CROWN CRUISE VACATIONS Updated April 2024 22 Reviews 120 Village Blvd, Princeton, New Jersey Travel Agents Phone Number

Table Of Content

• Best Cruises Out Of Port Canaveral
• Pelican Bay ~a Lovely Hotel on Grand Bahama Island
• Cruise Search
• Buffalo Trace Distillery Selects Premium Bourbon Barrel for Holland America Line...
• EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS +  FREE AIR ON SELECT VIKING RIVER CRUISES

Today, Princess has raised cruising to a whole new level, with spacious and accommodating ships packed with amenities. With two to three main dining rooms, warm and intimate in scale, and two to three spectacular theatres for a choice of entertainment nightly, you’ll always find the freedom to chart your own course. Recreational Court – From ping pong, shuffleboard, Xpotential Fitness classes and morning meditation, a rotation of sports and wellness options will be offered to guests in this multifunction sports court. Embarking from three Florida ports – Port Canaveral, Port Tampa Bay and Port Everglades – travelers will enjoy more than 40 new itineraries. The Horizons Dining Room with its stunning three stories is open and flexible with dining options to suit every mood.

Best Cruises Out Of Port Canaveral

They're expansive and immersive escapes into playful worlds, not unlike a great cruise. I love tacking on an extra day or two at an Orlando theme park, usually before my cruise departs. I always appreciate the days of racking up thousands of steps traversing a theme park before boarding a cruise, where I know I'll be able to lounge on a deck or relax in a hot tub.

Pelican Bay ~a Lovely Hotel on Grand Bahama Island

It’s a thrilling multi-sensory experience that uses bar-raising choreography and cutting-edge lighting and video effects to pay homage to the iconic siren of the stage - the showgirl - across the decades. Water, coffee, tea and some juices are free in the ship’s buffet. Alcoholic drinks, specialty coffees, sodas and smoothies are usually not free. Check to see what your ship offers before you sail. Depending on what you plan to drink, it might be more economical to buy a drink package.

Cruise Search

One that is intimate, more unique and simply more exhilarating. A voyage with us promises the thrill of sailing the open seas. The relaxing luxury of your own private yacht. And the romantic adventure of exploring the world’s most storied places and secluded harbors. Casual and personalized luxury unlike any other cruise vacation.

Page 84 – Cruise Hive - Cruise Hive

Page 84 – Cruise Hive.

Posted: Thu, 14 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Sailing on the Adventure of the Seas® for eight nights from Port Canaveral, you'll stop in ports such as Oranjestad, Aruba; Willemstad, Curaçao; and Kralendijk, Bonaire. Each port will welcome you with easily accessible, powdery sand beaches primed for world-class swimming, snorkeling and diving. You'll have your pick of 86 dive sites at Bonaire National Marine Park with more than 350 recorded fish species known to frequent the waters. Oceania Cruises is the world’s largest upscale cruise line. The finest cuisine at sea, award-winning itineraries define Oceania Cruises’ five-star product and is the cruise line of choice for travelers seeking a truly refined and casually elegant travel experience.

INTRODUCING: SEVEN SEAS GRANDEUR

The choices are as well rounded as the 360-degree views. At Scenic, when we say all-inclusive, that’s what we mean. As the curators of Scenic Wonder, we proudly invite you to experience the all-inclusive luxury lifestyle of our floating world, with us.

Spend the day enjoying calm, low waves — great for year-round swimming, learning to surf and kayaking alongside manatees and dolphins. Or take a seat on an airboat ride through the wetlands for encounters with alligators and, depending on the season, bald eagles, herons and osprey. Viking Ocean Cruises boasts a fleet of new, all-veranda, state-of-the-art ocean ships. Each sister ship carries only 930 guests and is engineered at a scale that allows direct access into most ports. Classified by Cruise Critic as “small ships,” the fleet features understated elegance and modern Scandinavian design.

EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS +  FREE AIR ON SELECT VIKING RIVER CRUISES

In Roatán, Honduras, ceviche is the local favorite, along with fried plantains and baleadas — tacos made with soft flour tortillas. Located on the top decks of Sun Princess, Park 19 will feature nine engaging activities for the entire family to enjoy. The most engaging family activity zone ever featured on a Princess cruise ship will debut on the new Sun Princess when the ship is launched in February 2024. Celebrity Cruises will revamp its current Caribbean program out of Port Tampa Bay with four new itineraries and a total of 14 sailings for the season from Jan. 2, 2025, to April 6, 2025. “With the construction of any new ship, we have the incredible opportunity to design standout spaces with our guests’ preferences in mind,” John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises, said in a news release. With bright designs inspired by rays of sunlight and next-level expanded spaces, the new Sun Princess will include a show-stopping Arena theatre and stunning three-story dining venue – a first for Princess.

So, if your suitcase is heavy, don’t try to struggle with it. Elevators are usually jam packed on debarkation day but it can be a hassle to carry a suitcase downstairs to the designated meeting place. If you have Global Entry to get through customs, have your card ready. If you don’t have Global Entry, consider getting a card, especially if you plan to travel often.

The surf’s always up on the 40-foot-long FlowRider surf simulator. Grab your board and get ready, 30,000 gallons of rushing awesome are headed your way. Carve like a pro - or just try to stay upright - while friends cheer you on from the stadium seating. After you’ve taken a ride on the North Star, featuring brilliant 360 degrees views from 300 feet above sea level, celebrate your unforgettable ascent with something sparkling, mixed, frosty, or tropical. At North Star Bar, the sips are just as impressive as the sights. I took my first cruise in 1978 and have never met a boat or ship I didn’t like.

On an eight-night journey, this ship will first cruise to Labadee, the cruise line's private peninsula adventure park and beach. The next private island destination is Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's oasis in The Bahamas. Here you'll port within short distance of pristine beaches, a thrilling water park and countless ways to unwind beneath the palm trees. There's also a stop in Bermuda, home to pink-sand beaches and rum swizzles. A Royal Caribbean cruise ship is like a recreation center, an entertainment complex, a grand hotel, an art gallery, a health spa, several restaurants and a seaside resort all rolled into one.

At the end of your musical journey, you’ll get to hear the song you made in one rocking grand finale. Passengers are usually given a time and a place to gather for debarkation. That helps prevent a mad dash for thousands of passengers trying to leave at the same time. Smoking is only permitted in designated areas on some ships.

Celebrity Cruises Gathers Top Awards in 2022 - The Maritime Executive

Celebrity Cruises Gathers Top Awards in 2022.

Posted: Wed, 18 Jan 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Professional photographers also will offer plenty of other photography opportunities on the cruise. Those photos are usually posted in a gallery and you can choose whether to buy. Photo prices are not too high and my favorite photo of my grandson was taken on a Disney cruise when he wore his suit to the Captain’s Dinner. I take only a carry-on suitcase and a backpack for flights to my cruises, no matter how long the cruise is going to last.

Concordia-class cruise ship Wikipedia

Table Of Content

• More than 60 people drown after a migrant vessel capsizes off Libya, U.N. says
• Vessels of the class
• 'We all suffer from PTSD': 10 years after the Costa Concordia cruise disaster, memories remain
• The Costa Concordia Disaster: How Human Error Made It Worse

The Costa Concordia, a haven of lavishness with sumptuous offerings, including four swimming pools, a casino, and a colossal spa, set the gold standard for luxury cruising. The seven-day Mediterranean sojourns quickly became iconic, treating guests to the enchanting shores of Italy, France, and Spain. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, a lot of cruise lines have implemented a virtual muster drill process that allows passengers to watch the safety briefings from their smartphones or stateroom television before visiting their muster station in person. Following the incident, an investigation was opened that focused on the faults in the procedures taken by the crew and Captain Schettino, especially after leaving the ship while passengers were still stranded.

