All About Cruises » Holland America Cruises http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:40:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 The Cruise Ships of Holland America Line http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/the-cruise-ships-of-holland-america-line http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/the-cruise-ships-of-holland-america-line#comments Tue, 17 May 2011 17:59:59 +0000 Evan http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/?p=3064 Holland America Line detailing some basic facts about its cruise line. However, we didn’t detail Holland America Line’s fleet of cruise ships, so in this article we take close look at Holland America Line’s fifteen cruise ships, examining their measurements and capacities, as well as the classes into which they fit.]]> We recently posted an article about Holland America Line detailing some basic facts about its cruise line. However, we didn’t detail Holland America Line’s fleet of cruise ships, so in this article we take a close look at Holland America Line’s fifteen cruise ships, examining their measurements and capacities, as well as the classes into which they fit.

Like many other fleets belonging to major cruise lines, Holland America Line’s fleet is broken into different classes, of which there are five.

Let us begin by examining the “Elegant Explorer” class, which only has one ship, ms Prinsendam (“ms” stands for “motor ship”), and the smallest one at that (not that the size of a cruise ship determines the quality of its voyages). Weighing just shy of 38,000 tons, ms Prinsendam is certainly a small vessel by today’s standards. (By way of comparison, consider that Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, both of the Royal Caribbean International fleet, weigh 225,282 tons, making them the largest cruise ships in the world.) The ship can accommodate 835 people who can enjoy any of the eight enclosed passenger decks on the vessel. Since the ship is small, its voyages are described as “intimate.”

The second smallest of the five classes is the Signature Class, which is composed of two cruise ships, ms Eurodam and ms Nieuw Amsterdam. The latter is just a hair larger than the former, with ms Nieuw Amsterdam weighing 86,700 tons, and ms Eurodam weighing 86,273 tons. Evidently, the extra weight of ms Nieuw Amsterdam enables it to have a passenger capacity of 2,106, two more than ms Eurodam. These two ships are the newest addition to the Holland America Line fleet; ms Eurodam began its service in 2008, and ms Nieuw Amsterdam began just last year, in 2010.

The Vista Class is composed of four ships of almost identical proportions. In fact, three of the four ships – ms Zuiderdam, ms Oosterdam, and ms Westerdam – have exactly the same measurements: they weigh 82,305 tons and have a passenger capacity of 1,916. The fourth ship in the Vista class, ms Noordam, is only slightly larger, weighing 82,318 tons and having a passenger capacity of 1,924.

The Rotterdam Class (also called the “R Class”) is also made up of four ships. ms Rotterdam is the largest ship of the class, with a weight of 61,849 tons and a passenger capacity of 1,404. It also happens to be the fastest ship in the entire Holland America Line fleet. Its max speed is 25 knots (about 29 mph), making it a knot faster than the ships of the Vista Class, which are the second fastest ships of the fleet. The rest of the ships in the Rotterdam Class – ms Volendam, ms Zaandam, and ms Amsterdamare – are the same size as ms Rotterdam, less a few hundred tons. Interestingly, ms Volendam and ms Zaandam, despite their smaller size, have a slightly larger passenger capacity than ms Rotterdam.

Finally, there is the Statendam Class (also known as the “S Class”). In this class, there are also four ships. ms Veendam is the largest – it weighs 57,092 tons and can carry 1,350 passengers – but the other ships are of similar size. ms Statendam and ms Ryndam are precisely the same size, weighing 55,819 and capable of carrying 1,260 passengers, and ms Maasdam is only a hair smaller, with a carrying capacity of 1,258 and a grass tonnage of 55,575.

