Royal Holiday

February 14th is on the horizon, and that means many seafaring couples are looking forward to a wonderful Valentine’s Day cruise. The idea of a romantic ocean getaway has long been a popular one. Many poems and films describe the allure of a cruise, and an incredibly popular television series focused on this idea as well. It seems everyone loves the idea of love at sea!

But what exactly makes a cruise so romantic? Those who have never sailed before should read on to learn about all the fun options available to couples on cruises.

Time together

The whole point of a romantic getaway is spending time together, and a cruise offers plenty of ways to do that. Ship restaurants are widely known for their amazing cuisine, and most ships have a few especially intimate dining establishments perfect for an evening out. Follow up dinner with a night of dancing, or take in a movie in the ship theater or even back in your cabin. A trip out to sea is also the perfect place to enjoy a little stargazing or a gorgeous sunrise.

Romantic relaxation

Want to be pampered? Consider booking a couple’s massage in the ship spa, or kicking back in a hot tub or sauna. Many ships also have adults-only decks, where cruisers can cuddle up on two-person deck lounges and enjoy a cocktail or two. The beaches at many ports of call, of course, also have lovely little cafes and private cabanas for rent.

Take it up a notch

A cruise is a special event, but why not make it even more memorable by popping the question? In addition, some couples choose to get married on an exotic island or on board the ship. Other long-married couples choose to renew their vows in touching ceremonies at sea. Contact your cruise line if any of these options interest you.

Of course, perhaps the best part of a romantic cruise is that you don’t have to wait until Valentine’s Day. Love is an all-season affair, so start thinking about that special ocean voyage with your sweetheart today!

Cruisers preparing for a cruise usually expect to enjoy several days of excellent food, lazy days in the sunshine, fun nights out, exotic travel, and exciting shore excursions.

With this in mind, many inexperienced travelers might think that taking along an infant would make a pleasant cruise impossible. Nothing could be farther from the truth! With a bit of preparation, even busy parents of young children can have a rewarding ocean vacation, complete with plenty of fun memories.

Cruise ship amenities for parents with babies

Modern-day cruise vessels offer numerous family-oriented amenities specifically meant to make life aboard a ship easier for parents and their children. Many cruise lines provide nursery areas or babysitting services that enable parents to leave their infant in capable hands, allowing them a few hours to get away for a night of dining and dancing.

Packing

Packing light is always helpful, but this might be difficult when traveling with a baby. Think about purchasing certain bulky items, like diapers, near the cruise port to avoid an extra bag fee on the airplane. Also, remember that many ships don’t have bathtubs, so take an inflatable tub if baby can’t stand in a shower yet. It’s also a good idea to pack some extra supplies, like pacifiers, that you can’t purchase on the ship. For getting around, don’t forget the carrier or lightweight stroller—or the car seat, if you plan to use a taxi or rental car in a port of call.

Other things to consider

There are few other items to think about when cruising with a baby. Because staterooms tend to be small, many you might want to book a cabin with a balcony that lets you get some fresh air while your baby naps. You might also ask about the availability of rooms with special features like curtains or fold-up walls that can give a napping baby a little peace and quiet. It never hurts to ask if a ship offers certain services, such as a self-service laundry or pureeing food in the kitchen. Finally, researching destinations well in advance can point you to baby-friendly sights in your favorite ports of call.

Late last year, the White House announced that it would start normalizing relations with the island nation of Cuba, after 50 years of severe economic sanctions.

Located just 90 miles off the coast of Florida, Cuba has been isolated by travel restrictions and a decades-old embargo. Its close proximity and vibrant Latin culture has meant that the island has long been a forbidden but alluring destination for Americans curious to experience the Caribbean nation’s way of life. For this reason, when President Obama announced that trade with Cuba would be improving, devoted cruisers and industry insiders speculated that Cuba might soon open its ports to American tourists.

So, what does this new thaw in diplomatic relations between the US and Cuba mean for cruising?

Unfortunately, there are not likely to be any significant changes for Caribbean vacationers—at least not yet. For the time being, travel to Cuba remains restricted to a number of specific classifications, such as travel related to medical need, athletic events, journalism, religious reasons, or family visits.

