El “Great Vacation Guarantee” es el nombre del programa con el que Carnival Cruises espera recompensar a los viajeros que no estén conformes con su travesía en uno de los barcos de la empresa.
No conocíamos un programa similar en la industria.
Este fue creado por la empresa de cruceros después de unos meses difíciles con varios incidentes en sus barcos. Gerry Cahil, presidente y CEO de Carnival dijo que esto demuestra que están pendientes de la satisfacción de los pasajeros.
Para solicitar el reembolso los viajeros solo tendrán que ir al counter de servicio al cliente del barco dentro de las primeras 24 horas del viaje.
Según Carnival, de una manera “stress free”, que asumimos será sin muchas preguntas, le devolverán el 110 por ciento de lo invertido en el viaje y mucho más. Se encargarán de llevarlo al próximo puerto, de la transportación de vuelta a casa, de alojamiento en hotel si es necesario antes de regresar y hasta le darán un crédito de $100 para un viaje futuro.
Eso sí, tiene sus restricciones. Aplica solo a residentes de Estados Unidos y Canadá y en viajes entre tres a ocho días hacia Bahamas, el Caribe, la Riviera Mexicana, Alaska, Canadá y Nueva Inglaterra. Los huéspedes deben tener su pasaporte válido para regresar a Estados Unidos por avión.
La empresa está promocionando el programa a través de los agentes de viajes o de su website www.carnival.com/vacationguarantee.
Princess Cruises has three free offers for passengers booking Alaska or Europe cruises and cruisetours. The “3 for Free” sales event not only includes free room upgrades, a free shore excursion credit and a free specialty restaurant dinner for two, but also features a deposit of only $100 per person.
Running through October 31, the sale enables passengers to get the best stateroom available within that stateroom type for the lowest possible fare. Onboard, passengers will enjoy complimentary dinner for two in one of Princess’ signature specialty restaurants, where they can indulge in either a taste of Italy at Sabatini’s, steak or seafood at the Crown Grill, the flavors of the South at the Bayou Café or premium cuts of meat at Sterling Steakhouse.
In port, a free shore excursion credit will give passengers on Europe sailings $200 ($100 per person) to spend on shoreside tours such as a visit to the Hermitage in St. Petersburg or the ruins of the Acropolis in Greece. In Alaska, passengers will receive $100 ($50 per person) to spend on glacier hiking, dog sledding or other Alaskan adventures.
More information about the Princess Cruises “3 for Free” sales event can be found at princess.com/free. Additional cruise deals can be found at princess.com/topcruisedeals.
Examples of cruise deals include:
- Alaska cruise – 7 days: $548 interior; $1,198 balcony
- Alaska Denali Explorer cruisetour – 11 nights: $1,322 interior; $1,922 balcony
- Scandinavia & Russia cruise – 11 days: $1,749 interior; $2,349 balcony
- British Isles cruise – 12 days: $1,849 interior; $2,549 balcony
- Grand Mediterranean cruise – 12 days: $1,999 interior; $2,799 balcony
All cruise prices are per person, based on double occupancy. The “3 for Free” sale begins at 12:01 a.m. PDT on September 5 and runs through 11:59 p.m. PDT on October 31 and is available to residents of the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico.
Silversea released two new brochures detailing the luxury line’s expansive array of voyages in 2014, when its seven-ship fleet will visit over 500 destinations on seven continents.
The brochures are available in digital and print formats, and can be viewed online at Silversea.com by clicking the E-BROCHURE link.
The new Voyage brochure, devoted to the elegant ocean-going journeys of Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper, and Silver Spirit, is complemented by a separate Adventure guide highlighting the expedition cruises of Silver Explorer and Silver Galapagos, ships known for exploring some of the world’s most remote regions.
The 2014 Voyage brochure opens with a personal letter of welcome from the company’s chairman, Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio. Subsequent pages of captivating imagery and engaging content offer a snapshot of Silversea’s unique luxury lifestyle. The balance of the brochure features a “What’s New” section, followed by detailed worldwide cruise itineraries by region, including shore excursion recommendations, descriptions of land programs, deck plans and general information. Plus, a convenient foldout voyage calendar is provided in the back of the brochure.