If you would like to know more about the cruise ships of Holland American Line, please visit this page on the Holland American Line website:

The Cruise Ships of Holland American Line

]]> http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/the-cruise-ships-of-holland-america-line/feed 0 Holland America Line http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/holland-america-line http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/holland-america-line#comments Thu, 12 May 2011 17:09:42 +0000 Evan http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/?p=3061 Princess Cruises, it is owned by Carnival Corporation, the largest cruise company in the world.]]> Holland America Line (HAL) is a company that operates cruise ships. Because it operates cruises, it is often called “Holland America Cruise Line” or “Holland America Cruise Lines,” although strictly speaking neither is accurate. It is also called “Holland American Line,” which is also incorrect. The company, which is now headquartered in Seattle, Washington, has adopted the motto “A Signature of Excellence.” Like Princess Cruises, it is owned by Carnival Corporation, the largest cruise company in the world.

Holland America Line utilizes midsize cruise ships (all the ships weigh between 55,000 and 82,000 tons) and is known for their award-winning cruises. The service offered by Holland America Line is enhanced by an impressive crew-member-to-passenger ratio: there is nearly one crew member for every two guests. Holland America Line’s cruise ships have large wraparound decks and numerous private verandas, so there are many panoramic views available to passengers.

All of Holland America Line’s cruise ships have recently undergone “Signature of Excellence” improvements to their staterooms and public rooms. The enhancements are part of a larger “Signature of Excellence” program, which was implemented to upgrade existing rooms on-board and to add entirely new features to the ships. For example, new venues and staterooms were recently added to four cruise ships – ms Statendam, ms Ryndam, ms Veendam and ms Rotterdam – and a fifth, ms Maasdam, will be similarly updated in 2011. (“ms” stands for “motor ship,” for the record.) Some of the general new improvements include completely renovated bathrooms, as well as the addition of new carpeting and soft goods. To date, Holland America Line has spent almost $600 million implementing “Signature of Excellence” enhancements.

Holland America Line offers cruises of different durations that go all over the world, from Alaska to Hawaii to South America. You could book an eighteen-day transatlantic cruise to Europe, or you could take a seven-day voyage to the Caribbean, to list only two of many different cruise itineraries available to those who book a cruise with Holland America Line. The cruise line also offers several “Grand Tours,” which are longer voyages that visit numerous destinations, often very many destinations. For example, there is a 112-day Grand World Voyage that literally sails all over world.

To find out more about the cruise itineraries and the many on-board amenities offered by Holland America Line, visit the company’s website here:

Holland America Line

]]> http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/holland-america-line/feed 0 International Cruises for Adults Only http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/international-cruises-for-adults-only http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/international-cruises-for-adults-only#comments Tue, 15 Feb 2011 05:59:47 +0000 Michelle http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/?p=2969 Although most cruises welcome all, some are less kid friendly than others, but not on purpose. Here’s what we mean. Luxury cruises are expensive and they feature a wide variety of entertainment options for adults only such as a large number of casinos, lounges, bars, and events just for couples and singles. These features tend to deter families with children. Many families are on a budget and interested in activities for kids will turn to cruise lines such as Disney and Carnival.

For adults, some of the top luxury cruise lines in the industry today are Orient Lines (specifically Orient’s Marco Polo cruise ship), Cunard Line (Queen Mary 2), Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Classic International, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Fred Olsen, Hebridean Island Cruises, African Safari Club, Crystal Cruises, Discover Egypt, Ocean Village, and P&O Cruises. Many Holland America Line and Norwegian Cruise Line vessels cater to adults as well.

When searching cruises for adults only there are also several signs that the line is probably (mostly) kid-free. Look for cruise lines that:

-Sail to exotic locations
-Offer under 50% supplement
-Offer single cabins,
-Offer shared cabins,
-Offer hosts

Hosts are simply “gentlemen” selected on the basis of their dancing ability. Dance hosts can be found on Cunard Lines Queen Elizabeth, Orient’s Marco Polo, Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, and Silversea ships as well as some Holland America Line and Norwegian Cruise Lines vessels.

Out of all luxury cruise lines, Orient Lines is probably the best for adult travelers and singles. Voted one of the Top 10 Large-Ship Cruise Lines by Travel+Leisure (2007), Orient Lines offers 0% supplement on selected grades, 25% for other grades, and 75% for A grades and suites. Orient Lines also features “social staff” including congenial gentleman on hand to serve as social hosts, and eight single cabins, aboard Marco Polo, consisting of B Grade – 816, D Grade – 643, 648, 656, 661, and K Grade – 267, 101, 102.