The biggest change for Americans traveling to Cuba is that they are no longer required to acquire a special license from the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. Moreover, limits on how much money a visitor can spend there, and the types of business they can pursue, have been relaxed. This broadening of acceptable economic activities has the potential to further stimulate trade between the countries, and possibly encourage opening up relations further.

Despite all these changes, though, general tourism is still forbidden under the new rules—and that means no cruises. To allow larger numbers of Americans to travel to Cuba, Congress has to pass a law specifically permitting that. However, there appear to be no plans among American politicians to do that just yet.

Despite the complications and slow diplomatic processes involved, the latest announcement by the White House may the first step toward introducing an exotic new destination to cruisers’ Caribbean itineraries sometimes in coming years.

Of all the dream destinations available, there are only a few open exclusively to cruisers. These are the private island and beach resorts owned by some of the world’s largest cruise companies.

A private island has a lot to offer cruise passengers lucky enough to spend a day there. The facilities are safe, well maintained, and reflect the standards of the cruise line itself—something that a chaotic port city can’t always provide. In fact, a lazy day cocooned amidst the comfortable, high-quality amenities of a resort beach can be the perfect antidote to the non-stop exciting adventures typical of a cruise’s other exotic stops.

While these resorts have a reputation for being unimaginative if comfy, the truth is that they have a lot going for them. Because they are an extension of the cruise line itself, basic amenities, such as a beach lounger and a lunch buffet, are included in the price of the cruise. No additional purchase is necessary! Souvenirs, shore excursions, and so forth are also available, of course, but are completely optional.

As cruising has grown in popularity, companies have taken pains to differentiate their private resorts. Nowadays, guests enjoy just as many memorable moments on a private island as at any other destination.

The following are a few private island resorts that Royal Holiday members can visit:

* Coco Cay. Owned by Royal Caribbean, this small island offers three beaches and plenty of spots to relax and have a cool drink. Aside from the usual resort experience, this island also boasts a lovely nature hike and an underwater replica of Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the notorious pirate, Blackbeard.

* Great Stirrup Cay. The first private island opened for cruisers, Norwegian Cruise Line’s resort offers visitors a laid-back beach experience on a well-maintained beach, along with a water park, eco-trails, and plenty of other ways to have a good time in the sun.

* Princess Cays. Located on the island of Eleuthera, Princess Cruises’ private port packs a mile and a half of beaches into a 40-acre resort. Unlike many other private resorts, this one shares the island with a thriving little town that offers a unique culture all its own, including a summertime Pineapple Festival.

After several months under construction, the second-busiest cruise port in the world has finally re-opened one of its terminals. Started in March of last year, the recent renovations to Cruise Terminal 4 of Florida’s Port Everglades introduce cruisers to a variety of modernizations and upgrades, along with plenty of new perks that promise to make the process of getting on and off their ships even more pleasant.

An expanded parking lot now serves the terminal. In addition to over 170 more spaces, the lot offers improved traffic flow and new, covered pick-up and drop-off zones.

Inside, the 100,400-square-foot terminal has undergone a facelift to achieve an airy and sun-filled space. Improved acoustics, brighter lighting, and a high-efficiency air-conditioning system provide a pleasant, more agreeable atmosphere throughout the facility. Passenger embarkation has also been streamlined with the addition of 50 new check-in counters and several more elevators and escalators.

The massive refurbishment isn’t limited to upgrades in efficiency. Over the next few weeks, a beautiful tile mural entitled “Pelican Path” will be installed by local artist, Xavier Cortada. The colorful artwork will be the final flourish on a comprehensive overhaul that, according to officials, will dramatically improve the passenger experience at Port Everglades.

The renovation of Cruise Terminal 4 is the sixth one in the last five years at Port Everglades, which is undergoing a major multi-year expansion. In addition to upgrading its cruise terminals, the port also is making dock improvements, such as a 250-foot extension of a slip adjoining Cruise Terminal 4 that will allow it to accommodate much larger cruise ships.

In 2014, 4 million cruisers passed through Port Everglades, making it one of the busiest in the world. The facility hosts ships from a number of popular cruise lines, including Royal Holiday affiliates such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival.

