Cruise Guide: Quick cruise getaways, Alaska entice passengers
By Mike Coleman Carnival has unveiled a series of short cruise getaways to attract vacation-challenged passengers in 2007 and Royal Caribbean will feature 130 shore excursions in Alaska, highlighting news this week from the cruise industry. The line will offer 32 different short cruise itineraries from a host of  U.S. departure...
Cruise Guide: Cruise lines offer culinary journeys
By Mike Coleman Culinary journeys at sea will be as intriguing as the itineraries themselves aboard some of the worlds leading cruise ships in 2007. At Crystal Cruises, guests will be able to savor signature dishes from award-winning chefs like Nobu Matsuhisa, Piero Selvaggio and Wolfgang Puck. It’s all included in the cruise fare....
Cruise Guide: Politicians, plush bedding, tea service brewing at sea
By Mike Coleman Luxury cruise lines will be rolling out a series of nice touches in 2007 to pamper their guests like never before. New bedding is in at Silversea; tea service will be taken to new heights at Cunard and onboard enrichment programs at Seabourn will feature power, politics and punditry from Washington’s leading...
Cruise Guide: Cruise trends 2007
By Mike Coleman There’s no shortage of cruise ideas for the upcoming year. From epic world journeys to brief, lazy days in the sun, there’s a voyage and price range for just about everyone. Not sure which cruise line, or ship, to take? It’s never been easier to decide. Your nearest bookseller has a host …...
Cruise Guide: From Radisson to Regent: Line changes course
By Mike Coleman It seemed only a matter of time before a luxurious cruise line aligned itself with an equally prominent, global hotel partner. And that’s exactly what happened earlier this year when Radisson Seven Seas Cruises became Regent Seven Seas Cruises. The merger was orchestrated by the Carlson Companies, a world-wide...
Cruise Guide: New ship launches pending
By Mike Coleman Could it get any better for cruise ship travel aficionados? Over the next 12 months, a series of new ships will be launched by various cruise lines, and a host of other vessels are now being constructed in shipyards around the globe for debuts in the coming years. Kicking off the parade …...
Cruise Guide: Holiday merriment . . . at sea
By Michael Coleman Holiday cheer and merriment may best be enjoyed this season aboard a cruise ship of your choice. “Cruises provide travelers with a chance to thoroughly revel in the holidays, leaving the hassles of everyday life behind,” said Terry L. Dale, president and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association...
Cruise Guide: Celebrity to offer wedding vow renewal packages
By Michael Coleman With a host of romantic destinations serving as a backdrop, guests aboard Celebrity Cruises might want to consider renewing their wedding vows on an upcoming sailing. The line, in partnership with The Wedding Experience, offers two packages. “Vow renewals are the perfect romantic gift for spouses to give each...
Cruise Guide: New luxury line, Cunard monument unveiled in Halifax
By Michael Coleman Halifax, the Nova Scotia capital so steeped in maritime history, stood briefly this month at the center of the cruise world. It wasn’t the nearby Citadel or picturesque Peggy’s Cove that garnered the attention, however. The news instead focused on the building of a new luxury cruise vessel in the...
Cruise Guide: Sun-drenched Caribbean voyages unveiled
By Michael Coleman You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to conclude that Caribbean cruise itineraries are the most popular in the world. Over the past few years, port calls in Alaska and Europe have gained momentum among travelers seeking to expand their horizons, but the hands-down winner is just a few hundred miles...