The allure of European river cruises lies in the seamless blend of history, culture, and breathtaking landscapes. Sailing through iconic waterways such as the Danube, Rhine, Seine, and Douro, these voyages offer an unparalleled opportunity to explore the heart of Europe in an intimate and luxurious setting. As the gentle current carries you through charming villages, ancient castles, and vibrant cities, a European river cruise promises an unforgettable journey of discovery and relaxation.
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Princess Cruise Line has a pricing structure different from most cruise lines. They allow you to choose your experience where you can purchase the perks ahead of time at a reduced rate.. In recent years they introduced, Princess Standard, Princess Plus and Princess Premier with varying perks with each pricing category.
This week they made some changes worth noting. Up until now the OceanNow Delivery was free but for Princess Standard will now be $14.99 per person for the entire cruise. In addition, restaurants like Alfredos and Gigis were included but now have a charge. You can move up to the Princess Plus to get these items included now. Below I have broken down the different packages. 
Europe, like Alaska, is one of the most popular destinations for cruising. But also like Alaska, much different from the Caribbean. Lets take a look what you need to consider when planning your European Cruise Vacation
We are now in the beginning of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season and many people will cruise over the next few months. So what do you need to know about cruising during hurricane season?
There are three typical scenarios you might encounter if your cruise is planned during this time of year. But keep in mind, the cruise line will not place you, the crew or the ship in any danger and the odds of being impacted are rare. 
During a recent cruise on Royal Caribbeans Mariner of the Seas one of my ports was Cozumel Mexico. Although I have visited Cozumel a number of times this time did I something different. I visited one of the most popular attractions at this port. The Tulum ancient ruins and cenote.
Often I hear people say they will get board on a cruise out in the middle of the ocean. Well, that cannot be further from the truth. Whether you want to stay active or just relax, you will find it on a sea day. One of my favorite parts of a cruise is the sea day so lets look at what you can do.
When you cruise, you have a plethora of choices but picking the right cruise line for you is important. One of the premium cruise lines is Celebrity Cruise . Celebrity cruises the world including adventures in the Galapagos Islands. They recently received the Forbes Four Star Award for Celebrity Apex, Flora and Millenium, an award usually reserved for luxury resorts. Let's take a brief look at Celebrity.
Port days are great, we often pick our itinerary based on the ports the ship is visiting. There are some things you can do to not only make your port visit safe but fun too.
Friday Cruise News is a quick review of news from the cruise industry. This week Beetlejuice comes to cruising, Carnival opens up Firenze for bookings and Royal Caribbean removes Sky Pad.
Beetlejuice on NCL
This week Norwegian Cruise Line announced thier line up for entertainment on the new Norwegian Viva sailing in August. Headlining will be Beetlejuice the Musical. The 90 minute show will be seen in the three story multi purpose Viva theatre featuring special effects, special lighting and more. A former cast member of the broadway production, Michelle D'Amico, will play as Lidya. Viva will also have a game show experience with the classic show, Press Your Luck. Also on board will be Improv at Sea and Syd Normans Poor House. This would be fun because it will feature music from classic rock artist like the Rolling Stones. 
Carnival Opens Bookings for Firenze
This week Carnival Cruise Line opened bookings for the inaugural season on Carnival firenze, one of their newest ships. Firenze was one of three acquisitions from Costa Cruise Line including Luminosa and Venezia. They will be part of the Carnival Fun Italian Style. Carnival Vireze will sail from Long Beach CA to the pacific coast of Mexico beginning in May 2024 through April 2025. She will sail a variety of itineraries including 5, 6 and 7 day sailings visiting Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta in the Mexican Rivera. 
Royal Caribbean Removes Sky Pad
Royal Caribbean has decided to remove the Sky Pad attacton on the ships that feature it and replace it with as they put it, a "new versatile venue for exciting onboard activities" The transition will take place in April but no word on what the new activities will be. Sky Pad is a trampoline where you can wear VR goggles and jump while strapped to a harness. The attraction could be found on Marner, Independence, Spectrum and Odyssey of the Seas. As of now, it looks like the big orange and yellow dome will not be removed. Michael Miller
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| Information Center On the property that have a building dedicated to education about the green sea turtle and other types of turtles like loggerheads. There is a movie running, displays on each type of turtle and a view into the area where they keep eggs. That day the room was empty. |  |
Snorkel Lagoon
One of my favorites parts of this experience was the snorkeling lagoon located on the property. Here I was able to swim and see green sea turtles among colorful fish and other sea lif You simply get some free snorkel equipment and set off for a swim. Its a pretty large lagoon with some areas about 4 to 5 feet deep but then the deep area is about 10 feet. If you get tired, there are areas to rest and even a couple places with ladders to get out if you wish. Its a fantastic experience and included in your admission. And don't worry, they are very docile animals wne will not bite or harm you, just don't grab them as they do have sharp beaks.
I got to see several sea turtles just hanging out but unfortunately my pictures did not turn out great. I have to get a better waterproof case for my phone or an underwater camera for these things.