More than 60 people drown after a migrant vessel capsizes off Libya, U.N. says

For Concordia survivors, the COVID-19 infections on cruise ships are just another indication that passenger safety still isn’t a top industry priority. Concordia passengers were largely left on their own to find life jackets and a functioning lifeboat. Because of the delayed evacuation order, many lifeboats couldn’t be lowered because the ship was already on its side.

Vessels of the class

After the Concordia ship sank, intensive efforts were necessary to secure the area and prevent further harm to the fragile marine ecosystem. Captain Schettino, often referred to as Captain Costa Concordia, has been pivotal in the narrative, facing widespread vilification for decisions that led to the shipwreck. The gravity of the captain’s choices that fateful night is anchored deeply in the consciousness of the maritime industry and those affected by the disaster. As I stand here today, the once majestic beacon of the cruise industry lies dormant. The Italian cruise ship crash changed the physical landscape and the lives of all involved.

'We all suffer from PTSD': 10 years after the Costa Concordia cruise disaster, memories remain

The night of this tragic event happened in real time for me as the news broke here in the United States. I was working and publishing news items to our forums and the home page of Cruise Addicts. Sadly, this incredibly poor narrative is not fiction but a real-life catastrophe constructed by a myriad of poor choices. We look back at the life and career of the longtime host of "Sunday Morning," and "one of the most enduring and most endearing" people in broadcasting. A report from the United Nations determined that 1 million species are threatened with extinction.

Investigation and trial

Perhaps the most complex and expensive maritime salvage operation ever attempted saw the 114,500-ton ship pulled upright by a series of huge jacks and cables and set on artificial platforms drilled into the rocky sea bed. The luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia was owned by Costa Cruises, an Italian cruise line company. This ship sank in 2012, but the echoes of the Costa Concordia tragedy still resonate powerfully. Beginning in February 2012, it became a requirement for all cruise ships to complete the drill while still docked in the embarkation port. While Captain Schettino made his way ashore, Mario Pellegrini, the deputy mayor of the Tuscan island of Gigilo where passengers were taken to, boarded the ship to assist with rescue efforts.

The crew and passengers faced a night of uncertainty, forced to abandon the comforts of their cabins for lifeboats and, in some instances, into the open sea. As the evacuation unfolded, the stark contrast between the sinking of the Costa Concordia and the luxury it stood for before the accident couldn’t have been more pronounced. On January 13, 2012, passengers boarded the Concordia, anticipating the exciting journey ahead. Unbeknownst to them, this trip would end drastically different than they had imagined. The first sign of trouble came when the cruise ship initiated a “salute” maneuver near Giglio Island, deviating from its original course.

Costa Concordia: How cruise ship tragedy transformed an island paradise - CNN

Costa Concordia: How cruise ship tragedy transformed an island paradise.

Posted: Sat, 14 Sep 2013 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Wrecking Near the Shore

In 2012, Costa Concordia, a cruise ship owned by Costa Cruises, capsized off of the coast of Italy shortly after departing from Civitavecchia. While not as deadly as the infamous sinking of the Titanic in 1912, this incident resulted in some modifications to the safety guidelines within the cruise industry. Giglio’s vice mayor at the time, Mario Pellegrini, had climbed on board the listing ship that night to help coordinate the rescue, and found sheer chaos in the absence of orders from the captain or crew.

Following the removal of the fuel in March 2012, plans were set in place to arrange for the ship to be scrapped, and for two-and-a-half years, Costa Concordia remained off the coast of Italy. In September 2013, a parbuckling procedure brought the ship to an upright position. In a separate trial, five other Costa Cruises employees were convicted on manslaughter and all entered plea bargains to receive sentences of three years or less.

