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Major Internet Upgrade Coming Soon to All Carnival Ships

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday

Practically everyone today travels with a mobile device or laptop computer, even on their ocean getaways. In fact, for increasing numbers of cruisers, access to social media, high-quality apps, and other Internet features is an expected part of a fun, relaxing vacation.

Carnival Cruises is consequently upping its Internet game with the introduction of new onboard technologies to keep its passengers happy and connected. Earlier this year, the company had installed high-speed Internet on three ships. That pilot program proved so successful that Carnival has just extended it to nine other ships, with plans for three more this summer. According to company officials, most of the Carnival fleet will be converted to the new system by the end of October.

In addition to upgraded Internet, Carnival has rolled out a multi-tiered pricing plan that allows cruisers to choose the payment level that’s best for them. The low-end $5-a-day plan gives cruisers access to a variety of social media websites so they can easily exchange messages with friends and family back home. Passengers can extend their internet capabilities with Carnival’s $16-per-day plan, which includes the entire Internet except for high-bandwidth services. And for unrestricted access that includes streaming apps like Skype and music downloads, guests can opt for the upper-tier $25-a-day package.

Earlier this season, Carnival Cruises also introduced a mobile app called Carnival Hub on board their ship, Carnival Breeze. Passengers were able to test out exciting new free features such as ship calendars, account tracking, restaurant information, deck maps, and other tools that help cruisers plan their days and manage their spending. Company officials recently noted that this pilot program has gone very well, so passengers should expect to see the Carnival Hub app appear on other ships in coming months.

With Internet access and smartphone apps becoming so important in everyday life, it’s exciting to see cruise companies making every effort to keep their passengers in touch!

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Magnificent Mazatlan!

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday

Ever since the days when the Pacific Princess sailed the seas on “The Love Boat” back in the 1970s, the Mexican Riviera port of Mazatlan has been a favorite stop for North American cruisers. The city features miles of pleasant seaside promenades, gorgeous beaches, a thriving community of creatives, and—of course—plenty of vibrant Latin culture and cuisine.

The cultural heart of the city is Old Mazatlan. Located about a mile from the cruise port, this beautiful district offers cruisers countless places to explore, including shops, museums, restaurants, galleries, and historical sites. The town’s Moorish-style cathedral overlooks Plaza Republica, a picturesque town square perfect for people- and pigeon-watching. A few blocks away is Mercado Pino Suarez, the bustling central market where visitors can buy almost anything imaginable. Another favorite Old Mazatlan sight is the elegant Italian-style theater, Teatro Angela Peralta, which has been painstakingly restored to its original architectural beauty.

This historic district sits at one end of Mazatlan’s famous “malecon,” or beach promenade. One of the longest such walkways in the world, the malecon winds along the shore for about eight miles. Adorning the seawalk are numerous metal sculptures depicting a huge variety of subjects, from the fantastical to the historic. At the southern end of the promenade is Divers Point, where tourists can watch fearless cliff-jumpers leap into the waves far below.

The Golden Zone, or Zona Dorado, also lies along the malecon. With its resort hotels, non-stop beach life, and high-end boutiques, the Golden Zone is Mazatlan’s touristy hub of glitz and fun. The beaches here offer water-sports equipment, boat trips, and even high-adrenalin activities such as parasailing.

For more outdoor options, many visitors to Mazatlan wander away from the malecon. Hikers can head to Cerro del Creston, where a rigorous hour-long walk ends at the second-highest lighthouse in the world, El Faro. There are also eco-tour shore excursions available on several of the nearby islands, including Deer Island, Wolf Island, and Bird Island. Farther inland, tourists can explore quaint old mining villages nestled among the foothills of the fabled Sierra Madre mountains.

With so much on offer, it’s little wonder that Mazatlan has been attracting cruisers for so long!

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More and More Royal Holiday members Are Discovering Cruising

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday

Cruising is growing more and more popular with each passing season. Earlier this year, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) projected that 23 million people in 2015 will choose to spend their vacation on a relaxing cruise with friends and family. And of all those passengers, 60 percent are return customers! Apparently, greater numbers of people are recognizing that the many engaging activities and comfortable amenities available on board today’s ships make cruising an incredibly affordable getaway option.

To accommodate all these fun-seeking ocean voyagers, cruise companies are spending billions of dollars to upgrade ships and expand their fleets. Nearly 20 new ocean cruise vessels have been launched in the last 5 years, in addition to many other ships catering to specialty markets like luxury yachting and river cruises. Much of this growth has been in major Royal Holiday-affiliated brands such as Carnival, MSC, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean.

