Trends and Tips for Cruising with Kids

The cruise lines continue to ramp up family-friendly amenities and activities onboard their ships, so here's a look at just SOME of the trends, tips and developments for cruising with your kids and grand kids...

Embracing the Animal Kingdom!

Young kids LOVE seeing wild animals and marine life in their natural habitat... and that makes Alaska, central and South America, the Galapagos, Africa and other regions excellent destinations for your family travel and wildlife viewing opportunities.

For example, Paul Gauguin Cruises partners with the Wildlife Conservation Society and offers summertime programs for kids 7-17.  And Princess Cruises has interactive Discovery at Sea experiences based on Discovery's TV programs such as "Shark Week" and "Mythbusters."

More Family Accommodations:
Carnival Cruises Lines' "Carnival Vista" has the new Family Harbor suites with access to a family lounge.  Other perks include Camp Ocean (kids club), and the industry's first IMAX theater.

The Rise of Foodie Families:
Nowadays, kids love cooking classes and culinary events!  Crystal Cruises has cookie baking and pizza making within their Junior Activities program.

Enhanced Water Safety:
Last month, Royal Caribbean began adding certified lifeguards at all its pools.  You can also expect safety vests for kids, and emergency drills in the kids club.

Kids Clubs are Getting More Extensive:
Cruise lines have started partnering with well-known companies and characters... like DreamWorks Entertainment with Shrek and Madagascar on Royal Caribbean.  The youth programs are being revitalized and updated across the board with tons of activities, arts and crafts, and science-oriented programming.

When planning a cruise with your family, whether it's a family of four or a multi-generational cruise vacation spent together... there is something for kids of all ages to enjoy!

Ocean Medallion Cruises - The Next Wave of Vacation Travel and ENTER TO WIN A FREE CRUISE

Be among the first to experience Ocean Medallion by Princess Cruises.

An Ocean Medallion vacation is more than just a cruise. It's an amplified experience with personalized service that gives you the extra time and freedom to discover and do more of what you love.

OCEAN MEDALLION™

It's the size of a quarter and holds your digital identity, which means it knows who you are and what you like. Your Ocean Medallion is your key to opening experiences on board and can be worn as a wristband, pendant, clip or simply kept in your pocket.

OCEAN COMPASS™

A personal guide you can access anywhere — on your mobile devices, your stateroom TV and touchscreens throughout the ship. With Ocean Compass, you can order food and drinks right to

you and find your group on board.

OCEAN MEDALLION™ HIGHLIGHTS

• Streamlines the boarding process for an easy arrival

• Allows for hands-free stateroom entry (no more keycards!)

• Helps you locate friends and family on the ship

• Lets you shop without any swiping or signing

• Creates dining experiences based on what you love

• Opens up a world of interactive gaming and immersive           entertainment

• Enhances communication between guests and crew members for more tailored assistance

Each guest's personal information is encrypted and never stored on the Medallion. If guests prefer to opt out of the Ocean Medallion experience, they can do so while still enjoying an amazing vacation.

ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A FREE OCEAN MEDALLION CRUISE

You could be one of the first guests to experience this next wave in vacation travel. From January through August 2017, each month, one lucky winner will receive a 4-day Caribbean cruise for two in a balcony stateroom on the Ocean Medallion preview sailing on Regal Princess.

Enter for a chance to win

The New Celebrity Edge is Going to Be Stunning!

We know that for modern adventurers, travel isn’t a spectator sport. It’s about being fully immersed in new destinations and cultures without sacrificing comfort and style. 

Celebrity Cruises gets this.  And now they’ve made the destination experience even more immersive, starting right on board.

From its unique outward-facing design to the industry-first Magic Carpet that reaches heights of 13 stories above sea level, Celebrity Edge breaks from traditional ship design. 

