Jan 13 2012 Cruise Notes from Mary

Cruise Notes from Mary
Mary Engram, CTA/MCC Travel Consultant
January 13, 2012

Happy Friday Everyone

Royal Caribbean Royal Advantage Program Update
Royal Caribbean is upgrading its fleet as part of the $300 million Royal Advantage program. Basically, the entire fleet (except for Majesty and Monarch of the Seas) will be getting some of the most popular features and amenities that were introduced on Oasis and Allure of the Seas.

Five ships renovated this year were Oasis, Liberty, Freedom, Radiance and Splendour. Splendour reentered service with an additional 100 balconies and more inside and ocean-view staterooms. The ship got a poolside movie screen, Park Café, Izumi Asian restaurant, Boardwalk Dog House, Royal Babies and Tots Nursery, and a Diamond Lounge and Concierge Club.

Next up in April 2012 is Rhapsody, June 2012 is Grandeur, and next winter Serenade. Scheduled for renovation in 2013-14 are Legend, Vision, Brilliance, Navigator, Voyager, Explorer, Adventure, Mariner, Enchantment, and Independence.

Sapphire Princess Enters Dry Dock to Add Signature Princess Features
The Sapphire Princess is currently in for a for a 4-week dry dock renovation and when she re-enters service on Feb. 4 will have the following enhancements.

A new Piazza atrium with a changing menu of quick bites and light meals, beverages, entertainment, shopping and guest services. The Piazza will feature the International Café for pastries, fresh panini sandwiches, salads, fresh-baked cookies and a variety of coffee drinks, as well as a new Vines wine bar.

Alfredo’s Pizzeria will serve freshly prepared, hand-stretched, individual-size pizzas and will feature an open kitchen where passengers can watch chefs create their custom-made pies. Also added will be Movies Under the Stars featuring films, concerts, awards shows and sports events. The ship will offer fleece blankets, complimentary popcorn, and other treats for viewing passengers. In addition, new carpet and upholstery will be installed throughout the ship, and staterooms will feature new, flat-screen televisions.

Royal Caribbean beefs up Panama Canal offerings
Due to increased demand, Royal Caribbean will operate four Panama Canal transit sailings aboard Vision of the Seas. Two sailings will be 14 days and two sailings will be 15 days

The Vision will offer two 14-night Panama Canal itineraries sailing from Port Everglades and San Diego on Oct. 5 and 19, 2012, respectively. The two 15-night sailings will be on March 18 and April 2, 2013 and will also depart Port Everglades and San Diego, respectively.

The ship will also sail transatlantic repositioning cruises. A 14-night westbound itinerary on Sept. 21, 2012, will travel from Southampton to Port Everglades, calling at Gijon and Vigo, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; and Ponta Delgada, Azores. Its 13-night eastbound itinerary sails on April 17, 2013, from Port Everglades to Southampton, calling at Lisbon; Vigo; and Le Havre, France.

Princess adds more Hawaii cruises
For the 2012-13 season, Princess will have 4 ships sailing roundtrip to Hawaii from both Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The Golden Princess, Sapphire Princess and Star Princess will sail from Los Angeles on 14-day roundtrip voyages with calls at the Hilo, Honolulu, Kauai and Maui, plus Ensenada, Mexico. The ships will sail on 24 voyages between Sept. 26, 2012, and April 24, 2013.

The Sea Princess will operate one sailing, on Sept. 20, between San Francisco and Sydney on a 27-day voyage to Honolulu, Kauai, Papeete, Bora Bora, Pago Pago, Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin.

The Grand Princess will make its inaugural voyages to Hawaii on a series of 15-day cruises from San Francisco with calls at Hilo, Honolulu, Kauai and Maui, plus Ensenada.

The Star Princess also will sail this routing, in addition to its Los Angeles departures. The two ships will offer seven departures between Oct. 6 and April 25, 2013.

"Sail With Kate" on Allure of the Seas
You've heard of Jon and Kate Plus Eight, then Kate Plus Eight, so how about Sail with Kate on Allure of the Seas? If you happen to be on the August 12, 2012 sailing onboard Allure of the Seas, be on the look out for Kate Gosselin (of previous Jon and Kate Plus 8 reality TV show fame) and her eight kids.

