Undercover Boss’ Norwegian Cruise Line Episode to Air on Jan 2, 2011

Wouldn't you love to boss around your boss? Giving orders to the top guy might be even more satisfying. Each week that happens when "Undercover Boss" follows a different executive as he or she leaves the comfort of the corner office for an undercover mission to examine the inner workings of their companies. While working alongside their employees, they see the effects that their decisions have on

Adventures by Disney Sets Sail with Disney Cruise Line To Offer Unique Travel Tours in 2011

Award-winning travel companies Adventures by Disney and Disney Cruise Line have once again teamed up to offer immersive vacation opportunities for families aboard select Disney cruise vacations in 2011. The Adventures by Disney experience is available as an add-on booked in advance of the cruise that features privately-guided tour packages in Mediterranean or Alaskan ports of call or a pre-cruise

Dancing With The Stars At Sea

If you love cruises and ballroom dancing and were a Brady Bunch fan, get set for the ultimate experience that combines all three. Now you can sail with Dancing With The Stars contestant Florence Henderson and her pro partner Corky Ballas. This special Inaugural Ballroom Dance Celebration at Sea 2012 not only includes Henderson, of The Brady Bunch fame, but also two of the Brady ‘kids,’ Barry

Carnival Adds Fun To New Year’s Eve

With Christmas behind us, the new year is less than a week away and it’s time to think of resolutions and hopes for the future. Each year people from around the globe write their wishes for the New Year on pieces of official Times Square New Year’s Eve confetti. Whether it’s a personal goal, a dream for the future, or doing something for the very first time, these wishes will be posted on the

Carnival Cruise Lines Kicks Off 2011 With A Simple Question: ‘Hey America, Didja Ever?’

It seems that every traveler these days has a bucket list of things they want to do and places they want to see. To help them achieve their goals, Carnival Cruise Line hopes to inspire people to experience new things and make their lives happier and more satisfying. For instance, “Didja Ever” zip line across a rain forest? Catch air on a wave runner? Jump into an impromptu performance of Thriller

Celebrity Cruises Gives St. Kitts A Vote Of Confidence

You may recall reading St, Kitts: Will Seabourn Sojourn Call There? in a recent story here on Cruise Diva's Blog. My apprehension about a change in Seabourn Sojourn's Nov 30-Dec 10 Yachtsman’s Caribbean itinerary was due to an attack on cruise passengers by armed robbers in mid-November. The robbers, who ambushed a tour bus carrying passengers from Celebrity Mercury, blocked a road and boarded

Merry Christmas

One of our favorite traditions when we lived in Lousiana was to listen to The Night Before Christmas, Cajun-style. Cruise Diva would like to share it with you.Merry Christmas To All!

NCL to Take Europe by Storm in 2012/2013

Norwegian Cruise Line is bringing “homeland cruising” to a homeport near you, provided you live in Europe. The line has announced its largest European deployment ever for the 2012/2013 season with four Freestyle Cruising ships, including two that will remain positioned in Europe year-round. Norwegian Spirit will join Norwegian Jade sailing year-round in Europe beginning in April 2012. This is

Holland America Line To Explore Hawaii & Tahiti in 2011 & 2012

In fall of 2011 and winter of 2012 two Holland America Line ships, ms Westerdam and ms Rotterdam, will sail three 30-day “Circle Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas Islands” explorations, visiting beautiful and picturesque islands throughout French Polynesia and the Aloha state. Best of all, there is no long flight across the Pacific to endure. Westerdam’s voyage sails round trip from San Diego,

Presenting The Exclusive MSC Yacht Club

Perhaps one of the best kept "secrets" afloat was conceived and launched by MSC Cruises, one of the world’s youngest cruise companies and the market leader in the Mediterranean, South Africa, and Brazil. It's the MSC Yacht Club, a unique experience to the cruise industry that seldom gets the recognition it deserves.Purpose built around an uncompromising vision of comfort on two of the company’s

Norwegian Declares ‘Free Upgrades For All’ During Wave Promotion

To celebrate Wave Season a bit earlier than normal (it usually doesn't begin until after the first of the year), Norwegian Cruise Line is launching its “Free Upgrades For All” Sales Event. All new reservations booked through March 27, 2011 on select sailings on any of the line’s 11 Freestyle Cruising ships will receive an up to a four-category upgrade, along with e-coupons in on-board savings of

Cunard Line Encourages Fans to Vote for Its Inaugural Float in The 2011 Tournament of Roses Parade Viewers’ Choice Awards

Cunard Line encourages its global fan base to vote for its inaugural float entry, “A Grand Celebration at Sea,” which is eligible for a Viewers’ Choice Award at the 122nd Rose Parade presented by Honda. For the third year in a row, the Viewers’ Choice Award will allow Rose Parade fans to choose their favorite float by voting online and, for the first time ever, via text message.Viewers will be

The Holidays Light Up During Winter Nights & Lights At Miami Seaquarium

If you're arriving in Miami to spend some time before your cruise, or plan to remain in the area after you disembark your ship between Dec 18 and Dec 30, here's an idea to help you get into the holiday spirit. In a dazzling display of holiday splendor, Miami Seaquarium will transform into a winter wonderland for its annual Winter Nights & Lights Celebration. Complete with nightly snowfall, a Kids

Food Network Challenge Competitors Face Off After Cruise on the Carnival Dream

Get set for some "Dream-y" sugar conconctions with a cruising ports-of-call twist this weekend. Carnival Cruise Lines recently hosted four of the country’s top pastry chefs on a 7-day cruise aboard the Carnival Dream during which they experienced a series of exhilarating and memorable shore excursions that provided inspiration for their extraordinary creations to be featured on the Dec. 19th

Carnival Cruise Lines Cancels Additional Carnival Splendor Voyages as Repairs Continue

Ship Now Scheduled to Re-Enter Service Feb 20, 2011As we suspected, the initial announcement of plans to return Carnival Splendor to service next month were a bit premature.Carnival Cruise Lines has now cancelled additional departures of the damaged ship including the Jan 16, 23, & 30 and Feb 6 & 13, 2011 voyages to allow for additional repair time following an engine room fire aboard the vessel

A Message from Royal Caribbean About Brilliance of the Seas

A picture is worth a thousand words and most vacationers, including cruisers, pack their cameras and camcorders to capture their travel highlights. Passengers aboard Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas probably caught more dramatic images than they anticipated last Sunday as the ship encountered heavy weather while making its way to Alexandria, Egypt.Captain William Wright, Senior Vice

Cruise Wear: Look So Right in a Sarong

Cruise Diva is always on the hunt for new apparel items to add to her cruise wardrobe and has discovered the Boomerang Sarong: a Sarong So Right™ and ideal for cruise travel. These figure flattering sarongs can be worn day or night—at the beach and as a pool cover-up on board, or even for dinner with a coordinating solid color top. Where ever you wear one, you'll feel fashionable, comfortable,

New Cruise Review: Celebrity Century

The review of a first-time cruisers' experience aboard Celebrity Century reveals unmet expectations on a short Western Caribbean itinerary and some misconceptions about cruise travel.Identified only as Robindebbieusa in email to Cruise Diva, the reviewer says, "My purpose for writing this review is to try to help someone else who is in a similar position to me, having travelled extensively and

Cunard Appoints the Line’s First Female Captain

Many passengers are anxious to meet their ship's captain and some eyebrows may be raised when they are greeted aboard Cunard Line's Queen Victoria by Captain Olsen.When Inger Klein Olsen assumed command of Queen Victoria on Wednesday, Dec 1st, she made history by becoming the venerable shipping line's first female captain. Captain Olsen’s first task at the helm of Queen Victoria was to take the

Celebrity Cruises To Introduce More Avant-Garde Features On Celebrity Silhouette & Celebrity Reflection

How do you make the best even better? Celebrity Cruises believes you break the rules, stay ahead of the curve, and provide what vacationers want most.. often before they even say they want it. That belief is vividly reflected in the distinctive, luxurious, vacation-enhancing venues Celebrity will introduce on the fourth and fifth ships in its award-winning Solstice Class fleet, Celebrity

Seabourn Sojourn: At Sea

From the moment we stepped board Seabourn Sojourn, we felt the difference. We weren’t mere passengers—we were guests. We’ve learned the true meaning of pampering as the staff aboard Seabourn Sojourn has spoiled us with constant, yet unobtrusive service. While Mel and I consider ourselves low key and low maintenance, the crewmembers have gone out of their way to satisfy our every whim—even whims

Seabourn Sojourn: At Sea

Food and cruise travel just naturally go hand-in-hand and for us the breadsticks symbolize the excellence of the meals on Seabourn Sojourn. Everyone loves them and every night they are perfect—crispy and flavorful. They’re so good that many guests would like to take the breadstick baker home with them.Seabourn Sojourn has four restaurants. The Restaurant is the main dining room where the

Seabourn Sojourn: “Caviar in the Surf”

As we tendered ashore for Seabourn’s signature “Caviar in the Surf” Beach Barbeque our expectations were high and they were met from the moment we stepped on the dock at Isla Catalina. To say that the officers and staff of Seabourn Sojourn know how to throw a party is an understatement.Whether full sun or shade was your preference, there were lounge chairs available beneath umbrellas (or not) for

Seabourn Sojourn: A Day in St. John

Perhaps my expectations were a bit too high due to St John’s reputation as the idyllic unspoiled US Virgin Island, but I admit to being somewhat under whelmed by our time there. After tendering ashore to Cruz Bay from Seabourn Sojourn we shared an open-air taxi ($6 per person each way) with some fellow passengers to Trunk Bay beach where the admission charge is $4 per person. The facilities are

Seabourn Sojourn: A Day in St. Kitts

Although we’ve visited St Kitts in the past we’ve never really ventured outside Basseterre, the capital and port city. This time we chose “The Best of St. Kitts” shore excursion offered by Seabourn in order to see the island properly. After a drive through town, our first stop was in the middle of a rainforest at the Botanical Gardens of Romney Manor. Not merely beautiful, the site also holds

Seabourn Sojourn: A Day in St. Barts

Since we’ve been to St Barts several times, instead of spending a lot of time ashore today, I plan to take advantage of one of the semi-undiscovered spots to relax aboard Seabourn Sojourn. All the way forward on Deck 6 is a door leading to the bow and a seldom used hot tub. While at anchor today, it’s the perfect perch with the island’s lush green hillside as a backdrop.Otherwise, there’s not a

Seabourn Sojourn: A Day in San Juan

One of the beauties of our Seabourn Sojourn itinerary is that we are in port on days when other cruise ships aren’t. We’re sharing the dock in San Juan with only one other ship, Regent Seven Seas Voyager, and there isn’t a mega-ship in sight. With beautiful weather and Old San Juan totally uncrowded, we took the opportunity to visit to both forts, San Cristobal and El Morro, and do a bit of

Seabourn Sojourn: At Sea

Nothing defines cruise travel like a day at sea and we have two of them to start our sojourn through the Caribbean as well as two to end it, with daily port calls in between. Although Seabourn Sojourn sailed “full,” with only one empty suite (someone missed the embarkation in Port Everglades), it’s never a problem finding a spot to relax, either by the pool or in the lounges. We arrived fairly