In July 2014 the Concordia—outfitted with a number of steel containers serving as flotation devices—was towed to Genoa, Italy, where it was dismantled for scrap. The total cost of the disaster, including victims' compensation, refloating, towing and scrapping costs, is estimated at $2 billion, more than three times the ship's $612 million construction cost. Costa Cruises offered compensation to passengers (to a limit of €11,000 per person) to pay for all damages, including the value of the cruise; one third of the survivors took the offer. The Costa Concordia began taking on water after it struck a reef, leading to a chaotic evacuation process to save the lives of passengers and crew members. As an observer and reporter, I’ve seen firsthand how a once vibrant vacation remnant is now a silent watchdog, ensuring the sanctuary’s safety.

Today, the Costa Concordia cruise ship bears a tale of caution, a lesson submerged in the depths of nautical annals. Before the concordia shipwreck turned the vessel into a byword for disaster, let me guide you through its glory days—the triumph of engineering and luxury it once represented. The anniversary comes as the cruise ship industry, shut down in much of the world for months because of the coronavirus pandemic, is again in the spotlight because of COVID-19 outbreaks that threaten passenger safety. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control last month warned people to avoid cruises, regardless of their vaccination status, because of the infection risk. Prosecutors blamed the delayed evacuation order and conflicting instructions given by crew for the chaos that ensued as passengers scrambled to get off the ship.

Approximately 300 souls remained onboard as the last crew detached, spurring a flurry of survival strategies, including climbing down ladders in a landscape where decks had transformed into walls. In my carnal pursuit of sharing this catastrophe’s account, I am reminded of how closely we skirt the edges between safety and danger and the immeasurable responsibility of those commanding such grand vessels. The sinking of the Costa Concordia, a spectacle of disbelief and sorrow, is a stark reminder of the fleeting nature of security in the face of human error and natural forces. The Costa Concordia was a testament to the prowess of its owner, Costa Crociere, a subsidiary of the world-renowned Carnival Corporation & PLC. Officially launched in 2005, this floating behemoth overtook the historic Titanic in size, spanning an impressive 951 feet. With an opulent passenger capacity of 3,780, it heralded a new era of maritime luxury.

These revisions were not mere suggestions but mandatory steps to solidify trust in cruise vacations for passengers and crew members alike. After the ship hit the reef, the engine room flooded and generators failed, causing a power outage that sent the ship adrift until it eventually crashed offshore and capsized. Evidence presented at the trial showed Schettino downplayed the severity of the situation in communications with the Coast Guard and delayed an evacuation order, then abandoned ship before all the passengers and crew were off. The hospitality of the tight-knit community of islanders kicked in, at first to give basic assistance to the 4,229 passengers and crew members who had to be evacuated from a listing vessel as high as a skyscraper. In no time, Giglio residents hosted thousands of journalists, law enforcement officers and rescue experts who descended on the port. In the months to come, salvage teams set up camp in the picturesque harbor to work on safely removing the ship, an operation that took more than two years to complete.

Whether or not Captain Francesco Schettino was trying to impress his girlfriend is debatable. The wreck was not the fault of unexpected weather or ship malfunction—it was a disaster caused entirely by a series of human errors. When the Costa Concordia succumbed to the sea, it represented a Concordia cruise disaster and raised immediate environmental concerns the Costa Concordia area had to contend with. The marine sanctuary, which could have suffered irreversible damage due to the cruise liner sinking in 2012, desperately needed protective measures. The salvage operations Concordia undertook were a race against time to minimize the ecological footprint of the wreckage.

The events unfolded on the night of January 2012, leaving an indelible mark on history as the cruise ship Costa Concordia sank in Italy. Muster drills are meant to familiarize all passengers with their assigned assembly stations and other cruise ship protocols. The drill is mandatory for all passengers, even those who have cruised before, as the assigned location is dependent on your stateroom and, therefore, will most likely be different on every cruise. The following days were spent searching for other survivors; however, they were halted at one point due to fearing the ship would sunk further, thus risking the lives of divers. The final mad scramble to evacuate the listing liner and then the extraordinary generosity of Giglio islanders who offered shoes, sweatshirts and shelter until the sun rose and passengers were ferried to the mainland. The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed early Tuesday, March 26 after a column was struck by a container ship that reportedly lost power, sending vehicles and people into the Patapsco River.