Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Take The Carnival Triumph To The World's Longest Pier

This five night itinerary out of Galveston, Texas, embarking on January 27, 2014 may seem routine on the surface but there are definitely some interesting facets of the cruise. First, the journey is onboard the now infamous Carnival Triumph. Second, the first of two ports of call is Progreso, Mexico. Progreso is on port call where the actual pier might be the attraction.

The Cruise

carnival triumph western caribbean
 

Carnival Triumph embarks from Galveston, Texas on this five night Western Caribbean cruise at 4pm on Monday, January 27, 2014. She arrives back at Galveston on Saturday, February 1 at 8:30am. Along the way, Triumph makes two port calls.


On Wednesday, January 29, Triumph docks at Progreso, Mexico from 7:30am until 4pm. Progeso is located on the northwest shore of the Yucatan Peninsula, not far from Merida. Although there is debate, the pier is known as the longest in the world. The ship will dock some 6.5 km out at sea. La Terminal Remota was built in its present form in 1989. However, there is the argument that much of the 6.5 kilometres is a causeway and that the pier is actually much shorter.

On Thursday, January 30, Triumph moves east around the top of the Yucatan to dock at Cozumel. The ship will stay on the Mexican tropical resort island from 9am until 4pm before making her way back across the Gulf of Mexico to Galveston.

The Price (U.S. Dollars)


Pricing for this cruise is interesting. Just a week away, the Super Saver and Canadian Resident rates for an inside stateroom start from $309 per person, based on double occupancy. This is higher than a similar length Western Caribbean cruise out of Florida. However, the additional $52.49 per person in government fees and taxes is about half of what you’d pay out of Miami, Tampa or Ft. Lauderdale.

The result is an inside cabin for two starting at $722.98, taxes included. As is often the case with Carnival, Military are treated exceptionally well on this cruise. Present and former members of the U.S. and Canadian armed forces can have the same inside stateroom for as low as $269 per person. As an extra bonus, military receive a $25 onboard credit per stateroom.
Too last minute for you? Don't worry, the following two sailings are just $10 more per person.

The Ship 

Carnival Triumph was built by Fincantieri in Italy and entered service in 1999. She is one of three Destiny/Triumph Class ships in the Carnival fleet. Sunshine is the oldest, entering service as Carnival Destiny in 1996. Carnival Victory is the youngest of the three, entering service in 2000.

Triumph is a fairly large vessel with a gross tonnage of 101,509. She is 272 metres or 893 feet in length and has 13 decks accessible to a capacity of 3,143 passengers. There are typically 1,100 crew members onboard.

Yes, this is the ship that was left adrift in the Gulf of Mexico last February. On February 10, 2013, a fire broke out in Triumph’s engine room, leaving the boat incapacitated. After several days, she was finally pulled to Mobile, Alabama.

Carnival Triumph was out of service from February until June, 2013, undergoing extensive repairs. The process was complicated when due to high winds on April 3rd, she broke free of her moorings in the port of Mobile and collided with a U.S. Army Corps ship, sustaining a 20 foot gash.

However, Triumph is all fixed up and has been running four and five night Western Caribbean cruises out of Galveston since June. That means, she does about six cruises per month. That means, Triumph has run around 36 itineraries since without incident.

The Small Print


·Because of the nature of last minute deals, the pricing printed here is fleeting and could change at any time.

·Prices are in Canadian dollars.

·Most meals are included in a typical cruise price but DRINKS ARE NOT!

·Also not included are gratuities.

·Cruise pricing does not include air fare, ground transfers and hotel accommodations before and after the cruise.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Norwegian Star Transatlantic Cruise: Now Cool With The Backpacking Crowd

What’s this? Our third Transatlantic Repositioning cruise in a row? Right now, with the Caribbean cruise high season well underway, repositioning cruises are the best deals in the business. Besides, this one’s really inexpensive and a bit unique in that it originates in Copenhagen and not Barcelona or ports in the U.K.

With prices as low as $399 per person (based on double occupancy) for an inside stateroom onboard the Norwegian Star on October 6, 2014 for its 14 night Transatlantic journey, it’s no wonder the vagabonding crowd have started to wake up to the idea of travel via cruise ship. After all, that price rivals some big city Europe hostels and is certainly cheaper than most hotels in the civilized world.

The Cruise

norwegian star transatlantic repositioning
 

Norwegian Star embarks from Copenhagen, Denmark at 5pm on Monday, October 6, 2014. Before arriving at Miami, Florida on Monday, October 20 at 7am, Star makes just two port calls. There is lots of time at sea to enjoy everything the ship has to offer. Or, you could write a book. I recently read an article by an author who takes these cruises across the ocean for just that reason.


