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Holland America's 'Summer On Sale' promotion focuses on family cruising in Europe, the Mediterranean and Alaska

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Latest offers Latest offers; Published: 07 April 2014 07 April 2014

Families looking to take an exciting vacation this summer or travelers looking for their next adventure can take advantage of Holland America Line’s annual promotion on summer cruises. The “Summer on Sale” specials are available now and feature savings on select Europe, Canada/New England and Alaska cruises and Land+Sea Journeys.

Guests who book a Summer on Sale promotion can benefit from fares starting at $499, free or reduced third and fourth fares for kids 17 and under on select voyages, and a $50 Beverage Card per person, up to $100 per stateroom.

“With the significant savings featured in our Summer on Sale promotion, this is the ideal time to book a family vacation,” said Richard Meadows, Holland America Line’s executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “Cruises are an incredible value and now families can make their vacation dollar go even further on summer cruises in Europe and close to home sailings to Alaska and Canada/New England.”

With families spending time together during summer break and multigenerational travel increasing in popularity, guests looking for a family-friendly vacation can book a cruise to Alaska, Europe or Canada/New England under the free or reduced third and fourth fares promotion. These idyllic regions offer memorable experiences for the whole family with a variety of shore excursion adventures and cultural encounters to make it an exciting and educational holiday.

Travelers looking for an extended trip beyond their Holland America Line cruise can take advantage of the Alaska Land+Sea Journeys that combine a Holland America Line cruise with an overland tour of Alaska and the Yukon. By adding extra vacation days on land, travelers will have more time to explore a region that is abundantly rich in flora and fauna. In summer 2014, the line will have seven ships sailing a variety of Alaska itineraries as well as 12 Land+Sea Journeys that combine a Holland America Line cruise with in-depth overland tours to the Yukon and Denali National Park.

In Canada and New England, ms Maasdam and ms Veendam cruise this beautiful region throughout the summer. Guests can witness the rugged cliffs, scenic villages and migrating whales of Saguenay Fjord, enjoy scenic cruising on the St. Lawrence River, and marvel at the wild beauty of Acadia National Park. For the fall foliage period, ms Eurodam joins the two ships sailing between New York and Quebec on four cruises.

For the summer Europe season, seven Holland America Line ships sail unique itineraries that visit northern Europe and the Mediterranean. Each itinerary is filled with opportunities to experience some of the most historic and popular sites in the world. From “The Little Mermaid” in Copenhagen, Denmark, and the grand Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, to the windmills of Mykonos, Greece, and canals of Venice, Italy, guests are sure to enjoy walking through history while making unforgettable family memories.

Norwegians spring into perks

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Latest offers Latest offers; Published: 05 April 2014 05 April 2014

Norwegian Cruise Line is launching its popular “Cruise Event Week” offer on Sunday, April 6, 2014, giving guests the opportunity to earn a variety of on-board amenities valued at up to $270, when they book a new five-day or longer cruise vacation to one of Norwegian’s popular destinations, including the Caribbean, Hawaii*, Bahamas & Florida and more. Guests who take advantage of this limited time offer before Saturday, April 12, 2014, will receive a variety of exciting perks, based on the stateroom category booked, plus reduced deposits and up to $1,000 in air credits. Military, Latitudes and AARP discounts may also apply to select sailings.

As part of the Cruise Event Week offer, guests will receive a variety of special treats. Solo travelers who book a studio stateroom on board Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway or Pride of America or those who book any inside or oceanview stateroom, will receive a bottle of wine** to toast to their vacation, along with a plate of decadent chocolate covered strawberries. Guests who sail in a balcony stateroom will also receive a bottle of wine and chocolate covered strawberries, along with a complimentary dinner for two in Norwegian’s signature Italian restaurant. Mini-suite guests will enjoy all of the amenities received by those in a balcony stateroom, plus an additional dinner for two at Cagney’s Steakhouse, a guest favorite specialty restaurant, located on every Norwegian ship. Suite guests will receive all of the amenities entitled to guests sailing in a mini-suite, plus an additional $50 spa credit to use towards any pampering treatment in the fleet’s relaxing Mandara Spas.