Edge Class pushes the boundaries of cruise ship architecture from bow to stern, and everywhere in between. From urban condo-inspired accommodations to the industry-first Magic Carpet, they’ve reinvented what’s possible on a Celebrity Cruises vacation.

They also carefully selected a team of the world’s best designers, based on their portfolios as well as their inexperience with cruise ships and cruising.

That’s right. They sought out designers who were new to the cruise industry, because they wanted to ensure every aspect of Celebrity Edge would be a departure from traditional thinking about cruising.

 Visionaries who would bring a completely fresh perspective to ship design—and it looks like they got exactly that with their team of renowned designers.

Kelly Hoppen, MBE - Accommodations

Tom Wright - Exterior Profile Design

Nate Berkus - Design Ambassador

Check out the look:

Greek Summer Salad with Grilled Halloumi

Courtesy of Regent Seven Seas Cruises - The most inclusive luxury experience!

From Culinary Arts Kitchen Executive Chef Kathryn Kelly...

Today, they are inspired by the warm Aegean weather of Greece and opting for a fresh Greek Summer Salad with Grilled Halloumi – a tasty addition to any meal. 

This salad is simple, but incredibly sublime!

If you are not familiar with Halloumi, it is a Cypriot firm, brined, slightly springy white cheese, traditionally made from a mixture of goat and sheep milk, although these days cow’s milk is also used. Its texture is similar to that of mozzarella or thick feta, except that it has a strong, salty flavor imbibed from the brine preserve. Cooking the Halloumi removes all its saltiness and empowers it with a creamy texture.

Since the cheese has a high melting point, it can be easily fried or grilled. .

Halloumi is generally served during the warmer months with watermelon, due to its refreshing qualities. It is an essential part of a Cyprus Meze and many a times it is offered as an accompaniment with cold beer. 

The cheese also tastes lovely when grilled, pan-fried or thinly sliced on a salad.

Greek Summer Salad with Grilled Halloumi 

Serves 2
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup 2-inch watermelon cubes
1 cup 2-inch cucumber cubes
6 basil leaves, chiffonade
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 ounces halloumi, in ½-inch slices
4 paper-thin slices red onion, rings separated
Extra virgin olive oil, for garnish
1 teaspoon dried oregano, preferably Greek

In a medium bowl, lightly toss the tomatoes, watermelon and cucumber with the basil. Heat a cast iron grill pan on high heat. When very hot, brush with the oil. Sear the halloumi slices on both sides, creating a black char mark on the surfaces. Plate the salad with the halloumi on the side and garnish with onion rings, extra virgin olive oil and oregano.

Introducing the "Symphony of the Seas"!

Get to know the Royal Caribbean's BOLDEST SHIP EVER!  

Sailing Europe in the Spring of 2018 and then on to the Caribbean in Fall of 2018

Click HERE to learn more and see the video!

Cruise Ships by Size

Although all ships share certain similarities, ship size very much matters when it comes to your overall cruise experience. 

In fact, the size of the ship—large, midsize, or small—affects pretty much every other aspect of the cruise: how many fellow passengers you'll share your vacation with, the onboard dining and entertainment options, the activities you'll be offered, and even the ports of call you can visit.

Accordingly, choosing the right ship can make or break your vacation, so consider your lifestyle and expectations carefully when making this important decision.

Large Ships

In general, bigger ships offer more room for onboard amenities and feature all the bells and whistles that modern passengers have come to associate with cruising. Given their cross-generational, something-for-everyone appeal and budget-friendly pricing, you're more likely to find a younger and family-oriented demographic represented aboard larger ships. At these veritable villages-at-sea, you should anticipate crowds at popular onboard spots like the pool decks or while tendering in port. Larger ships can only access the biggest ports, so expect itineraries that cover popular, well-trafficked ports like St. Thomas and St. Maarten in the Caribbean, and Barcelona and Civitavecchia in the Mediterranean.