Orient Lines has sailings to Europe, Africa, Egypt, South America, Antarctica, and (spring) Transatlantic. Orient Lines cruises may range from 11 days up to 52 days or more. At the time this article was written, Orient Lines (owned by Norwegian Cruise Line) was in the process of acquiring a new owner. Details will be posted to the official Orient Lines website as they become available, www.orientlines.com.

For links to all cruise line websites, including the cruise lines mentioned in this article, visit Ships and Cruises at www.shipsandcruises.com.

]]> http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/international-cruises-for-adults-only/feed 0 Aperture Academy Photography Cruise to Alaska http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/aperture-academy-photography-cruises-to-alaska http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/aperture-academy-photography-cruises-to-alaska#comments Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:40:00 +0000 Michelle http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/?p=2875 One of the most fascinating places on earth to visit is Alaska. This pristine region is home to approximately 640,000 residents and at 2.3 times the size of Texas, Alaska is the nations largest state. Alaska has some 570,374 square miles (or 365,039 acres) of lush landscape and some of the most scenic byways and marine highways in the world. Although many vacationers travel to Alaska by plane, many also travel to Alaska by cruise ship.

Alaska is a year round vacation destination with a variety of expedition voyages available all year—even during the colder winter months. Although winter is one of the most scenic times of year to visit Alaska, the shoulder seasons, May and September (also the end of August), are the most popular times to visit.

During the month of May, the climate is warm and the days are long. Wildlife is abundant and flowers are in full bloom. Around the end of August through September, Alaska has the best fall colors in the world with blazing yellow and red trees by Labor Day, with tall mountains with fresh snow on their peaks as a backdrop. Animals begin to feed in the lower elevations, so opportunities to snap a picture increase during this time. In September, in the Interior of Alaska, it also gets dark enough to see the Northern Lights.

If you are interested in an exciting adventure, the opportunity to document the adventure through photography, and learn about photography, you should consider Aperture Academy’s 7-Day Photography Cruise to Alaska. The cruise, which takes place aboard Holland America’s luxury liner Oosterdam, departs from Seattle on August 21, 2011 and returns August 28, 2011.

Presented in collaboration with Canon and Holland America Line, the Aperture Academy photography cruise will feature:

  • Presentations by award-winning photographers
  • Excursion workshops
  • Photoshop classes
  • Canon print classes
  • Printing labs run by Canon
  • Personalized instruction from “from a team of highly experienced photographers, teaching you what YOU want to learn.”

According to the official Aperture Academy website, guests will have a front row seat to the “beautiful Alaskan landscape (rugged mountains, glaciers, waterfalls and lush forests) and amazing Alaskan wildlife (grizzly bear, eagles, whales, otters and more).

The cruise will sail from Seattle to:

  • Glacier Bay (Day 3)
  • Juneau (Day 4)
  • Sitka (Say 5)
  • Ketchikan (Day 6)
  • Canada-Victoria, B.C. (Day 7)

Each day, whether at sea or exploring Alaska, guests will have unlimited opportunities to photograph the landscape and wildlife, learn, and socialize. The following information is just one example of what to expect. Please note that the information below is from the official Aperture Academy website.

Day 3
The fun begins as we enter Glacier Bay…it will be all hands (holding cameras) on deck for this workshop. We’ll glide through the glacier-heavy waters, and instructors will work with you to achieve the best results while photographing the majestic blue chunks of ice as they float in the bay and fall from the glacier into the sea. The rest of your day will be free to explore the ship, relax, or partake in the Photoshop classes available on the boat with our Adobe certified instructors. Whether your version of raw is from the camera or in the form of sushi on the ship, the day is full of opportunity and fun for you aboard the Oosterdam.

