Royal Holiday

The largest cruise company in the world recently announced that it would acquire several new ships, expanding its global fleet by almost 10 percent from 2014 through the end of 2016. In addition to obtaining new ships, Carnival Corporation has also focused heavily on refurbishing existing ships in recent years to provide passengers with the very latest innovations in cruise vacationing.

Carnival Corporation is the parent company of a number of well-known cruise lines. Included among its holdings are popular American lines like Princess and Carnival, as well as several European-based lines. The company also owns a number of luxury cruise brands. Across all its lines’ fleets, Carnival Corporation currently sails just over 100 ships.

A handful of christenings have recently added to that number. In a high-profile naming ceremony that involved the cast of “The Love Boat” sitcom of the 1970s, Princess cruises introduced its new flagship, the Regal Princess. Likewise this month, Italian line Costa Cruises—another Carnival Corporation property—christened its newest vessel, Costa Diadema. Two more ships will join the greater Carnival family in 2015, and still more will follow in 2016, including the highly anticipated Carnival Vista.

Existing ships will also enjoy face-lifts in coming years. In 2015, the company expects to refurbish 17 vessels. The renovations will include hi-tech upgrades to ships’ systems, as well as significant style and comfort boosts on ships in select markets.

So what does all this growth mean for cruisers?

According to Carnival Corporation executives, expanding its fleets and upgrading its ships is the best way to ensure guests continue to get the most out of their precious vacation time aboard Carnival-owned vessels. The expansions will push Carnival brands’ presence into new markets, and maintain the status of cruising as an affordable vacation option that provides the most memories and relaxation for the cost.

As one of the most famous stops on the gorgeous Mexican Riviera, Puerto Vallarta has long drawn tourists to explore the area’s rich culture and natural beauty.

Scenic shorelines define the coast of Puerto Vallarta, where posh resort beaches like those in the hotel-heavy “Golden Zone” compete with sportier beaches like Playa de los Muertos. There are also plenty of shore excursions for adventurous cruisers, with activities like jungle zip-lining, snorkeling, birding, kayaking, and countless other outdoor pursuits. At the same time, the picturesque downtown, El Centro, offers a pleasant profusion of cobblestone streets, quaint shops, and colonial architecture, with a constant serenade of music. No visitor should miss the Malecon, a restored seaside walkway lined with an array of thought-provoking sculptures.

Perhaps the biggest attraction in Puerto Vallarta is the food. The town is home to several of Mexico’s top restaurants as well as countless local cafes and street stalls serving up delicious traditional favorites.

This month, Puerto Vallarta continues its long-established role as a foodie mecca as it hosts the city’s 20th Annual International Gourmet Festival. The celebration features the works of over 30 renowned chefs from all over the world. Over the course of the 10-day festival, visitors and locals alike can enjoy cooking classes, “gourmet safaris,” cheese and beer tastings, and countless other interactive events with some of the most accomplished culinary talents around.

The foodie fun in Puerto Vallarta isn’t limited to November, though. In fact, the area is widely known for the many culinary festivals that grace the calendar from October through May. This past October, the Vallarta Nayarit Gastronomica brought some of North America’s top chefs to the area for four days of tastings, lectures, and exhibits. In May, many of the city’s 360-plus restaurants, participate in the town’s 10th annual Restaurant Week, during which guests can enjoy a huge range of prix fixe menus.

Given the region’s fascination with good food and fine dining, there is sure to be something in Puerto Vallarta to please even the pickiest cruiser!

With tons of fuel and accommodations for thousands of people, a cruise ship is a massive machine that potentially produces a great deal of waste, noise, and pollution. However, for the last few decades, the pleasure cruise industry has made great strides in reducing the impact that its ships have on the ocean environment. In recognition of these efforts, the world’s leading coalition of cruise lines recently received a top industry award.

At a dinner and ceremony in Washington, D.C., on October 29, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) was recognized with this year’s Marine Environment Protection Association Award. The award is one of the top honors handed out by the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) to global leaders involved in ocean environmentalism.

CLIA, which is the cruise industry’s largest trade association in the world, represents cruise lines and travel agents on five continents. For many years, members of CLIA – including top Royal Holiday affiliated cruise lines such as Carnival Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, MSC Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line – have worked in close cooperation with the International Maritime Organization to develop innovative technologies and practices to reduce the cruise industry’s impact on the marine environment.

CLIA has spearheaded a number of procedures and policies to reduce the negative environmental impact of cruising. They include:

– Limiting the amount of garbage produced on board each ship in order to reduce cruise ships’ impact on landfills at ports of call.

– Minimizing wastewater discharge whenever possible.

– Building ships with energy-saving LED lighting, hull coatings, kitchen appliances, and other cutting-edge technologies.

– Collecting cooking oil from galleys so that it can be converted into bio-diesel fuel at onshore facilities.