Where’s Cruise Diva? Aboard Seabourn Sojourn

“This Is My Yacht”—that’s what the documents say for the Yachtsman’s Caribbean cruise on Seabourn Sojourn and I’m setting out to discover if that’s true. So far, so good. Embarkation in Port Everglades was a snap and we settled into our verandah suite after a short wait in the Grand Salon where we enjoyed snacks and beverages.When the luggage arrived, it became apparent how generous the storage

The King’s 75th Birthday Celebrated on Carnival Fascination with Fourth Annual Elvis Cruise

Once again Carnival partnered with Elvis Presley Enterprises and Sixthman to produce the Elvis Cruise, this year celebrating The King’s 75th birthday. The 4-day voyage set sail earlier this month on the Carnival Fascination from Jacksonville, Florida.Hosted by Elvis’ longtime friend Jerry Schilling, the cruise attracted 1,800 Elvis fans who enjoyed entertainment by a number of musical artists,

The Royal Wedding Afloat

It's been nearly three decades since July 29, 1981, when a worldwide audience of over 750 million television viewers watched as Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana Spencer were married in a "Fairytale Wedding." However, seeing the nuptials live while at sea simply wasn't an option. Most cruise ship staterooms didn't have a television back then and, if they did, the programs aired were mostly old

Cruise Review: An "Elite" Cruise Aboard Crown Princess

Avid cruisers and frequent review contributors Vincent & Mary Finelli share their fifteenth cruise on Princess and it was another pleasant one. They are now Elite members of the Captain's Circle and look forward to more cruises on Princess ships for the enhanced benefits, such as complimentary Mini Bar set up, free laundry and professional cleaning services, deluxe canape selections, and, most of

Surprise Godmother for Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas

Royal Caribbean has once again made maritime history. At the official naming ceremony for the world's largest cruise ship, Allure of the Seas, guests were enchanted when her larger-than-life godmother was unveiled—Princess Fiona.If you don't know who Princess Fiona is, don't worry because we didn't either. However, her unique choice is a first—the first time that a 3-D animated character is the

Allure of the Seas Naming Ceremony: Live Video Web Stream

Although you can't be there in person unless you purchased a cabin for the one-night inaugural celebration charity fundraiser, you can still join Royal Caribbean and more than 3,500 guests today via live video web streaming of the naming ceremony of Allure of the Seas. The event will be held prior to the ship’s departure from her Port Everglades homeport.Allure of the Seas’ surprise godmother

Cruise Travel: A Holiday Gift For Cruise Ship Fans

As the year draws to a close and we're all shopping for unique holiday gifts for special people, here's one that cruise ship and ocean liner aficionados alike will treasure. The 2011 desk calendar from P.K. Productions features twelve images of passenger ships of all shapes and size, captured by cruise journalist Peter Knego during a busy year of travel in 2010.The vessels range from the former "

Paul Gauguin Cruises: Shop on Black Friday to Prepare for Tahiti Cruising

Paul Gauguin Cruises, operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, is offering a special Black Friday sale to kick off the holiday season.During their two-week sale you'll find Super Savings off cruise pricing in all categories on select sailings, plus free airfare from Los Angeles. And, as Black Friday comes to Tahiti, Paul Gauguin

Happy Thanksgiving From Jamaica

No, Cruise Diva isn't in Jamaica, but I'm not the only one in the family who travels on business. In this case, it's my husband Mel who's currently in Jamaica and arriving home in time for dinner on Thanksgiving Day.You may recall that in an October 20th blog story (Jamaica Me Crazy), I mentioned that my husband had recently been in Jamaica. I asked him to swing past the Falmouth Port area, where

Cruise Food: Thanksgiving Dishes

First, from Carnival Cruise Lines, we have a soup for the season that would be delicious on any cold night, but is particularly appropriate for Thanksgiving. Of course we mean their popular roasted pumpkin bisque with turkey and walnut quenelles. It's bound to warm you up on a blustery evening. Come to think of it, this recipe would an ideal day-after-Thanksgiving treat (and a way to use leftover

Sixthman on Selling Out, Ships and Dip, and More

Sixthman, the affinity travel company that develops musically-driven lifestyle events with an emphasis on themed cruises has updated their scheduled events by announcing that Cayamo is SOLD OUT! They are running a waiting list, so get on it while it's still short - Cayamo.com.In Addition, Kid Rock's Chillin' the Most Cruise, Lynyrd Skynyrd's Simple Man Cruise, and Sixthman's 311 Cruise are also

Your Cruise Vacation: Shopping

Nearly everyone who goes on vacation, and especially a cruise vacation, does a bit of shopping. It's the law. My motto is that there's no such thing as a "bad" souvenir if it brings you pleasure and reminds you of an enjoyable trip. Pictured here is one of my favorite and funky buys—turf for your tootsies from The Lawn Club shop aboard Celebrity Solstice.Cruise Diva offers suggestions on how to

Cruise Travel: Oprah's "Favorite"

Viewers know that Oprah Winfrey is the queen of swag and she enjoys sharing her "favorite things" with her live studio audience in an annual orgy of giving. This year was no different with the items ranging from a Season 25 T-Shirt from the O Store and Nike "Free Run+" shoes to a Nikon D3100 Digital SLR camera.Recipients of the final prize of the day can put those items to good use as they pack

Cunard Line Honors Military Personnel with On Board Credit Program

In recognition of recent Veterans & Remembrance Day Holidays and to honor those who have served and continue to serve in the military, Cunard Line is promoting its military on board credit program for active and retired military personnel. The credit, which ranges from $50 to $250 per stateroom depending on the length of the voyage, is available to members of the United States and Canadian armed

St, Kitts: Will Seabourn Sojourn Call There?

The last time I was on a cruise ship that called at St. Kitts it rained. It was such a deluge that the ship left early and repositioned to nearby Nevis where the weather was a bit drier. Since then I've been back to Nevis, but not St. Kitts and I must admit that I have been looking forward to visiting there next month.Unfortunately, an attack on cruise passengers by armed robbers last weekend may

And the Winning Name is “Power Drencher”

Our congratulations go out to Judy Yee of Las Vegas, Nevada, the winner of Carnival’s “Name the Bucket” contest!Judy’s entry of “Power Drencher” received more votes than any other, meaning that her creative moniker will now be displayed on the massive 300-gallon water bucket that will take center stage in the sprawling WaterWorks aqua park on the new Carnival Magic, set to debut May 1, 2011.The “

Carnival Splendor To Be Out Of Service For Repairs Until January 16, 2011

Carnival Cruise Lines has cancelled voyages of the Carnival Splendor through the departure of January 9, 2011, to allow time for repairs following an engine room fire last week. The ship is scheduled to re-enter service on January 16, 2011.Guests who were scheduled to sail on these voyages will receive a full refund of their cruise fare and air transportation costs, along with a 25 percent

Celebrity Cruises to Expand “Solsticizing 2.0” on Celebrity Infinity

Celebrity Cruises coined the word “Solsticized” earlier this year, and brought its meaning to life for guests who set sail on Celebrity Constellation following an ambitious 15-day revitalization in April.During that time in drydock, Celebrity complemented the ship’s already award-winning style and design with some of the most popular venues on the line’s widely-heralded Solstice Class ships,

Cruise Travel: An Updated Paper Luggage Tag Solution

As we reported on CruiseDiva.com some time ago, while most passengers have no complaint about printing e-documents for their cruise, luggage tags printed on paper are a cause for concern. Frequent cruiser George Hall said, "Someone will have to explain to me how these paper tags stay on through the process." Cruise Diva has had occasion to print out and use the paper tags and offered suggestions

Allure of the Seas Receives A Warm Welcome At Port Everglades

Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, arrived at her homeport of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Thursday, Nov 11th, which is Veterans Day here in the U.S. Eagerly awaiting the ship's arrival amidst thousands of U.S. flags were hundreds of onlookers, including Royal Caribbean executives and employees, community organizations and residents, as well

Cunard Line Brings "A Grand Celebration at Sea" to the Tournament of Roses Parade

Following the revelry of Queen Elizabeth’s Royal Naming Ceremony last month, Cunard Line continues A Grand Celebration by announcing its inaugural participation in the 122nd Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade® presented by Honda, the globally televised event considered “America’s New Year’s Parade.” Cunard has revealed a rendering of its float, themed “A Grand Celebration at Sea," created by

Princess Cruises Honors Veterans With Military Onboard Credit Program

In recognition of Veterans Day, Princess Cruises is promoting the line’s military onboard credit program for active and retired military personnel. The credit, which ranges from $50 to $250 per stateroom depending on the length of the cruise, is available to members of the United States and Canadian armed forces with appropriate service identification.“As I discovered when I recently wrote about

Carnival Splendor: San Diego Arrival

November 11, 2010 (11:45 am EST)The cruise ship Carnival Splendor, which lost power after experiencing an engine room fire, arrived in San Diego at approximately 8.30am local time.Carnival has made arrangements for all guests to either travel home today or overnight in area hotels and has a large team of employees in San Diego to assist with these arrangements.Guests will be receiving a full

The Yachts of Seabourn: Better Bookings, Higher Fares

If you yearn to get away from it all on a Seabourn mega-yacht, you might want to make your plans sooner rather than later. As they have just announced, award-winning, small-ship cruise specialist The Yachts of Seabourn took more bookings in October, 2010 than in any other month in the company’s history. Net bookings exceeded the same month last year by a whopping 166 percent.Seabourn President

Update Carnival Splendor

Miami, FL, November 10, 2010 (12 noon EST)The cruise ship Carnival Splendor, which lost power after experiencing an engine room fire, is currently being towed via tug boats to San Diego. Based on favorable sea conditions, the ship is expected to arrive around midday on Thursday.As the ship gets closer to coastal areas, guests are now beginning to receive intermittent cellular service.