That evening will be geared towards photography adventure as the award winning team of instructors from the Aperture Academy give slide-show talks and entertaining presentations about some of their favorite expeditions behind the lens. Whether it’s spending a week with grizzlies in the wilds of Alaska, braving 30 ft. swells in the seas surrounding Antarctica, or backpacking for 2-months in Iceland, our instructors have been all over the planet and experienced some of the best it has to offer. Sit back, relax, and let them entertain and educate you.

When you are ready to book your cruise, visit the Aperture Academy website at www.apertureacademy.com to get started. On the website, you can also review more details about Aperture Academy, the photography cruise package, the itinerary, and how the pricing works.

Aperture Academy Contact
Aperture Academy
1875 S. Bascom
Suite 600
Campbell, CA 95008
Phone: 408-369-8585
E-mail: info[at]apertureacademy.com

]]> http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/aperture-academy-photography-cruises-to-alaska/feed 0 Winter Cruises http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/winter-cruises http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/winter-cruises#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2011 20:32:23 +0000 Michelle http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/?p=2815 Did you know that January-March is the cruise industry’s busiest booking period? During this time period, called the “wave period,” cruise lines make roughly 35 percent of their yearly sales. This means, cruise lines are willing to offer deep discounts and deals to cruisers to make sure they take full advantage of this busy season.

Some of the top winter cruise destinations include:

  • Caribbean
  • Mexican Riviera
  • U.S. Virgin Islands
  • Hawaiian Islands
  • Barbados
  • Nile

The deepest discounts are offered on Caribbean winter cruises and Hawaiian Islands cruises. But all of the destinations listed above are offered at affordable prices during the winter months. If you want to enjoy the biggest discounts, stick to major cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Holland America Line, to name a few. These cruise lines offer more departures, and larger ships, so there’s plenty of wiggle room for discounts.

To save even more in winter cruises, you can also book through a discount booking search engine. Although mot cruise lines offer hot deals if you book online directly through the cruise line, discount booking search engines might offer even cheaper tickets. So try:

Kayak.com
Expedia.com
Orbitz.com
Travelocity.com
CheapTickets.com
VacationsToGo.com
Cruise411.com
Cruise.com

Sample Winter Cruise Deals

Royal Caribbean International has a number of cruises that depart from Florida ports starting at $80. These include 4- and 5-night Caribbean cruises. Cruisers will visit destinations such as George Town, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico.

Carnival Cruises has a number of special winter cruise deals to Baja Mexico. Cruises depart from Los Angeles on 3- and 4-day cruises. Ports of call include Ensenada, Mexico Catalina Island, CA. Cruises start at $239 for 3-day cruises and $249 for 4-day cruises.

Starting at around $92 a day, Holland America Line has a 14-day circle Hawaii cruise that departs from San Diego, CA. Ports of call include Hilo, Hawaii, US; Honolulu, Hawaii, US; Nawiliwili Kauai, Hawaii, US; Lahaina, Hawaii, US, and Ensenada, Mexico.

More Ways to Save on Winter Cruises

Besides booking with major cruise lines and booking through discount booking search engines, there are other ways to save on already low-priced winter cruises. You can book in advance to save or you can book last minute to save up to 75 percent off the regular cruise price. If you book with a group or family, you can save or if you are a senior you can save up to 20 percent or more.

A senior is defined as a person who is 55 or older. If you are a senior, in order take advantage of senior rates, all you have to do is book through a cruise travel specialist or book directly with the cruise line. Proof of age is required. Groups and families can also get the best deals if they book through a cruise travel specialist as well or contact a live cruise travel agent. A live person will always have the latest specials and promotions on available for you.

]]> http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/winter-cruises/feed 0 Gaming & Technology Cruises http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/gaming-technology-cruises http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/gaming-technology-cruises#comments Fri, 03 Dec 2010 19:25:38 +0000 Michelle http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/?p=2661 Cruise lines from Carnival to Silversea routinely host technology and gaming themed cruises. Whether you’re interested in chess or a host of technology seminars, yes, most cruise lines can accommodate your weirdest whims. If you are not familiar with theme cruises, here’s a bit of background on this popular trend in cruising. Theme cruises highlight a specific activity or interest, making it the focal point of an entire cruise itinerary. Offered on vessels of all sizes, theme cruises can be created from just about any activity, interest, group or desire, meaning cruise lines are open to just about any theme as long as it is not obscene.

