Viking River Cruises will debut the Viking Legend, it’s newest ship, in 2009.  The ship will be powered by an innovative propulsion system that allows it to achieve an estimated 20 percent boost in fuel efficiency, reduce atmospheric emissions and reduce noise pollution.

The Viking Legend has 2 engine rooms, both completely noise insulated, which makes her a very quiet ship.  The Legend will feature large staterooms (most with French balconies) with flat panel TVs, telephones, refrigerators, blow dryers and in room safes.  She has a restaurant on board that will offer made to order breakfast dishes and the public areas are glass walled for panoramic views of passing scenery.

The ship will debut on a 15 day Grand European Tour itinerary, traveling along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers between Amsterdam and Budapest.  For more information, contact your Member Concierge by calling 888-392-5643 or email myconcierge@osotravel.com.

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES TO INCREASE CAPACITY
ON 2010 NEW YORK DEPARTURES

110,000-ton Carnival Glory to Operate Atlantic Canada and Fall Foliage Cruises

Carnival Cruise Lines will increase capacity on its seasonal cruise program from New York in 2010 with the 2,978-passenger Carnival Glory scheduled to operate a variety of four and five-day Atlantic Canada voyages from June to September, followed by a series of five week-long fall foliage cruises.

It marks the first time that Carnival has deployed one of its largest ships on the highly popular program. The 110,000-ton Carnival Glory features a wide variety of exceptional facilities, amenities and stateroom accommodation categories. Additionally, departing from New York makes these cruises extremely convenient and attractive for the huge population base within driving distance of Manhattan, as well as for those in the larger eastern U.S. region who can take a short-haul flight to one of the area’s three major airports.

Four-day cruises departing Thursdays feature a call at Saint John, New Brunswick and scenic cruising in the Bay of Fundy, while five-day cruises departing on Mondays and Saturdays include stops at Saint John and Halifax, Nova Scotia. The program commences with a four-day voyage departing June 6, 2010 (a one-time Sunday departure).

Week-long fall foliage itineraries beginning Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010, feature four different ports of call, including Boston, Mass., Portland, Maine, Saint John and Halifax, offering a variety of opportunities to view stunning fall colors and explore these charming coastal cities.

“These itineraries have proven exceptionally popular among consumers seeking a summer or fall getaway that combines the history and beauty of these scenic ports with the excitement, value and spirited fun of a Carnival vacation,” said Lynn Torrent, Carnival’s senior vice president of sales and guest services. “By operating this program in 2010 on one of our newest and largest ships, we anticipate that both past guests and new cruisers alike will be enticed by these refreshing itineraries coupled with the huge array of facilities and amenities offered on the Carnival Glory.”

The $500 million Carnival Glory features 22 lounges and bars, four swimming pools, a 214-foot-long water slide, a 14,500-square-foot health club, an Internet café, jogging track and extensive duty free shopping options. A comprehensive golf program offering instruction both aboard ship and during golf excursions is also featured.

In addition to a 1,400-seat poolside eatery with a 24-hour pizzeria, the ship includes twin two-level formal restaurants and a reservations-only supper club offering U.S.D.A. prime dry-aged beef and other gourmet cuisine.

Sixty percent of Carnival Glory’s 1,489 spacious staterooms offer either an ocean view or private balcony. All staterooms feature the “Carnival Comfort Bed” sleep system with plush mattresses, luxurious duvets and high quality pillows and linens.

Carnival Glory also offers expansive facilities and complimentary activities for children and teens, with its “Camp Carnival,” “Circle C” and “Club O2” programs catering to different age groups.

The cruise line is currently accepting reservations for both its 2009 and 2010 departures from New York (2009 voyages will operate on the Carnival Triumph). For additional information or reservations, contact a Member Concierge, call 1-888-392-5643, email myconcierge@osotravel.com or visit osotravel.com.

Hurtigruten Announces New

Layaway Getaway Program!

Yearning for the vacation of a lifetime but hesitate in these uncertain economic times?  Don’t stress.  Hurtigruten makes it easy with their new Layaway Getaway flexible payment plan.

Sail through the majestic Norwegian fjords and discover why we’re known as “The World’s Most Beautiful Voyage.”  Unearth the mysteries of the world’s most far-off regions on one of our expedition voyages to Antarctica, the Arctic, and Greenland and experience astonishing scenery, untamed wildlife and exotic native cultures.

Why should you use Layaway Getaway?

• Easy monthly payments
• No large upfront deposit
• No interest
• No credit check
• Hassle free
• Final payment due 45 days prior to sailing
• Fully refundable payments until 70 days prior to sailing

With Hurtigruten’s Layaway Getaway, you can easily pay off your spectacular vacation with no penalties and no accrued interest!  Don’t let your well deserved cruise vacation get away, contact your Member Concierge today by calling 1-888-392-5643 or email myconcierge@osotravel.com.

We all love cruising – lets’ keep the ocean and air clean while helping ourselves with the check-in process. Documents are mailed out for over 12 million cruise bookings a year. With technology today, you can expedite your check-in process in advance from the comfort of your home, while satisfying Department of Homeland Security requirements. To go through the process click here and then the logo of your cruise line. It will then take you direct to the cruise line’s website and proceed through the online check-in. You will need your booking number, personal information, citizenship information, travel plans after your cruise (ie. Flight numbers, hotel and car rental details, etc) and a method of payment for an onboard expense account. Print out the final step and you are off to a stress-free relaxing first day on board the ship while contributing to a cleaner earth!