– Retaining paper waste and other materials for use in passengers’ crafts projects.

Owing to these initiatives and many others like them, today’s huge cruise ships are “greener” than ever before. For this reason, cruisers can be confident that their favorite choice of vacation is not only fun and relaxing, but also environmentally responsible.

With Halloween out of the way, the holiday season is underway for North American residents, especially those in the U.S. The next big celebration is Thanksgiving, a day of family and feasting.

Every year, thousands of families manage to avoid the nuisances of road travel, housing visitors, and preparing a huge Thanksgiving dinner. Instead, these clever cruisers choose to spend their holiday at sea and to let a qualified crew take care of all the details and the mess.

During the holidays, passengers can expect ships to get into the festive spirit with autumn decor and Thanksgiving-themed activities, as well as the traditional turkey dinner that is served on practically every ship sailing the North American waters this time of year. Of course, for those who would prefer to try something new and enjoy a non-traditional dinner on Thanksgiving, most ships have restaurants that serve a wide variety of cuisines. Modern cruise ships also provide nearly limitless entertainment options, ensuring that every member of the family can have an enjoyable holiday however they choose.

Aside from providing holiday passengers with an escape from the hassles of a holiday spent a home, a Thanksgiving voyage offers several advantages over other holiday cruises, as well. Since they’re not as popular as Christmas or New Year’s cruises, itineraries booked over Thanksgiving tend to be somewhat more affordable. It is also more likely that cruisers enjoying Thanksgiving Day in a port of call will find many more excursions, shops, and restaurants open than on Christmas or New Year’s Day.

When deciding to spend the Thanksgiving holiday at sea, it’s important to plan ahead. Holiday cruises of all kinds are popular, and family-sized cabins fill up quickly, so book your travel early. Since flying at this time of year is so expensive and busy, it’s also a good idea to consider saving yourself money and headaches by taking a Thanksgiving cruise based out of a port within driving distance. If your family includes children, a bigger ship with plenty of entertainment is a better option. On the other hand, if your family would like a relatively quiet cruise, consider selecting a smaller ship that is less likely to have many kids on board over the holidays.

Whatever your family’s preference, a cruise is an excellent way to enjoy a unique and relaxing Thanksgiving Day holiday.

Most family vacations take a lot of planning. Fortunately, many cruise lines have gone out of their way to integrate children’s needs into the designs of their newest ships. Water slides, video-game arcades, kids’ clubs, movie nights, flexible dining, babysitting services, and more have become commonplace on the newest ships of almost every major cruise line. With all the sleeping, eating, and entertainment arrangements taken care of, parents can relax and enjoy the experience.

Accommodations

As more families are choosing cruising every year, cruise lines have responded by providing a larger selection of staterooms. Leading companies, including Norwegian, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean, have cabins that sleep five or six people. Disney even provides one-and-a-half-baths in many cabins, so families can get ready for their outings quickly.

Entertainment

Families come in all sizes and ages, so it’s important to consider whether a ship has facilities that will appeal to teens or younger kids, as well as to parents who might want to get a way for a few hours. With his in mind, most modern ships offer a range of entertainment options suitable for kids of all ages. Many cruise lines have partnered with favorite children’s brands, and can offer fun shows and activities involving SpongeBob SquarePants, Disney princesses, or Dr. Seuss. Most ships also provide clubs where younger passengers can mingle with other kids, in supervised environments with age-appropriate activities. Tons of other options like bowling alleys, arcades, sport courts, movies, and more round out the fun options available to kids.

Food

With so much to eat on board every ship, it’s no surprise that a ship’s restaurants can usually provide a menu for even the pickiest kids. While the parents enjoy their steak and asparagus, the kids can still have their mac-and-cheese and jello. Special diets are usually not a problem either.

Multi-generational Cruises

Of course, kids aren’t the only ones on the cruise! Mom and Dad are there, too—and in a growing trend, Grandma and Grandpa come along, as well. For this reason, cruise ships, especially bigger ones, provide plenty of adults-only events and spaces, including reserved decks and serene spa facilities. After all, the grown-up kids need some fun, too!

When thinking about the exciting Atlantic coast of South America, most cruisers think of exciting ports like Rio de Janeiro, the cosmopolitan harbor of Buenos Aires, or the pristine wilderness of Ilha Grande. However, there is a hidden gem among these exotic ports of call, in the often-overlooked country of Uruguay.

Neither as big nor as busy as the massive destination cities in neighboring Brazil or Argentina, the capital city of Uruguay, Montevideo, has a less hurried, more relaxing charm about it that makes it a wonderful stop during a fun, fast-paced cruise.

Like many established port towns, Montevideo offers visitors plenty of activities. The city boasts excellent dining, shopping, cultural experiences, and beach life, as well as several shore-excursion options for cruisers of varying interests.