2014 Highlights:
World Cruise 2014
This incomparable 113-day odyssey aboard Silver Whisper departs January 6 from Los Angeles, visiting 54 destinations in 29 countries, and featuring 12 overnight stays. Following a westward path across the Pacific, Silver Whisper will call on lush Polynesia and lands Down Under, including Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga Island, Australia, and New Zealand. From there, she will sail up to the remote island of Koror and then head west to spend a month exploring fascinating Asian cultures — from China, Japan, and Vietnam to Thailand, Singapore, and India — including three days in Myanmar. Silver Whisper will conclude her global tour in Barcelona.
Grand Voyages
Created for those who can spare the time and prefer a more immersive travel experience, this special collection offers extended voyages from 21 to 66 days. These unique long cruises combine the luxury of sailing aboard elite, all-suite ships with expanded journeys to diverse regions of the world, featuring visits to must-see traditional ports, as well as far-flung exotic destinations — all on one cruise.
Circle South America: On January 6, Silver Spirit departs on the longest Grand Voyage of the year, a 66-day “Circle South America” roundtrip voyage from Fort Lauderdale visiting 37 intriguing destinations in South America and the Caribbean. Highlights include a crossing of the Panama Canal, cruising Chile’s majestic fjords, a three-day/two-night stopover in Rio de Janeiro, and overnight stays in St. Bart’s, Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, and Callao.
Cannes & Monte Carlo Grand Prix
In May, Silver Spirit’s Voyage 5414 will take guests on a Mediterranean cruise visiting Cannes during the star-studded 67th Film Festival followed by a visit to the exciting Grand Prix in Monte Carlo.
Myanmar
The legendary Golden Land, formerly known as Burma, is truly one of the most enchanting destinations in Asia. Three Asia cruises will feature multiple-night stopovers in Myanmar: Silver Wind’s Voyage 2438, a 14-day roundtrip voyage from Singapore departing on December 21; Silver Shadow’s Voyage 3404, a 14-day roundtrip voyage from Singapore departing on February 13; and Silver Whisper’s Voyage 4405, a 17-day sailing from Singapore to Muscat, departing on March 19.
Expedition Cruises
In a first for Silversea, Silver Explorer will sail the Northwest Passage, the famed shipping route that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Canadian Arctic. And complementing the ship’s ever-popular cruises to Antarctica, Central and South America, the British Isles, and Arctic Norway are first-ever expedition voyages to the Russian Far East, Japan, South Pacific and French Polynesia.
And Silver Galapagos will again operate 7-day, roundtrip voyages from Baltra exploring the amazing Galápagos on the following year-round itineraries:
Western Itinerary: Traces a path across the western, southern and eastern islands of Santiago, Bartolomé, Isabela, Fernandina, Floreana, San Cristóbal, and Santa Cruz.
North Central Itinerary: Encompasses the northeast, central and southeast islands of Santa Cruz, Genovesa, Seymour Norte, San Cristóbal, Española, and Plazas Sur.
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Ya me lo habían dicho: “Cuando vayas a Oslo no te pierdas la visita a La Casa de la Opera”. Esa recomendación de mi amiga pude seguirla al pie de la letra, ya que mi reciente visita a Noruega fue perfecta para conocer la que es uno de sus símbolos arquitectónicos modernos más famosos: La Casa de la Opera, en Oslo, la capital de ese país nórdico. Está ubicada en la zona de Bjørvika, una antigua área industrial que ahora está transformándose en un nuevo centro cultural de la ciudad.
Inaugurada en el 2008, este lugar cultural es toda una atracción turística que ya han visitado millones de personas desde su apertura. Para visitarla no tienes que pagar nada. Su ubicación, frente al fiordo de Noruega, frente a la estación central del tren y a minutos caminando de la terminal de autobuses, la hace muy accesible a los turistas que visitan el centro de Oslo.
