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Showing posts from August, 2018

Cunard's Queen Mary 2 Offers 14 Day New England - Canada Cruise

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Changing Leaves - Common on fall New England Canada Cruises - Cunard's Queen Mary 2 to Conduct Special 14 day sailing. Cunard's Queen Mary 2 is conducting a special 14 day - New England / Canada cruise departing New York on September 23, 2018. This fall cruise will visit such picturesque ports like Rockland, Corner Brook, Sept Iles, Quebec, Quebec, Quebec, Saguenay, Sydney Ns, and Halifax Nova Scotia. For passengers not able to dedicate the full two weeks the cruise is available in two segments of 7 days each. Segment 1 from New York to Quebec Canada and Segment 2 - Quebec Canada back to New York. Fares for the 14 day voyage start at $1,499 for an inside stateroom. Sailing on the Queen Mary 2 is unlike other ships. The QM2 offers a luxury, upscale, experience. The ship has a high space per passenger ratio and offers a refined experience. For additional details check out cunard's website: Cunard Queen Mary 2 Fall New England Canada Cruise Check Out Our Sister S

German Cruise Lines Find New York a Popular Fall Cruise Port.

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AIDA Cruises AIDAvita - One of a number of German cruise lines offering extended stays in New York on their New England, Canada Cruises. As stated in previous blog posts, as the fall approaches, many cruise lines re-locate their ships to New York to Sail on New England Canada Cruises.  These fall sailing are very popular among the German Cruise lines like AIDA and Mein Schiff (TUI Cruises) which use New York / New Jersey as a turn around port. Their cruises use New York as a embarkation and disembarkation port allowing passenger time to visit and explore the Big Apple. Usually the cruise lines add an overnight stay for their passengers in New York and the passengers can use the ship as their hotel. So for instance on a 14 day cruise, the ship arrive in New York on Day 13 allowing guests to stay onboard overnight and explore NYC. For the next cruise, the passengers will embark on day 1 but the ship will NOT leave New York until day 2. These cruises with the extended stay in N

Port Of Call - San Juan Puerto Rico

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San Juan Puerto Rico - A popular cruise port on longer cruises from New York. San Juan Puerto Rico is a popular cruise port on winter and longer summer sailings from the port of New York. Whether it is a stroll through the Old City on your way to El Morro Castle (Fort) which rises above the entrance to the harbor or a visit to the rain forest, this cruise port has something to offer everyone. There are shops, cafes, beaches, snorkeling, water-sports and much more. Whether you are a first time visitor or a returning guest - you will definitely find an entertaining way to spend the day. Check Out Our Sister Sites: Nick's Cruise Corner Blog to Learn About World Wide Cruising NYCruiseInfo.com to Learn About Cruises From New York and New Jersey.

Princess Cruises to Sail 2 Ships From New York to New England & Canada in the Fall of 2018.

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Regal Princess One of 2 ships sailing to New England / Canada in the Fall of 2018 Shortly Princess Cruises' ships will be repositioning to New York in anticipation of the start of the fall New England Canada season. Princess Cruises' will position both the Royal Princess and her near identical sister the Regal Princess in the Big Apple in September and October. Princess Cruise will offer 7, 10 and 14 days sailings - some packed with extensive array of ports of call. While some cruises will be Round trip from New York, others will be ending in Quebec. For exact itineraries and dates visit NYCruiseInfo.com or the Princess Cruises Website. Check Out Our Sister Sites: Nick's Cruise Corner Blog to Learn About World Wide Cruising NYCruiseInfo.com to Learn About Cruises From New York and New Jersey.

Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Escape To Offer After Midnight Musical in Supper Club Cabaret Show

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Norwegian Cruise Line today announced that three award-winning Broadway songstresses, Melinda Doolittle, Sharon Wilkins and Melba Moore, will be performing in the Tony Award®-winning musical, After Midnight, as well as their own Supper Club Cabaret Show, aboard Norwegian Escape beginning August 19, 2018. The announcement, which illustrates the company’s dedication to high-caliber entertainment, comes on the heels of its successful launch of Tony Award®-winning musical Jersey Boys and its original production ¡HAVANA! as well as the debut of Syd Norman’s Pour House, an authentic and immersive experience inspired by the greatest clubs in American rock ‘n’ roll history.  The increase in star power is in response to the incredible reception of Broadway’s own, Tony Award®-nominated, Brenda Braxton, who has routinely starred in After Midnight aboard Norwegian Escape since its introduction into the fleet in 2015. “We are thrilled to engage these celebrated Broadway stars and very happy to

Flash Back: Home Lines Oceanic

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Home Lines New and Seek Oceanic - A regular on the New York to Nassau Cruise Run. A regular fixture on the New York to Bermuda and New York to Nassau cruise circuit, Home Line's Oceanic had a following like no other ship of the day. Home Lines was known for their Italian hospitality, great food and top-notch entertainment. It was not usual for many passenger to stay aboard for back to back cruises and Home Lines capitalized on this - with a very successful onboard booking agent. One of Home Line's most successful ships was the Oceanic. Designed specifically for cruising and fitted with a Magradome glass roof over the pool. The glass roof allowed passengers to swim regardless of the temperature outside or weather conditions. The ship offered spacious accommodations and an upscale onboard experience. The Oceanic departed New York every Saturday at 4 PM during the peak summer season sailing 2 days down to Nassau; Spending 3 days in port and then 2 days at sea back to New

Norwegian Cruise Line's Nowegian Breakaway Undergoes Extensive Refit.

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  Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Breakaway In DryDock at Damen's Brest France Shipyard. Norwegian Cruise Line today announced the completed refurbishments of three ships, Norwegian Breakaway , Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Star , further showcasing its commitment to extraordinary quality and the guest experience.  As part of The Norwegian Edge ® , the company’s program designed to elevate the standard of excellence across its fleet, the revitalized ships now feature new designs and venues including Los Lobos Cantina, an upscale Mexican restaurant; the adults-only enclave, Spice H 2 O; and Syd Norman’s Pour House – an American rock ‘n’ roll bar and lounge, which makes its debut aboard Norwegian Breakaway. “What a year this has been for us at Norwegian Cruise Line,” said Andy Stuart, the brand’s president and chief executive officer. “Not only did we introduce our latest and record-breaking ship, Norwegian Bliss, and announce the redeployment of her si

Beautiful Sunday In New York - Great Day to VIsit the Statue Of Liberty and Ellis Island.

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Statue Of Liberty Attraction for Visitors and Residents Alike. As mentioned in my previous blog article, this Sunday turned in to a relatively nice day with periods of  torrential rain, other time great, bright sunshine with amazing white clouds. As usual I looked for a vantage point to photograph the cruise ships departing / arriving and chose Liberty State Park in New Jersey. Liberty State Park offers the opportunity to take great photos of the New York Skyline in the late afternoon. Liberty State Park is one of two locations in the port, where visitors can board a ferry to the State of Liberty and/or Ellis Island. (The second embarkation point for Statue of Liberty / Ellis Island Ferries is Battery Park in Lower Manhattan). I arrived at the park at about 4:15 PM to witness hundreds of people filing off of ferries carrying tourists from the attractions. The ferries are operated by Statue Cruises (a division of Hornblower Cruises & Events). Seeing this made me apprecia

Princess Cruises Sea Princess Steams Toward New York.