While no reasonable theme is out of the question today, the following list represents only a fraction of the types of theme cruises on the market today.

50’s Sock Hop
Adventure
Art, Epicurean/Food Wine
Big Band/Swing
Booze Cruises
Bridge Tournaments
Broadway/Theater at Sea
Cartoon/Action Figures
Christian
Classical Music/Opera
Contemporary/Dixieland
Country & Western
Couples
Family Reunion
Gambling
Gaming & Technology
Gay/Lesbian
Glacier
Golf
Health & Fitness
History/Cultural Heritage
Holiday
Jazz
Latin/Salsa
Literary
Luxury
Maya Equinox
Military
Motivational/Self Improvement
Murder Mystery
Natural History/Ecology
Nude Cruises
Pearl Harbor
Personal Finance
Polka/Square Dancing
Rhythm & Blues
Silver Screen/Hollywood Film Festival
Singles
Solar Eclipse
Spiritual/Gospel
Sports/Olympics

Some of the top cruise lines for theme cruises include Crystal Cruises, Cruise West, Clipper Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, and Holland America Line (HAL). Not only does Crystal Cruises offer technology, jazz, golf, film festival, health, and food & wine theme cruises, these cruises typically travel to exciting places such as the Caribbean and places like Monte Carlo, London and Aspen. Cruise West features a variety of food & wine theme cruises and Clipper Cruise Line highlights educational themes (technology included) and military theme cruises, to name a few. Carnival Cruise Lines is popular for games and casino themed cruises and Holland America hosts a number of gaming cruises focused on games such as Chess.

Whether you are interested in spending days or weeks at sea surrounded by technology types, casino fans, or chess champions, many cruise lines offer set dates for these types of theme cruises, so feel free to book directly through the cruise lines. If you are interested in creating your own special theme cruise, most agents can help you through the planning process.

A great place to start your search for theme cruises is Cruisemates.com Cruisemates.com features a lengthy list of cruise lines along with each cruise lines’ list of theme cruises, dates available, and destinations.

Looking for discounts and deals on cruises of all kinds? Try the discount booking search engines listed below:

Kayak.com
Expedia.com
Orbitz.com
Travelocity.com
CheapTickets.com
VacationsToGo.com
Cruise411.com
Cruise.com

]]> http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/gaming-technology-cruises/feed 0 Seattle Cruises http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/seattle-cruises http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/seattle-cruises#comments Mon, 22 Nov 2010 18:20:07 +0000 Michelle http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/?p=2619 Alaska is one of the most popular cruise destinations in the world. Even more popular is the departure port for most Alaska cruises is the The Port of Seattle. The Port of Seattle owns and operates the 18th busiest airport in the world — Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The Port of Seattle is also regarded as one of the worlds busiest cruise ports, handling 190 ship calls and nearly 755,000 passengers during the 2007 season alone. The Port’s passenger cruise terminals are located at Pier 66 and Terminal 30.

Five major cruise lines feature weekly service from Seattle aboard 10 premier vessels. Norwegian Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises depart from the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66. Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean depart from the Terminal 30 Cruise Facility. Celebrity Cruises offers weekly departures to Alaska onboard the Infinity, plus 3 and 4 day Pacific Northwest itineraries on the Mercury. For sales information please contact your local travel agent or call (800) 722-5941.

Holland America Line offers seven-day cruises from Seattle to Alaska on the ms Amsterdam, ms Oosterdam and the ms Westerdam. Holland America passengers depart from the Terminal 30 Cruise Terminal located at the south end of Seattle’s downtown waterfront. For sales information please contact your local travel agent or call (877) 932-4259.