En mi caso estando hospedada en el Thon Opera Hotel, solo tuve que cruzar el puente peatonal temporero para llegar allí (hay mucha construcción en la zona). Si llegas en crucero, el puerto está muy cerca. Yo llegué en avión desde Kirkenes, pueblito que hace frontera con Rusia, como parte final de mi viaje de uno de los barcos de Hurtigruten por la costa noruega.
El edificio construido por la firma de arquitectos noruegos de Snøhetta, es puro mármol y cristal. Impresionante resulta subir sus escalinatas de mármol, llegar hasta su enorme terraza al aire libre y ver desde allí la ciudad, donde lo mismo encontrarás edificios modernos altísimos que estructuras históricas que hay que conocer para entender la transformación que está viviendo la capital noruega en estos días. Las construcciones donde quiera, son otro indicio de la solidez de la economía, de una de las ciudades más caras de Europa, pero también donde se gana bastante bien.
Por sus características no extraña que la Casa de la Opera sea un lugar de encuentro habitual de turistas. Cuando la visité en su plazoleta habían grandes fotografías de obras presentadas allí, otra muestra más de que por su escenario ha desfilado la crema y nata del arte mundial. Claro, subí las escalinatas, porque si no lo haces, es como no haber ido. Allí te advierten que hagas el esfuerzo caminando porque las bicicletas, patines o patinetas no están permitidos. ¡Valió la pena, y además no cansa demasiado!
Ya bajando, pude entrar y ver su vestíbulo, donde se destaca el roble del Báltico. Allí mismo hay uno de los varios restaurantes que tiene el edificio, y áreas para sentarse. Si quieres una visita en profundidad, para conocer todos sus detalles, hay tours guiados en inglés los fines de semana. Requiere reservar.
Entre otros detalles el lugar tiene acústica excelente, varios escenarios y salas, y en una de ellas, 1,350 butacas cada una con su pantalla individual para ver subtítulos en ocho idiomas. Aunque el lenguaje del arte es universal, es muy bueno poder entender a plenitud lo que se dice. El edificio tiene paneles solares que suplen la energía necesaria, y una enorme lámpara de araña que pesa ocho toneladas.
Si vas a Oslo, esta es una de las atracciones que no te puedes perder. Allí además es imperdible la fotografía sentados en las escalinatas, o teniendo como fondo la ciudad.
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Viking Cruises announced it has increased its order for additional Viking Longships, bringing the total number of new ships launching in 2014 from 12 to 14 vessels. By the end of 2014, Viking will have introduced a total of 30 new ships in a three-year period, the most rapid fleet expansion program the cruise industry has ever seen. The 14 new ships in 2014 will sail Viking’s most popular itineraries in Europe.
“We are working hard to match supply with demand, and with these new builds, we have the best designed, newest and most extensive offer of ships on the rivers. more than double all our competitors combined,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking Cruises. “More than ever, travelers want experiences that bring them closer to the destination, which is why we continue to design ships and itineraries with destinations and enrichment as the focus.”
In March of this year, Viking set a world record with the inauguration of 10 new Longships for the 2013 sailing season in a first-of-its-kind simultaneous christening ceremony in Amsterdam. This made way for its most successful sailing season, with more than 90 percent of all available staterooms sold during the spring and summer months and record sales for the holiday sailings.
Viking Longships integrate patent-pending design and cutting-edge technology with comfortable amenities that reflect guest preferences and current travel trends. These new features include a revolutionary new all-weather indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace that reinvents the onboard lounge experience by bringing the panoramic outdoor river scenery indoors with retractable floor-to-ceiling glass doors and allows guests to enjoy the views and dine al fresco.
