Holland America Line News: Spring 2011 Mazatlán, Mexico Port Calls Cancelled

StatementAt Holland America Line, the safety of our guests and crew is our top priority. As such, for the remainder of the 2011 Spring cruise season we are replacing Mazatlán on our published itineraries as follows: ms Oosterdam 7-day cruises departing March 12th, 19th, 26th and April 9th and 16th will now feature two days in Puerto Vallarta with an overnight on day three. The April 2nd departure

Princess Cruises: News About Upcoming Calls to Japan

StatementAs the current situation in Japan is evolving daily, Princess Cruises' Security Department remains in close contact with the United States Department of State and continues to monitor the situation. The safety and security of our passengers and crew is our priority. Princess ships are currently scheduled to call to ports in Japan beginning on March 28, 2011.We have not yet determined if

Princess Cruises: News About Upcoming Calls to Mazatlan, Mexico

StatementDue to continuing security concerns in Mazatlan, Mexico that include incidents in the city's tourist areas, Princess Cruises has removed Mazatlan calls from all Mexico itineraries through the remainder of the spring cruise season. Itineraries for the six remaining sailings have been modified to include an extra day in Cabo San Lucas. Affected sailings are Sapphire Princess departures on

Cruise Lines Issue Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Statements

These are the only cruise line statements we have at present. It is our understanding that no cruise ships were impacted by the earthquake or tsunami. Please join us in our thoughts and prayers for the people of Japan.Princess CruisesOur thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan especially those directly affected by today's devastating earthquake. We currently have no ships in Japan, nor

Princess Cruises Celebrates Gavin MacLeod’s 80th Birthday

Everyone’s favorite “Love Boat” captain, Gavin MacLeod, was feted by Princess Cruises with a special 80th birthday party aboard Golden Princess yesterday in Los Angeles. Crew members, along with his friends and family, sang “Happy Birthday” and presented him with a massive cake—a 5-foot-long, 3D replica of the original “Love Boat,” Pacific Princess.MacLeod is perhaps best known for his role as “

Celebrity Cruises to Introduce Solstice-Class Style “Down Under”

Another thing of beauty will share Sydney Harbour with the iconic Sydney Opera House when premium cruise brand Celebrity Cruises sends its award-winning Celebrity Solstice “Down Under” for the winter of 2012-13.“Celebrity Solstice has satisfied guests around the world since we introduced her in 2008, and the obvious next step is to send her to Australia,” said Dan Hanrahan, President and CEO,

New Premium Options Expand Celebrity Cruises’ Culinary Offerings

Top shelf dining experiences built Celebrity Cruises reputation as a culinary leader in the cruise vacation industry and the premium line has reinforced its position once again with its latest introductions: an authentic, world-class high tea experience called “Champagne High Tea,” and industry-first premium kosher meals.“We know how precious consumers’ vacation time is, and we’re committed to

Good News For Rock Boat Cruise Fans

Our friends at Sixthman have just announced that The Rock Boat XII will sail March 1-5, 2012, on Carnival Ecstasy from New Orleans to Cozumel. This time around, joining Sister Hazel on Sixthman's inaugural floating music festival, are Alternate Routes, Tim Brantley, Carbon Leaf, Freddy Jones Band, Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers, and Vertical Horizon.The return to New Orleans is a special one for

New Cruise Review: Allure of the Seas

Come aboard Allure of the Seas with avid cruisers and frequent Cruise Diva contributors Vincent & Mary Finelli. You'll want to check out their posh Crown Loft Suite. Outfitted for accessibility, get the pros and cons of its comfort and functionality.As the Finellis say, "Crown Loft Suite 1742 is located on Decks 17 & 18, starboard aft. It is one of the best suites we have had until now. The décor

Queen Victoria & Queen Mary to Meet for Historic Cunard Royal Rendezvous in Long Beach

Many cruise passengers arrive in the area of their embarkation port to spend a day or two pre-cruise exploring the sights. Those who visit Long Beach have a real treat—that's where Cunard Line's original Queen Mary is docked as a floating museum. If they happen to be present on March 3rd, they will be witnesses to maritime history being made once again in Long Beach Harbor, when Queen Victoria