On the property, you will also find bathrooms with changing rooms so no need to wear that wet bathing suit back to the ship. There is also a pool with a slide, restaurant and a gift shop. For the restaurant, expect high prices but you are at a tourist spot. I did get some items in the gift shop as the prices were not bad. Always have to get that magnet.
You are able to just simply get a cab and purchase admission to the center without taking a shore excursion. To gain full access to include the snorkeling lagoon, tickets run around $40.50 but that is as of today. You can visit the website for more details. Cayman Turtle Center.
So whether you are visiting by plane or cruise ship, I highly recommend a stop at the Cayman Turtle Center.
One of my favorites parts of this experience was the snorkeling lagoon located on the property. Here I was able to swim and see green sea turtles among colorful fish and other sea lif You simply get some free snorkel equipment and set off for a swim. Its a pretty large lagoon with some areas about 4 to 5 feet deep but then the deep area is about 10 feet. If you get tired, there are areas to rest and even a couple places with ladders to get out if you wish. Its a fantastic experience and included in your admission. And don't worry, they are very docile animals wne will not bite or harm you, just don't grab them as they do have sharp beaks.
I got to see several sea turtles just hanging out but unfortunately my pictures did not turn out great. I have to get a better waterproof case for my phone or an underwater camera for these things.
On the property, you will also find bathrooms with changing rooms so no need to wear that wet bathing suit back to the ship. There is also a pool with a slide, restaurant and a gift shop. For the restaurant, expect high prices but you are at a tourist spot. I did get some items in the gift shop as the prices were not bad. Always have to get that magnet.
You are able to just simply get a cab and purchase admission to the center without taking a shore excursion. To gain full access to include the snorkeling lagoon, tickets run around $40.50 but that is as of today. You can visit the website for more details. Cayman Turtle Center.
So whether you are visiting by plane or cruise ship, I highly recommend a stop at the Cayman Turtle Center.
Michael Miller
Freedom to Roam Travel
(904) 534-4318
[email protected]
Happy Friday, here are a couple headlines from the week in the cruise industry.
Carnival Breaks Fundraising Record
This week Carnival announced for 2022, they have raised over $3.5 million dollars for St. Jude Children's Hospital breaking their previous record of $2.5 million dollars in 2018. Since 2010 Carnival has raised $26.2 million dollars for St. Jude through onboard fundraisers like Groove for St. Jude, Build a Bear Workshop and Cookie Packages. So next time you are on Carnival ,be sure to dance away your sea day and get your Groove For St. Jude T-Shirt.
This week Carnival announced for 2022, they have raised over $3.5 million dollars for St. Jude Children's Hospital breaking their previous record of $2.5 million dollars in 2018. Since 2010 Carnival has raised $26.2 million dollars for St. Jude through onboard fundraisers like Groove for St. Jude, Build a Bear Workshop and Cookie Packages. So next time you are on Carnival ,be sure to dance away your sea day and get your Groove For St. Jude T-Shirt.
Crystal Cruises Returns with New Name
This year Crystal Cruises returns as Crystal after it was purchased by luxury tour operator, Abercrombie and Kent. The luxury cruise line will begin service again this summer with Crystal Serenity on a 12 Day voyage from Marseille, France to Lisbon, Portugal on July, 31, 2023 and on Sept 1, 2023, Crystal Symphony will say 7 day voyages from Athens, Greece to Istanbul, Turkey.
Bookings will open for select passengers and past guest on February 13 and to the General Public on February 22, 2023. Leading up to the relaunch, Crystal will renovate their ships reducing guest capacity and upgrading the fine touches.
This year Crystal Cruises returns as Crystal after it was purchased by luxury tour operator, Abercrombie and Kent. The luxury cruise line will begin service again this summer with Crystal Serenity on a 12 Day voyage from Marseille, France to Lisbon, Portugal on July, 31, 2023 and on Sept 1, 2023, Crystal Symphony will say 7 day voyages from Athens, Greece to Istanbul, Turkey.
Bookings will open for select passengers and past guest on February 13 and to the General Public on February 22, 2023. Leading up to the relaunch, Crystal will renovate their ships reducing guest capacity and upgrading the fine touches.
Michael Miller
Freedom to Roam Travel
(904) 534-4318
[email protected]
Checking in online for your cruise has become just part of the booking process. Every cruise line will require you to complete your check in either on the website or the app. So what will you need?
Passport Information
If you are using a passport, you will need to enter the document number, place of issue, issue date and expiration date. If using a birth certificate and DL, you will just check that off.
Emergency Contact Information
The cruise line will want you to provide a name and phone number of someone they can contact in the case of an emergency. Just be sure to make that person aware you have used their name and phone number
Credit Card for Onboard Expenses
You will set up your onboard expenses by adding a credit card to your account. Each person can have their own account or one card for all in the stateroom. If you want, you can use cash but you will need to visit Guest Services once you board to do so. I recommend you set up with a card and change it out to cash sometime during the cruise. Guest Services can be quite busy on the first day.
Arrival information
This could just be asking how you will arrive but may ask for flight times if you are flying in the same day.