Carnival Splendor Update

Carnival Cruise Lines Statement: Nov 9, 2010 (8:15 pm EST) — At approximately 6 am Monday morning (U.S. Pacific Standard Time), a fire was detected in the aft engine room aboard the cruise ship Carnival Splendor. The fire was extinguished and there were no injuries to guests or crew.The ship has been operating on auxiliary generators and engineers have been unable to restore additional power to

Crystal Adds New Pacific Coast Cruises for Fall 2011

You may recall reading on the Cruise Diva blog back on August 14th that we weren't surprised when Crystal Cruises announced they were cutting back on their future Mexican Riviera sailings. At that time the luxury line announced they were replacing two planned Mexican Riviera cruises with new 7-day springtime getaways departing on April 10 and 17, 2011 to explore the Pacific Coast.Due to popular

Carnival Splendor Fire

At approximately 6 am Monday morning (U.S. Pacific Standard Time), a fire was detected in the aft engine room aboard the cruise ship Carnival Splendor. The fire was extinguished and there were no injuries to guests or crew.The ship has been operating on auxiliary generators and engineers have been unable to restore additional power to the vessel. As a result, the current voyage is being

Speed Counts With Norwegian Cruise Line’s Freestyle Dash Offer

Dash to book by Nov 12 for reduced deposits and up to $250 in on-board credit. Norwegian Cruise Line launches its 3-day Freestyle Dash limited time offer* on Wednesday, Nov 10, 2010 with a special preview day for its Latitudes members (past guests) on Tuesday, Nov 9.Get ready to escape the cold of winter and spend the holidays in the Caribbean on a 7-day getaway from Port Canaveral on Norwegian

Three's A Charm: MSC Divina

If you think writing cruise travel guidebooks is easy, think again. There's a lot of research involved and cruise lines don't always make it easy. Sure, they are very cooperative, but now and then I get thrown a curve when itineraries change, ships are sold, and now, MSC Cruises has named, renamed, and renamed the next ship in the Fantasia-class for the third time.First it was planned that the

Disney Dream: Ride The AquaDuck Coaster

When Disney Dream launches in January 2011, it will feature the world’s first-of-its-kind shipboard water coaster–the AquaDuck, which will sweep guests away on an exhilarating high-speed flume ride featuring twists, turns, drops, uphill acceleration, and river rapids–all while traversing the upper decks of the ship. ABC television's "Good Morning America" got an exclusive first look and shares

Cruising From Charleston

Sailing From Charleston, South Carolina: It's the hottest homeport in the southeast. What's to see and do and how do you get there? Cruise Diva has the answers. Take a look at cruising from the Antebellum Belle, Charleston.After an "Evolutions of Fun" transformation, Carnival Fantasy sails year-round from Charleston on a diverse schedule of itineraries. Cruise Diva takes you on board.

Princess Cruises Introduces New Europe Cruisetours for 2011

A common complaint about cruise travel is that you don’t get to “see enough” of the countries cruise ships visit. Princess Cruises has long recognized that their guests want to explore further afield and offers numerous cruisetours that allow them to do so. And now the line has unveiled two new cruisetour options for passengers on Europe cruises in 2011, providing them the opportunity to explore

Oceania Cruises Unveils ‘Pillars of Distinction’ 2.0

As part of its ongoing Pillars of Distinction initiative–the most significant product investment in the company’s history–Oceania Cruises has announced the second phase of innovative fleet-wide enhancements. These multi-million-dollar updates are in addition to the previously announced physical enhancements being made during the regularly scheduled dry-docks for Regatta, Insignia, and Nautica."As

New Promotion From Carnival Offers Military Personnel Discounts

In honor of Veteran’s Day, Carnival Cruise Lines is offering a promotion throughout November that allows active and retired military personnel to book up to three “Fun Ship” staterooms at discounted rates for themselves and their friends and family members. Reservations must be made between Nov 1-30, 2010, to qualify for this special offer, which is available in conjunction with a variety of 3-

Cruise Line Entertainment: Which Is The Best At Sea?

For years cruise lines have presented production shows described as Broadway-themed or Vegas-style entertainment. Their aspirations have been high, but seldom would they have been mistaken for the real thing. As a rule, cruise ship shows are quite entertaining and the performers range from good to excellent. Don't forget that "American Idol" finalist and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson got

MSC Wishes You “Happy Birthday” With a Free, 7-night Caribbean Cruise

MSC Cruises wants you to celebrate your upcoming birthday with a special gift–a free, 7-night Caribbean cruise. If you celebrate your birthday onboard MSC Poesia between Nov. 14 and Dec. 19, your cruise is on them and your companions pay from only $529 per person plus government fees and taxes (GFTs). Guests celebrating a birthday can choose from select dates and itineraries on bookings made by

Two New Ships Reach Milestones: Allure of the Seas & Disney Magic

Royal Caribbean International's newest ship Allure of the Seas passed under the Storebaelt Bridge (Great Belt Bridge) in Denmark yesterday as she makes her transatlantic journey to her homeport in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The ship, which had to retract its funnels in order to pass beneath the bridge, had only a few feet of clearance as it made its way under the bridge.Later in the day, another

Maiden Voyage Fit For A Queen

Not all new ship Maiden Voyages are created equal and some are a disappointment to passengers who anticipate something special. That wasn't the case as Queen Elizabeth completed her 13-night Maiden Voyage in Southampton, England last Tuesday. As well as enjoying the distinction of being the first to sail on Cunard Line’s new Queen, guests were also treated to several surprises during the

Royal Caribbean Gets The Keys To Allure of the Seas

Yesterday was a big day at STX Europe shipyard in Turku, Finland as Royal Caribbean Intl took delivery of the newest addition to the cruise line's fleet, Allure of the Seas.With Captain Hernan Zini at the helm, Allure of the Seas departs Turku today, starting the 13-day countdown to her U.S. debut into her homeport of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. on Thursday, Nov. 11. Allure of the

Disney Dream’s Spectacles Take Cruise Ship Family Entertainment to New Heights

Talk about elevating cruise ship entertainment to new heights: A little mermaid soars over the stage in a stunning aerial ballet … Pirates rappel from atop the ship’s funnel during a swashbuckling adventure … The evening sky lights up with a dazzling spectacle of sound and color. When the Disney Dream sets sail in January 2011, Disney Cruise Line is more than just raising the bar with

New Cruise Review: Holland America Line's ms Ryndam

This is what's called a two-fer. First, after an earlier Bermuda cruise on Veendam this year, Karen Segboer shares her unique perspective about Holland America Line’s S-class Ships: Antithetical Asymmetricies Aboard the Ryndam on (what was to be) a Western Caribbean cruise from Tampa.For more about that itinerary and what happens when bad weather is in your path, Karen shares her thoughts and

The Art & Soul of a Cunard Liner: Queen Elizabeth

Welcome aboard for an exclusive Cruise Diva profile of Cunard Line's newest regal vessel, the third liner in Cunard Line's 170-year history to bear the name Queen Elizabeth.We hope you enjoy your illustrated "virtual" tour as much as we enjoyed spending time on board in Southampton for the naming events.

Norwegian Cruise Line To Build Two New Next Generation Freestyle Cruising Ships

Following the successful launch of Norwegian Epic, the company’s largest and most innovative ship to date, Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that it has reached an agreement with MEYER WERFT GMBH of Germany to build two new next generation Freestyle Cruising ships for delivery in spring 2013 and spring 2014, respectively. Each of the 143,500 gross ton vessels (pictured here in an artists'

New Cruise Review: Norwegian Epic

This was Vincent & Mary Finelli's seventh cruise on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship, but their 87th cruise overall.There have been a lot of changes in cruising since Vincent's first transatlantic sailing in 1956 on the Greek Line's Olympia, a 22,000 gross tons liner. Vincent says changes have occurred not only in the size of the ships, but in the activities and entertainments they feature. Norwegian

Savannah As A Cruise Port?

After eyeing the success of Charleston, SC as a port of call and homeport, television stations in Georgia, such as WRDW here in Augusta, are reporting the possibility that Savannah could become a cruising homeport as well. Pictured here is Carnival Fantasy docking in Charleston.The city of Savannah awarded a $129,500 contract to the consulting firm BEA Architects of Miami to do a market study

Family Vacations - Getting To Know Your Family Again

By Leah Kennedy

What does your family enjoy doing on vacations? Maybe a cabin in the woods during winter or a white sandy beach during summer? Whatever your family enjoys, a family vacation is a chance to get to know your whole family again and have quality time to spend together.This is an opportunity to really talk with your kids and find out whats going on in their day-to-day lives. Kids

Regent Seven Seas Cruises Redefines The All-Inclusive Concept

Although Regent Seven Seas is already recognized by Condé Nast Traveler readers as the “most inclusive ultra-luxury cruise line” because airfare, all-suite accommodations, gourmet cuisine, open bars, sightseeing excursions, gratuities, and taxes are included in the fare, Regent has just raised the “all-inclusive” bar even higher by offering their guests complimentary overnight accommodations at

Disney Fantasy Maiden Voyage Set; Reservations For Disney Cruise Line 2012 Itineraries Now Open

While we're waiting for Disney Dream to "float out" at the Meyer Werft Shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, later this month, Disney Cruise Line has announced that Disney Fantasy will sail her maiden voyage on April 7, 2012, bringing even more innovation, unique guest experiences, and personalized service for which Disney Cruise Line is known.A sister ship to the Disney Dream, the Disney Fantasy will

A Cruise Review With A Twist! Emerald Princess, A Wedding Love Boat

As Pat Fernandez says, “This will not be the average cruise review, where someone describes food, stateroom, embarkation procedures, ports of call, and the typical how good or bad each moment was. This is my daughter’s wedding at sea.”Join Pat, his daughter Jennifer, her new husband Byron Wyatt, their family, and friends aboard Princess Cruises’ Emerald Princess for a special occasion and share

Jamaica Me Crazy

"Island time" is a pretty well-known concept in the Caribbean where a slower pace prevails than in most of North America. Nowhere is it more pronounced than in Jamaica where it's not uncommon to hear, "no problem, mon" even when problems are clearly apparent.When my husband was in Jamaica on business last month I asked him to swing past the Falmouth Port area, where it had recently been reported

Princess Cruises Increases Alaska Deployment In 2012

Princess Cruises has announced a small step in the “revival” of the Alaska cruise market and it’s a positive move that we’re pleased to see. After two years operating just three ships on its Voyage of the Glaciers route, Princess will be returning a fourth ship to its signature itinerary for the 2012 summer season. The decision by Princess to increase its Alaska capacity was prompted, in part, by

Carnival Magic’s “Name the Dish” Contest: And The Winner Is...

Carnival Cruise Lines has a winner! Following several days of on-line voting, “Il Bacio del Mare” (Kiss of the Sea), submitted by Ted Fazioli of Salem, NH, was chosen the winner of Carnival Magic’s “Name the Dish” contest. The contest invited consumers to come up with a creative moniker for a delectable new menu item in Cucina del Capitano, the family-style Italian restaurant featured on the new

Silversea Dramatically Reduces 'Solo Traveler' Fares on Select 2011 Voyages

Ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises has reduced the single supplement on more than 20 sailings in 2011 to just 10%-25% (above the per-person, double-occupancy fare) for Vista, Veranda, and Midship Veranda suites. Initially launched last summer on select 2010 voyages, the line's specially reduced Solo Traveler fares proved such a popular incentive with independent travelers that the company is

Norwegian Cruise Line Parties In Pink To Promote Breast Cancer Awareness

If you are boarding a Norwegian Cruise Line ship this month, pack something pink. NCL has announced that their popular fleet-wide White Hot Party, the line’s signature dance party, on board its Freestyle Cruising ships turns pink for the remainder of the month of October to help commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month.The White Hot Party is a heavenly theme party held on board Norwegian’s ships

Where the Water Meets the Hull: Carnival Magic Floated Out

With less than seven months until her maiden voyage, the new 130,000-ton Carnival Magic reached a major construction milestone when she was “floated out” earlier this week from her outfitting quay at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.The initial stages of a cruise ship’s construction take place in a dry dock facility. Once exterior outfitting is completed, the dry dock is flooded with

Queen Elizabeth Naming: “Pomp & Circumstance Fit For A Queen”...

