crew members on-board the ship got sick with gastro-intestinal illnesses. The symptoms include sudden nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The CDC is analyzing lab specimens to determine what may have caused the illnesses. They have not confirmed whether it is the Norwalk Virus.
Statement from Carnival Cruise Line
During the previous voyage of the cruise ship Holiday, a four-day cruise, which departed from Mobile, Ala., on Jan. 24 and returned to Mobile this morning, a number of incidences of gastrointestinal illness were reported to the ship’s infirmary. The cruise line has been working closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control since the early part of that voyage.”
Photo by texascruiseco.com
If you’ve ever sailed on a Carnival Cruise Lines ship, you know the drill: big ships, exuberant interior designs, activities galore, Broadway-type entertainment, lots of action.
Carnival’s newest ship, the Carnival Freedom, is no exception. On a recent sailing out of Miami, the ship was rocking with passengers having a good time.
The last of the five Conquest-class ships built by Carnival, the 2,974-passenger Freedom is much the same as the previous four — except for its interior design.
That’s the province of Joe Farcus, interior designer for all Carnival ships, who dreams up the imaginative ship décor he calls “fun architecture.” Some people think his twinkling lights and bold designs are a bit much, but there is no doubt that they impart a carefree ambience.
For Freedom, Farcus came up with a decades motif, which he insists isn’t a theme. “It’s an idea to follow through all public rooms,” he says.
So for the International Lounge, he chose Bauhaus minimalist designs of the 1920s with muted rich woods. The Sun King supper club harks back to the 1700s, with crystal chandeliers and a gold statue of Louis XIV. The disco has mirror balls a la 1970s, and the Swingtime Jazz Club reflects 1930s deco. Large wall murals in the Habana Club reproduce 1940s Cuban cigar box tops and the multistory Millennium Atrium is layered with dozens of large headlight-like bulbs that constantly change color, Farcus’ nod to the 21st Century.
Some designs are puzzling. Like what does Nebuchadnezzar and the Ishtar Gate have to do with casino gambling? Why have so many Statue of Liberty heads peering down in the casual pool-deck restaurant?
It’s a strange mix, even outlandish, but it certainly catches your eye.
This week, priceline.com is launching its winter Cruise Blowout Sale. For starters, the sale offers savings of up to 75% off select cruises to the world’s most popular destinations. But that’s not all. From now through February 15, customers who call (800-735-8000) and book a four-night or longer getaway in an oceanview or higher category stateroom on certain cruises will receive a special discount coupon that can be used toward a hotel stay.
In addition, for customers who book their cruises by January 31, Priceline Cruises major cruise line partners are offering many other extras, including:
- Carnival Cruise Lines: Free onboard savings booklet. Free upgrade worth up to $120.
- Celebrity Cruises: Up to $200 in free onboard spending.
- Royal Caribbean International: Up to an extra $200 off. Two free onboard savings booklets.
- Norwegian Cruise Line: Free $300 onboard savings booklet. Up to $100 free onboard spending. 10% off suites and villas.
- Azamara Cruises: Up to $800 free onboard spending.
- Holland America Line: Up to $100 free onboard spending. Free dining upgrade. Free champagne and strawberries. Free upgrade to oceanview. Upgrade to balcony from $100.
- Crystal Cruises: $200 in free onboard spending. Pre-paid gratuities.
- Oceania Cruises: Up to $150 in free onboard spending. Ask about free airfare. Ask about 2-for-1 cruise fares. Pre-paid gratuities.
Image from Priceline.com.
It is easy to fantasize about warmer horizons and personal luxury when traipsing through the puddles of a rainy Murray morning.
It is ideal to daydream about swoon-worthy musicians serenading you in an intimate setting when, in reality, you’re sitting in class listening to your professor drone on and on about smart dead people.
Sixthman, LCC knows this, and that is why 2008 marks the introduction of more music-themed cruises to their line-up. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., Sixthman focuses on creating, marketing and commercially developing musically-driven lifestyle events.
The Rock Boat, Sixthman’s original cruise, set sail for its eighth year last weekend. Departing from Miami, Fla., on the Carnival Imagination, guests were treated to shows by artists like Sister Hazel, Marc Broussard, Toad the Wet Sprocket and Josh Kelley.
Not only do cruise-goers get to see these unique concerts, they are also able to interact with the musicians in what could be considered the ultimate fan experience.
This year’s Rock Boat gave Sixthman the opportunity to present a surprise gift for those who had participated in more than three cruise events. A handful of artists collaborated on the cruise to do an exclusive show for those alumni, unplugged and featuring cover songs performed after only a few rehearsals.
Amanda Nichols, sophomore from Fairdale, Ky., said she would love taking a music-themed cruise if the right artist were booked.
“(If the Red Hot Chili Peppers did a cruise) I think I would beg for money to see them,” Nichols said. “You would be able to meet the artists and spend time with them. It would be a great experience.”