While cruising is growing more popular, the expectations of passengers are also evolving—and cruise lines are adjusting to meet their customers’ desires. By offering amenities such as flexible dining hours, Wi-Fi, themed cruises, and so on, companies are constantly striving to add features that appeal to every passenger.

Destinations are changing, too. The Caribbean’s countless diverse ports still make the area the most-cruised part of the world, by far. However, passengers are also expanding their horizons and looking to explore itineraries farther afield: bookings in the Mediterranean, Asia, and Australia are all on the rise.

In addition to offering more sailings in other parts of the world, cruise lines are increasingly calling on new ports, even in well-established markets. There are currently over 1,000 ports of call around the world, many of which are located far off the beaten path or in pristine World Heritage sites.

Perhaps the most exciting development for today’s cruisers is how much control they have over their ocean vacations. In addition to relying on travel agents to provide helpful advice tailored to each vacationer’s needs, cruisers will find that it’s easier than ever simply to go online to book a cruise, make dining reservations, and arrange shore excursions—all with the click of a mouse.

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Beautiful St. Lucia, “Helen of the West Indies”

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday

Nicknamed “Helen of the West Indies” for its beauty, St. Lucia offers visitors an array of unique outdoor experiences that make this one of the most memorable ports of call in the world. Several lovely beaches ring the island, providing perfect launching points for snorkeling, diving, and sport fishing. In addition, a huge swath of the interior is protected from development, thus giving outdoors enthusiasts a chance to hike, climb, or zip-line through the region’s pristine lush forests.

Reflecting the island’s rich history, residents of St. Lucia speak both English and a form of French Creole. Evocative place names like “Soufriere” and “Pointe Seraphine” stem from the island’s old French colonial roots, while attractions such as tiny Pigeon Island National Landmark recall the area’s British naval presence and famous Caribbean pirate conflicts.

Soufriere, the island’s former capital city, is situated on the south side near the famous Pitons, the two distinctive volcanic peaks that rise up from the ocean just off the coast. The town has long preserved its colorful architecture, and offers delicious local cuisine such as Caribbean-style rotis, wraps stuffed with curried meat and vegetables.

The city of Soufriere sits near an active volcano, which warms the waters of several attractions in the vicinity. At Sulphur Springs, visitors can walk among steaming craters with smelly fumes rumored to possess medicinal qualities. Guests of nearby Diamond Botanical Gardens & Mineral Baths can stroll through showers of tropical flower blooms and then enjoy a relaxing soak in the hot springs. While there, it is impossible not to marvel at the Diamond Mineral Baths Waterfall which mysteriously shifts color from green to yellow to black over the course of a day.

When stopping at St. Lucia, cruise ships actually dock at the bustling modern city of Castries. Taking a taxi or renting a car to the island’s most famous attractions is easy to do from the port. However, Castries itself has plenty to offer, as well, including historic Castries Market and the Craft Market—perfect places to pick up souvenirs!

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Carnival Cruises Begins New Bottled Drinks Policy

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday

In an effort to greatly speed up passenger boarding times, Carnival Cruise Line has recently announced that it will limit the number of beverages passengers may bring on board. According to the new rules, each passenger can only carry on a maximum of 12 cans or cartons of non-alcoholic beverages such as water, juice, or soda. The policy, which also applies to ports of call, goes into effect on July 9.

Carnival’s wine policy remains unchanged. Each cruiser over the age of 21 may still bring along a single bottle of wine or champagne in addition to their allotment of canned beverages.

Unfortunately, incidents of poor behavior during cruises have often been tied to alcohol that passengers smuggled aboard in non-alcoholic beverage bottles. As a result, Carnival and other cruise lines have long instituted bottle inspections during embarkation.

This newest policy should dramatically reduce the waits caused when officials have to inspect passengers’ luggage. In the past, many cruisers would bring their own cases of water, each bottle of which had to be individually inspected. By eliminating the cases of bottled water from the list of acceptable carry-on items, Carnival management hopes to improve boarding times by as much as 10 minutes per passenger.

In order to minimize cost and inconvenience for their customers, Carnival is allowing passengers to pre-purchase 12-packs of water for $2.99 plus tax—much cheaper than the price of $4.99 plus gratuities one would pay once the ship is underway. In this way, the company hopes to help passengers avoid some of the steep costs associated with cruising and to ensure them that the new rule is not simply an attempt to boost revenues.

With the new bottle policy, Carnival Cruise Lines aims to minimize disruptive incidents at sea and speed up check-in times. Hopefully, this will improve every passenger’s cruise experience.