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Princess Cruises' Sea Princess Arriving in New York as Part of her 2018 World Cruise. Just about the time this article is published (1:30 AM on 8/14/2018), Princess Cruises' Sea Princess will be in New York Harbor. The ship is visiting New York as part of her World Cruise. The Sea Princess departed Halifax, Canada on August 12 bound for the Big Apple. The remaining part of her World Cruise is a 36 Day segment sailing from New York visiting New York | Charleston, South Carolina | Miami, Florida | Key West, United States | Limon, Costa Rica | Panama Canal Full Transit, Panama | Manta, Ecuador | Lima (Callao), Peru | Easter Island, Chile | Pitcairn Island (Scenic Cruising) | Tahiti (Papeete), French Polynesia | Raiatea, French Polynesia | Cross International Date Line | Auckland, New Zealand | Sydney, Australia. Check Out Our Sister Sites: Nick's Cruise Corner Blog to Learn About World Wide Cruising NYCruiseInfo.com to Learn About Cruises From New York and New

Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Escape Departure Delayed Due To Fueling.

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Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Escape Delayed Dur to Fueling Issues Sunday (yesterday) was a unique day in New York with scattered thunderstorms and frequent breaks of sunshine, bright blue skies and fluffy clouds. During the key departure hour (4 PM) the Celebrity Summit actually departed a little early leaving at 3:50 PM under bright sunshine. I was anxiously awaiting the departure of the Norwegian Escape at 4 PM but at 5 PM I was still waiting. It appears that the re-fueling of the ship for her 7 day cruise to Bermuda was running drastically behind. Refueling usually takes 4-6 hours.  It was not until about 7:50 PM where the Norwegian Escape pulled away from the pier and headed down the Hudson River. The departure delay is NOT expected to impact the ship's schedule since 2 days are allowed for the 1 - 1.5 day trip to Bermuda. Refueling delays are not common and I can say I was disappointed because the 4 hour delay was too long to stay to see the ship depart. C

Flash Back - One of My Favorite Ships - French Line's ss France.

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French Line's SS France (shown) Later Became Norwegian Cruise Line's Norway Originally built in 1962 for the French Line, the futuristic liner ss France was the longest liner of the day, measuring 1,032 feet and weighing 66,000 tons. The elegant 3 class ship had her trademark majestic winged funnels; elegant furnishing and white glove service. A victim of many strikes by the seaman union; the increased popularity of air travel; and mounting losses due to increased fuel prices, fuel hungry engines and low passenger counts. The ss France was laid up in 1974 awaiting a buyer. The ship was eventually purchase by Norwegian Cruise Line, who renamed her Norway and brought her to Bremerhaven, Germany for an extensive conversion to a 1 class cruise liner. Totally refitted from stem to stem the ship reemerged as the Norway with all cabin remodeled, all public rooms renovated, an extensive platform lido area was place on the stern ideal for her new role as a Caribbean Cruise shi

Flash Back - Cunard's Queen Elizabeth 2

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Cunard Line's QE2 of 1969 in her original glory and color scheme. In a flash back to the past, I found this photo of Cunard Line's Queen Elizabeth 2 (built 1969).  Affectionately known as the QE2, the ship was a regular fixture on the Transatlantic route - sailing between New York and Southampton, England - with an occasional call at Cherbourg, France. The QE2 underwent a number of refurbishments and extensive refits to extend its life, but this photo show the QE2 in her original glory. The QE2 is still in existence, permanently docked in Dubai as a hotel and convention center. Check Out Our Sister Sites: Nick's Cruise Corner Blog to Learn About World Wide Cruising NYCruiseInfo.com to Learn About Cruises From New York and New Jersey. ,7y

Unique Panama Canal Cruise From New York In January, 2019.

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Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Gem To Offer Special South America, Panama Canal  and Western Mexico, . Norwegian Cruise Line has announced a 19- day repositioning cruise between New York and Los Angeles, via the Panama Canal, onboard the Norwegian Gem. The itinerary details shown below lists some of the unique ports of calls not normally visited on cruises departing from the Port of New York. The cruise is extensively focused on  the Southern Caribbean, the North Coast of South America, Central America, the Canal and the West Coast of Mexico (Destinations made popular by the TV series - "the Love Boat". The cruise depart New York on January 2, 2019 and ending in Los Angeles, California on January 20th. The sailing will be conducted on the popular Norwegian Gem which has a strong following among Norwegian Cruise Line fans. The ship offers a rock climbing wall, water slides, extensive spa facilities, casino, pools, hot tubs and many dining establishments / freest

Carnival Cruises Carnival Triumph To Undergo an Extensive Refit and Become the Carnival Sunrise Before New York Introduction.

