Cruise Planners, a South Florida-based national cruise agency with a franchised network of more than 700 experienced travel professionals, announced today that it has been inducted into Carnival Cruise Lines’ Pinnacle Club. One of the industry’s highest honors, the Pinnacle Club was created by Carnival to acknowledge high-volume agencies that also exhibit excellence in promoting and selling the “Fun Ship” cruise experience. “Travel agencies are an important part of our distribution system, which is why we created the ‘Pinnacle Club’ to recognize...

Royal Caribbean will base a cruise ship in Asia year-round beginning in fall 2009, as part of the line's global expansion strategy. This fall and winter, the 2,076-passenger Legend of the Seas will take over the line's seasonal Asia itineraries from the 2,435-passenger Rhapsody of the Seas, which is being redeployed to Australia. The Legend will offer sailings out of Singapore and Shanghai until it returns to the Mediterranean next summer. Th ship will then return to Asia in fall 2009, where it will stay year-round, and offer cruises from various ports in the region. The Rhapsody began c...

“Carnival’s Seaside Theatres” — jumbo-sized LED screens currently featured poolside on five Carnival “Fun Ships,” including the new 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor which debuted earlier this month – will be expanded to an additional five vessels over the next year. The massive 270-square-foot screens display a variety of programming, including movies, concerts, news, sporting events and the entertaining “Morning Shows” which are hosted by the ships’ respective cruise directors. Additionally, during Carnival’s lively deck part...

Cunard Line is proud to announce a new partnership with The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) onboard its trio of famed luxury ocean liners, Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and QE2. Poised to become a highlight of Cunard Insights, the Line's award-winning enrichment programme, the RAS partnership begins this summer with RAS Fellows joining 15 voyages on such popular itineraries as Queen Mary 2's Transatlantic Crossings and Caribbean voyages and Queen Victoria's Mediterranean sailings. RAS will offer custom night sky displays of constellations and star navigation instruction, and highlight astro...

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) received top billing in Condé Nast Traveler magazine's special August cruise issue, which hits newsstands today. The top-rated travel magazine recognizes Norwegian Gem as one of the best cruise ships for "spa lovers" and Norwegian Jade as one of the best for "foodies." "Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Jade are two of our newest Freestyle Cruising ships that offer an unmatched cruise experience and appeal to a wide range of vacationers," said Colin Veitch, NCL's president and CEO. "It is particularly gratifying to be recogn...