This week, Carnival Corporation is wrapping up an exciting Super Bowl commercial contest that has had cruisers and travel industry insiders abuzz since last November. January 15 is the final day for people to review several commercials posted on www.carnivalmarketingchallenge.com, and vote on which one should appear during the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 1.

Of course, because they are competing for placement during the Super Bowl—perhaps the biggest event in the TV advertising world—each of the commercials is characteristically memorable. Their themes and imagery range from beautifully thrilling to cleverly humorous to spicily risqué.

As an added incentive, Carnival will randomly select one winner from among those who vote for the commercial that wins the Super Bowl placement. This lucky individual will win one cruise on board a Carnival-affiliated ship—every year for life!

Carnival Corporation is the parent company of several of the best-known brands in cruising, including Carnival and Princess, high-end luxury lines like Cunard, and European lines such as AIDA and Costa Cruises, among others. The marketing blitz is a huge event for Carnival Corporation, which will be advertising all nine of its cruise lines together for the very first time.

According to Carnival executives, the ad campaign aims to paint cruising in a new light, without the stereotypical images of Hawaiian shirts and umbrella drinks. Instead, the company wants to entice viewers to experience a rich and fulfilling vacation like no other. The ads are especially targeted at those who have never enjoyed a cruise before.

Carnival’s whirlwind marketing extravaganza is also serving to polish the image of cruising in general. In recent years, a few unfortunate, high-profile incidents may have made some vacationers wary of choosing a cruise for their travel plans. By connecting with the huge Super Bowl market, however, Carnival Corp is striving to promote the idea that cruising is a fun and relaxing vacation option for everyone.

The new year is off to a great start for the cruise industry. According to a new study from the analysts at independent consulting firm GP Wild, cruising is one of the absolute safest modes of travel around.

The study, which goes by the rather dry title of “Report on Operational Incidents, 2009–2013,” examined emergency incidents aboard the world’s cruise vessels over a period of several years. The types of events analyzed included fires, collisions, sinkings, storms, passengers falling overboard, engine failures, and other dangerous incidents.

The verdict? Cruising, it turns out, is among the safest ways to travel, whether compared to vacation, business, or even daily personal travel. In fact, cruises tie with commercial airlines for first place in safety. In the five years from 2009 through 2013, the study noted 102 significant incidents on cruise ships that resulted in 215 injuries and 50 deaths, most of which occurred during the wreck of the Costa Concordia in the Mediterranean Sea in 2012.

According to the study’s findings, cruising is over 40 times safer than traveling via ordinary passenger automobile. Even more impressive is the fact that the number of dangerous incidents on cruises dropped by about 13 percent, even though cruise capacity rose nearly 19 percent in the same time period. Incidents in every category of emergency decreased, especially “man overboard” cases, which dropped by half. Overall, there were fewer serious incidents over time, even though more people were cruising.

The study was commissioned by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and drew data from dozens of publicly available information sources, both governmental and private. The encouraging results should assuage any passenger’s fears about taking an ocean vacation.

The statistics paint a clear picture: cruising really is one of the most secure, relaxing, and stress-free ways to travel. So break out the sunscreen and travel guides, and start thinking about your next cruise destination today!

Princess Cruises rang in the New Year in a big way this year, with a colorful float in the 126th Rose Parade on New Year’s morning. To top off the event, the entire six-member cast of the hit 1970s TV show The Love Boat sailed aboard the flowery faux boat.

The 60-foot-long float represented Princess Cruises’ newest addition to its fleet: the Regal Princess, which was christened late last year with the cast of The Love Boat serving as her godparents. People watching the parade could see the mini-Regal Princess sailing among artistic depictions of some of the world’s most notable destinations. Crafted from over 24,000 flowers and flower vials signed by thousands of company employees, the beautiful replicas included the Golden Gate Bridge, the mountains of Alaska, the Sydney Opera House, and a Japanese pagoda.

The theme of this year’s Rose Parade was “Inspiring Stories.” This led designers at Princess Cruises to launch their float with the theme of “50 Years of Inspiring Travel.” The cruise line drew on travel tales submitted by its faithful passengers in order to select the destinations shown on the float. Among the most inspiring stories was one from the grand-prize winner, World War II veteran Nathan Keith Abbott, who sailed on a Princess cruise to revisit the Pacific islands that he served on many decades ago.