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Artists Rendering of Carnival Cruises Carnival Sunrise Formerly the Carnival Triumph I was very surprised when Carnival Cruises quietly substituted the brand new Carnival Horizon with the 1999 built Carnival Triumph for the 2019 New York season. Carnival did not publish a press release or any communication - the only way I found out was by searching for 2019 cruises on their website. About 2 weeks after I saw the 2019 cruises on the internet, the following, great, press release came out announcing a $200 million refit. In April 2019, the Carnival Triumph will emerge as the Carnival Sunrise and virtually a new ship, Here is the official Carnival Press Release and the details of the refit............. Carnival Cruise Line today revealed plans for a nearly $200 million bow-to-stern makeover for Carnival Triumph in the spring of 2019 that will include renaming the ship to reflect its significant transformation.  The ship will join Carnival’s Sunshine class and will be named Car

Busy Cruise Ship Weekend in New York and New Jersey.

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Oceania Cruises Insignia is a regular caller at the port of  New York. This weekend saw an unusual amount of cruise ship activity over a 3 day period. Here is the line up of ships this past weekend. Friday Royal Caribbean's - Adventure of the Seas - Sailing to New England and Canada. Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 - Transatlantic  Saturday Norwegian Cruise Line - Norwegian Gem - Sailing to Florida and the Bahamas. Royal Caribbean's - Anthem of the Seas - Sailing to Bermuda. Oceania Cruises - Insignia - Sailing to Newport RI and Bermuda  Sunday Both sailing to Bermuda Norwegian Cruise Line - Norwegian Escape  Celebrity Cruises - Celebrity Summit. The fall season will see more ships arriving and leaving on a regular basis with the beginning of the New England - Canada starting early September. Check out the great array of fall cruises from New York and New Jersey at www.NYCruiseInfo.com   Check Out Our Sister Sites: Nick's Cruise Corner Blog to

Freighter Cruises From The Port of New York.

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An alternative to the 5,000 to 6,000 passenger ships, for the more adventurous is a freighter cruise. Limited to only 10 passengers, these cruises are on working ships. The itineraries are flexible, stopping and staying as long as the cargo handling dictates.  In addition, the cruise duration can fluctuate and can be extended or reduced depending on cargo demands. These freighter cruises offer solitude for up to 10 passengers. and crew. There is no formal entertainment, you create your own entertainment, including movies, music, a good book or enjoyable conversation. There is a a dining room and guests may eat with the crew but overall the food is good but can be basic. In addition, as a passenger, you have access to the kitchen and refrigerator and are able to get yourself a snack or small meal if you like. These freighter cruises tend to dock at cargo handling facilities and not the tourist laden cruise terminals so it may be a trek to get to the center of town.(Even in New York

Norwegian Cruise Line Alternative Ships Sailing From New York

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Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Dawn One of 7 NCL Ships Sailing From New York Over the next two years Norwegian Cruise Line will be bringing various ships to New York to offer seasonal and/or year round cruises from the port. The ship expected to visit the Big Apple in the next 2 years include the: Norwegian Gem Norwegian Escape Norwegian Getaway Norwegian Dawn Norwegian Bliss Norwegian Jade  Norwegian Breakaway Norwegian Cruise Line has invested greatly in year round cruises from New York and this latest demonstration of adding different ships is refreshing and offers passengers a selection of cruise experiences. Check Out Our Sister Sites: Nick's Cruise Corner Blog to Learn About World Wide Cruising NYCruiseInfo.com to Learn About Cruises From New York and New Jersey. ,