As Alastair Greener, Queen Elizabeth's Entertainment Director put it, “Nobody does that like the British.”At a question-and-answer session the day before the Queen Elizabeth naming ceremony, Peter Shanks, CEO and Managing Director of Cunard Line, told those of us in the American media group that his mission was to make the hairs on the back of our necks stand up during the proceedings. He

Princess Cruises’ Ships Are Plugging Away In San Francisco

Island Princess helped inaugurate the Port of San Francisco’s new shore power facility by “plugging in” to electric power from shore last week. The new shore power technology at the Port of San Francisco cruise ship terminal enables Princess Cruises’ ships, and other equipped vessels, to use power from the city’s grid instead of the engines to power the ship’s onboard services—reducing emissions

Queen Elizabeth: The Royal Naming Ceremony

In a royal ceremony with as much pomp, pageantry, and nostalgia to satisfy the most avid Anglophile, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II gave Cunard Line’s new Queen Elizabeth her name and bestowed her blessing upon the liner. The christening began yesterday with performances by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and the Massed Bands of the Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, and Fanfare

Queen Elizabeth: Ready for Her Name

In Southampton on a sunny, crisp autumn English day, the newest Cunard liner awaits naming by Her Majesty The Queen.

On Board Queen Elizabeth: Art & Memorabilia

Art plays a large part in cruise ship décor and on no ship is it more important than on the new Queen Elizabeth. I’ve only been on board for a day, but I’ve already seen that signature art deco style pieces, such as a mural at the Reception Desk by Academy-Award winner, author, and art deco expert Arnold Schwartzman (above), mingle seamlessly with contemporary art commissioned for the ship,

British Airways vs Delta: Seat Wars to London to See The Queen

By the time you read this my British Airways flight will have landed in London's Heathrow Airport and I'll be in Southampton to attend the gala events aboard Cunard Line's Queen Elizabeth, including her royal naming ceremony where she'll be christened by Her Majesty The Queen.In the past my luck with British Airways has been rather spotty, despite having Club World (Business) class tickets. The

Meeting A Queen

Last week, during a handover ceremony on board Queen Elizabeth at the Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard, Cunard Line took delivery of the new 92,400-ton vessel. Aboard the second largest Cunarder ever built and the third new liner for the luxury cruise line in six years, the Italian flag was ceremonially lowered and the Blue Ensign was raised, marking the entry of another magnificent Cunard liner

Princess Cruises to Welcome Film Critic Leonard Maltin Aboard Coral Princess

An executive at a small-ship luxury cruise line once told me that his ships featured movies on deck long before the introduction of big-screen Movies Under The Stars (MUTS) on Princess Cruises ships. That may be so, but there is no denying the cachet of the Times Square-style screen versus one put up temporarily and the popularity of watching a film in the sea-going equivalent of a drive-in

Disney Dream Nears Completion

In just a few weeks—on Saturday, Oct 30, 2010—Disney Dream, to date the biggest cruise ship built by Meyer Werft Shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, will leave the yard's covered building dock (pictured here). The floating-out manoeuvre is supposed to commence around 5 pm and Disney Dream is scheduled to float out of the dock for the first time. In Disney fashion, the event will include a unique

Princess Cruises Launches “50 Essential Experiences: The Travel Bucket List” Blog

Everyone with the urge to travel has their own bucket list of places they want to go and even those of us who travel frequently have places we have yet to see. Cruise Diva has the Norwegian Fjords and North Cape at the top of her list. To celebrate those travel destinations, Princess Cruises has launched a new blog that will reveal the top travel bucket list experiences recommended by the line’s

Celebrity Cruises Serves Up ‘Delicious’ Holiday Sailings & Onboard Credits

We’ve dropped everything to share this onboard credit offer because the booking window is so short—there are only three days to make a qualified reservation. Travelers who select top-rated premium line Celebrity Cruises for their festive holiday vacation are destined for a series of “delicious” experiences and, for a limited time, can also enjoy an attractive onboard credit. Vacationers who book

Europe Travel Alert

The State Department issued an alert yesterday for U.S. citizens regarding the potential for terrorist attacks in Europe. Current information suggests that al-Qa’ida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks. European governments have taken action to guard against a terrorist attack and some have spoken publicly about the heightened threat conditions.Terrorists may elect to

Oceania Cruises’ New Marina Completes Successful Sea Trials

Oceania Cruises’ new 1,250-guest Marina has passed a critical milestone on the way to her January 2011 launch by successfully completing sea trials on Sept. 26. During the sea trials, which included three days of sailing the Mediterranean, technicians and engineers from the Fincantieri shipyard along with Oceania Cruises’ marine and technical teams evaluated the vessel’s speed, maneuverability,

Silversea's Redesigned Website Features Functionality & Content By Fodor's

Silversea Cruises has launched their dramatically redesigned website this week at Silversea.com. With special effects designed to capture the essence of luxury travel, the site opens to a muted-silver seascape that comes alive when colorful animated photography fades in and out as if being revealed by a curtain drawing across a stage. From there, images by award-winning photographer Dana Neibert

Carnival Tests New ‘Steakhouse Entrees’ on Three Ships

Where's the beef?Located on the newest ships in their fleet, Carnival Cruise Lines’ classic American steakhouse restaurants have proven to be extremely popular with guests who crave a really fine steak, as well as those who want to celebrate a special occasion by enjoying a steak (or lobster!) dinner in intimate surroundings.That specialty dining option hasn’t been available to passengers on

NEW! Cruise Review: Emerald Princess

Our avid cruiser and frequent contributor Vincent Finelli shares some good advice along with his encore cruise review of Princess Cruises' Emerald Princess, "Unexpected things can happen on vacation. So go with the flow, rise with the tide, and live."In a departure from their usual in-depth reviews, Vincent focuses on what may occur on board if a passenger is not feeling well. It's unfortunate

Tropical Storm Nicole Diverts Royal Caribbean Ships

The National Hurricane Center's 2 pm EDT update on TS Nicole indicated the storm is moving north-northeast near 10 MPH accompanied by an expected gradual increase in the next 24 hours. Currently the storm is about 80 miles northeast of Havana, Cuba, and 225 miles southwest of Nassau. While tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 345 miles, maximum sustained winds are at 40 miles per hour.

On MSC Cruises It's ‘The More the Merrier’ For Christmas

Because MSC Cruises believes holidays are meant to be shared with families and friends, the cruise line is offering a special “The More the Merrier” rate with significant savings on the Christmas sailing of MSC Poesia in the Caribbean.

The special rate is available on MSC Poesia’s Dec 19th 7-night Western Caribbean sailing from Fort Lauderdale that includes calls at Key West, Florida; Ocho Rios,

Cirque Dreams® & Dinner Aboard Norwegian Epic: Demand Fuels New Menu & Increased Charges

With the launch of Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Cruise Line also introduced a one-of-a-kind theatrical dining experience, which takes place under the unique Spiegel Tent. NCL describes it as “opulent eccentricity alà entertainment extravaganza presented with an array of world class talent, Broadway acrobatics, a touch of whimsy, and tasteful participation.” It is, they say, “a world where

Three New “Legends In Concert” Debut on Norwegian Epic

It's time to shake things up a bit aboard Norwegian Epic. Elvis has left the ship and taken Madonna and Tina Turner with him, although we are assured the latter pair are still alive. With their departure, Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that three new "legends" will take their place as part of the ship's Legends in Concert show. Starting this past weekend, the artists making appearances on

Cruise West Owner, "Heartbroken" For Screwing You Over

Last weekend I happened to read a letter posted on the Avid Cruiser blog from Dick West, owner of the now-defunct Cruise West. In it, West said, "After 64 years our family business has succumbed to the global economy. We are heartbroken that we are going to be disappointing so many wonderful travel partners and guests, many of whom have become part of our extended family over the years. We did

Cunard's New Web Videos Showcase A Grand Celebration at Sea

Whoever first said a picture is worth a thousand words never anticipated You Tube. These days, a video is worth much, much more than words. So it stands to reason that in order to highlight their rich travel legacy and luxury cruise vacation experience, Cunard Line recently chose to launch its web video series with a focus on some of its signature offerings, such as world-class entertainment,

Celebrity Cruises Celebrates Autumnal Equinox by Naming Fifth Solstice Class Ship

In light of the images of sun and shadow conveyed in the names of Celebrity Cruises' stylish Solstice Class ships, the world's top-rated premium brand is marking autumnal equinox by announcing the name of the fifth in its 'Xceptional' series: Celebrity Reflection."Selecting the name of the fifth ship in the class led us to reflect back on the significant impact the Solstice Class has had on the

Malt Shop Memories Cruise 2011: Good News/Bad News/Good News

A Special Message from Time LifeTime Life, the folks behind the Malt Shop Memories Cruise, are dedicated to making next year's version the absolute best music vacation experience possible. Unfortunately, the original dates they announced for Malt Shop Memories 2011 were a challenge for many of the artists who want to share the experience with fans and passenger alumni as well.To make sure they

Delicious Competition Indeed; Enter Carnival Magic’s ‘Name the Dish’ Contest

Take a delectable combination of spaghetti, clams, garlic, white wine, olive oil, vermouth, pesto, brioche bread crumbs, cherry tomatoes, and arugula, all topped with shaved Parmesan cheese, and what have you got? That's for you to decide when you “Name the Dish.”Here’s a delicious way for you to have your name associated with an exciting new dining venue aboard the Carnival Magic when it debuts

Veendam "Bermuda" Cruise Re-Routed

As reported today by The Royal Gazette, "Bermuda will be back in business with the airport open, buses running from 6am, and ferries starting at noon."Hurricane Igor has moved on after lashing the island with winds gusting up to 93 miles per hour and leaving behind extensive property damage. Fortunately there were no major injuries or deaths reported; however, there has been "considerable damage

Queen Elizabeth II Sits For An Official Portrait For Queen Elizabeth

Confused by that headline? It’s really quite simple. If you look hard enough, you will usually find an official portrait of every ship’s Godmother displayed on board. Sometimes they are in the main lobby, sometimes they are elsewhere, but you can bet this portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be in a position of honor aboard Cunard Line’s newest liner, Queen Elizabeth.In line with the

A Look Inside Carnival Cruise Lines' Funville Blog

We enjoy reading a good blog as much as we do writing our own and we also like to share our favorites. If you scroll down this page, you'll find our "blogroll" in the column on the right-hand side. Every now and then we find one we've missed and add it. Over the weekend we rediscovered a forgotten gem—Carnival Cruise Lines' Funville Blog.Why is that blog a "gem"? While the entries are somewhat

Hurricand Igor: Surge Blasts Bermuda

This raw video from the Associated Press pretty much says it all.

Are You Ready To Go Back To Titanic?