Norwegian Cruise Line has made Seattle its homeport for seven-day summer cruises to Alaska on board the Norwegian Star and Norwegian Pearl. Passengers depart from the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66 on Saturdays and Sundays. For sales information please contact your local travel agent or call (800) 327-7030.

Royal Caribbean offers seven-day cruises to Alaska on the Rhapsody of the Seas departing from Terminal 30 every Friday. For sales information please contact your local travel agent or call (866) 562-7625.

About Seattle Cruises Cruise Lines

Celebrity Cruises’ Infinity and Summit feature AquaSpas with thalassotherapy pools and a wide assortment of beauty treatments. Art aficionados on their way to Alaska will also appreciate the Celebrity’s impressive art collections as well. Guests aboard any of Celebrity’s 11 ships can expect an endless number of unforgettable cruises filled with excursions highlighting culture, wildlife, history, and geology. Alaska excursions will include all highlights along with everything from flightseeing and flights to the Arctic Circle to dog sledding.

Princess Cruise Lines and Holland America Cruise Line is considered the best Seattle to Alaska cruise line thanks to their excellent cruisetours. These cruise lines currently lead the industry in interior voyages (Alaska and Yukon Territory) and Holland has exclusive passage into the Yukons Kluane National Park, as well as Tombstone Territorial Park. Princess Cruise Line’s 7-day Gulf of Alaska cruise should be noted as well.

While the majority of Alaska cruise lines mentioned above are kid-free, there are several cruise lines that top the list for families interested in an Alaska cruise. Carnival Cruise Lines and Norwegian Cruise Line feature special shore excursions for kids and teens, as well as onboard activities that will keep kids busy during long days at sea. Royal Caribbean may also be a bit more family friendly.

]]> http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/seattle-cruises/feed 0 Luxury Singapore Cruises http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/luxury-singapore-cruises http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/luxury-singapore-cruises#comments Wed, 03 Nov 2010 17:55:24 +0000 Michelle http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/?p=2497 Some of the most luxurious cruise lines in the world are Silversea, Oceania, and Costa Cruises. Each cruise line offers exciting Singapore cruises such as Singapore to Hong Kong (Oceania), Jewels of the Far East (Costa), and Singapore to Dubai (Silversea).

Oceania Cruises’ Singapore to Hong Kong cruise features 15 days aboard a luxury liner such as the 593.7-foot Oceania Nautica. Oceania Nautica can accommodate 684 guests and 400 crewmembers. Rooms feature butler services, Jacuzzi tubs, and 42 inch plasma TVs. All Oceania cruises feature fine dining options and upscale dining, shopping, and entertainment venues. The Singapore to Hong Kong sails the South China Sea to Ko Samui, Thailand, Bangkhok, Sihanoukville, Cambodia, the Gulf of Thailand, Saigon, Vietnam, Hue/Da Nang, Hanoi, the Hainan Strait, Canton, China, and Hong Kong.

Prices for Oceania’s Singapore to Hong Kong cruises start at around $4,999 per guest. To book a Oceania Singapore to Hong Kong cruise visit the official Oceania website at www.oceaniacruises.com.

Costa Cruises’ Jewels of the Far East cruise offers seven nights aboard Costa Classica from Singapore to Malaysia. The ship will make stops in Kuantan, Malaysia, Bangkok. Thailand, and Ko Samui, Thailand. Shore excursions run the gamut from cultural tours to a day at the beach and lunch events.

Prices start at $829 per person for an inside room, $1,279 for an outside room, and $2,049 for a suite. To book a Costa Jewels of the Far East cruise visit the official Costa website at www.costacruise.com.