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Unique Alaskan Port of Call Looks Forward to a Facelift

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday

The Alaskan cruise industry recently announced that one of the most recent additions to its bustling cruise itineraries, Icy Strait Point, will soon be receiving a major upgrade—a new floating pier. A joint project between the State of State of Alaska, the City of Hoonah, and the Huna Totem Corporation, the new 400-foot pier will allow the port at Icy Strait Point to host even the largest cruise ships. This means that ships will be able to tie up directly, rather than relying on tenders to ferry guests back and forth.

In addition to growing docking capacity, the Icy Strait Point project will also expand guest facilities. A Tlingit-inspired visitor center will welcome passengers, and a new excursion departure lounge will house cruisers before they leave for shore-side adventures.

Officials expect the construction of the Icy Strait Point facilities to be completed in time for the 2016 Alaska cruise season next summer. When it’s finished, more visitors than ever before will be able to experience the fascinating cultural offerings of historic Alaska.

And what is the Icy Strait Point experience like?

Compared to other popular Alaskan cruise destinations, Icy Strait Point is not your run-of-the-mill, hyper-commercialized port of call. Opened in 2004, the facility has been specifically designed to enable visitors to capture the essence of “wild Alaska.”

Shore excursions here highlight the richness of Alaska’s wilderness, with offerings such as extensive forest hikes, whale-watching boat tours, or salmon-fishing expeditions. Area buildings are built sustainably, using traditional techniques and locally sourced timber. A handful of restaurants offer a genuine taste of the region’s own bountiful seafood, while shops feature native crafts and goods.

In order to preserve the authentic natural and cultural experiences it can offer cruisers, Icy Strait Point limits access to relatively few ships, mainly from Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Holland America Line. For anyone fortunate enough to have an itinerary that includes this unique port of call, the experience is sure to be unforgettable.

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Welcome to Grand Cayman, a Culinary Paradise

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday

Of the many cruise destinations in the Caribbean, few are as classically “Caribbean” as beautiful Grand Cayman. The island boasts excellent snorkeling and scuba, a huge variety of duty-free shopping opportunities, and famous Seven Mile Beach – considered by many to be one of the best beaches anywhere. A variety of fun and interesting attractions unique to Grand Cayman also draw countless cruisers ever year: Cayman Turtle Farm, the jagged landscape of the town of Hell, the historic Pedro St. James Castle, among many others.

What may be less known about Grand Cayman is its amazing culinary reputation. In fact, the island has a handful of spectacular restaurants. Read on to learn about a few of these amazing eateries that are sure to please even the most finicky cruiser’s palate:

For luxurious fine dining…

Given the island’s immense popularity, it’s not surprising that Grand Cayman is home to one of the best restaurants in the world. Blue by Eric Ripert, which occupies the ground floor of the Ritz-Carlton, has earned a great deal of recognition for its elegant seafood dishes and decadent desserts. The only AAA Five Diamond restaurant in the Caribbean, Blue offers an ever-changing selection that includes a popular tasting menu inspired by celebrity chef Eric Ripert’s famous New York City establishment, Le Bernardin.

For fresh, locally sourced ingredients…

For a delicious farm-to-table island eating experience, many cruisers head to Michael’s Genuine. Like its sister restaurant in Miami, Florida, the cuisine here is as exquisitely designed as the dining room itself. The restaurant features locally-sourced ingredients prepared with influences from Asian, Latin, and Mediterranean cuisines.

For authentic island flavor…

Of course, no trip to Grand Cayman would be complete without tasting real Caymanian food. For this, visitors and islanders alike flock to Champion House II, which has been serving locals for 50 years. The eatery offers hearty traditional West Indian fare including curried goat, turtle soup, and Caymanian heavy cake, a dense, sweet dessert made from cassava flour and coconut milk.

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Upgraded Allure of the Seas Returns from Dry Dock

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday

A few weeks ago, the largest cruise ship in the world came out of a two-and-a-half-week dry dock with a host of new features sure to keep its 5,400 passengers happy. Royal Caribbean’s upgraded Allure of the Seas started sailing out of Barcelona at the end of May this year. Throughout the summer, Allure will sail Mediterranean itineraries before returning to its home port in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, in November.

Allure has always been a near-twin to her sister ship, Oasis of the Seas. She claimed the title of “the world’s largest cruise ship in the world” because she is just 5 centimeters longer than Oasis. More importantly, both vessels are laid out on a “neighborhood” plan with spaces that evoke an experience, such as a leafy green park or a pleasant stroll along a seaside boardwalk. Each ship offers a number of fun and festive features such as a zip-line, an old-fashioned carousel, and FlowRiders. In addition, both boats are highly-regarded for their wonderful child-oriented programs that make Oasis cruises perfect for families.

So what’s new on Allure since her makeover?