Willtiger Corporation and Azamara Club Cruises are proud to announce Voyages! Titanic 2012, a once-in-a-lifetime experience aboard Azamara Journey commemorating the historic maiden trans-Atlantic voyage of the RMS Titanic. Departing April 9, 2012, from Boston on a 9-night roundtrip itinerary, the voyage will arrive at the location of the final resting place of Titanic on her 100th anniversary and

Cruise West Ceases Operations

Cruise West today announced that they will cease operations on Saturday, Sept 18th. For the last year, Cruise West has aggressively pursued a number of options with interested parties to maintain operations, including investment, selling assets, and selling the company. In part because of the most recent dip in the markets and the continued lack of economic confidence, these options have not come

Hurricane Update from Norwegian Cruise Line

Update Sept 17, 2010 at 9:30 AMAt Norwegian Cruise Line, the safety and security of our guests and crew is of the utmost importance. Therefore, the company is closely monitoring the paths of Hurricane Igor, Hurricane Julia, and Hurricane Karl.As Hurricane Igor is forecasted to pass over the island of Bermuda this weekend, Norwegian Spirit’s itinerary has changed. The ship will now sail to Orlando

VH1 & Sixthman Team Up Again for “VH1 Best Cruise Ever” Aboard Carnival Inspiration

If you thought last year’s cruise couldn’t be topped–think again. Next year, Carnival Cruise Lines' Carnival Inspiration will serve as the venue for VH1 Best Cruise Ever, hosted by VH1 and Sixthman. The second annual music festival at sea will feature Train, Lifehouse, Colbie Caillat, The Script, and many more, setting sail from Tampa to Cozumel, Mexico on April 28-May 2, 2011.Grammy Award

Hurricane Igor Scrambles Bermuda-Bound Cruise Ships

It's still hurricane season and the National Hurricane Center reports today that the large and powerful Hurricane Igor is currently churning out in the Atlantic on a northwest track.In anticipation, the island nation of Bermuda is preparing for the storm by announcing the closure of its port.Royal Caribbean InternationalUpdate Sept 16, 2010 at 1:00 pmThe Port of Bermuda will be closed beginning

New Cruise Review, Holland America Line Veendam to Bermuda

Whenever we get an email from our old friend George Hall, we know it's going to be good. In this case, he reports on Holland America Line's Veendam to Bermuda.George began cruising in 1984, and he and his wife, the lovely Linda, do a minimum two cruise a year. They often take three and this year will be sailing four times. They stopped counting when they reached 50 cruises and sail any and all

Norwegian Cruise Line Kicks Off The NFL Season At Sea

Are you ready for some football?Norwegian Cruise Line will host America’s favorite pastime as the National Football League (NFL) season kicks off this fall by broadcasting 44 NFL regular season games, including three exciting match ups on Thanksgiving Day. In addition to the Sunday and Thursday night games, eight playoff games, the NFC and the AFC conference championships, the ultimate battle for

Cruise Travel: Deals For Cruisers

We don't often "advertise" (at least not for free), but we received a couple offers this week that readers of Cruise Diva might be able to take advantage of. Since we're into sharing good stuff when we find it and you might be considering a cruise vacation, we want you to get the best deal possible. While NCL's offer is short and offers the best deals to big spenders, Carnival's is restricted to

Hurricane Igor: Itinerary Changes, Oasis of the Seas & Carnival Dream

Due to the powerful category four storm Hurricane Igor and the possibility of rough seas, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Lines have reversed two ports of call on the itineraries of Oasis of the Seas and Carnival Dream, respectively.On their altered schedules, the two ships will now visit St. Maarten on Tueday and St. Thomas on Wednesday. Thus far, the remainder of their itineraries are

Marine Architect Joe Farcus to Concentrate Designs on Costa Ships

The genius behind Carnival Cruise Lines' bold and eclectic ship interiors since 1977 is marine architect Joe Farcus. History, art, and culture all mingle in Farcus' fertile imagination, which results in what he calls "entertainment architecture." Farcus views a cruise ship not as a floating hotel, but as an experience that carries passengers to another time and place. He once told me he creates

Allure of the Seas: What's New On The Menu

As the second ship in Royal Caribbean International's Oasis-class design, we didn't expect Allure of the Seas, debuting in Dec 2010, to break the mold. We aren't disappointed, although we have a vague feeling that we should be. With a few exceptions, dining options on Allure are pretty much clones of those on Oasis of the Seas, which couldn't be called trend-setting by any stretch of the

Olly Smith Brews Up Autumn Cocktail Treats

As October 31st and Halloween draws spookily near, the UK’s television drinks expert and celebrity Olly Smith has created four new cocktails to warm up chilly autumn evenings. While Smith isn’t a household name in American, in addition to his television credits he oversees The Glass House on P&O’s Azura, Britain’s newest and largest cruise ship.Smith says, “On a dark, chilly night there is

'A Taste of Celebration' Cookbook by Holland America Line Master Chef Rudi Sodamin Now Available

While my ability in the kitchen precludes me from joining the ranks of gourmet cooks, I love good food and have a "collection" of cookbooks at home to inspire me. A couple of my favorites are by cruise line chefs and the one I rely on the most is A Taste of Excellence by Holland America Line's Master Chef Rudi Sodamin. So, I was delighted to learn that Chef Rudi has written his third cookbook, A

YouTube Launches New Travel Channel Powered by Norwegian Cruise Line

In a very cool move, Norwegian Cruise Line has partnered with YouTube to power the first-ever YouTube Vacationer, a travel-specific channel within the world’s largest online video site providing vacation inspiration with ideas and advice from well-traveled experts, such as Lonely Planet, National Geographic, and Travel Channel. The YouTube Vacationer, located at YouTube.com/vacationer, is also

Cruise West Continues Restructuring Efforts

Even as they were planning to drop a disappointment bomb on some booked passengers, Cruise West—a global leader in small-ship explorations—wrapped up their late-afternoon announcement today with a note of optimism, "Cruise West believes that small is beautiful. Small-ship explorations allow up-close and personal experiences unmatched by the traditional larger cruise lines. For nearly 64 years,

Cruise West Sold & Suspends Bookings

Is this good news or bad news? We're not sure, but the family operated Seattle-based cruise line noted for its small ship voyages to Alaska is restructuring with new ownership, has suspended new bookings, and temporarily closed its reservations center. That's according to a recorded message I received when calling them this morning. At this time the new owners have not been named and my usual

Florida Lottery Features Royal Caribbean Prize in New 'CRUISE FOR CASH' Game

The Florida Lottery has announced an exciting new Royal Caribbean Intl themed Scratch-Off game: CRUISE FOR CASH. With ticket sales beginning yesterday, the $5 game offers Lottery players the chance to win up to $200,000 instantly. Plus, a second chance promotion on the Lottery's Web site offers players the chance to win a 7-night Caribbean cruise vacation for two aboard one of Royal Caribbean's

A Museum For Future Cruisers & Mariners

In a nod to maritime tradition, Miami Children’s Museum and Carnival Cruise Lines recently uncorked a confetti-filled bottle to launch a redesigned cruise ship-shaped exhibit where kids can sail on a sea of discovery and learn the secrets behind one of South Florida’s leading industries.The two-level 1,850-square foot exhibit–the country’s only cruise-themed children’s museum attraction–has been

Princess Cruises Reveals 2011-12 Panama Canal Season

Since its debut nearly a century ago, the Panama Canal has been considered one of the world’s most important engineering marvels. This 51-mile passageway between oceans can save a ship more than 7,000 transit miles around South America, and never ceases to amaze cruise passengers. Princess Cruises’ ships have long offered a front-row view of the Panama Canal, and in 2011-12 the line will offer 38

30 Amazing Days Aboard Silver Shadow: A Circle Australia Adventure

The Outback, Great Barrier Reef, koala bears, emus, wombats, wallabies—the places and words conjure up images in my mind of adventure, romance, and the exotic. And "Crocodile Dundee," of course.While they might not meet the famous croc-hunting star of the film (he lives in the U.S. these day) those places and sights Down Under are all on the menu for guests sailing aboard Silversea's first-ever

Americans "Lose" an Average of 459 Million Vacation Days Each Year

Over-worked, over-tired, and stressed-out American workers have one more thing to worry about this coming Labor Day—how many vacation days they could potentially be losing this year. And if the President of the United States, who famously has enjoyed numerous vacations this year, can find time to get away so often, then shouldn't everyone?The fact that people are not using all of their vacation

Cruise Travel: Hurricane Earl & Tropical Storm Fiona Advisory

Several cruise lines have offered the following updates.Carnival Cruise LinesWe are closely monitoring Hurricane Earl and Tropical Storm Fiona in the Atlantic. Rest assured, all of our ships will continue to operate at a safe distance from the storms.All departures for the sailings of September 1, 2010 – September 6, 2010 are scheduled to operate as normal.Holland America LineAt Holland America

Carnival to Redeploy Two Ships

With the announcement that two of their Fantasy-class ships will swap year-round homeport deployments for fall 2011, the big news here is that Carnival Cruise Lines will offer a 14-day Panama Canal voyage on each that will provide highly attractive longer length “Fun Ship” cruise options, as well as the unforgettable experience of transiting the Panama Canal.The homeport exchange will see the

Cruise Travel: Hurricane Earl Advisory & Itinerary Alterations

As Hurricane Earl makes its way north in the Atlantic, cruise lines are preparing by altering itineraries to insure the safety of their ships and the passengers and crewmembers on board. These are the most recent updates we've gathered.Holland America LineAt Holland America Line the safety and comfort of our guests and crew is our top priority. As a result of the projected path and strengthening

Her Majesty the Queen to Name Queen Elizabeth

Cunard Line is pleased to announce that Her Majesty The Queen will name the company’s new Queen Elizabeth, the third Cunard ship to bear the name, at a ceremony to take place in Southampton, England on Monday, Oct 11, 2010. Queen Elizabeth will set sail on her Maiden Voyage the following day. The naming will be a milestone in British maritime history and will be a major event of worldwide

Jillian Michaels Ultimate Wellness Cruise Features New Trainers, Comedians, Music & More Entertainment

Jillian Michaels wants her fans to have fun on their ultimate wellness vacation and assures us that the Jillian Michaels Ultimate Wellness Cruise, sailing Oct 21-25 on Norwegian Star, will not be "all work, no play." As Jillian says in the video message below, it is both a family cruise and a cruise for single travelers: there is something for everyone and anyone. The cruise will feature friendly

Cruise Travel: Effective Complaining

Sadly, there’s no such thing as a perfect vacation and things can go just as wrong at sea as they do on land. Minor quibbles can be brought to the attention of the crewmembers you come in contact with on a regular basis. However, for the really big problems, you should work your way up the managerial ladder to the top until you are satisfied.The most important thing to remember is that you should

Hurricane Earl Prompts Itinerary Adjustments

After the quiet opening months of the 2010 hurricane season, things are beginning to heat up with Hurricane Earl, the fifth named Atlantic storm of the year, moving in on islands in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean. Proactively, Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line have altered some ships' itineraries to avoid the storm.Cruise Ship Itinerary Alterations, Updated Noon