The float’s artistry and emotional appeal certainly left quite an impression. It received the parade’s Craftsman Trophy in recognition of its outstanding dramatic impact and showmanship.

So why all the excitement around a float?

The spectacular Rose Parade appearance served as a kickoff event for Princess Cruises’ 50th anniversary festivities this year. Since its founding, the company has grown into one of the world’s most recognized cruise lines, with an 18-ship fleet that carries 1.7 million cruisers every year throughout the world. In recognition of this success, and as a thank you to its loyal guests and crew, Princess Cruises is planning to extend its birthday celebration throughout the year with sales and onboard celebrations on all of its vessels.

It’s a brand-new year, and that means cruise lines will be showcasing the latest and greatest in cruising innovations and technology this year. And what better way to do that than to highlight the newest vessels in the world’s ever-growing fleet? The year 2015 will see the launch of a number of forward-looking cruise ships, including a few from Royal Holiday-affiliated cruise lines.

First up in the spring will be Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas, the newest ship in the line’s acclaimed Quantum class. She is scheduled to sail Mediterranean itineraries out of Southampton, United Kingdom, during the summer; and Caribbean cruises from Bayonne, New Jersey, in the winter. The ship, of course, will feature the most advanced entertainment options for which the Quantum-class vessels are known. Guests can enjoy a skydiving simulator, 360-degree views from the glass-enclosed North Star capsule, and virtual balconies in interior staterooms.

In October, NCL’s Norwegian Escape will hit the water. The first ship in the upgrade Breakaway-Plus class, she will feature more deck space than her sister ships in the similar Breakaway class. The vessel, which will be based in Miami, will service Caribbean routes. The Escape, which will be adorned with distinctive hull art by artist Guy Harvey, will offer passengers characteristic flair at venues like the Miami-style Tobacco Road bar and a Margaritaville restaurant.

In addition to the new launches this coming year, a handful of cruise ships will also benefit from extensive refurbishments. Carnival Miracle, which may soon relocate from the Mexican Riviera to sail Bahamas itineraries, will be refurbished in spring 2015. She will most likely be among the vessels set to receive Carnival’s popular Fun Ship 2.0 upgrade, which will include added features like the Blue Iguana Cantina and Guy’s Burger Joint. Next year, the Norwegian Gem will also be getting a facelift. The ship, which will enjoy a complete overhaul of her decor and furnishings, will include new venues like O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill.

The New Year is rolling in, and countless vacationers are already looking forward to the fun cruises and exotic destinations that they’ll be enjoying later in the year. But cruising doesn’t have to be just about fantastic food and lounging around. In fact, year after year, plenty of cruisers find the time to combine relaxation with opportunities to grow personally and learn a little about pretty much any topic under the sun.

Enrichment programs have been a staple aboard luxury lines like Cunard and Oceania for years. At the same time, more mainstream cruise lines have long offered modest library facilities and limited classes in dancing, cooking, fitness, and more. As more cruisers seek to expand their horizons, however, ships are offering lectures and classes on a variety of subjects, ranging from history and language, to art and wine tasting. The best part is that these enrichment experiences are far from boring and can easily be incorporated into an unforgettable, fun-filled cruise.

Princess and other lines offer lectures on a broad range of topics on its cruises. Speakers are drawn from experts in fields such as archeology, cultural history, marine biology, and countless other disciplines. In addition, the line’s ScholarShip@Sea program offers passengers the opportunity to take fun classes in hobby-oriented pursuits, such as ceramics and photography, as well as technical subjects such as navigation. Likewise, Royal Caribbean offers classes on topics like dance, wine tasting, and cooking. The cruise line also offers instruction in languages, as well as jewelry-making, scrapbooking, and other crafts.

In addition, every cruise line offers a range of shore excursions, many of which enable participants to delve into the history, culture, or the ecology of their favorite destinations.

When you find yourself with a few extra hours during your next cruise, why not spend the time learning something new through one of the ship’s enrichment programs or educational shore excursions?

Consider it a New Year’s resolution!