Cruising with the King – Tribute to Elvis
Oasis of the Seas®, 7-Night Eastern Caribbean - January 28th, 2012
Enchantment of the Seas®, 6-Night Bermuda - May 25th, 2012
Liberty of the Seas®, 5-Night Eastern Caribbean - January 28th, 2013

2012 and 2013 MUSIC THEMED CRUISES
The following are a list of music themed cruises offerred in 2012 and 2013. These cruises all about the music, and should not be looked at as just “another Caribbean cruise. Rather think of them as a 7-night concert series with over a dozen world class artist. And Mary Engram, CTA/MCC Travel Consultant (your personal travel agent) is a registered agent authorized to sell these cruises.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise 2013 ... Everyone Will Be There
Onboard Holland America Ms Westerdam
Fort Lauderdale visiting the ports of Belize City and Key West, with an overnight stay in Cozumel.
Week 1 - January 13-20, 2013
Week 2 - January 20-27, 2013

2013 LINEUP
DAVID SANBORN MARCUS MILLER GEORGE BENSON
JONATHAN BUTLER CANDY DULFER ALONZO BODDEN
RICK BRAUN BRIAN CULBERTSON RICHARD ELLIOT
KEN FORD JEFF GOLUB BOB JAMES
BRIAN SIMPSON ANGIE STONE STEVE COLE
PAUL TAYLOR DANE BUTCHER PAT PRESCOTT

2013 SOUL TRAIN CRUISE - All Aboard… It’s Gonna Be The Hippest Ship on the Sea!
Onboard Holland America Ms Westerdam
Fort Lauderdale, Turks and Caicos, San Juan, St. Thomas, and Half Moon Cay
February 17-24, 2013

2013 Lineup
Patti LaBelle The O’Jays
Kool and the Gang Jeffrey Osborne
War The Spinners
Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes • Russell Thompkins, Jr and the New Stylistics
Cuba Gooding & The Main Ingredient Gerald Alston of the Manhattans
The Intruders George Duke

2012 Malt Shop Memories Cruise
Departing on Oct. 27, 2012 from Fort Lauderdale, the cruise will set sail on Holland America’s Eurodam for Turks & Caicos, San Juan, St. Thomas and the private island of Half Moon Cay.
After the success of the first two Malt Shop Memories Cruises, the 2012 cruise will expand to a seven-day trip with more ports of call and additional performances by an array of stars from the 1950s and ’60s. As a full-ship charter, the Eurodam will be transformed into a floating ’50s and ’60s entertainment complex, treating passengers to concerts and special events such as sock hops, hula hoop contests, prom night, beach parties and interaction with favorite singers
2012 LINEUP
2012 Lineup
Dion Frankie Avalon
Bobby Rydell Ronnie Spector
Darlene Love The Original Drifters
The Duprees Sonny Turner
Carl Gardner's Coasters Kenny Vance & The Planotones
The Chiffons The Tymes
The Marvelettes Al “Lil Fats” Jackson
John Kuse and The Excellents The Dedications
The Encounters The Acchords
Gino Monopoli Dwight Icenhower
Jerry Blavat, Host

Join Kenny G on a 7-night Alaskan Cruise onboard Celebrity Millennium May 17, 2013.
The saxophonist will not only offer multiple performances during the sailing, but also will mix and mingle with guests onboard. Other recognized artists who are yet to be announced will also perform.

Out of the Office
I will be out of the office escorting a group on the 2012 Smooth Jazz Cruise Jan 15 - 23, 2012. Although I will have my laptop and will check emails periodically, I will not be able to respond as quickly as you are used to. Please know that your business is important to me and I will respond as soon as possible.

Thought for the Month
Knowledge can be communicated, but wisdom cannot. A man can find it, he can live it, he can be filled and sustained by it, but he cannot utter or teach it." --Hermann Hesse, German-Swiss writer and poet

Wishing you a great weekend
Mary Engram, Your Personal Travel Consultant