The Getaway set for delivery in February

It’s all about cruising this week with the biggest news coming from Norwegian Cruise Lines.

The Getaway, the sister ship to The Breakaway, made a conveyance trip down the Ems River in Germany in the run up to its delivery in February of next year. The ship travelled stern first in the 19-hour journey to Eemshaven, Netherlands. 

The ship will be based out of Miami and will have a southern Florida theme, including work on its hull by David 'LEBO' Betard.

Carnival

The ‘Fun Ship’s’ deal of the week is an eight-day cruise on the 

Carnival Splendour out of New York on Wednesday, December 11 for $299 per person for an interior cabin. You’re basically getting your room, food and entertainment for $28. The itinerary isn’t the greatest with stops in Port Canaveral (Orlando), and Nassau and Freeport in the Bahamas, but if you have the time it’s a cheap vacation.

That same trip and room in April costs $504. 

For past guests of Carnival, the line is also throwing in an up to $80 shore excursion for free.

Holland America

The line announced on Tuesday that it was having a roster of more than 50 well-known chefs for its sailings in 2014 as part of its Culinary Arts
Centre Programme. 

Some of the more well-known names include Chef Amadeus (the first winner of the Food Network’s Extreme Chef series), Mark Bittman (New York Times columnist and cookbook author) and Jehangir Mehta (chef owner of Graffiti who was a competitor on The Next Iron Chef). For a full schedule of Holland America Line’s culinary guest programme, visit the Culinary Arts Center page of Holland America Line’s website at www.hollandamerica.com

Royal Caribbean 

Royal Caribbean has announced some add-ons for its beverage packages, which went into effect on November 15. The main change is if you purchase an alcohol package, not everyone in your cabin will also have to buy it. 

There are four new daily packages (they still have the weekly ones as well).

For $20 a day you will get all the premium coffee, premium tea, bottled water, sparkling water, still water, orange juice, non-alcoholic cocktails, and soda you can drink.

For $40 a day you will get all the beer, wine by the glass (up to $8 per glass), non-alcoholic cocktails, soda you can drink and 20 per cent discount on bottles of wine.

For $55 a day you will get all the call and premium cocktails, frozen cocktails, beers, premium wine by the glass (up to $12 per glass), still bottled water, soda you can drink plus 20 per cent discount on purchases of bottles of wine.

And for $65 a day you will get all the premium coffee, premium tea, bottled water, sparkling water, still water, orange juice, non-alcoholic cocktails, soda, premium cocktails (up to $10 value), frozen cocktails, beer and premium wine by the glass (up to $12 value) you can drink and 20 per cent discount on purchases of bottle of wine. 

The changes were met with enthusiastic cheers on the Cruise Critics message boards. 

Princess

Princess Cruises has won three awards from the readers of Porthole Cruise Magazine, receiving Best Northern Europe Itineraries, Best Asia/Pacific Itineraries, and Best Onboard Shopping in the magazine’s 15th annual Readers’ Choice Awards. n