Choose an Arrival Time
Over the past few years, the cruise lines have found a way to manage the number of passengers arriving at the port. You will get to choose your check in time, usually in 30 minute blocks. The earlier you complete your check in the better time you get. Of course, cruise line status can provide earlier times. Be mindful of this time because you will not be allowed into the terminal prior to that time.
If you are using a passport, you will need to enter the document number, place of issue, issue date and expiration date. If using a birth certificate and DL, you will just check that off.
Emergency Contact Information
The cruise line will want you to provide a name and phone number of someone they can contact in the case of an emergency. Just be sure to make that person aware you have used their name and phone number
Credit Card for Onboard Expenses
You will set up your onboard expenses by adding a credit card to your account. Each person can have their own account or one card for all in the stateroom. If you want, you can use cash but you will need to visit Guest Services once you board to do so. I recommend you set up with a card and change it out to cash sometime during the cruise. Guest Services can be quite busy on the first day.
Arrival information
This could just be asking how you will arrive but may ask for flight times if you are flying in the same day.
Choose an Arrival Time
Over the past few years, the cruise lines have found a way to manage the number of passengers arriving at the port. You will get to choose your check in time, usually in 30 minute blocks. The earlier you complete your check in the better time you get. Of course, cruise line status can provide earlier times. Be mindful of this time because you will not be allowed into the terminal prior to that time.
Photo of You
Cruise lines like Royal Caribbean will have you upload a photo to allow for quicker check in at the port. For this, I would recommend you complete your check in on the app so its easier to take a photo.
Sign the Passenger Contract
Whether you realize it or not, you do acknowledge a passenger contract at the end of the check in process. Most people brush by it but take a look, you might learn something.
Print Boarding Passes and Luggage Tags
Once your check in is complete, you can print your luggage tags and either print or download to your phone your boarding pass. Keep in mind, if anything changes like your cabin number or passenger information, you will need to re print these.
Cruise lines like Royal Caribbean will have you upload a photo to allow for quicker check in at the port. For this, I would recommend you complete your check in on the app so its easier to take a photo.
Sign the Passenger Contract
Whether you realize it or not, you do acknowledge a passenger contract at the end of the check in process. Most people brush by it but take a look, you might learn something.
Print Boarding Passes and Luggage Tags
Once your check in is complete, you can print your luggage tags and either print or download to your phone your boarding pass. Keep in mind, if anything changes like your cabin number or passenger information, you will need to re print these.
Michael Miller
Freedom to Roam Travel
(904) 534-4318
[email protected]
Increase on Gratuities on Two Major Cruise Lines
This week both Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruise Line announced an increase in the crew appreciation or gratuities.
NCL increased gratuities for those in the Haven, suites and all other categories. For the Haven and Suites they increased by $5 to $25, Club Balcony Suites and all other categories went up $4 to $20. All is per guest per day. These increases go into effect on January 1
Princess increased Crew Appreciation to $16.50 for Suites and all other categories to $16. Again, all per day per guest. This new pricing will go into effect in February.
This week both Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruise Line announced an increase in the crew appreciation or gratuities.
NCL increased gratuities for those in the Haven, suites and all other categories. For the Haven and Suites they increased by $5 to $25, Club Balcony Suites and all other categories went up $4 to $20. All is per guest per day. These increases go into effect on January 1
Princess increased Crew Appreciation to $16.50 for Suites and all other categories to $16. Again, all per day per guest. This new pricing will go into effect in February.
Diamond Princess Will Return to Japan
The newly refurbished Dimond Princess will return to cruises from Tokyo beginning March 15 2023 when she will sail a 7 Night Cruise. Diamond will sail 5 to 19 day itineraries visiting 38 destinations in four countries. Diamond is the last of the Princess fleet to return to service following the shut down and is currently sailing on the west coast from San Diego.
The newly refurbished Dimond Princess will return to cruises from Tokyo beginning March 15 2023 when she will sail a 7 Night Cruise. Diamond will sail 5 to 19 day itineraries visiting 38 destinations in four countries. Diamond is the last of the Princess fleet to return to service following the shut down and is currently sailing on the west coast from San Diego.
Nassau Bahamas New Port Opening
It's been years in the making but Port of Nassau wll finally have thier grand opening. Of Nassau has been a port of call for all the cruise lines for decades but over the past few years, they have been working to make some major improvements. Adding an new cruise terminal, amphitheatre, coral exabit plus new shops and restaurants will make this a much more desirable port. In addition, they have added a new pier and extending some of the current piers making possible to bring more ships and passengers. The grand opening is currently scheduled for the last weekend in May.
It's been years in the making but Port of Nassau wll finally have thier grand opening. Of Nassau has been a port of call for all the cruise lines for decades but over the past few years, they have been working to make some major improvements. Adding an new cruise terminal, amphitheatre, coral exabit plus new shops and restaurants will make this a much more desirable port. In addition, they have added a new pier and extending some of the current piers making possible to bring more ships and passengers. The grand opening is currently scheduled for the last weekend in May.
Back in September I sailed on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas on a four night Bahamas Cruise. What are five things I loved about Ind?