Shoppers will especially enjoy Mercado del Puerto, which consists of many restaurants, craft shops, and galleries conveniently located just across the street from the cruise port. Culturally minded cruisers also have plenty of museums and sights to choose from, including the following:

* Torres Garcia Museum—In addition to paintings and drawings, this museum displays furniture and other objects designed by Uruguay’s most famous artist.

* Museo del Gaucho y de la Moneda—This museum highlights the curious combination of local cowboy culture and historic currency.

* Carnaval Museum—Visitors here might even glimpse artists making a colorful papier-mâché Carnaval character.

Tours to local ranches and leatherworks are also possible shore excursions. Not surprisingly, these locations also offer excellent opportunities to pick up a few distinctively Uruguayan crafts and souvenirs.

For a uniquely Montevidean meal, cruisers should try a “chivito,” a local specialty sandwich featuring steak, fried egg, and cheese, along with a smothering of other delicious ingredients. Popular restaurants called “confiterias” provide visitors a great way to sample a range of area cuisines in a traditional setting. Examples of this kind of restaurant exist all over Montevideo, thus making it easy to lunch as the locals do.

One must-see item remains the city’s Old Town. Here, cruisers can explore the capital’s vibrant history, especially in its Plaza Constitucion, which bustles with market activity on weekends. Visitors looking to just kick back and relax can spend an afternoon at one of the town’s pleasant beaches. Several sunny stretches are easily accessible from the port and include all the basic amenities.

This year, cruise news has been full of stories of favorite ports being shut down and itineraries being altered because of hurricanes. Very recently, voyages to Bermuda were changed to avoid Hurricane Gonzalo, and several weeks ago Hurricane Odile devastated the Mexican Riviera port, Cabo San Lucas.

Experienced cruisers know that stormy weather is always a risk when taking to the high seas. The hurricane season runs from June to November in the Caribbean, the most popular cruise destination in the world, so it’s clear that storms are just part of life this time of year for many cruisers.

However, while every hurricane-season ocean vacation in the Caribbean comes with a risk of storms, a few choice spots lie outside the hurricane zone. These fair-weather destinations are much less likely to be shut down by foul weather. Located in the southern reaches of the Caribbean just off the coast of South America, they are often called the ABC Islands.

A is for Aruba

Known everywhere as “One Happy Island,” Aruba is a playground destination of beautiful beaches, flashy casinos, duty-free shops, excellent dive sites, and superior golf courses. The weather is consistently lovely, and the sunny island is even a bit arid in places—fine habitat for the cacti, iguanas, and distinctive divi divi trees that make the island famous.

B is for Bonaire

Long a leader in conservation, this island was pioneering ecotourism even before the word “ecotourism” was popular. With underwater sanctuaries devoted to preserving several species, beautiful Bonaire is especially well known for its fantastic reef-diving opportunities. Unlike some other cruise destinations, Bonaire lacks many of the glitzier attractions like primo shopping or neon-lit casinos, which makes this island a true naturalist’s paradise.

C is for Curacao

The picturesque island of Curacao is as colorful as it is cosmopolitan. Perhaps the first thing that strikes visitors is the palette of pastels that grace the building facades in the port town of Willensted. Tourists can still feel a heavy Dutch influence here as they wander the waterfront enjoying the town’s many shops, galleries, and eateries. In addition, after a day of touring, visitors can visit one of the dozens of beaches that offer plenty of water and sunshine.

To draw more tourists to its mainland, Honduras has recently been courting the cruise industry. The Central American nation already has a cruise destination on the island of Roatan, located about 30 miles off its northern coast. For many years, the jungle-cloaked isle has drawn cruisers seeking a remote getaway with gorgeous white beaches and astonishingly clear waters perfect for snorkeling. With a rich ecology and complex history, visitors to the island can enjoy a huge variety of fun and fascinating shore excursions.

To add to the options that cruisers can enjoy in the region, a private port known as Trujillo recently opened on the Honduran mainland at the spot where Christopher Columbus landed after one of his famous voyages to the New World. Throughout the fall, the new facility will host cruisers aboard the Norwegian Jewel, as well as those from ships from select other cruise lines. Visitors to this port—known as the Banana Coast—can try activities such as historical tours of a local fort, nature walks, white-water rafting, and other exciting excursions. Currently, Trujillo is only reachable by tender, though plans are in the works to develop it further so it can directly service ships dockside.

The intense growth of Honduras’ cruise offerings doesn’t end there, however. The country’s Minister of Tourism considers development of the local cruise industry to be a primary objective. For this reason, the government has announced a sizable investment in a port on Isla del Tigre off the Pacific Coast of Honduras. The site at Amapala already hosts a port, so the bulk of development there will simply involve adding facilities to support vacation cruises and tourism.

The new Honduran port at Amapala is slated to open in about two years—exciting news for ocean vacationers eager for a new and exotic way to experience Central American cruising!