John Mayer, who performed in Murray last February, is hosting his own cruise next month. The musical three-day Caribbean cruise leaves Feb. 1 from Miami. The cruise, known as the Mayercraft Carrier, also features Brandi Carlile, Martin Sexton, Brett Dennen (who performed in Murray with Guster last October) and Colbie Caillat.
“Air travelers from the United States may be souring on Europe, but those arriving by sea are just gearing up for the Continent. “Europe is so hot this year,” said Paul Motter, editor of CruiseMates, an online cruising guide. “The farther the dollar drops, the more popular
seeing Europe by cruise becomes.” Specifically, the most scorching itineraries are in the Mediterranean and Baltic.
One of the biggest reasons to cruise Europe is the industry’s booking arrangement, which allows Americans to pay in dollars and therefore avoid the weak currency exchange rate. Unlike ground travelers who feel the pain every time they pay for a meal, hotel or transportation, cruisers pay one lump sum that covers all of their major expenses.
Of course, as Europe’s popularity grows, so do the cruise prices. Rates can be high, and cabins sell out fast. Experts suggest booking six to nine months out. To save money, Motter recommends sailing in May or September. “As the boat fills, it gets more expensive,” he said. “Check for a ship that is not full and be flexible with dates. In the Baltic and Mediterranean, the same itinerary can be 30 or 40 percent less early or late in the season.”
Fortunately, many lines are addressing the demand by increasing supply. Some lines are deploying ships from the Caribbean to Europe (Carnival will have one vessel each in the Mediterranean and the Baltic, the first time ever) or are docking them in Europe year-round, as Royal Caribbean and Costa are doing.
On this side of the Atlantic, the Caribbean isn’t necessarily out, but travelers are seeking islands with fewer hordes and more variety. ”
Photo by CNN.net
Carnival Cruise Lines, the world’s largest cruise operator, raked in a record number of awards during the past year, capping off the final weeks of 2007 with several additional accolades from a variety of esteemed organizations.
Readers of Ocean & Cruise News — the publication of the World Cruise & Ocean Liner Society, an organization comprised of highly experienced cruise enthusiasts — named Carnival “Best Cruise Value” in the superior four star category for the 14th consecutive year. The line also took home top honors in the “Short Cruise” category.
During the ninth annual Reader’s Choice Awards conducted by Travel Weekly magazine, Carnival was named “Best Domestic Cruise Line,” while the 88,500-ton Carnival Spirit was named “Best Overall Individual Ship.” Also, for the third consecutive year, Carnival’s business development managers were recognized for providing the cruise industry’s “Best Sales and Service.”
Among a wide variety of other accolades received throughout the year, Carnival was honored with nine Readers Choice Awards from Porthole magazine, including “Best Children’s Program,” “Best Entertainment” and “Most Value-for- the-Money.”
Meanwhile, Carnival Senior Cruise Director John Heald was named “Sea Going Employee of the Year” by Seatrade Insider.
Carnival was also honored by readers of TravelAge West magazine during the magazine’s annual WAVE (Western Agents Votes of Excellence) Awards, which named Kirk Neal, Carnival Cruise Lines’ business development director for the Sacramento region, “Favorite Individual Cruise Line Sales Representative,” while Harry’s Supper Club aboard the 110,000-ton Carnival Liberty was named “Best Alternative Dining Facility.”
Cruise One/Cruises Inc. named Carnival “Most Improved Cruise Line” for its efforts to continue to offer its guests an exciting, value-packed vacation experience and particularly for recent initiatives such as the new $250 million “Evolutions of Fun” ship refurbishment program for its Fantasy-class vessels, currently completed on the Carnival Inspiration and Carnival Imagination.
Also, Carnival Cruise Lines’ parent company, Carnival Corporation & plc, was honored at the recent World Travel Awards with the “Leading Cruise Brand” designation for 2007, as voted by travel agents in more than 190 countries around the world.
“Carnival strives to exceed guests’ expectations in all areas of the cruising experience — from our relationship with the travel agent community to our onboard services and programs — and receiving these various recognitions is truly gratifying,” said Vicki Freed, Carnival senior vice president of sales and guest services.
Logo from Carnival.
“Themed cruises have been all the rage in recent years, with major lines offering voyages focused on everything from jazz to financial planning. But can you really fill an entire ship
with Betty Boop fans?
Elation Carnival seems to think so. The line has partnered with Jason Coleman, Inc., a producer of celebrity-hosted cruises, to launch the Betty Boop Fan Cruise — billed as the first authentic, fully licensed specialty cruise devoted to the Queen of Cartoons.
The five-day voyage aboard the 2,052-passenger Carnival Elation departs San Diego on Oct. 9, 2008, with stops in Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada, Mexico. Expect an all-Betty, all-the-time affair, with Betty Boop screenings, themed parties and lectures on Boop collectibles.”
Photo by sitemaker.umich.edu