Silverseas’ Singapore to Dubai cruise features 15 days aboard a luxury vessel such as Silversea Silver Spirit. The Singapore to Dubai cruise stops in Pt. Kelang (Kuala Lumpur), Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia, Phuket, Thailand, Colombo Sri Lanka, Cochin, India, Mumbai, India, Khasad, Oman, and Dubai, UAE. Prices vary depending on the type of suite. Owner’s Suites are the most expensive at around $62,095 (published fare) or $34,152 (Silver Savings fare). Vista Suites are the least expensive accommodations at $19,795 (published fare) or $10,887 (Silversea Savings fare). Other accommodations include Grand 2 Suite, Royal 2 Suite, Owner’s Suite 1, Grand Suite 1, Royal Suite 1, Silver Suite, Midship Veranda Suite, and Veranda Suite. Prices for these suites range fro, $21,995-$59,895. Silversea Savings rates are offered at 45% off the regular fares.

To book a Silversea Singapore to Dubai visit the official Silversea at www.Silversea.com.

If a luxury Singapore cruise is out of your price range, why not try a non-luxury Singapore cruise? Cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean International and Holland America Line feature affordable Singapore cruises that last anywhere from several days up to 32 nights or more. Royal Caribbean International (RCI) offers a 6-night Singapore cruise starting at $645 per person, while Holland America Line (HAL) offers a 32-night Seattle to Signapore Cruise starting at $4,799. To book a Holland America cruise to Singapore, visit the official HAL website at www.hollandamerica.com. To book a Royal Caribbean International Spice of Southeast Asia Cruise, visit the official RCI website at www.royalcaribbean.com. For discount cruises you can also try any of the following discount booking search engines:

Kayak.com
Expedia.com
Orbitz.com
Travelocity.com
CheapTickets.com
VacationsToGo.com
Cruise411.com
Cruise.com

]]> http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/luxury-singapore-cruises/feed 0 Los Angeles Cruise Lines http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/los-angeles-cruise-lines http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/los-angeles-cruise-lines#comments Tue, 14 Sep 2010 14:00:40 +0000 Michelle http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/?p=2237 Los Angeles is home to more than just superstars, super-sized mansions, and pretty palm trees. Los Angeles happens to be a launching pad for liners belonging to the Princess Cruises fleet, Norwegian Cruises, and Carnival Cruises, to name just a few. These cruise lines and many others, set sail from the Port of Los Angeles, carrying cruisers to Baja Mexico, Mexican Riviera, Grand Panama Canal, Hawaii, Sydney, and more.

Other cruise lines with itineraries from Los Angeles include Crystal Cruises, Lindblad Expeditions, Holland America Line (HAL), Yachts of Seabourn, Silvrsea, Celebrity, and Royal Caribbean. The following itineraries are not the only itineraries from Los Angeles, of course, but they represents the types of voyages you can expect to find if you choose to cruise from LA. And, the great thing about sailing from LA is, you can set out on a voyage, year-round.

Silvesea 17 Nights – Los Angeles to Bridgetown – Silversea Cloud
17 Days – Starting in Los Angeles with stops in Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, Puerto Quetzal, Puntarenas, Panama Canal, Cartagena, Oranjestad, Bridgetown
2010 Sails: Dec 4

Yachts of Seabourn 99 Nights – World Sojourn II
99 Days – Starting in Los Angeles with stops in Cruising the Pacific Ocean, Cross the Tropic of Cancer, Crossing the Equator, Nuku Hiva, Papeete, Bora Bora, Rarotonga, DATE LINE GOING WEST, Bay of Islands, Auckland, Cruising the Southern Ocean , Wellington, Akaroa, Lyttleton, Port Chalmers, Cruising Fjordland, Cruising the Tasman Sea, Hobart, CRUISING THE COAST OF VICTORIA, Sydney, Cruising the Bass Strait, Melbourne, Adelaide, Cruising the Australian Bight, Fremantle, Cruising the Indian Ocean, Padang Bay, Cruising the Makassar Strait, Cruising the Sulu Sea, Sandakan, Cruising the East China Sea, Hong Kong, Cruising the South China Sea, Cai Lan, Ho Chi Minh City, Sihanoukville, Laem Chabang, Singapore, Cruising The Strait Of Malakka, Penang, Phuket Island , Cruising the Andaman Sea, Cruising the Bay of Bengal, Cochin, Mangalore, Cruising the Malabar Coast, Mumbai, Cruising the Arabian Sea, Dubai, Khasab, Muscat, Salalah, Cruising the Gulf of Aden, Cruising the Red Sea, Safaga, Aqaba, Sharm el Sheikh, Sokhna, Transiting the Suez Canal, Ashdod, Cruising the Mediterranean Sea , Heraklion, Cruising the Strait of Messina, Sorrento, Civitavecchia
2011 Sails: Jan 5