Cruising From New Orleans

Many people know that the Cruise Diva team is based in the South, but aren't aware of our Louisiana history. Throughout the 1980s, our home was in Baton Rouge and we grew to love the city, the state, and, of course New Orleans as well. We watched the televised coverage of Hurricane Katrina five years ago with sadness and growing concern.Less than two years post-Katrina, it felt good to be going

Find a Cruise, or an Embarkation Port on Your iPhone

As a rule, I'm not one to promote products that I don't own or have at least tried out. However, I'm not about to give up my trusty BlackBerry for an iPhone, so this is something I can't share first-hand experience with. The ability to view deck plans on a small screen is probably better left to people with keener eyesight than mine, but I do like the idea of having port directions at hand

Carnival Invites Cruisers To 'Make The Magic Yours'

With only 246 days left before launch, let the magic begin! As Carnival Cruise Lines unveils new details about its newest "Fun Ship," Carnival Magic, fans and fun-seekers can learn more and join in the action, well before the ship sets sail next year. Carnival's new, interactive online home for Carnival Magic at www.carnivalmagic.com showcases the ship's standout features through a full-screen

Carnival Magic: The Countdown Continues

Now that they're down to 247 days until launch, here's one of the new spaces on Carnival Magic that will have sports junkies jumping for joy. It's SportsSquare. Taking Carnival's popular outdoor recreation areas to an entirely new level, SportsSquare will feature the cruise industry's first ropes course where thrill-seeking guests can traverse across nets suspended above Spa Deck 12 and offering

Carnival Magic: The Countdown Begins

They're counting down the days (only 248 more) at Carnival Cruise Lines' Miami headquarters. That's when their newest "Fun Ship," the 130,000-ton Carnival Magic, sets sail.While we wait, Carnival is giving us a peek through the porthole at some of the ship's unique spaces and fun features. From Carnival's first-ever pub, featuring its own private label beer, to an authentic trattoria that brings

Featured Cruise Review: Celebrity Solstice

Last January our frequent contributors Mary and Vincent Finelli cruised on Celebrity Solstice to the Eastern Caribbean and enjoyed a memorable experience. So memorable, in fact, that they booked Celebrity Solstice again in order to give the new Aqua Class a try.Cruise Diva is happy to share their Western Caribbean Aqua Class cruise aboard Celebrity Solstice.

Retail Therapy: Cunard Line's Queen Elizabeth

Ever since Queen Mary entered service in 1936, Cunard’s Queens have been famous for offering the best on board shopping featuring some of the finest luxury brands and gifts from around the world. The new Queen Elizabeth, which enters service in October 2010, will be no exception. Queen Elizabeth’s Royal Arcade will feature iconic products from Fortnum & Mason. Since 1707, Fortnum & Mason has been

Plan Your Cruise Vacation With Carnival Cruise Lines On Facebook

Only a few days after announcing that a little Fun Ship birdie is answering cruiser questions on Twitter, Carnival Cruise Lines has announced the launch of a new social commerce Facebook application that allows users to easily view, compare, select, and share Carnival cruises with their Facebook friends. The application, the first of its kind in the cruise industry, allows users to engage their

Malt Shop Memories Cruise, Class of 2011

Break out your bobby socks and poodle skirts and get ready to join the Class of 2011. Sixthman and Time Life proudly announce that the second annual Malt Shop Memories Cruise will set sail from Port Canaveral, Florida, to Nassau, Bahamas, aboard the Carnival Sensation. The cruise leaves on Sunday, May 8, 2011, and returns on Thursday, May 12. Performers include Chubby Checker, Little Anthony &

Does My Cruise Vacation HAVE To End?

Other than hearing “are we there yet?” from little ones in the back seat during a family road trip, the saddest vacation quote I can think of is “it’s time to disembark the vessel.”Royal Caribbean International has felt our pain and passengers on European sailings who wish to remain on board longer on departure day may now sign up in advance of the cruise for their Late Departure Program. Sign up

Tweet Carnival With Your Questions

When you have a question or concern about your Carnival cruise, who you gonna call? Provided that you can ask it in 140 characters or less, now you can tweet Carnival Cruise Lines for an answer.Carnival has expanded its guest service options with a new Twitter profile that is specifically assigned to cruise-related questions or pre- or post-cruise comments from guests sailing aboard the “Fun

Where The Cruises With Character Are

What's that!?! You think you saw a mouse on your ship? Definitely yes, if you are sailing on Disney Cruise Line ships!And, as our special contributor Georgina Cruz points out, you'll find some of your favorite movie and television cartoon characters and mascots at sea on other cruise lines as well.Follow along as Georgina introduces you to Cruises With Character.

Halfway Through Hurricane Season 2010

Hurricane Season officially started on June 1st and lasts until November 30th, so we're almost halfway through it for 2010. Thus far, it's been pretty quiet out there in the Caribbean, but savvy cruisers know... storms happen. They're a fact of life. And, quite frankly, Mother Nature isn't interested in whether or not she spoils your cruise vacation. She does what she wants and when she wants to

The Perfect Family All Inclusive Vacation

By Adam Hermann

Is your family the type who loves to go on vacation and try new places and things together? Is your family really tight and values being together a lot? Do you want to make the most out of a vacation or family trip? If your answer is yes to all of these questions and you are looking for a family all inclusive vacation then you are certainly at the right page. One of the best

Another Cruise Line Says Adios to Mexican Riviera

Other cruse lines have steadily trimmed back on their sailings to the Mexican Riviera so it came as no surprise that Crystal Cruises is doing so as well. The luxury line has announced two new 7-day getaways exploring the Pacific Coast that depart on April 10 and 17, 2011. Sailing between Los Angeles and Vancouver aboard Crystal Symphony, the northbound and southbound "Pacific Escape" and "Coastal

Contemporary Art & Ultra-Contemporary Technology Converge On Celebrity Cruises

The artwork cruise lines display on their vessels has always been truly extraordinary and some of the finest modern art at sea is found on Celebrity Cruises’ ships. While other cruise lines have offered art tours, usually with audio loaded on an iPod®, Celebrity is playing off the series of hip, high-tech “firsts” it has introduced in recent months by debuting the industry’s first self-guided art

New FOX TV Shows Premiering Aboard Princess Cruises Ships

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Char Dham - Panchprayag - Panchkedar Yatra

Char Dham Yatra

BADARINATH: Abode of Lord Vishnu: Badarinath Dham is considered as one of the most sacred centers of pilgrimage situated in the lofty Himalayan heights in the Garhwal hill tracks (Uttarakhand) at the height of 10,248 feet above sea level. The route to Badarinath is one of the most fascinating one due to the lofty hilly terrain, curves and cliffs amidst the most scenically beautiful place on the earth.

Throughout the route to Badarinath there are numerous pilgrimage sites at Deo Prayag, Rudraprayag, Karana Prayag, Nanda Prayag, and Vishnuprayag; as well as Pandukeswar where king Pandu observed Tapasya with his queen Madri and where his sons Pandavas stayed during their pilgrimage to heaven, and the site where Bhima and Hanuman (sons of Vayu) met.

At Badarinath Lord MahaVishnu is believed to have done his penance. Seeing the Lord doing his penance in the open, Goddess Mahalaxmi is believed to have assumed the form of Badari tree to provide him shelter to face the onslaught of the adverse weather conditions, therefore the name Badari Narayan. It is believed that Lord Vishnu revealed to Narad rishi that Nar & Naryans forms were his own. It is also believed that Narad rishi, who also did his penance here, is even now worshipping the supreme God in the form of Nar and Narayan with Ashtakshara mantras.

The image of Badarinarayan here is fashioned out of Saligramam. Badarinarayan is seen under the Badari tree, flanked by Kuber and Garuda, Narad, Narayan and Nar. Mahalakshmi has a sanctum outside in the parikrma. There is also a shrine to Adi Sankara at Badarinath. For more information on Badarinath, please click here.

KEDARNATH: The Celestial Jyotirlingam: Lord Shiva manifested in the form of Jyotirlingam or the cosmic light. Kedarnath is highest among the 12 Jyotirlingas. This ancient and magnificent temple is located in the Rudra Himalaya range. This temple, over a thousand years old is built of massive stone slabs over a large rectangular platform. Ascending through the large gray steps leading to the holy sanctums we find inscriptions in Pali on the steps. The present temple was built by Adi Shankaracharya.The inner walls of the temple sanctum are adorned with figures of various deities and scenes from mythology. The origin of the revered temple can be found in the great epic - Mahabharata. According to legends, the Pandavas sought the blessings of lord Shiva to atone their sin after the battle of Mahabharata. Lord Shiva eluded them repeatedly and while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull. On being followed, he dived into ground leaving behind his hump on the surface. Outside the temple door a large statue of the Nandi Bull stands as guard. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form. The temple, believed to be very ancient, has been continually renovated over the centuries. It is situated at an altitude of 3,581 mt. It is a 14 km trek from Gaurikund.

At the approach of winters in the month of November, the holy statue of Lord Shiva, is carried down from Kedarnath to Ukhimath, and is reinstated at Kedarnath, in the first week of May. It is at this time, that the doors of the temple are thrown open to pilgrims, who flock from all parts of India, for a holy pilgrimage. The shrine closes on the first day of Kartik (Oct-Nov) and reopens in Vaishakh (Apr-May) every year. During its closure the shrine is submerged in snow and worship is performed at Ukhimath. For more information on Kedarnath, please click here.

GANGOTRI: The Eternal Gift of Baghirath's Penance: The shrine of Gangotri situated at an altitude of 3042 m above sea level amidst captivating surroundings, along the right bank of Bhagirathi is 100 km from Uttarkashi. The temple was constructed in the early 18th century by a Gorkha Commander Amar Singh Thapa. The existing temple is said to be the one reconstructed by the Jaipur dynasty. Every year hundred thousands of pilgrims throng the sacred shrine between May & October.

Like Yamunotri the shrine of Gangotri opens every year on the auspicious day of Akshaya-Tritiya & closes on the day of Diwali.

Location: Right Bank of River Bhagirathi
Altitude: 3042 M
Dedicated to: Goddess Ganga
Built in: 18th Century

GETTING THERE
Air: Nearest airport is Jolly Grant, 226 kms.
Rail: Nearest railhead is at Rishikesh, 249 kms.
Road: Well connected to Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun and Delhi.

YAMUNOTRI: The Sacred Jewel of the Himalayas: The Shrine of Yamunotri at the source of river Yamuna is the western - most shrine in the Garhwal Himalayas. Atop is a flank of Bandar Poonch peak (3615 m). The actual source, a frozen lake of ice and glacier (Champasar Glacier) located on the Kalind Mountain at the height of 4421 m above sea level is about 1 km further up is not easily accessible. Hence the shrine has been located on the foot of the hill. The Temple of divine mother Yamuna was built by Maharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal. The tiny Yamuna has icy cold water and its absolute innocence & the infantile purity heightens that deep feeling of reverence, which Yamunotri has for the devout. According to the legend ancient sage Asit Muni had his hermitage here. The trek to Yamunotri is truly spectacular, dominated by a panorama of rugged peaks and dense forests.

