Regent Reduces Single Supplement!

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has today announced a program of reduced single supplements on many of their 2010 sailings! Offering supplements of 30-50% on selected sailings on both the Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner, this represents an exceptional value for solos looking for a relaxed experience on a true luxury line.

Regent offers all-inclusive pricing, encompassing gratuities, wine and alcohol with lunch and dinner along with a bar set up of your choice in your suite, bottled water and soda, and for 2010, also includes free air and unlimited excursions of your choice!

I've long held that luxury lines many times are the most solo-friendly, and Regent (along with Crystal) are working hard this year to prove me correct! If you're looking to move up into luxury cruising, call me toll-free at 888-SAIL-123 (888-724-5123) or email me at amber@cruiseresource.com for a personal consultation and quote. Remember, I hold the exclusive Luxury Cruise Specialist designation from CLIA, so I can help you navigate the choices between lines.

Celebrity Up To $300/cabin Onboard Credit!

Celebrity is offering up to $300/cabin onboard credit AND 50% reduced deposit for oceanview cabins or above on most sailings to Alaska, Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean, Europe, or Panama Canal in 2010!

The details are:

- Book by January 31, 2010
- Oceanview cabin or above
- Deposit due at time of booking
- New bookings only
- Select sailings between February 10, 2010 - December 16, 2010
- $50/cabin onboard credit for sailings 3-5 nights
- $100/cabin onboard credit for sailings 6-9 nights
- $150/cabin onboard credit for sailings 10+ nights

PLUS if you book a veranda or suite cabin on any 7-night Celebrity Solstice Caribbean sailing OR 12-night Celebrity Century Mediterranean cruise, you will double your credit with $200/cabin for the Solstice and $300/cabin for Century!

More information at: Celebrity January Designed for You Promo

If you're interested, call me at 888-SAIL-123 (888-724-5123) or email me at amber@cruiseresource.com for more details and to book!

More on RCCL's Haiti Relief Efforts

Following up on the promised aid to Haiti, Royal Caribbean has detailed their future plans for relief efforts to the devastated country.

Royal Caribbean is partnering with charitable organizations – such as Food for the Poor, Pan American Development Foundation and the Solano Foundation, the company’s foundation in Haiti, to provide additional assistance to the people of Haiti. Royal Caribbean will also be delivering much needed goods and supplies to Haiti via their cruise ships.

“The effect of the earthquake on Haiti has been catastrophic, leaving the country in need of not only immediate support, but assistance in their long-term recovery,” said Richard Fain, chairman and chief executive officer of RCCL. “Royal Caribbean wants to do its part to help out not only the general response, but also our hundreds of Haitian employees and their families through this disaster. In addition to our financial contribution, Royal Caribbean will continue to provide economic support through the continuous business we bring to Labadee.”

Leslie Voltaire, special envoy of the government of Haiti to the United Nations, said: “Given the terrible economic and social challenges we now face in Haiti, we welcome the continuation of the positive economic benefits that the cruise ship calls to Labadee contribute to our country.”

Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas made a call Jan. 15 at Labadee, Haiti, to deliver supplies for Haiti. The supplies were loaded on the ship during its call in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and include items such as rice, dried beans, powdered milk, water and canned goods. In addition, 100 percent of the company’s net revenue from Labadee will be contributed to the relief effort.

In the next two weeks, the following ships are scheduled to call on Labadee with additional supplies: Navigator of the Seas on Monday, Jan. 18; Liberty of the Seas on Tuesday, Jan. 19; and Celebrity Solstice on Friday, Jan. 22. When the supplies arrive in Labadee, they will be transported to an offsite location to be distributed by Food for the Poor, a long time partner of Royal Caribbean in Haiti.

In addition to working with Food for the Poor to distribute relief supplies, guests sailing onboard Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises will be able to make a donation to Food for the Poor’s Haiti Relief Fund, via a charge to their onboard account. Guests who would like to contribute immediately can visit www.foodforthepoor.org/royalcaribbean to make a donation. Royal Caribbean also plans to use a portion of the $1 million donation to augment the company’s Crew Relief Fund, which can be drawn on by any of the company’s more than 200 Haitian crew members for assistance, as well as to match employee contributions to the partner organizations. As the initial response effort gives way to the long-term recovery effort, Royal Caribbean said it will consider further support efforts. For more information, visit www.rclinvestor.com.

