http://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/http://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/crystal-ships-voted-no-1-and-2-by-cond-nast-travelerhttp://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/crystal-ships-voted-no-1-and-2-by-cond-nast-traveler Crystal Cruises has again earned top honors from the readers of Condé Nast Traveler, who named the luxury line’s two vessels the best large ships in the world. Of 90 ships worldwide, the Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony were voted No. 1 and 2 with overall scores of 93 and 92.4, respectively. Crystal also earned the top scores for Service, Food and Design/Layout. The honor comes a few mont...Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:28:56 -0500http://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/princess-cruises-ship-receives-new-name-and-first-ever-virtual-christeninghttp://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/princess-cruises-ship-receives-new-name-and-first-ever-virtual-christening Princess Cruises is celebrating the new name of its ship Ocean Princess by extending an open invitation to anyone wishing to become an honorary godparent for the vessel, with the first-ever virtual christening.In a new twist on the time-honored tradition, the naming ceremony will occur completely online, at http://www.princess.com/oceanvirtualchristening.  Each new godparent will trigger a $1 ...Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:15:08 -0500http://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/cunard-s-newest-queen-receives-her-legendary-namehttp://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/cunard-s-newest-queen-receives-her-legendary-name 23 November 2009 – For more than 70 years, Cunard ships graced with the name Queen Elizabeth have been a significant part of maritime history, British heritage and an unparalleled cruise liner experience. And now, with less than a year to go until her maiden voyage, the legendary letters that will identify the newest addition to Cunard’s regal fleet of Queens have been welded onto the bow of Q...Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:15:44 -0500http://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/rccl-welcomes-the-oasis-of-the-seashttp://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/rccl-welcomes-the-oasis-of-the-seasAfter nearly six years in the making, Royal Caribbean International proudly took delivery today of its newest and most revolutionary cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas, from STX Europe in Turku, Finland.  Kicking off the 12-day countdown until her U.S. debut into Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, Oasis of the Seas will be departing Turku on Friday, Oct. 30 with C...Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:45:14 -0400http://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/world-s-largest-cruise-eventhttp://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/world-s-largest-cruise-eventIt’s that time of year again!  National Cruise Vacation month is being celebrated this month. But at Cruise Planners, we have taken the party to a whole new level.  From October 12 to 19th we are showing our Cruisitude by holding a gigantic World’s Largest Cruise Event Sale.  We have special offers from 7 of the most popular cruise lines and knock-your-socks-off promotions ranging from shipboar...Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:22:21 -0400http://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/abercrombie-kent-charters-expedition-ship-for-antarcticahttp://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/abercrombie-kent-charters-expedition-ship-for-antarcticaAbercrombie & Kent Charters Expedition Ship for AntarcticaAbercrombie & Kent has chartered the new Le Boreal, an all-balcony expedition ship, for the 2010-11 Antarctic season. “As experts in small ship cruising in destinations worldwide, we carefully match the ship to the destination,” said Scott Wiseman, president of Abercrombie & Kent USA. “In a place like Antarctica you need to strike just t...Thu, 01 Oct 2009 23:08:04 -0400http://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/celebrity-teams-with-bon-app-tit-on-solstice-culinary-cruisehttp://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/celebrity-teams-with-bon-app-tit-on-solstice-culinary-cruiseCelebrity Teams with Bon Appétit on Solstice Culinary CruiseCelebrity Cruises’ new Celebrity Life Savor Series and Bon Appétit will present their second at-sea culinary voyage during a seven-night Eastern Caribbean voyage on the 2,850-guest Celebrity Solstice. Celebrity Solstice will depart Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 13 and call at San Juan, St. Kitts and St. Maarten. The featured guest chef will ...Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:47:29 -0400http://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/queen-mary-2-delivers-historic-wedgwood-masterpiecehttp://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/queen-mary-2-delivers-historic-wedgwood-masterpiece          Queen Mary 2 Delivers Historic Wedgwood Masterpiece, the Gift Between Nations, to the United StatesIn honour of Wedgwood’s 250th anniversary, the Gift Between Nations will be on display at Macy’s Herald Square in New York City before moving to Washington, D.C. – Cunard Line’s flagship Queen Mary 2 delivered a historic item upon her arrival in New York this morning: Wedgwood’s Gift Bet...Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:29:02 -0400http://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/royal-caribbean-s-oasis-to-introduce-new-venues-and-showshttp://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/royal-caribbean-s-oasis-to-introduce-new-venues-and-showsRoyal Caribbean's Oasis to Introduce New Venues and Shows When it debuts in December, Royal Caribbean International’s new Oasis of the Seas will introduce a number of new entertainment and activities. Following is a snapshot of the headlining shows and entertainment offerings. The Opal Theater will feature a thrust stage and a proscenium extending into the audience to create a more interactive ...Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:18:42 -0400http://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/hotel-hana-maui-to-celebrate-harvest-moonhttp://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/hotel-hana-maui-to-celebrate-harvest-moonHotel Hana-Maui to Celebrate Harvest Moon Hotel Hana-Maui, in the village of Hana on the eastern coast of Maui, will celebrate the Hana Harvest Moon, Oct. 2 to 4, with feasts and festivities worthy of Lono, the ancient Hawaiian god of fertility whom it is believed made the crops flourish. The Hana Harvest Moon Weekend highlights the sustainable, symbiotic relationship the hotel enjoys with the ...Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:34:04 -0400http://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/cruise-planners-announces-the-celebrity-and-azamara-super-salehttp://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/cruise-planners-announces-the-celebrity-and-azamara-super-saleCelebrity and its sister company, Azamara Cruises continue to provide exceptional cruise experiences at great prices.  Celebrity treats you famously with its signature white glove service and premium cruise experience.  Azamara’s more intimate ships, Journey and Quest offer a deluxe ambiance in a “country club casual” setting.  If you still are planning to travel between now and the end of the ...Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:05:27 -0400http://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/sandals-resorts-buys-four-seasons-in-great-exuma-bahamashttp://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/sandals-resorts-buys-four-seasons-in-great-exuma-bahamasSandals Resorts Buys Four Seasons in Great Exuma, BahamasSandals Resorts International , parent company of Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts, the Royal Plantation Collection and Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts, said it has purchased the recently shuttered Four Seasons Resort Great Exuma at Emerald Bay for an undisclosed sum. According to Gordon “Butch” Stewart, Sandals Resorts founder and chairman...Sat, 22 Aug 2009 11:39:48 -0400http://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/ruby-princess-gets-wyland-dolphin-painting-in-poolhttp://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/ruby-princess-gets-wyland-dolphin-painting-in-poolRuby Princess Gets Wyland Dolphin Painting in Pool Princess Cruises said passengers aboard Ruby Princess experienced a live art event as famed marine life artist Wyland painted dolphins on the bottom of the ship’s Neptune Pool. Known worldwide for his works featuring sea animals, Wyland is aboard the ship for art events and meet-and-greets with passengers. However, painting the ship’s pool was ...Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:00:12 -0400http://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/crystal-offers-record-number-of-safaris-in-africahttp://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/crystal-offers-record-number-of-safaris-in-africaCrystal Offers Record Number of Safaris in AfricaCrystal Cruises is offering a record number of safaris in connection with a segment of its 2010 World Cruise. Eighteen Overland Adventures allow guests to search for Africa’s “Big Five” -- lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo -- throughout Namibia, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Kenya. The two- to five-night adventures take ...Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:20:12 -0400http://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/regent-seven-seas-books-stars-for-34-dinner-and-a-show-34http://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/regent-seven-seas-books-stars-for-34-dinner-and-a-show-34Regent Seven Seas Books Stars for "Dinner and a Show" Regent Seven Seas Cruises booked two star performers to perform at its “Dinner and a Show” during long winter cruises. Florence Henderson, star of TV and Broadway, will be aboard the first leg of Seven Seas Mariner’s “Circle South America” cruise in January, while Clint Holmes, a singer, entertainer and Las Vegas icon, will be aboard the Hon...Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:27:13 -0400http://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/oasis-of-the-seas-to-move-life-vests-from-rooms-to-deckhttp://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/oasis-of-the-seas-to-move-life-vests-from-rooms-to-deckOasis of the Seas to Move Life Vests from Rooms to Deck  In his blog about the new Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Chairman and CEO Richard Fain said the life vests on the ship will be moved from staterooms to mustering stations on deck. He notes that lifeboat drills that occur at the start of every cruise is “a good safety protocol” but one that “is a royal pain in the ass -- a...Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:40:59 -0400http://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/carnival-announces-an-exclusive-to-cruise-planners-salehttp://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/carnival-announces-an-exclusive-to-cruise-planners-saleToday as part of Cruise Planners  Presidential Series Webinars Lynn Torrent, the Senior Vice President, Sales and Guest Services, for Carnival and former President of Carnival Corp's Costa Cruise Line, was our honored guest speaker. Joining her was Adolfo Perez, CTC, Vice President of Worldwide Reservations, and Dave Chang, Senior Director of Consumer Sales.Lynn and her team  designed an "insid...Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:52:17 -0400http://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/carnival-announces-the-pokerpro-challengehttp://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/carnival-announces-the-pokerpro-challengeWhat’s the Big Deal?Poker seems to be the answer. More and more cruise lines are adding Texas Hold ‘em poker to their casinos. Unlike other games on board, poker players compete against each other and the house takes a percentage of the pot also known as the “rake”. Most of the contemporary cruise ships of moderate size and larger feature at least one live poker table or an automated game that ...Sun, 19 Jul 2009 14:29:20 -0400http://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/windstar-unveils-2010-11-itineraries-with-savingshttp://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/windstar-unveils-2010-11-itineraries-with-savingsWindstar Unveils 2010-11 Itineraries with Savings Windstar Cruises has published its 2010 and winter 2011 Sailing Atlas with artwork by acclaimed California artist Nicholas Wilton. In conjunction with the atlas release, Windstar is offering a $500 per couple, or $250 per person, shipboard credit to those who book their 2010 voyage by Sept. 30. The offer is only combinable with Windstar’s Advanc...Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:10:18 -0400http://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/cruise-planners-announces-the-biggest-sale-of-the-yearhttp://www.compassrosecruiseplanners.com/blogPosts/view/cruise-planners-announces-the-biggest-sale-of-the-yearWow, summer is here and it seems a lot of people are putting off making their travel plans. Well, sometimes it pays to wait and this might be one of those times. Cruise Planners has just announced its biggest sale of the year. We asked the cruise lines to sharpen up their pencils and give us their best deals. And they came through with the hottest offers of the summer. There over 15 major cruis...Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:43:58 -0400