The Yamunotri Temple opens every year on the auspicious day of the Akshaya - Tritiya ( in April - May ) & closes on the sacred day of Diwali ( Oct. - Nov. ).

Location: Left Bank of River Yamuna
Altitude: 3235 M
Dedicated to: Goddess Yamuna

GETTING THERE
Air: Nearest airport is Jolly Grant, 196 kms.
Rail: Nearest railhead is at Rishikesh, 213 kms.and Dehradun 172 kms.
Road: Dharasu, 107 kms. Tehri, 107 kms. Rishikesh, 213 kms. and Dehradun, 172 kms.


PANCH KEDAR

Lord Shiva eluded the Pandavas repeatedly and on being detected by them assumed the form of a bull. The second Pandavas Bhima tried to pick him up, but Shiva sank into the earth and only the hump came in Bhimas's hand. Seeing their determination the lord was so pleased that he freed the Pandavas from their sin and asked them to worship his hump at Kedarnath which is the heights among the twelve Jyotirlingas. The other parts of Shiva's body, arms, face, nevel and hair locks appeared at Tungnath, Rudranath, Madmaheswar and Kalpeshwar. These four shrines along with Shri Kedarnathji are worshipped as "Panch Kedar". The Panch Kedar are the holy destination for all the Hindus. Five Kedars are:

KEDARNATH: Kedar is also another name for lord Shiva - the protector and the destroyer. There are 200 ancient shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva in Chamoli district itself, the most important is Kedarnath. Shrine of Kedarnath lying at the altitude of 3584 Mts. on the head of river Mandakini is amongst the holiest pilgrimages for the Hindus.

The origin of revered temple can be found in great epic Mahabharat. After the wars, the Pandavas lost their peace of mind after committing the great sin of slaying their Guru and brothers and sought the blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption. Lord Shiva avoided them repeatedly and while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of bull. On being followed, He dived into the ground, leaving behind His hump on the surface. The hump is worshipped in the temple of Kedarnath in the conical Shiva pinda form. The remaining portions of Lord Shiva are worshipped at other places.

TUNGNATH: the arm of Lord Shiva came out at this place as per Kedarnath myth. The Tungnath temple is situated at an altitude of about 3680 m above sea level, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is the highest Shiva Shrine among the Panch Kedar, 3 km uphill from Chopata. The sancity of the region of Tungnath is considered unsurpassed.

The peak of Tungnath is the source of three springs that form the river Akashkamini. Tungnath is reached through a path that wends through alpine meadows & rhododendron thickets. An hour's climb from here leads to Chandrashila with its panoramic views.

GETTING THERE
Air: Nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun 232 kms.
Rail: The nearest railhead, Rishikesh, is 215 kms.
Road: Tungath can be reached on the Kund-Gopeshwar road up to Chopta, 212 kms. from Rishikesh via Chamoli-Gopeshwar-Chopta route. Buses and taxis ply along the route. From Chopta, the Tungnath temple is 3 kms. trekaway.

RUDRANATH: The shrine is 23 km from Gopeshwar at 2286 m. The Mukhor face of Lord Shiva os worshipped as Neelkanth Mahadev here. The temple site provides splendid views of Hathi Parvat, Nanda Devi, Nanda Ghunti, Trishuli and other peaks. Suryakund, Chandrakund, Tarakund, etc. are the holy kunds situated nearby. The scenic beauty and the spiritual piousness of the place make it scenically beautiful as well as enchanting.

Anusuya Devi temple is located on the trek to Rudranath involving an additional trek of 3 km. Another route 13 km from Gopeshwar to Mandal then trek 6 km to reach Anusuya Devi. Devi Anusuya is revered as the Goddedd who blesses her devotees in their difficulties.

GETTING THERE
Air: Nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, 258 km.
Rail: The nearest railhead, Rishikesh is 241 km.
Road: Rudranath is located on Gopeshwar-Kedarnath Road. From Rishikesh, the entry point, Sagar is 219 km. A 22 km trek from Sagar will end at Rudranath. Accommodation available at Dharamshala.

MADMAHESWAR: It is said that the navel of Lord Shiva reappeared at this shrine after disappearing at Kedarnath. Shiva is worshipped Madmaheshwar in the form of a navel shaped lingam. This Shrine is 31 km from Guptkashi at an altitude of 3289 m. The temple can be approached by a trek through the famous Sidha Peeth of Kalimath. Wild, unparalleled scenic beauty and incredible landscapes distinguish the distance from Kalimath to Madmaheshwar. Chaukhamba, Kedarnath and Neelkanth peaks are visible from here. Gaundar, at the conflux of Madmaheshwar Ganga and Markanga Ganga, is the last place that is worth a visit before one reaches this shrine.

GETTING THERE
Air: Nearest airport is Jolly Grant, 244 kms.
Rail: The nearest railhead, Rishikesh, is 227 kms.
Road: To reach Madmaheshwar, the distance of 196 kms. from Rishikesh to Kalimath is motorable. The balance 31 kms. has to be covered on foot.

KALPESWAR: the hair locks (Jata) of Lord Shiva are worshipped in this small rock temple at the height of 2134 m before the matted, tresses of Shiva enshrined in rock in the sanctum and sanctorum. The sanctum is preceded by a natural cave passage. This temple is located in Urgam valley. This shrine is a delight for the tourists with striking views of valley with terraced fields and lush green forests. The temple is reached after a trek of 12 km from Helang which is the motor head on Rishikesh - Badarinath route.

GETTING THERE
Air: Nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun 272 kms
Rail: The nearest railhead, Rishikesh is 255 kms
Road: Kalpeshwar can be reashed up to Helang, 243 kms. on the Rishikesh - Badrinath road by bus and taxis. From Helang, the 12 kms. trek is off the main road.


PANCH PRAYAG

The Prayag means the confluence of two (or more) rivers. And in India there are only six most sacred Prayags. The last Prayag, the great confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna & the mythical Saraswati is at Allahabad. Other the most revered confluences are the Panch (five) prayags of the Garhwal region. In Hindu mythology, rivers are personified as goddesses and even today, Hindus hold them in high veneration. The water of a holy river is supposed to wash away the sins. The confluence of two or more rivers makes them much more sacred. Five Prayags are:

DEO PRAYAG: Deoprayag is situated on the confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers. It is commonly believed to be the birthplace of earthly Ganga. It comprises the oldest route to Badrinath and Gangotri. The famous Raghunath Math (another name for Lord Rama's Temple) is situated here. Important pilgrim spots are Shiva Temple and Raghunath Temple. These temples are roughly 70 Kms from Rishikesh on Rishikesh-Badrinath motor road.

RUDRA PRAYAG: Named after Lord Shiva (Rudra), Rudraprayag is situated at the holy confluence of Alaknanda & Mandakini rivers, at a distance of 140 km from Rishikesh and 70 km from Deoprayag on Rishikesh Badari-Kedar motor road. It is believed that to master the mysteries of music, the sage Narad worshipped Lord Shiva, who appeared in his Rudra incarnation to bless the sage. It was here, also, that Shiva's wife Sati, was reborn after her self immolation because her father humiliated her husband. In her new life, as the daughter of Himalaya, she did penance here to ask the boon of Shiva as a husband once again. The ancient temple of Rudranathji is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Rudraprayag is the point where the two roads branch off to the holy Shrines of Kedarnath (84 km) & Badarinath (159 km).

KARAN PRAYAG: Situated at 12 km from Gauchar and 31 km from Rudraprayag, the icy flow from the Pindari Glacier becomes the Pindari river, and when it meets the Alaknanda at 788 m, the confluence is known as Karnaprayag. The wooded thickets of the hills surrounding Karnaprayag were the meeting ground for Shakuntala & Raja Dushyanta, immortalised in Kalidasa's immortal classic and a favourite ballad ever since. The place derives its name from Karna, the son of the Queen Kunti and Lord Surya (sun). Besides the temple dedicated to Karna, the temple dedicated to Goddess Umadevi at Dimmer village, Narayan & Gopal also stand at the confluence.

NAND PRAYAG: 20 km from Karna Prayag, Nand Prayag at 914 m forms the confluence of the Alaknanda & Mandakini (flowing from a glacier near Nanda Devi Peak) rivers. It is said that confluence is named for the pious Raja Nanda. According to one legend, the king had been promised the boon of Vishnu as a son. Unfortunately, the same boon had been granted to Devki, the sister of the tyrant king, Kansa who imprisoned her. Ultimately, the gods found an ingenuons solution: Vishnu would be born as Krishna to Devki but would be brought up by Raja Nanda's wife, Yashodha.

VISHNU PRAYAG: Formed by the confluence of the impetuous Vishnu Ganga (known after this point, as the Alaknanda) and the Dhauliganga river, Vishnu Prayag, 1372 m, has an ancient temple of Lord Vishnu. This temple stands here next to a pool called Vishnu Kund. It is at a distance of 13 km from Joshimath on Badarinath route. It is said that the sage Narad worshipped Vishnu at this sanctified spot. The Kagbhusandi Lake bewitching with its emerald green depths giving it a still surface, while on the banks, blossoms evoke the colours of nature in all her glory. The lake can also be approached from Vishnuprayag besides from Bhundhar village near Ghangaria.

Shri Kedarnath Dham

Lord Shiva manifested in the form of Jyotirlingam or the cosmic light. Kedarnath is highest among the 12 Jyotirlingas. This ancient and magnificient temple is located in the Rudra Himalaya range. This temple, over a thousand years old is built of massive stone slabs over a large rectangular platform. Ascending through the large gray steps leading to the holy sanctums we find inscriptions in Pali on the steps. The present temple was built by Adi Shankaracharya.The inner walls of the temple sanctum are adorned with figures of various deities and scenes from mythology. The origin of the revered temple can be found in the great epic - Mahabharata. According to legends, the Pandavas sought the blessings of lord Shiva to atone their sin after the battle of Mahabharata. Lord Shiva eluded them repeatedly and while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull. On being followed, he dived into ground leaving behind his hump on the surface. Outside the temple door a large statue of the Nandi Bull stands as guard. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form. The temple, believed to be very ancient, has been continually renovated over the centuries. It is situated at an altitude of 3,581 mt. It is a 14 km trek from Gaurikund.

At the approach of winters in the month of November, the holy statue of Lord Shiva, is carried down from Kedarnath to Ukhimath, and is reinstated at Kedarnath, in the first week of May. It is at this time, that the doors of the temple are thrown open to pilgrims, who flock from all parts of India, for a holy pilgrimage. The shrine closes on the first day of Kartik (Oct-Nov) and reopens in Vaishakh (Apr-May) every year. During its closure the shrine is submerged in snow and worship is performed at Ukhimath.

Location: Kedarnath is amongst the holiest pilgrimages for the devout Hindu. It is set amidst the stunning mountainscape of the Garhwal Himalayas at the head of the Mandakini River. Kedar is another name of lord Shiva, the protector and the destroyer. Shiva is considered the embodiment of all passions - love, hatred, fear, death and mysticism which are expressed through his various forms.