NCL's Year of Freestyle Vacation Continues

As was mentioned before, Norwegian Cruise Lines is offering a series of promotions during this "wave" season. First up was the Epic, now Alaska and Panama Canal sailings are on sale, with up to 6-category upgrade and 50% reduced deposits, along with onboard credit on select sailings!

This offer is good through January 31. If you're interested, call or email me at amber@cruiseresource.com!

Royal Caribbean on Haiti Quake

Prior to yesterday, Haiti evoked varying thoughts in cruisers. Most would probably equate it with hurricanes over the years. Some who follow the news would immediately think of Papa Doc Duvalier (and Baby Doc) the dictators who are much to blame for even current day Haiti's poverty. But for cruisers on Royal Caribbean, Haiti often evokes very happy memories of a great day at the beach spent at Labadee, RCCL's private island, which happens to be at the tip of Haiti.

Geographically isolated from the epicenter near Port au Prince, Labadee is not a focus of the rescue efforts and early reports indicate no significant damage to the facilities. But with cruise calls scheduled over the next week, it is on the mind of many, not the least of whom is Royal Caribbean President and CEO Adam Goldstein.

RCCL is well known for its charitable endeavors, including disaster assistance including delivering relief supplies after the hurricane in Cozumel a few years ago among many others. When I first heard of the earthquake, I wondered how long it would be before they were involved in the efforts. Others wondered the same thing, and I fielded calls from clients and the press today.

Tonight, Adam Goldstein addressed the catastrophe in his blog. You can read it for yourself at Nation of Why Not. It shows clearly the corporate heart, spirit and generosity of this line, and puts assistance first. I expect this to be the first of several posts on this subject, and likely will be providing information on relief efforts.

While I expect all the major lines to participate in this effort if needed, because of Royal Caribbean's close relationship and partnership with Haiti, they will likely be in the forefront. Thank you, RCCL, for all you do, and for being the type of company who gives back without question when the need arises.

If you are wondering what you can do to help, of course the American Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders are two organizations you can feel safe in giving your hard-earned money. They are already there and helping. Doctors Without Borders already had more than 700 medical professionals in the country, and with that infrastructure, they will take the lead in medical relief. The Red Cross has already used all of their existing resources in Haiti, and are working on getting new supplies. A donation to either organization would go right where it is needed.

An Epic Announcement for Solo Travelers on NCL!

Earlier this week when I posted the Wave Season specials, I highlighted that solo occupancy cruisers were being offered reduced single supplements on the Epic. Today, NCL makes the offer even better!

NCL has not traditionally been a solo-friendly line, with almost entirely 200% supplements fleet-wide, and only a few reduced supplement sailings each year. Starting Monday, January 18, they will put their Studio cabins on the Epic on sale with ZERO single supplement! Pricing as low as $799 single occupancy for a 7-night sailing, these cabins were designed for solos and singles.

The Studios on Norwegian Epic are a private key-card access complex on two decks consisting of 128 staterooms and the Studio Lounge. Each Studio stateroom, at approximately 100 square feet of living space, features a contemporary design with a full-size bed and separate areas for the bathroom, sink and shower. In addition, guests in the Studios have private access to the exclusive Studio Lounge. Here, guests can grab a cup of coffee in the morning, meet up with fellow cruisers and plan their day or relax with a drink in the evening. Since many of the Studio staterooms are connecting, there is also the opportunity for friends to travel together while giving each their own private space.

“Historically, the cruise industry has not embraced the large number of people
who enjoy traveling solo,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief
executive officer. “We are breaking the mold of traditional cruising once
again by offering a stateroom designed and priced specifically for solo
travelers, making cruising a more attractive travel option. We invite all
solo travelers – whether they are first-time cruisers or cruising veterans -- to
sail on our incredible new Freestyle Cruising ship, Norwegian Epic.”

These definitely are a different concept, but a good value for solos who are willing to sail in an inside cabin. The Living Room option gives an added socialization factor unique to this ship, and for those who want their own cabin, but don't want to feel like they are the only solos on a cruise, it's worth looking at.

However, as I've written before, these cabins do have "mood" lighting as one of their features. If you book one of these cabins, be very careful of using the red light choice - you might be sending an unintended message, especially if you're sitting in the window!

It's Wave Season! FULL List of Special Offers!