Accommodating 190 passengers in 95 staterooms, Viking Longships have a patented layout that allows for two Explorer Suites, the largest river cruise suites in Europe. as well as seven two-room Veranda Suites with a full-size veranda in the living room and a French balcony in the bedroom; 39 Veranda Staterooms with full-size verandas; and 22 French Balcony Staterooms. Additionally, all Longships have sustainability upgrades, such as onboard solar panels and organic herb gardens, and energy-efficient hybrid engines that also reduce vibrations for a remarkably smooth ride.
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La línea de cruceros de río Viking Cruises tendrá dos barcos adicionales, para un total de 14 en el 2014. Esto demuestra la confianza que está teniendo esa industria en su potencial. Con esos estrenos, serán 30 los barcos nuevos que estrenará Viking en tres años. Ellos fueron los mismos que rompieron record al bautizar 10 barcos simultáneamente en Amsterdam, en abril de este año.
Los barcos nuevos serán también de la nueva clase Longships, reconocidos por establecer pautas en este tipo de crucero por su diseño y amenidades. Tendrán capacidad para 190 pasajeros, 95 cabinas y atractivos como la Aquavit Terrace, que tiene techo retractable para disfrutar de todos los escenarios europeos en cualquier tipo de clima, con lluvia, con sol y tanto de día como de noche.
Viking Longships tienen un diseño exclusive con dos Explorer Suites, las más grandes de barcos de río en Europa, así como siete Veranda Suites, de dos habitaciones con balcón de tamaño completo en el área de estar y balcón francés en la habitación. Los barcos están equipados además con paneles solares y motores híbridos más eficientes, entre otros extras que lo hacen más sustentables.
Estos que llegarán en el 2014 navegarán por los itinerarios más populares de Europa.
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La suiza Margrith Ettlin fue nombrada la máxima autoridad del Silver Explorer, lo que la convierte en la primera mujer capitana que nombra la lujosa línea de cruceros de Silversea en sus 20 años de historia.
Ettlin posee vasta experiencia en la industria, navegando en aguas remotas y difíciles como las de Antártida. Laboró como staff captain de Silversea desde el 2010, y previo a esto con el grupo alemán F. Laeisz. Además por nueve años también fue “staff captain” en la línea de barcos alemana Hapag Lloyd.
Aunque no es la primera mujer capitán en la industria, (Royal Caribbean y Cunard las tienen), sí le toca a esta veterana plantar bandera porque es la primera en Silversea, pero también porque estará al mando de un barco explorador, una tarea que siempre es retante.
For the first time in its nearly 20-year history, a female captain is at the helm of a Silversea ship. The cruise line has promoted Margrith Ettlin to the position of captain. A Swiss national with extensive maritime experience in remote regions, including the Arctic and Antarctica, Captain Ettlin assumed control of the 132-guest expedition ship Silver Explorer on August 7 in Reykjavik. Her first tour of duty as captain will extend into October.
Prior to joining Silversea as a staff captain in March 2010, Captain Ettlin worked for Germany’s F. Laeisz shipping group. Her maritime career also includes nearly nine years as a staff captain with the German shipping company Hapag Lloyd.
When Holland America Line’s ms Statendam and ms Veendam sail to Mexico, Hawaii and French Polynesia for the 2013-14 season, newly expanded itineraries will feature extended port stays, overnight calls and visits to some of the most picturesque locations in the world. With convenient roundtrip San Diego, Calif., departures, guests will be able to embark and disembark in the United States while traveling to exotic destinations that usually require an international flight.
The seven- and 12-day cruises to Mexico depart in November and December 2013 and March 2014, while the 17- to 35-day Circle Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas itineraries set sail in October 2013 and February and April 2014.
During the sailings with several sea days, guests can enjoy all of the onboard experiences that are exclusive to the premium cruise line. For example, with the new and engaging On Location program, guests on cruises to Hawaii might learn how to hula, make a fresh flower lei or get a ukulele lesson from a local, while cruisers on voyages to Mexico are entertained with an authentic mariachi band during a Mexican fiesta on deck.