On Saturday, October 11, Norwegian Star docks at Ponta Delgada in the Azores Islands of Portugal. She is in port from 8am until 5pm. Ponta Delgada is the capital of the Azores and is located on the island of Sao Miguel. The city is home to around 65,000 residents. This stop will not be a hot, sweaty tropical experience but the average October daytime high of 21.9 Celcius is more than comfortable.

Next stop for Star is in the Caribbean. She docks at Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas Harbor on Friday, October 17 from 8am until 6pm. This, of course, is the island of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Be sure to hitch a ride to the other side of the island and relax at Magens BayBeach.

The Price


October 6, 2014 is still a long way away. However, the price will most likely not get any better than this. For an inside stateroom on the Norwegian Star, prices start as low as $399 per person in Canadian dollars, based on double occupancy. There is an additional $110.35 per person in government taxes and fees. This means that an inside stateroom for two can be had for as low as $1,018.70, taxes included.

Pricing on higher levels of staterooms is reasonable. An Ocean View stateroom can be had for as low as $549 per person. A Balcony stateroom is priced from $899 per person. Suites start at $1,349 per person. If you book before April 4, 2014, Norwegian Cruise Lines throws in one coupon book per stateroom valued at over $300 in onboard savings.

The Ship


norwegian star ncl panamax cruise ship
Norwegian Star is barely within Panamax sized limits when it comes to width. Meaning, it just squeaks into the locks of the Panama Canal. Back in 2000, this ship was intended to be dubbed SuperStar Libra in the Star Cruises fleet. Instead, she made her maiden voyage on November 19, 2001 as Norwegian Star.

She is a NCL Dawn Classship with just one younger sister. Norwegian Dawn came into service in 2002. Star has a gross tonnage of 91,740 and is 294 metres or 965 feet in length. There are 15 decks on board, eleven accessible to passengers. Guest capacity is 2,348 with a staff of 1,083 crew members.

The Small Print


·Because of the nature of last minute deals, the pricing printed here is fleeting and could change at any time.

·Prices are in Canadian dollars.

·Most meals are included in a typical cruise price but DRINKS ARE NOT!

·Also not included are gratuities.

·Cruise pricing does not include air fare, ground transfers and hotel accommodations before and after the cruise.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Celebrity Infinity 13 Night Transatlantic Repositioning Cruise From $617 Per Person

Let’s take another look at the Transatlantic Repositioning Cruise. This time, we’re looking at a premium brand that is priced much lower than its value. Along with the price, Celebrity Infinity offers a unique itinerary that differs from the rest of the crowd. On April 29, 2014, you can be on this 13 night journey across the Atlantic Ocean from just $617 per person.

The Cruise

celebrity infinity transatlantic repositioning cruise
 

Celebrity Infinity embarks from Miami, Florida on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at 4:30 for a 13 night Transatlantic Repositioning cruise. Infinity arrives at Harwich, England at 4am on Monday, May 12. Along the way, she makes three unique port calls.


On Friday, May 2, Infinity docks at New York City from 8am until 6pm. She then takes a full day at sea before reaching Halifax, Nova Scotia on Sunday, May 4. Infinity remains docked at Halifax from 7am until 3pm before heading out for nearly a week at sea.

The south coast of Ireland is the next time this ship will see land. Infinity docks at Cobh, Ireland on Saturday, May 10 from 12pm until 8pm. Cobh was known as Queenstown from 1850 until 1920. It was in Queenstown on April 11, 1912 that RMS Titanic last touched land.

As far as the final destination, Harwich is located not far north from the mouth of the Thames River. Celebrity Infinity docks at the Harwich International Port. London Stansted is the closest international airport, just 50 km away. The city of London is just 70 minutes away via rail.

The Price


Right now, an inside stateroom on Celebrity Infinity for this 13 night journey can be had for as low as $617 per person, based on double occupancy. There is an additional $139 per person in government fees and taxes, regardless of level of stateroom. A room for two can be had from $1,512, taxes included.

Other levels of stateroom are decently priced. An Ocean View room starts from $722 per person. A Balcony is not far off at $931 per person. A suite is a bit pricier, starting from $2,429 per person.

The Ship 

Celebrity Infinity of Celebrity Cruises was built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique in St. Nazaire, France. The company is now known as STX France. Infinity went into service in 2001 and is the second oldest of the four Celebrity Cruises Millennium Class of ships. The oldest is the Celebrity Millennium while Celebrity Summit and Celebrity Constellation came along in 2002.

Infinity is a fairly large ship with a gross tonnage of 91,000. She is 294 metres or 965 feet in length and has eleven decks accessible to passengers. Capacity onboard is for 2,170 guest and 999 crew members.

The Small Print


·Because of the nature of last minute deals, the pricing printed here is fleeting and could change at any time.

·Prices are in Canadian dollars.

·Most meals are included in a typical cruise price but DRINKS ARE NOT!

·Also not included are gratuities.

·Cruise pricing does not include air fare, ground transfers and hotel accommodations before and after the cruise.