The shrine of Kedarnath is very scenically placed, and is surrounded by lofty, snow - covered mountains, and during summer grassy meadows covering the valleys. Immediately behind the temple, is the high Keadardome peak, which can be sighted from great distances. The sight of the temple and the peak with its perpetual snows is simply enthralling.

The Mythological Past: There are more than 200 shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva in Chamoli district itself, the most important one is Kedarnath. According to legend, the Pandavas after having won over the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra war, felt guilty of having killed their own Kith and Kin and sought the blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption. He eluded them repeatedly and while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull.

On being followed he dived into the ground, leaving his hump on the surface. The remaining portions of Lord Shiva appeared at four other places and are worshipped there as his manifestations.

The arms appeared at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, the belly at Madmaheshwar and his locks (hair) with head at Kalpeshwar. Kedarnath and the four above mentioned shrines are treated as Panch Kedar.

An imposing sight, standing in the middle of a wide plateau surrounded by lofty snow covered peaks. The present temple, built in 8th century A.D. by Adi Shankaracharya, stands adjacent to the site of an earlier temple built by the Pandavas. The inner walls of the assembly hall are decorated with figures of various deities and scenes from mythology. Outside the temple door a large statue of the Nandi Bull stands as guard.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the exquisitely architectured Kedarnath temple is considered to be more than 1000 years old. Built of extremely large, heavy and evenly cut grey slabs of stones, it evokes wonder as to how these heavy slabs had been handled in the earlier days. The temple has a Garbha Griha for worship and a Mandap, apt for assemblies of pilgrims and visitors. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form.

Best Time to visit:- The ideal time or peak season to go for a Char Dham Yatra is from May to October, except monsoons. This is because; all the four sacred sites are perched in Garhwal Himalayas, which is prone to heavy snowfall. As a result, all the passage leading to the shrines are blocked. Moreover, during the monsoon season, there is undue threat of having landslides, which can further disrupt the journey. For safety reasons, the gates of the temples are also closed for this period of time and the idols are shifted to nearby pilgrim points.

SIGNIFICANCE

The lingam at Kedarnath, unlike its usual form, is pyramidal and is regarded as one of the 12 Jyotirlings.
The pandavas after having won over the kauravas in the epic war of Kurukshetra, felt guilty of having killed their own kith and kin. They sought the blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption but Shiva eluded them repeatedly. He took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull. On being followed he dived into the ground, leaving his hump on the surface. The remaining portions of Lord Shiva appeared at four places and are worshiped there as his manifestations. The arms appeared at Tunganath, the face at Rudranath, the belly at Madmaheshwar and his locks at Kalpeshwar. Kedarnath including these four shrines is treated as Panch Kedar.

Pilgrims traditionally first visit Yamunotri and Gangotri and bring with them the holy waters from the sources of the rivers Yamuna and Ganga and offer abhishekams to Kedareshwara. The traditional pilgrim route is Haridwar - Rishikesh - Deo Prayag - Tehri - Dharasu - Yamunotri - Uttar Kashi - Gangotri - Triyugnarayan - Gaurikund and Kedarnath. Alternatively, the route to Kedarnath from Rishikesh is via Deo Prayag, Srinagar, Rudra Prayag, Agastmuni, Gupt Kashi and Gaurikund. Near Kedarnath is the source of the river Mandakini. Mandakini joins Alakananda at Rudra Prayag.

FESTIVALS

Badarikeshwar Festival
Makar Sankranti (Jan)
Basant Panchmi(Jan-Feb)
Shivaratri (Feb)
Nandasthami (Mar)
Holi (Mar)
Baisakhi (Apr)
Rakshabandhan (Aug)
Mata Murti(Sep)
Lekhpal (Sep)
Shri Krishna Janamashtami (Aug-Sep)
Dussehra (Oct)
Dipawali (Oct-Nov)

FAIRS

Nagnath (Feb)
Nanda Devi Nagnath (Mar)
Shivaratri Gopeshwar (Feb-Mar)
Maithan Maithan (March))
Bishwat Sankranti Kamprayag/Nandprayag (Apr)
Bikhot Agastyamuni (Apr)
Nautha AdiBadari (May)
Kaviltha Kaviltha (Jun)
Navmi Jasoli Haryali (Aug)
Nanda Devi Bedni Bugyal (Sep)
Nanda Devi Lata (Sep-Oct)
Krishna Mela Joshimath (Nov)
Gouchar Mela Gauchar (Nov)
Ansi Mela Anusuya Devi (Dec)
Sardotsava Joshimath (Feb)
Sardotsava Chomoli Gopeshwar (Feb-Mar)

PLACES-TO-SEE

Shankaracharya Samadhi: The Samadhi of Adi Guru Shankaracharya is located just behind the Kedarnath temple. It is said that after establishing four sacred Dhams in India, he went into his samadhi at an early age of 32 years.

Chorabari Tal (Gandhi Sarovar): A small lake from where Yudhishthir, the eldest of the Pandavas, is said to have departed to heaven. It is a 2 km trek from Kedarnath. The floating ice on the crystal clear waters of the lake is a fascinating sight.

Gaurikund: 14 km. The trekking base to Kedarnath and the road head, this village has a temple dedicated to Gauri and also thermal springs of medicinal value.

Vasuki Tal: 6 km. At 4135 mtr. above sea level, this lake is extraordinary, surrounded by high mountains and offering an excellent view of the Chaukhamba peaks.

Sonprayag: The confluence of Son Ganga and Mandakini rivers. Road to Triyuginarayan diverts (14 km) from here.

Triyuginarayan: 25 km. The mythological venue where the wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvati was solemnized. It is a short trek of 5 km from Son Prayag. An eternal flame, which is said to have been the witness to the marriage, burns in front of the temple even today.

Gupt Kashi: Guptaksahi has a great importance quite like that of Kashi. The ancient Vishwanath temple, Ardnareswar temple and Manikarnik Kund, where the two streams of Ganga and Yamuna are believed for their redemption. Lord Shiv was not willing and so eluded the Pandavas repeatedly. He took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull. Being followed by Pandavas, he dived into the ground leaving his hump on the surface. The remaining portions of God reappeared at four other places. The arms appeared at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, the stomach (nabhi) at Madmaheshwar and the locks with the head at Kalepeshwar. They are all worshipped there as manifestations of Lord Shiva.

Ukhimath: 60 km. Winter home of the deity at Kedarnath temple and the seat of the Rawal of Kedarnath. Connected by bus services to Rudraprayag and other major centres.

Agastyamuni: 18 kms form Rudraprayag, at an altitude of 1000 mts and on the bank of river Mandakini, this is the place where Rishi Agastya meditated for years.
A temple by the name of Agasteshwar Mahadev is dedicated to sage Agastya and this temple is also of an archaeological significance, figures of Gods and Goddesses have been carved out on stones. On the occasion of Baisakhi a large fair is held and many devotees come here to worship and pay their homage to God.

For food and accommodation, a Forest Rest House and private hotels are available. Other facilities include market, bank, hospitals and telephone etc.

Chopta: Situated on the Gopeshwar Ukhimath road about 40 km from Gopeshwar at an altitude of about 2500 mtrs above sea level, Chopta is one of the most picturesque spots in the Garhwal region. It provides a breathtaking view of Himalayan ranges surrounding it. Deoria Tal At an altitude of 2,440 mt, is beautiful lake a situated on the Chopta - Ukhimath motor road. In the early morning, the snow-capped peaks are clearly reflected on the lake waters. This lake also provides an excellent venue for angling, as well as birdwatching.

The Kedar Massif: This is an outstanding massif formed by the three major mountains - Kedar dome, Bharatekuntha at 6578 Meters, is connected to Kedarnath to the East, by a long and dangerous avalanche ridden ridge. At 6000 meters it looks stunning and has several glacial flows, one of which is the Mandakini glacier running down its ridges.

Kedarnath and Kedardome, are connected by a deep ridge. Kedar dome at 6831 Meters presents a fair challenge to climbers. Kedarnath is however, a difficult peak to climb. At 6940 Meters it is just beneath the level where the oxygen layer is thin. Anyone interested in a good day trek, could take the well travelled path from behind the temple toward Bharatekuntha. About three kilometers away in the valley formed by the Kedarnath massif, is Chorabhari Tal. This lake has been renamed Gandhi Sarovar after the Mahatma's ashes were immersed in lake.

Kalimath: Situated at 6000 ft. Kalimath is the famous pilgrimage place of Garhwal. This temple belongs to Maa Kali. Dhaval river flows besides the temple.

Deoria Tal: Sari village is the last bus terminus on Chopta - Ukhimath road from where a 2 km trek leads to Deoria Tal. This is a beautiful lake at an attitude of 2,438 mts. gives the spectracular reflection of show capped peaks in the lake water Ideal spot for angling and bird watching.

Tips

This is true for travellers coming to India as most Indians are quite attuned to the travel conditions in the country.
Avoid drinking water at all cost unless it is bottled water from a reputed company.
Food-wise anything that is boiled, cooked or fried is a safer bet than anything cold or raw. So avoid cold salads, raw vegetables, drinks with ice etc.
Carry a mosquito/insect repellent wherever you go to avoid diseases like malaria or simply even the itchy discomfort.
Always carry a kit of the basic emergency medicines you might need for diarrhoea, fever etc. Also, keep on your personal band-aids and an antiseptic ointment.
Use sunscreen all the time to prevent sunburn. Try and wear a hat if you're going to be in the sun.
Initially, at least, avoid excessive alcohol and strenuous activity to stave off heat stroke.
Ensure you are physically and mentally fit to perform the journey as the Yatra involves trekking at an altitude of 1,4000ft. Get yourself medically examined and certified fit for the journey.
At least a month before the Yatra, it is advisable to start preparatory exercises: Even a brisk walk of about 4 to 5 km per day would be beneficial. Breathing exercises like Pranayama would help combat the lack of sufficient oxygen at high altitudes.
Do carry heavy woollens, including thermal body warmers, wind cheaters, raincoats, sleeping bags, blankets, water-proof shoes with sufficient grips, small water proof tents, torch with sufficient batteries and walking sticks.
Keep a slip with your Name, Address and the name of accompanying yatri in your pocket.
Women are advised to avoid sarees and opt for salwar kameez or trousers.
Carry water and dry eatables. Ration and firewood quota is available en route and can be purchased.
All medical facilities during Yatra are free. It is advisable to carry your own personal medical kit and First aid box.
Hire only a registered ponywalla or porter. Don't walk far away from ponies carrying luggage.
Move slowly and steadily, as this is an arduous pilgrimage and maintain discipline.
Don't relax at places where warning signs are fixed. Don't attempt short cuts on the route.
Please carry an oxygen kit.

Other Facilities

Bank: State Bank of India, Kedarnath
Post Offices: Sub-Post Office, Kedarnath, Ph : (01732-86)26208
Hospitals: Government Dispensary, Kedarnath
Telecom: Public telephones for national and international telephone calls are available.