Cruise Guide: The world is yours – Cruise lines unveil global itineraries
By Mike Coleman The world of luxury cruise ship travel has never looked better. We have yet to say goodbye to 2005 and three major players in the luxury field have already announced ambitious plans for world cruises in 2007. Silversea, Radisson Seven Seas and Holland America are wowing potential guests with impressive globe-trotting...
Cruise Guide: Crown Princess readies for debut
By Mike Coleman With recent media attention focusing on Royal Caribbean’s pending launch of the largest passenger liner in the world next year, somewhat lost in the shuffle is a new Princess ship being readied for the high seas. Reprising the name of a former Princess ship, the line will name the next new vessel …...
Cruise Guide: Repositioning cruises becoming popular
By Mike Coleman The cruise industry has a secret. Seasoned travelers on the high seas have known about it for years, but today, the secret’s out. The “repositioning” cruise, a favorite of educated passengers for years, is slowly but surely becoming a popular voyage option for the masses. Cruise lines will soon be...
Cruise Guide: Mingle with the stars aboard Crystal, Cunard and Radisson lines
By Mike Coleman One-upmanship is serious business, especially among luxury brands in the highly-competitive cruise industry. Take, for instance, executives at Crystal Cruises, the Cunard Line and Radisson Seven Seas Cruises. They create purpose-built ships, top-shelf amenities and onboard programs with the most discerning of travelers at...
Cruise Guide: Seabourn taps palate with food and wine festival
By Mike Coleman Hungry, and in need of a cruise to the Bahamas this fall? The Yachts of Seabourn will have you covered. ¨¨The ultra-luxurious, all-suite Seabourn Pride will tempt palates like never before when it hosts its third annual Great American Food & Wine Festival, during a 14-day voyage from New York to Nassau,...
Cruise Guide: Breathtaking fall foliage cruises beckon passengers
By Mike Coleman It’s hard to tell when the seasons actually change here in Southwest Florida but if you’re among the lucky ones cruising from the United States to Eastern Canada, you know that fall is in the air. Over the next two months some of the world’s leading cruise lines will be showcasing the …...
Cruise Guide: Cunard queens to circumnavigate the world in 2007
By Mike Coleman When executives at Cunard Line promise you the world, they mean it. ¨¨The company is sending its two liners – Queen Mary 2 (QM2) and her sistership Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) – on simultaneous world voyages in 2007, each with a different itinerary. QM2, the largest, longest, tallest, widest and most...
Cruise Guide: It’s a kid’s world, after all, even on the high seas
By Mike Coleman Cruise lines are not just bending over backwards to make life onboard enjoyable for their young guests, they’re now designing ships with family friendly amenities clearly in mind. ¨¨More than one million children under the age of 18 took a cruise with their families in 2004, according to the Cruise Lines...
Cruise Guide: National Geographic kid’s poll – Cruises rule
By Mike Coleman The high seas are slowly but surely becoming an ocean playground for kids. According to a National Geographic Kids magazine survey, cruising now ranks as the No. 1 vacation option among youth and rates as the “perfect summer trip”. The survey revealed that 35 percent of kids said cruises were their most...
Cruise Guide: Life onboard – Let the fun begin
By Mike Coleman From world class cuisine to a host of seemingly endless activities, it’s easy to see why millions of travelers and significant numbers of Naples-area residents are repeat cruise ship guests. This week, as we conclude our three-part series exploring the best way to plan and make the most of your first –...