Midsize Ships

For many cruisers, midsize ships provide a happy medium, combining some big-ship features with smaller-ship atmosphere (like fewer crowds and more intimate spaces). There's no lack of entertainment and features on these ships, but they don't usually have the extravagant facilities of the largest ships. Alternative dining is generally an option, and you can still expect ample nightlife, a casino, shows, and a spa. Some vessels in this category are refurbished older ships that offer particularly good value, while others afford a luxury experience all their own. Due to their size, these ships have room for a sizable staff, providing higher staff-to-passenger ratios than on larger ships. Midsize ships can go almost anywhere, and may include more exotic port calls than the largest ships do.

Small Ships

Smaller ships tend to excel at off-the-beaten-path itineraries since the vessels can comfortably access more intimate ports. Smaller ship size does not allow for a lot of onboard extras, but lines often splurge for more plush appointments in cabins and public spaces. Onboard atmosphere is more intimate, with fewer guests and more personalized staff attention, but that attention and exclusivity can come with a price. Intriguing itineraries are more often the focus of the voyage and often include some ports of call, such as St. Barts or Portofino, Italy, which are not suited for larger ships.

American Cruise Lines Reveals New Class of Modern Riverboats

American Cruise Lines has announced details for the first of a new class of five modern riverboats destined for America’s rivers. The first in the series is scheduled to begin service in 2018 and will carry 200 guests.

At 345 feet long, the new riverboat will combine the modern styling of a European riverboat with premium comfort, and will feature the largest staterooms on the United States’ rivers, with private balconies and hotel-size bathrooms.

“For over a decade, we have led the way with ship innovation in the United States and we continue to raise the bar with this new class of modern riverboats,” says Timothy Beebe, Vice President of American Cruise Lines. “American Cruise Lines has consistently pursued its newbuild program, as it considers refurbished boats unable to meet the modern expectations of today’s river cruise passengers.”

Construction has already begun on the new modern riverboat at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland. In addition to the new class of modern riverboats, American Cruise Lines is building two additional cruise ships at Chesapeake Shipbuilding. American Constellation has a capacity of 170 passengers and is scheduled to begin cruising in May 2017, and its sister ship will begin cruising in 2018.

How to Pronounce the Islands of the South Pacific

~ Destination Pronunciation Guide for the ms Paul Gauguin ~

 

The exotic cultures of the South Pacific islands are reflected in the beautiful languages spoken by the people who call them home.  This handy reference acquaints you with the names of the islands that the ms Paul Gauguin visits!

 

 

 

 

SOCIETY ISLANDS:

Bora Bora: BORE-ah BORE-ah

Motu Mahana: MOE-too ma-HAN-a

Taha'a: TAH-hah

Huahine: who-ah-HEE-nay

Papeete: pah-pee-EY-tey

Moorea: moh-ah-RAY-ah

 

FIJI:

Lautoka, Viti Levu: lah-oh-TOKE-ah, vee-tee LEH-voo

Malolo Island: mah-LOW-low

Suva, Viti Levu: SOO-vah, vee-tww LEH-voo

Savusavu, Vanua Levu: sah-voo-SAH-voo, VAHN-oo-ah LEH-voo

 

MARQUESAS ISLANDS:

Nuku Hiva: noo-koo HEE-vah

Hiva Oa: hee-vah OH-ah

Tahuata: TAH-hu-a-ta

Fatu Hiva: fah-too HEE-vah

 

VANUATU:

Port Vila, Efate: port VEE-lah, ah-Fah-tah

Tanna Island: TAH-nah

 

NEW CALDONIA

Noumea: noo-MAY-ah

Ile de Llfou: eel dih lee-FOO

Ile de Pins: eel dih PEH

 

TUAMOTUS:

Rangiroa: rain-geh-ROW-ah

Fakarava: fah-kah-RAH-vah

 

COOK ISLANDS:

Aitutaki: eye-too-TAH-kee

Rarotonga: rare-eh-TONG-geh