Guests who set sail in Norwegian’s luxurious suite complex, The Haven™ by Norwegian – available on Norwegian Breakaway, Getaway, Epic, Gem, Pearl, Jewel or Jade – will enjoy all of the amenities received by suite guests, plus dinner for two in Norwegian’s signature French restaurant, Le Bistro, and an additional $75 dollar on board credit to use towards a pampering spa treatment, exciting shore excursion, dinner in another specialty restaurant or towards beverages in one of the many bars and lounges on board.

Vacationers can set sail from the Big Apple on Norwegian Breakaway to Bermuda, Norwegian Getaway’s sister-ship and the ship that brings the best of NYC to Sea. Norwegian Breakaway will sail seven-day cruises to Bermuda, from May 4 through September 28, 2014, offering guests three full days to explore in King’s Wharf, Bermuda. Fares start at $599*.

Also sailing from New York City, Norwegian Gem offers seven-day Bahamas and Florida cruises, from May 3 through September 6, 2014, visiting Orlando and Beaches (Port Canaveral), Florida; Norwegian’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas; and Nassau, Bahamas; with fares starting at $559*.

Norwegian Getaway is currently sailing seven-day cruises to the Eastern Caribbean from Miami, her year-round homeport. The line’s newest ship visits tropical ports of call including Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas. On board guests will be dazzled by the ship’s Miami flair, exceptional dining and entertainment as well as the excitement of 678 Ocean Place and The Waterfront, a variety of interconnected indoor and outdoor venues on three dynamic decks that creates a multiplex of dining, activities and more that enhance guests’ connection with the ocean. Fares start at $529*.

Norwegian Jewel cruises to tropical Western Caribbean destinations from Houston between October 11 and December 27, 2014. Guests on board will visit Cozumel, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; and Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras. Fares start at $429*.

For an incredible European Cruise experience, guests can set sail on a nine-day cruise on board Norwegian Star to the Baltic Capitals from May 19, 2014 through September 13, 2014.

After setting sail from Copenhagen, Denmark, guests will visit Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany; Tallinn, Estonia; St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; and Stockholm, Sweden (including a cruise through the Stockholm Archipelago). Fares for this incredible itinerary start at $1149*.

Costa Cruises offers special fares on select spring Med sailings

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Latest offers Latest offers; Published: 01 April 2014 01 April 2014

Travelers looking to escape the unusually long winter can take advantage of exceptional savings with Costa Cruises' "Spring in Our Step" promotion. The reduced rates will entice travelers to enjoy Costa's famous la dolce vita ambiance and Italian-style cruising on spring sailings with rates starting from $499 per person, double occupancy.

Featured on select seven-night eastern and western Mediterranean cruises in April and May 2014, the itineraries call at popular ports in several countries, including Italy, Spain, France, Turkey, Croatia and Greece.

"Spring is the ideal time to travel the Mediterranean, and our special fares make a last-minute cruise to Europe an affordable possibility," said Scott Knutson, vice president sales and marketing for Costa Cruises North America. "The temperatures are beautiful this time of year and passengers can enjoy the destinations without the rush of the summer season."

Guests can wine, dine and dance their way through the western Med on Costa Serena's April 6 departure with fares starting from just $499 per person, double occupancy. The cruise sails roundtrip from Savona, Italy, and include calls at Naples, Italy; Palermo, Sicily; Tunis, Tunisia; Barcelona, Spain; and Marseille, France.

Guests looking for a bigger taste of Italy can choose from seven select Costa Serena sailings in April and May that feature calls at La Spezia (Florence/Pisa), Civitavecchia (Rome) and Naples, Italy, along with Barcelona and Marseille. Fares for the roundtrip Savona departures begin at $649 per person, double occupancy.

