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Take a Cruise and Make a Difference

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday

Fathom, a new Carnival Cruise Line subsidiary that focuses exclusively on “voluntourism,” will be hitting the waves next spring. Catering to travelers who wish to contribute their vacation time to a charitable cause, the line will be sailing humanitarian cruises to the Dominican Republic aboard the P&O ship Adonia starting in April 2016. In an exciting recent announcement, fathom also revealed that it would be cruising to Cuba, as well, with a full slate of cultural immersion activities and aid excursions available.

Of course, in order to make an impact, cruisers don’t have to sacrifice a whole vacation, or even sail with a specialist line like fathom. In fact, the cruise industry and their loyal passengers have a long-established reputation for charity. In the aftermath of natural disasters like hurricanes, for example, cruise ships are often instrumental in bringing emergency supplies and personnel to affected sites. Cruise companies and passengers alike also participate in special fundraisers that provide millions of dollars to port cities that need recovery aid.

Even when there isn’t an emergency in the headlines, the cruise industry and its patrons remain active in philanthropy. Countless cruises every year offer charity-minded customers plenty of opportunities to join in the giving spirit.

Many cruise lines occasionally partner with philanthropic organizations to host charity cruises that bring together many passengers in support of a specific cause. Even when a whole cruise isn’t dedicated to a particular organization, there are often specific events and activities on any itinerary that serve to raise awareness or collect funds for causes as diverse as children’s health, veterans’ affairs, or environmental issues. Such charity drives can take almost any form: collection boxes, auctions, dining events, shop sales, dances, sport contests, and more.

Many cruise lines also offer special shore excursions in cooperation with charity organizations in select ports of call. These outings engage cruisers in intense but rewarding activities such as working with disadvantaged children, contributing to scientific research, or replanting trees destroyed by storms.

There really are countless ways to make a difference—even on a cruise!

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Explore the Space Coast!

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday

As one of the biggest cruise ports in the world, Port Canaveral sees hundreds of thousands of passengers come and go every year. And because it is situated right in the middle of Florida’s 72-mile-long “Space Coast,” the port makes a perfect home base for fun-loving cruisers who want to tack on a few extra days of fun before or after a cruise.

The area earned the name Space Coast because it is home to Kennedy Space Center. As one of NASA’s preeminent rocket launch facilities, the Space Center on Merritt Island draws countless tourists each year to learn about the rich history view the amazing technology of the US space program. The Space Center and nearby Astronaut Hall of Fame offer visitors the opportunity to meet astronauts, experience the G-forces of a launch, drive a virtual moon rover, and much more.

Merritt Island is also the site of two wilderness preserves: the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Canaveral National Seashore. Nature lovers will enjoy touring around the island by car or along one of several hiking trails. Often, visitors can spot endangered species such as loggerhead turtles or Southern bald eagles.

For a classic Space Coast beach visit, Cocoa Beach is a short drive away from Port Canaveral. The area offers lots of family-oriented attractions, although the main attraction is the Cocoa Beach Pier, with its fishing spots, restaurants, boutiques, and tropical-themed beach bars.

Visitors seeking a more historic perspective can spend a day at Cocoa Village. Because many of its buildings are restored or protected as historic sites, the town offers a laid-back, picturesque look at what Florida looked like 100 years ago.

Perhaps the biggest draw to the Space Coast is the immense complex of theme parks in the Orlando area. In addition to the most popular parks, like Universal Studios, Sea World, and (of course!) Disney World, there are other entertainment venues scattered throughout the area.

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Summer Festival Fun in Dominica

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday

The month of July is a time for festivals on the Caribbean island nation of Dominica. Residents kicked off the month with a host of celebrations of island and international cuisine. And in mid-July, diving enthusiasts from all over participate in several events highlighting marine conservation and water sports.

July opened with the Nature Island Food and Drink Festival. The four-day celebration featured cook-offs with top chefs, mixology contests, and culinary arts conferences, as well as fun food activities for the kids. The festival was especially focused on using fresh local ingredients to create delicious, healthy dishes.

In mid-July, Dominica hosts the annual Dive Fest, a multi-day event that draws divers and snorkelers from all over the world to enjoy the island’s pristine marine environment. Divers of all ages and abilities can hone their skills in a variety of educational events, and non-divers can enjoy whale-watching from shore as well as the famous Kubuli Canoe Races. The festival’s grand finale is the massive Dive Fest Beach Party.

For cruisers who can’t make it to Dominica this July, there is still plenty to do any time of year on this gorgeous island paradise. Unlike many other cruise ports, Dominica isn’t hyper-commercialized and full of name-brand chain stores. Instead, it offers a slower-paced visit full of breathtaking natural beauty and rich local culture.

Adventure travel is the main draw in Dominica. Inland, dense rainforests are home to countless varieties of birds, flowers, and wildlife, which visitors can explore by 4×4 or along the numerous hiking trails. The island’s volcanic geology has also sculpted an array of truly unique attractions including several spa-quality hot springs, the bubbly waters of Champagne Beach, and the aptly named Valley of Desolation on the way to Boiling Lake.

Dominica is also internationally recognized as having one of the most spectacular marine environments in the world. As a result, the island’s beautiful beaches and superb diving spots have long attracted tourists and conservationists alike.

The lovely city of Roseau also offers a variety of fascinating sights and walking tours for history buffs and food-lovers. Farther afield, one of the last populations of native Carib people lives in the northeastern corner of the island. These people warmly welcome visitors to their territory and create many of the handicrafts and food products found in local souvenir shops.

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Carnival Cruises Partners with Casino Company

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday

Casino company Affinity Gaming has enacted a deal with Carnival Cruise Line to reward top players with cruise vacations to some of the most popular destinations in the world. According to a June 30 press release on Carnival’s website, members of the uppermost tiers of Affinity’s A-Play Players Club in 11 Affinity Gaming casinos will be eligible for the new benefits as of July 1. The best players will earn opportunities to enjoy complimentary cruises, while mid-level gamers will receive special discounts for Carnival’s services.

Of course, not everyone is a high-roller, but that doesn’t stop countless cruisers from enjoying the excitement of ship casinos every year. In fact, most large ocean-going cruise vessels—and many of the smaller ones—sport a lively onboard gaming room for the entertainment of their passengers.

Shipboard casinos are necessarily small when compared to the lavish casinos found on land. Still, these casinos generally offer all the classics, including lots of slot machines (including penny slots) and card tables, where blackjack and poker are especially common. Frequently, there are also a few tables for roulette and craps.

To add to the excitement, most ships host occasional tournaments, as well. Usually, these are slots or blackjack, but some cruise lines also sponsor Texas Hold’em or other poker contests. A few will even host a high-stakes game upon request.

Before heading to the ship casino, though, remember that gaming is tightly regulated, even on a ship. The minimum age is 18 on most ships, and it is often raised to 21 on select cruises. Casinos are usually open only when a ship is away from port; and even at sea, ships’ game rooms are usually closed during the day. Always check the cruise’s gaming rules and schedules before making your evening plans.

Gaming is an elegant cruise tradition that has long attracted guests to ship casinos. Whether a cruiser is a sophisticated casino devotee or just a casual visitor to the slots, almost anyone can find an appealing way to pass a few fun-filled hours in the game room!

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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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