If you would like to learn more about the Port of Los Angeles and what it has to offer while you wait or for when you return, visit the 2009 Guide to the Port of Los Angeles at www.seaportsinfo.com/LA/. To book a cruise on any of the cruise ships listed in this article, visit the Ships and Cruises Directory for official listings.

]]> http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/los-angeles-cruise-lines/feed 0 Luxury Vietnam Cruises http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/luxury-vietnam-cruises http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/luxury-vietnam-cruises#comments Mon, 13 Sep 2010 14:00:50 +0000 Michelle http://www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/?p=2270 Luxury Vietnam cruises can be rather expensive, but most veteran cruisers will agree that this unique itinerary is well worth it. For starters, Vietnam main ports of call include: Cai Lan in Halong, Chan May in Hue, Tien Sa in Danang, Nhatrang, Phu My in Vung Tau, and Lotus in Saigon. Each port of call has its own unique activities and attractions. Major attractions include the Hue Citadel from Chan May port, Hoain Town from Tien Sa port. Nhatrang from Nhatrang port.

Some Vietnam cruises may be part of a short cruise of say 8-days, while others may be part of a larger cruise that can last up to 77 nights or more. A good example is Regent Seven Seas 40 nights Anchorage to Bangkok aboard Seven Seas Navigator. Regent Seven Seas also features 22-nights Beijing to Bangkok, 43 nights Beijing to Sydney, 58 nights Beijing to Auckland, and a whopping 77 nights Beijing to San Francisco.

The 77 night RSS cruise starts in Tianjin with stops in Dalian, Shanghai, Naha, Keelung, Hong Kong, Halong Bay/Hong Gai, Da Nang, Saigon, Laem Chabang, Ko Samui, Singapore, Semarang, Benoa, Komodo, Darwin, Thursday Island, Cairns, Whitsunday Island, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Cruise Milford Sound, Dunedin, Lyttelton, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga, Auckland, Bay of Islands, Lautoka, Suva, Date Line Going East, Apia, Honolulu, Hilo, and San Francisco.

Other luxury Vietnam cruises include Princess Cruises’ 16-nights Southeast Asia & China Beijing to Singapore and 31 nights Alaska & Far East & China Anchorage/Singapore. Holland America
features a 34-day Grand Asia Voyage, 69-day Asia & Australia, and Grand Asia & Australia Segment. And Costa Cruises
features a 14-night Vietnam cruises with stops in Hong Kong, Manila, Kotakinabuku/Borneo, Bandar Seri Begawan, Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Da Nang, and Sanya.

While luxury Vietnam Cruise ships may be expensive, you might score a deal by booking online. Many cruise line websites offer anywhere from 10 percent up to 35 percent off when you book online. Savings are also possible if you book far in advance or at the last minute. In some cases, last minute bookings can help you save anywhere from 55 up to 75 percent. For example, right now, Costa Cruises is offering starting prices of $1,299 for booking a 14-day Vietnam cruise in September with an October departure date. This is roughly 35 percent off the regular price.

The cruise lines listed in this article are not the only lines that currently travel to Vietnam. Visit any of the websites listed below to review other offerings.

Cunard Line
Silversea Cruises
Oceania Cruises
Yachts of Seabourn
MSC Cruises
Royal Caribbean

If you would like to search for discounts on luxury Vietnam cruises, try:

Kayak.com
Expedia.com
Orbitz.com
Travelocity.com
CheapTickets.com
VacationsToGo.com
Cruise411.com
Cruise.com

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