Like Oasis, Allure now offers a for-fee Mexican-inspired restaurant called Sabor Taqueria. In an effort to expand culinary choice for cruisers, three new establishments now occupy the space once occupied by Adagio restaurant: American Icon, The Grille, and Silk. Sushi bar Izumi now has its own restaurant, too, while Coastal Kitchen has been added as a suites-only dining option.

On the entertainment front, Allure will now be showing the popular musical “Mamma Mia!” after running “Chicago” for several seasons. A handful of retail outlets have been added to the refurbished ship, as well, including high-end brands Michael Kors and Kate Spade New York.

In order to accommodate passengers seeking to book larger staterooms, 10 suites have been added. They include six Aqua Suites, two Royal Suites, and two Royal Family Suites.

With her latest refurbishment, Allure of the Seas has received a number of exciting upgrades across the board.

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Extraordinary Cozumel: Popular for a Reason

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday

Until the 1960s, the island of Cozumel was home to little more than a handful of sleepy fishing villages. A lot has changed in the decades since famed marine explorer Jacques Cousteau made a documentary that popularized the quaint Mexican island as one of the most gorgeous places in the world for scuba diving.

Today, Cozumel is the hottest tourist destination in the western Caribbean. Its busy port welcomes up to eight ships a day and over a million cruisers every year. Vacationers here enjoy some of the most comfortable resorts around, as well as delicious food, a thriving nightlife scene, and plenty of duty-free shopping.

Despite the touristy hubbub, though, the island has retained much of its idyllic original character. Two-thirds of Cozumel remains undeveloped, which means visitors can enjoy lounging on vast stretches of pristine beach, wandering through mysterious Mayan ruins, or exploring multicolored coral reefs.

Visitors to Cozumel will be stunned by the variety of things to do on such a small island. The major city, San Miguel, is almost entirely devoted to serving cruisers. Guests will find all the familiar American eateries and brands, as well as plenty of more traditional Mexican restaurants and crafts shops. Shoppers will enjoy the Villa Mar Complex, a modern mall located just off Plaza del Sol, as well as Los Cinco Soles, a sprawling store that offers a bewildering array of clothing, jewelry, hot sauces, and other crafts.

A number of small Mayan ruins dot the island of Cozumel, offering historically-minded cruisers a perfect way to take a step back in time. One of the most popular sites is San Gervasio, which served as a place of worship dedicated to the goddess Ixchel. Just a few miles away is tiny, serene El Cedral, the oldest Mayan ruins on the island.

However, no visit is complete without exploring the beautiful waters that Jacques Cousteau made so famous. It’s easy enough to take a dunk in the azure waters right off one of the popular beaches near the docks. Experienced divers can arrange to visit spectacular spots like Palancar Reef, a sunken airplane at La Ceiba Reef, or Chankanaab Caves. Even those who don’t want to get their feet wet can still enjoy the beautiful underwater world here by taking a glass-bottom boat tour.

Of course, there is so much more to do on Cozumel than can be described here. The best advice is to do a little research before arriving, so you can make the most of your visit to this island paradise.

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Experts Predict Relatively Quiet Hurricane Season This Year

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday

With the beginning of June, schools all around the country are letting out for summer, and countless families are looking forward to their yearly vacations. Savvy cruisers also know that the beginning of June marks the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season. For this reason, people who have booked a Caribbean cruise tend to pay a little extra attention to the weather forecasts for their favorite destinations.

Fortunately, the hurricane outlook is generally favorable for cruisers. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center is predicting a quieter-than-average season for storms this year.

The NOAA forecast sees a 70 percent chance for a below-normal hurricane season. That means scientists are expecting between six and 11 named storms. Three to six of these storms might become hurricanes, with up to two of them turning into “major” hurricanes of Category 3 or higher.

While this hurricane season is likely to be relatively quiet, experts caution that this is only a prediction. In fact, there still is a small chance—about 1 in 10—that it could turn out to be an above-normal year. Additionally, it’s important to remember that even a quiet season can still produce serious storms.

So how will this affect cruisers?

Fortunately, the truth is that hurricanes really don’t pose much of a safety threat to passengers at all. The odds of encountering a storm during a particular cruise are very small. And even if there is a storm, sophisticated weather forecasting and communications equipment on today’s cruise ships makes it simple for the captain to alter course to avoid it. Ships can easily outrun a hurricane, so typically all that happens is an unexpected change in itinerary or some choppy seas.

It is probably those unplanned ports of call or days at sea that impact cruisers the most. During hurricane season, it’s a good idea to keep an open mind and remain flexible. While your heart might be set on your favorite island getaway, a hurricane could shut that port down. Consider the occasion a unique opportunity to explore an exciting new destination, or spend some quality time enjoying your favorite shipboard activity.

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