Mexican Riviera in a Week
ms Veendam will sail a total of six seven-day itineraries to the Mexican Riviera. The roundtrip San Diego cruises call at Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, as well as scenic cruising along Bahia Magdalena, a bay that is noted for the seasonal migration of California gray whales. Departure dates are Nov. 9 and Dec. 21 and 28, 2013 (two holiday sailings), and March 9, 16 and 23, 2014.
Mexican Riviera Port Intensive Cruise in 12 Days
Sailing a longer roundtrip San Diego itinerary to the Mexican Riviera, ms Statendam departs Dec. 4, 2013, on a 12-day voyage that calls at Cabo San Lucas, Pichilingue (La Paz), Loreto, Guaymas, Topolobampo and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Guests will get extra time ashore in Puerto Vallarta during an overnight call. This departure also includes scenic cruising in Bahia Magdalena.
Circle Hawaii Voyages of 17 and 18 Days
Between Mexican Riviera cruises, ms Veendam sets sail for the beautiful islands of Hawaii on four roundtrip San Diego itineraries that explore the natural beauty of the Aloha State and add another port call for next season: Kona. The 17-day itinerary departs Nov. 16, 2013, and Jan. 4, 2014, and calls at Hilo, Honolulu, Nawiliwili, Lahaina and Kona, Hawaii. The 18-day cruises depart Dec. 3, 2013, and Jan. 21, 2014, and add an overnight at Honolulu.
On these cruises, guests can explore Hilo’s world-class botanical gardens, the molten lava flows of Kilauea and awe-inspiring Akaka Falls. Lahaina boasts the Haleakala Crater and Hana’s seven sacred pools, while Nawiliwili features Waimea Canyon, the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” Honolulu offers a classic Hawaiian allure: pineapple plantations, surfing beaches, hula shows and luaus, while quieter moments await at the USS Arizona Memorial. Once the playground of Hawaii’s royalty, Kona is synonymous with the famous coffee that grows on the slopes of the dormant Hualalai volcano.
Circle Hawaii, Tahiti & Marquesas from 29 to 35 Days
Guests looking for an exotic adventure can set sail on ms Statendam’s 2013 and 2014 Circle Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas itineraries. Ranging in length from 29 to 35 days, these three longer voyages sail roundtrip San Diego to the Hawaiian Islands and the stunning island jewels of French Polynesia.
The 2013 sailing departs San Diego Oct. 4 and Dec. 16 for a special holiday journey for a 30-day cruise. Guests looking to embark earlier can join the cruise at San Francisco, Calif., Oct. 2, or Sept. 29 at Vancouver, British Columbia, for 32-day and 35-day sailings, respectively. In 2014, the ship departs San Diego Feb. 14 on a 29-day Valentine’s Day-departing roundtrip itinerary, as well as April 15 on a 29-day roundtrip San Diego cruise or a 33-day itinerary that ends at Vancouver.
After departing San Diego, Statendam sails west and makes four calls at the Hawaiian Islands of Hawaii, Maui and Oahu, including an overnight call at Honolulu and late departure from Lahaina. The ship crosses the equator on the way to French Polynesia where it calls at Bora Bora, Raiatea, Tahiti, Moorea, Rangiroa and Nuku Hiva, the largest of the Marquesas Islands (overnight calls at Bora Bora and Tahiti). Statendam crosses the equator once again before arriving back at San Diego.
Explore4 Early Booking Promotion Gives Added Perks for Planning Now
Holland America Line is offering the Explore4 early booking promotion that features a free Signature Beverage Package or beverage card, a free specialty restaurant dinner, free or reduced fares for third and fourth guests in the same stateroom and 50 percent reduced deposits for bookings on select 2014 cruises made before Oct. 15, 2013. Guests may receive all four offers when booking a qualified itinerary.
Cruise fares for Mexico itineraries begin at $899 per person, double occupancy for a seven-day sailing and include Explore4 Early Booking Promotion offers. Fares for Hawaii begin from $1,599 per person for a 17-day Circle Hawaii itinerary with Explore4 early booking promotions. Circle Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas begin at $3,699 per person.