Michael Given of Cruise Planners today announced a partnership with International Conferences to offer physicians, dentists, nurses, and attorneys an opportunity to participate in an accredited continuing education program in conjunction with cruises on Royal Caribbean International and Crystal Cruises. Through its new affiliation with International Conferences, Michael Given is able to book clients on 21 exciting cruise itineraries worldwide, where medical and legal professionals can earn between 18 and 24 continuing education credits (CME category 1, AMA/PRA, CLE, and CEU). “We&r...

MSC Cruises has changed the name of its second post-Panamax ship to MSC Splendida to reflect the ship’s beauty and elegance. The name had been changed from MSC Serenata in response to the enthusiastic reaction of Raphaela Aponte, wife of cruise line owner Gianluigi Aponte, to the designs prepared by architect De Jorio. Mrs. Aponte is responsible for all the ship’s interior design details. “This unique ship has many wonderful attributes, including the attention to detail, the choice of colors and perfect harmony of the spaces,” declared Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO f...

We launched our "Ask A Cruse Expert" tool a few weeks ago and already have had a great response. If you use this great new feature and leave your email, then one of our certified cruise experts will email personally with their response and professional advice. We will also be taking many of the anonymous questions and posting them here on our web log and this is the very first installment. Here is the first "Ask a Cruise Expert" question: "Does NCL have a ship that sails out of Galveston or Port of Houston? If they don't can you tell me which Cruise lines sa...

Carnival Cruise Lines is holding a contest to name the new Carnival Splendor’s luxurious 21,000-square-foot health spa, the largest and most elaborate in the “Fun Ship” fleet, which will bring an entirely new dimension to the seagoing spa experience. Offering a host of innovations, the expansive facility will take personal pampering to a new level with such features as Carnival’s first spa staterooms and suites, a thalassotherapy pool, thermal suite, and a menu of Middle Eastern and Asian therapies administered in spacious, modern treatment rooms. The grand prize ...

Royal Caribbean International has named Swedish mariner, Karin Stahre-Janson, captain of Monarch of the Seas, making her the first female captain in the line's 21-ship fleet and the first woman in the industry to command a major cruise ship. As the Captain of Monarch of the Seas, Captain Stahre-Janson is responsible for the safe navigation of a ship that is 880 feet long, 106 feet wide, has 14 guest decks and routinely carries 2,400 guests and 850 crew members. Captain Stahre-Janson recently completed her first tour of duty as captain of the Los Angeles-based ship, which sails three- ...

Carnival Cruise Lines, the world’s largest cruise operator, has rolled out a new electronic cruise document system, providing added convenience and efficiency for the line’s guests. Located within the line’s comprehensive Web site, the new "paperless" system provides guests with the same travel documentation and information typically available with traditional cruise documents, all in a secure, easy-to-navigate Internet portal accessible on a "24/7" basis. Further, Carnival’s electronic document system is in "real time," ensuring that...

Coral Springs, FL (March 15, 2006) – A Cruise Planners agent has achieved prestigious Commodore status in Princess Cruises’ Academy training program, certifying himself as an expert cruise professional. As a Commodore, Michael Given of Cruise Planners joins an exclusive group of travel agents who are now recognized by Princess at the Academy's highest level for their unique qualifications and knowledge as a cruise planning professional. Michael Given earned this distinction after completing the minimum 25 courses necessary to graduate from the program. “We at Princess...

Celebrity Cruises launched the new 710-passenger Journey on May 4th and also surprised the industry by also introducing an entirely new cruise brand, Azamara Cruises, which will be positioned in the deluxe brand market. The new line will offer destination driven and exotic travel experiences, including the exotic Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and even worldwide itineraries. The Asia and world cruises are not announced yet, but the line expects to visit more than 200 ports in over 70 different counties. The Azamara fleet will consist of the Azamara Journey, which set sail on May 6th on her ...

This special sailing will feature exclusive events, special giveaways, and meet and greet opportunities on the seven-day Caribbean voyage aboardCarnival Freedom. Based on the incredible success of the Internet blog of Carnivals Senior Cruise Director John Heald - whose humorous and insightful postings have attracted nearly 200,000 visitors since the site was launched last month - Heald will host his first-ever Bloggers Cruiseaboard the Carnival Freedom in January 2008. The seven-day western Caribbean cruise will operate round-trip from Miami January 19-26, 2008, and will visit three o...

Holland America Line has simplified its dress code for evenings from three options to only two, smart casual and formal, beginning with the May 2 Rotterdam Europe cruise from Piraeus, Greece. “We made the dress code change as a result of our guest surveys,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales, and guest programs. “Our new policy will preserve our popular formal nights yet allow guests to simplify packing by not having to worry about bringing an extra suit and dress or two for what we used to call informal.” For smart casual ...