News For Cruise Passengers At Half Moon Cay: Captain Morgan Mixes It Up

Cruise Diva introduced you to the new Captain Morgan On The Rocks bar at Half Moon Cay when we visited there during our Nieuw Amsterdam cruise on January 26th. At that time I enjoyed a Pina Colada, but now they have some new cocktails featuring—you guessed it—Captain Morgan Rum!Although we don't know where the "Myrtle Bank" name comes from, we love rum punch here at Cruise Diva's homeport and

Princess Cruises: News About Upcoming Calls to Egypt

Princess Cruises has issued the following statement regarding cancelled port calls in Egypt and revised itineraries:Due to the current political unrest in Egypt, the US State Department has issued a travel warning which recommends that US Citizens avoid travel to Egypt at this time. Based on this information, and the ongoing unrest, we have decided to alter our itineraries for 18 cruises

Carnival Splendor Resumes Year-Round Service From Long Beach

Scheduled to Re-Enter Service Feb 20, 2011She’s back and we hear she’s as good as new! After completing repairs in a San Francisco dry dock facility and successfully undergoing sea trials, the 3,006-passenger Carnival Splendor is now en route to its homeport of Long Beach, California, where it will resume its year-round schedule of 7-day Mexican Riviera cruises tomorrow, Feb. 20, 2011.On this

Media Barred From Falmouth Port As First Cruise Ship Arrives

Royal Caribbean International’s Voyager of the Seas made history of a sort when it became the first ship to call at Historic Falmouth port in Jamaica yesterday. Situated between the popular cruise ports of Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, Falmouth is the first-ever thematic cruise port for the island nation. It is also a convenient gateway for passengers to embark on more than 60 land experiences along

Royal Caribbean Signs Letter of Intent For New Generation of Ships: "Project Sunshine"

It isn't often that we see this much news out of Papenburg, Germany, but this has been a big week for ship building announcements. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. has signed a letter of intent with shipyard Meyer Werft to build the first of a new generation of Royal Caribbean International cruise ships. Developed under the code-name "Project Sunshine," the new vessel design incorporates new and

Disney Fantasy Moves a Step Closer to Reality During Keel Laying Ceremony

Disney Cruise Line celebrated the keel laying of the Disney Fantasy yesterday at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. This is the second of two newly-designed ships that take the family cruise experience to all new heights. Sister ship to the Disney Fantasy, Disney Dream, entered service on Jan. 26, 2011.A significant milestone in the ship building process, the keel laying ceremony is

Man Charged With Allure of the Seas Crew Member's Death

Determined to be Tragic Isolated IncidentMexican authorities have charged a 24-year old national with the murder of Monika Markiewicz. The 32-year old victim was a crew member aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Allure of the Seas.Ms. Markiewicz did not report back to the ship before it departed Cozumel on Feb 4. Her body was discovered the next day in the water off of a remote beach in

Grand Princess to Undergo Dramatic Transformation During Spring Drydock

There will be no more “shopping cart” jokes after the most significant transformation ever of a Princess Cruises ship occurs this spring aboard Grand Princess. The artist rendering here shows her new profile once the aft Skywalkers Nightclub (the “shopping cart” handle) is removed. During a 24-day makeover Grand Princess, which was the prototype for the line’s “Grand Class” vessels, will undergo

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED! Scenes Filmed Aboard Carnival Dream

Fox 2000 Pictures began production on ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED!, the third installment of the blockbuster movie franchise, on Jan 22 during a Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Dream, the newest and largest ship in Carnival Cruise Lines’ fleet. Filming took place primarily on the ship’s upper, open decks with scenes featuring actor Jason Lee (reprising his role as Dave Seville) and the

Cunard Line’s First Female Captain Brings Queen Victoria Back to Los Angeles

Captain Inger Olsen is at the helm of Queen Victoria’s debut American seasonDanish-born Inger Olsen made history on Dec 1, 2010 by becoming the first female captain in Cunard Line’s 171-year history of sailing luxury cruise vacations. Last weekend, she continued her historic maiden sailings as Captain of Queen Victoria, as she brought the ship back to the Port of Los Angeles.Captain Olsen and