Get ready for some company, Sydney Opera House. Another thing of beauty will share Sydney Harbour when premium cruise brand Celebrity Cruises sends its award-winning Celebrity Solstice to Australia and New Zealand 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, Celebrity Cruises. "With this move, we are delivering another way for people to have the best vacation experience possible, in one of the most stunning geo...

Frommer's Names Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas among Best Cruise Ships of 2011 Royal Caribbean International's Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas have been named on Frommer's Best Cruise Ships of 2011 list. Miami, FL (Vocus/PRWEB) January 18, 2011 Royal Caribbean International's Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas have been named on Frommer's Best Cruise Ships of 2011 list. In particular, the market leader in travel guides and a branded imprint of Wiley Publishing, Inc. cited Allure of the Seas as the newest and most groundbreaking ship with “undoubtedly the ...

Grand Princess to Undergo Dramatic Transformation During Spring Drydock  A brand new nightclub called One5, inspired by its deck location, will be created on the top deck of the ship, replacing its iconic Skywalker Nightclub, which has given the ship its distinctive profile. Skywalkers will be removed from its 18th deck perch, with its replacement located on deck 15. This change will significantly improve the operational performance of the ship, including greater fuel efficiency. "This is the largest makeover we've ever undertaken for any of our ships," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cr...

Disney’s New Dream Christened by Dreamgirl Jennifer Hudson, actor and singer, christened Disney Cruise Line's new 4,000-passenger Disney Dream in Port Canaveral, FL, on Wednesday morning, January 19. The ceremony included a helicopter that lifted a huge champagne bottle emblazoned with a Mickey Mouse logo off a barge that flew alongside the bow of the ship. All the classic Disney characters were on hand as Walt Disney Company chairman Bob Iger and Mickey Mouse entertained a crowd of nearly 3,000. The new Disney Dream starts sailing Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral on January...

CRUISE PLANNERS Honored with home-based partner of the year award by Royal Caribbean international RCI award is fourth consecutive for the home-based travel agent franchise company   Coral Springs, Fla. – January 21, 2011 – Cruise Planners/American Express, the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the cruise industry, was once again recognized by Royal Caribbean International as its Home-Based Partner of the Year for 2010 for the fourth consecutive year.   “Cruise Planners is always striving to create top-notch training and m...

Princess Cruises Launches Facebook Contest for Best Travel Bucket List Story;Winner Picks Their Dream Cruise DestinationMost Inspiring Video or Essay Submissions Determined by Popular Vote SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (January 17, 2011) – Princess Cruises is today launching a Facebook contest inviting its fans to share their most essential travel experience for a chance to check another place off  their travel bucket list.  The contest winner, to be determined by popular vote, will receive their choice of eight remarkable cruise destinations -- Europe, Asia, Tahiti, Australia/New ...

Active Personnel and Veterans Eligible for Shipboard Credit In recognition of our Veterans,  Princess Cruises is promoting the line’s military onboard credit program for active and retired military personnel. The credit, which ranges from $50 to $250 per stateroom depending on the length of the cruise, is available to members of the United States and Canadian armed forces with appropriate service identification. The line’s military personnel onboard credit program is available to active military personnel plus retired and disabled military veterans with proper verification ...

Princess Cruises Introduces Two New Europe Cruisetour Options for 2011     Passengers Can Experience the Ancient Wonders of Petra or Cruise by Castles on the Rhine SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (November 4, 2010) – Princess Cruises has unveiled two new cruisetour options for passengers on Europe cruises next year, providing them the opportunity to explore the mysteries of ancient Petra in Jordan or to enjoy a cruise up the dramatic Rhine River. The new itineraries join the line’s previously announced cruisetours giving p...

Cruise Ship to Host 5k Run for Passengers Calling all runners. Royal Caribbean will host a "Royal 5k" for cruise passengers in St. Maarten on December 16.The run -- basically an unusual version of a shore excursion -- is open to guests on the December 12, eastern Caribbean sailing of the brand new, 5,400-passenger Allure of the Seas, which debuts next month as the world's largest ship. Passengers are invited to jog, sprint or walk the five-kilometer course on the island, the cruise line says.There is a registration fee of $50 for adults, $35 for children. Guests can sign up onboard the sh...

Princess to Host Film Critic Leonard Maltin on Holiday Cruise Princess Cruises announced that film critic Leonard Maltin will sail aboard Coral Princess' Dec. 15 holiday sailing and will present his favorite films of 2010. During the 15-day Panama Canal cruise, movie fans will be able to view the four films Maltin has dubbed "Leonard's Unsung Favorites of 2010," which he will introduce to the audience. Maltin will also lead a discussion of some of the films, will challenge passengers to a film trivia contest and will offer a talk focusing on Hollywood of yesteryear. Passengers will be able...