Guests can take a similar roundtrip Savona route on Costa Mediterranea with calls at Marseille, Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Tunis, Palermo and Naples. Rates on six departures in April and May start from $649 per person, double occupancy.

Roundtrip Barcelona sailings on Costa Favolosa are offered as well. On seven departures in April and May guests can enjoy calls at Palma de Mallorca, Malta, Palermo, Civitavecchia and Savona. Fares begin at $849 per person, double occupancy.

Travelers also can take advantage of special spring rates on eastern Mediterranean cruises. Starting at just $799 per person, double occupancy, Costa Magica offers four roundtrip Venice, Italy, sailings in May calling at Bari, Italy; Katakolon (Olympia) and Piraeus (Athens), Greece; Izmir, Turkey; and Dubrovnik, Croatia.

MSC Cruises launches "8 Is Great" group promotion for travel agents

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Latest offers Latest offers; Published: 23 March 2014 23 March 2014

On March 20, on the International Day of Happiness, MSC Cruises North America launched a new promotion designed to put a smile on travel agent faces. Available through May 20, 2014, the “8 is Great” promotion is for affinity group bookings of eight cabins or more with eight benefits that include:

– Value rates from just $299 per person on select sailings

– Accelerated free berths: 1 for 13

– Minimum commission of 15% on eligible bookings

– Shipboard credit for Balcony Staterooms (B1-B3 category) starting at $25

– Kids Sail Free

– Waived deposit for up to 16 staterooms

– MSC Cruises will match any competitive offer

And, number eight, according to Ken Muskat, senior vice president of Sales & Marketing, “…is sailing with the happiest crew at sea. That’s why we made the #HAPPYDAY video, to share the naturally joyful spirit of our international crew.”

As part of the global celebration of International Day of Happiness, the crew of the MSC Divina joined Pharrell Williams and the United Nations Foundation to create its own #HAPPYDAY video, available here.

Muskat said, “We invite our travel agent partners to ‘get happy’ with MSC Cruises on one of the newest and largest ships dedicated to the Caribbean market, MSC Divina. The feedback since her debut last fall has been outstanding and this is a perfect opportunity for travel agents to offer their clients an unforgettable experience.”

“Only MSC Cruises can provide all the wonders of the Caribbean with our unique touch of Mediterranean spirit,” he continued. Travel agents can contact their MSC Cruises sales representative directly or go to www.msccruisesagent.com and click on “Find Your Rep” at the top right corner to locate contact information.

Carnival Cruise Lines offers special affinity group promotion through April 30

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Latest offers Latest offers; Published: 18 March 2014 18 March 2014

As part of a new travel agent promotion, Carnival Cruise Lines is waiving its initial deposit requirement for group bookings, as well as offering an enhanced free cruise berth program, through April 30, 2014.

Through the new promotion, no initial deposit will be required for group bookings on sailings departing between November 1, 2014 and April 30, 2015.

In addition, Carnival is offering travel agents one free cruise berth for every 10 full fare guests berthed, compared to the current policy of one free cruise berth for every 15 full fare guests berthed. As a special bonus, Carnival is offering one free cruise berth for every eight full fare guests berthed on West Coast sailings of three or four days in length.

“We’re always looking for ways to give travel agents a boost in building their lucrative group business and agents have told us that waiving the initial deposit would be an excellent way to incentivize their clients,” said Mike Julius, Carnival’s senior managing director of U.S. sales. “Our special free cruise berth program also provides agents with even greater selling opportunities, particularly on our value-packed short cruise departures from the West Coast.”

Group fares applicable to this promotion, which are available between now and April 30, 2014, begin at $229 for three- to five-day cruises and $449 for voyages of six-days or longer. Certain restrictions apply.

For a complete list of terms and conditions, travel agents may visit GoCCL.com.