Carnival's Free Caribbean Cabin Upgrade

Here's a neat incentive to join a sparkling Caribbean cruise with Carnival Cruise Lines this year - a FREE cabin upgrade for the sailing in March.

Sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida – just a short hop away from the thrills of Orlando - to the heavenly Western Caribbean, the voyage features visits to Cozumel, Mexico’s only Caribbean island (brimming with silver and colourful crafts) and beautiful Belize, boasting its own special brand of eco-tourism and the world’s second largest barrier reef, before cruising on to the new Mahogany Bay resort on scenic Isla Roatan, and then Costa Maya, gateway to ancient Mayan temples and white sand beaches of the Mexican mainland.

The ship involved, the spectacular 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream, features some of the best resort amenities afloat, including deck after deck of spacious private balconied staterooms offering breathtaking panoramas, plus 18 bars and lounges, a duty-free shopping mall, a huge Cloud 9 health spa and gym, including a hydrotherapy pool, “Serenity” deck areas for adults only, a glittering casino, a 2,400sq ft children’s area, four swimming pools and several cascading water slides.

This 9-night Caribbean fly/cruise onboard the Dream starts from just £1,099 per person, including a free upgrade from an inside to a sea-view stateroom. This holiday departs from London on March 1 and includes scheduled flights between London and Orlando, one night pre-cruise hotel (room only) and a 7-night cruise, full board basis per person based on inside twin accommodation. 

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Time To Go Carnival Dreaming

With the winter drawing in, there’s no better time to think about a relaxing Caribbean cruise - and Carnival Cruises have some spectacular offerings for British holiday-markers to Florida this winter.

Their weekly Western Caribbean itinerary now sails conveniently from Port Canaveral, less than an hour from the holiday Mecca of Orlando and features a truly eye-catching route, visiting Cozumel (Mexico's only Caribbean island), brimming with silver and colourful crafts); beautiful Belize, which boasts some fascinating eco-tourism and the world’s second largest barrier reef; tropical Isla Roatan; and peaceful Costa Maya, with its white sand beaches and historic Mayan pyramids.

The eye-catching 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream (above) is one of the line's newest ships (and a sister vessel to the Carnival Breeze, which is due to set sail in the Med next summer), and features some of the best resort amenities afloat, including deck after deck of spacious balcony staterooms offering breathtaking panoramas, plus 18 bars and lounges, a duty-free shopping mall, a huge Cloud 9 health spa and gym, including a hydrotherapy pool, “Serenity” deck areas for adults only, a glittering casino, a 2,400sq ft children’s area, four swimming pools and several cascading water slides.

A 9-night Caribbean fly/cruise on Carnival Dream starts from just £1,099 per person, departing London on January 20 and including scheduled flights between London and Orlando, one night pre-cruise hotel (room only) and a 7-night cruise, full board (based on inside twin accommodation). It costs just £50 per person (less than £8 per day) to upgrade to an ocean view stateroom.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's leading cruise agent specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Navigator's New Caribbean Deployment

Royal Caribbean has announced the redeployment of Navigator of the Seas for the 2011-12 winter season from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean.

The ship will reposition to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale and sail a range of five to nine-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries starting on November 20. Navigator will also offer a 14-night transatlantic sailing from Rome to Port Everglades, departing November 6, and a 15-night return cruise to Rome on April 14, 2012.

The 3,114-passenger ship will alternate six-night Western Caribbean itineraries with eight-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries. Ports of call on the six-night sailings include Grand Cayman, the newly-opened historic Falmouth Port (Jamaica) and Labadee (Haiti). The eight-night sailing features calls at St. Maarten, St. Kitts, San Juan (Puerto Rico) and Labadee.

A seven-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary, departing on January 8 and 22 excludes the call at St. Kitts from the eight-night itinerary, while a seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary, departing January 15, adds a call to the six-night itinerary at Cozumel (Mexico). A special nine-night New Year’s cruise, departing December 30 adds a call at St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands) to the eight-night Eastern Caribbean voyage.

In addition to the Navigator itineraries, Royal Caribbean fans have a wide range of Caribbean cruise options onboard 15 of the world’s largest and most innovative cruise ships, sailing from nine American ports throughout winter 2011-12.

For more info, visit www.royalcaribbean.co.uk or the UK's spcialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Regent's BIG Caribbean Discounts

Some heavily discounted cruise fares are on offer from Regent Seven Seas on two sailings in April in the Caribbean.

WESTERN CARIBBEAN, 8 April 2011 | 7 Nights, Seven Seas Navigator

Highlights: Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Cozumel, Belize City, Santo Tomas de Castilla, Costa Maya, Fort Lauderdale

Balcony Suite (E) NOW..... £2,264pp (was £3,019pp); Penthouse Suite (C) NOW..... £2,399pp (was £3,199pp)

BERMUDA & COLONIAL SOUTH, 15 April 2011 | 10 Nights, Seven Seas Navigator

Highlights: Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, Charleston, Hamilton (2 overnights), St. George, Nassau, Fort Lauderdale

Ocean View Suite from £3,329pp, Balcony Suite from £3,769pp

ALMOST EVERYTHING IS INCLUDED...
FREE flights & transfers
FREE unlimited shore excursions
ALL fine dining
ALL drinks & beverages
ALL gratuities & ALL activities onboard

FREE SHORE EXCURSIONS EXAMPLES

KEY WEST: Glass Bottom Boat; originally £60.................now FREE
HAMILTON: Horse & Carriage Ride; originally £53.................now FREE
CHARLESTON: Magnolia Gardens; originally £100.................now FREE

Book by March 31.

All fares are based on lowest available lead-in fare for destination and are subject to availability. Alternative suite categories available. Prices are per person based on double occupancy. Further terms and conditions apply. Please see www.rssc.co.uk/ or call the luxury cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

Miami, Honduras & Mexico

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Central America and the Western Caribbean have always had a fascinating appeal to many dedicated cruisers. With that in mind, Norwegian Cruise Line have put together a voyage in the region. Their incredible new ship Norwegian Epic (above) is reinventing cruising once again with new entertainment options and amazing nightlife, including the first true Ice Bar at sea.

Norwegian Epic also has innovative and flexible accommodation, from Studios designed and priced specifically for solo travellers, with exclusive access to their Studio Lounge, to the private Villas on board. Add twenty different dining options, a huge aqua park for all the family and you’ll see why the company say this is Freestyle Cruising on a truly grand scale.

The beauty of cruising is that it encompasses all forms of tastes - whether you prefer adventure voyages and getting up close to nature, red in tooth and claw, or the sort of family, single holiday that’s full of the fun and entertainment that Norwegian are so good at offering.

The company say there’s only one thing to do with rules – scrap them. So that’s what they’ve done. They pick the ports and the rest is down to you. NCL visits destinations from the Caribbean to Hawaii, Alaska to New England, Bermuda to Mexico and Europe.

In her maiden season, Epic has a series of departures up until the end of April 2011 visiting The Western Caribbean. Departing from Miami, she will call at Costa Maya in Mexico, The Roatan Bay Islands off the coast of Honduras and the tiny tropical island of Cozumel, 12 miles off Mexico’s coast before returning to Miami.

Among the highlights is the chance to steer a personal All Terrain Vehicle along the jungle trails on the wild side of Cozumel; take a thrilling ride along zip lines from Roatán’s Creation Rock to a party on Tabyana Beach; and see the Mayan ruins in Tulum, built on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean.

NCL Line are exhibiting at the Cruise Show in Birmingham.