Once again, cruise wave season is upon us, the time when most bookings for the year are made, and the cruise lines roll out attractive specials to entice you. Below is a FULL list of wave season offers by cruise line! Most of these offers are available through February 4, 2010, though other booking dates may be listed in the specific offers:

Azamara Club Cruises: Receive up to $400 in Onboard Credit (per stateroom) when you book an Ocean View stateroom or higher on select Azamara Club departures. Booking Window: January 7 - February 4, 2010

Applicable Sailings:
Azamara Journey, 5/2/10
Azamara Journey, 5/23/10
Azamara Journey, 6/18/10
Azamara Journey, 8/29/10
Azamara Quest, 7/12/10
Azamara Quest, 11/27/10

Carnival: Up to 2 Category Upgrade on select dates.

Celebrity: Up to $100/cabin onboard credit! Celebrity January Sale

Interested in an Alaska or Europe cruisetour? Up to $200/cabin onboard
credit on Alaska cruisetours if booked by January 31, or $300/cabin onboard
credit for Europe cruisetours if booked by March 31!

Crystal: In addition to the absolutely wonderful As You Wish onboard credits up to $2,000/cabin, 2-for-1 fares and free air on select sailings, an additional $200/cabin onboard credit and pre-paid gratuities.

Solo Travelers: Remember that Crystal has some of the
lowest single supplements in the industry, standard starting at only 25%.
Crystal can be a fabulous value for solo travelers.

Cunard: Up to $300/cabin onboard credit for all 2010/2011 sailings (except 2011 World Cruise) on QM2, Queen Victoria and the new Queen Elizabeth.

Solo traveler alert: I have found ZERO single supplement on some fall 2010 Transatlantic sailings on the Queen Mary 2! Most notably the 11/10/10 sailing. Zero. Nada. Zip! Current inside fares are less than $1,000 SINGLE OCCUPANCY! If you've dreamed of a classic Cunard Transatlantic and sail solo... DO NOT WAIT! These sailings are also eligible for the onboard credit and reduced deposit offers!

Disney: Onboard credit for selected 3- and 4-night spring sailings!

Holland America: Reduced deposit and coupon book for all bookings! Don't forget the ongoing View and Verandah sale with lowered fares for oceanview cabins and above, 50% reduced deposit, savings for 3rd and 4th passengers, and even savings on pre- and post-cruise hotels!

In addition, in an EXCLUSIVE for my clients, I have some Limited Edition The Art
of Cruising books from Holland America! This lovely coffee table book
highlights the fine art and antiques aboard Holland America ships. Book
with me on Holland America by February 5, and I'll enter you into a drawing for
these collectible books!

NCL: Year of Freestyle Vacation offers. Up to 6 category upgrades, certificate books, plus rotating offers every two weeks. Currently on sale: Norwegian Epic with upgrades and reduced deposits!

In addition, for solo travelers, Norwegian Epic is offering
150% single supplements for most 2010 and 2011 sailings! This is huge, as
NCL rarely reduces single supplements. A great opportunity to try not only
NCL, but their brand new Epic!

Princess: Through January 21, reduced deposits of $100/person and coupon books on all sailings 7 days or longer.

In addition, for select 2010 European, Caribbean and Alaska sailings, book a balcony at the price of an Oceanview!

Alaska Cruisetours including Denali are on sale! Up to 25% off Alaska
Cruisetour packages! Book by February 28. Prices start as low as
$1,274/person.

Royal Caribbean: Up to $200/cabin savings for select sailings throughout 2010! Book an oceanview cabin or above by February 28 on select sailings and receive up to $200/cabin savings!

River Cruising: River cruise lines continue to offer tremendous savings, with 2-for-1 pricing, free or reduced air and other special offers. These specials are frequently changing, but if you're considering a river cruise for 2010, don't wait. Unlike 2009, many special dates are already extremely limited.

This is the time to book your 2010 (or even 2011) cruise!

If you're thinking of Alaska this year, I can't emphasize enough to BOOK NOW! Because of the reduction in the number of ships and sailings, I expect Alaska cruises and cruisetours to be going up in price throughout the year. Booking now locks in your preferred cabin and pricing.

Remember that several lines will allow me to adjust your fare if they lower prices, EVEN AFTER FINAL PAYMENT! If you're concerned with getting the best fare, and who isn't, ask for information on these policies. I never charge a fee for changes to your booking, unless the cruise line imposes one directly. So you're protected when booking with me!

Call me at 303-690-8937, or toll-free at 888-SAIL-123 (888-724-5123), or email at amber@cruiseresource.com for more information on any sailing, offer, or to book your cruise! You deserve a great vacation in 2010!