An Oso Travel client wrote me, asking how strict cruise lines are when it comes to underage drinking. Now I do not know how strict cruise lines are, but I do know they have rules and ways to identify individuals who might be underage. Most of the major cruise lines, such as Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and Princess Cruises only allow 21+ to consume alcohol. Some cruise lines, such as Norwegian Cruise Lines, allow individuals aged 18 to 20 to consume beer and wine with consent from their guardian.

If a cruise line’s drinking policy is 21+ for consumption, you better believe they have ways to indicate if a person is of age before purchasing a drink. From my experience on Royal Caribbean, every sea pass card has an indication on it – they punch holes in the cards to show that an individual is underage. But also when they scan your card for a charge, it shows your birth date on the server’s screen. That way if the person accidentally did not punch your card, it is a back up check.

That is not all. The waiters for dinner are given a list of names of those individuals they will be serving, along with their ages. This helps them to know how many individuals at their table will be able to order a drink.

Also, last time I sailed on Royal Caribbean, the bar tenders usually would ask for an ID card in order to check age. Even though my card was not punched, they still asked (I guess they do this in case a son or daughter takes their parents sea pass card or older sibling’s card).

A letter from the President, Rick Sasso.

When MSC Cruises announced a year ago that we were compelled by rising fuel prices to implement a fuel surcharge on our cruise fares, I said that we looked forward to the day when fuel prices would stabilize at a level that would allow us to eliminate this supplement.

I am delighted to tell you that day has arrived.

At MSC Cruises, we believe our guests shouldn’t have to wait another year to benefit from the recent drop in oil prices. So effective immediately, MSC Cruises has dropped the fuel surcharge for all our cruise vacations sailing on or after April 1 of next year (2009).

Starting today, the fuel surcharge will not be levied on any new bookings for cruises sailing on or after April 1, 2009. The accounts for all guests who are already booked for these cruises also will be adjusted to remove the fuel surcharge from their balances.

And that’s not all. If fuel prices continue to remain stable going into 2009 – as reflected by the price of West Texas Intermediate fuel on the New York Mercantile Exchange holding at or below $65 per barrel on December 18, 2008 – MSC Cruises also will refund the fuel surcharge in the form of an onboard credit to guests sailing on our ships sailing from January 1 through March 31, 2009.

Of course, none of us can predict the future, and a substantial increase in oil prices may make it necessary for MSC Cruises to re-implement the fuel surcharge at a later date. However, in keeping with the MSC Cruises philosophy of always “going the extra mile” to treat consumers and travel agents fairly, you and your clients can be assured that should this occur all reservations booked with a deposit prior to our taking that action will be exempt from this additional charge.

That’s one more good reason to encourage your clients to book their Caribbean and European vacations with MSC Cruises now so that they can be certain that they will be protected from any sudden increase in oil prices.

I am confident that you will agree that this new policy makes sailing with MSC Cruises an even greater value for consumers and the best choice for your clients considering a cruise vacation in 2009!

Regards,

Richard E. Sasso
President & CEO
MSC Cruises (USA) Inc.

CARNIVAL WINS BIG IN PORTHOLE CRUISE MAGAZINE’S ANNUAL ‘READERS CHOICE AWARDS,’

TAKING HOME HONORS IN NINE CATEGORIES

Line Earned an Unprecedented 101 Awards Over the Past Nine Years

Carnival Cruise Lines led the way once again in Porthole Cruise Magazine’s “Reader Choice Awards,” winning in nine different categories, including two new categories – Best Web Site and Best Mexican Itineraries.
Porthole Cruise Magazine’s “Readers Choice Awards” are determined by thousands of the publication’s readers who vote on their favorite cruise line in a wide variety of categories. Since the awards were established in 1999, Carnival has taken home an unprecedented 101 “Readers Choice Awards” – the most of any cruise line.
Carnival’s 2008 “Readers Choice Awards” include:
• Best Megaship (Carnival Freedom)
• Best Children’s Programs
• Best Value-for-the-Money
• Best Short-Duration Cruise
• Best Shore Excursions
• Best Web Site
• Best Main Dining Room Cuisine
• Best Entertainment
• Best Mexican Itineraries

“Carnival is truly honored by the consistent recognition over the past nine years by the readers of Porthole Cruise Magazine,” said Lynn Torrent, Carnival’s senior vice president of sales and guest services. “Winning so many awards – in so many different categories – is a wonderful validation of our efforts to provide guests with fun and memorable vacations at affordable prices.”
“Carnival Cruise Lines continues to shine in categories that run the gamut,” said Bill Panoff, publisher and editor-in-chief of Porthole Cruise Magazine. “Whether on board or on shore, Carnival is a leader in the cruise industry, and our readers clearly recognize that. I congratulate them on all of their much-deserved wins.”
Established in 1993, Porthole Cruise Magazine is a consumer publication offering readers a variety of information about cruising including ship reviews, news, details on popular ports of call and travel tips.
Carnival is the world’s largest and most popular cruise line, with 22 “Fun Ships” operating voyages of three to 18 days in length to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, the Panama Canal, Canada, New England, Bermuda, Europe and South America. The line currently has two 130,000-ton ships on order — Carnival Dream, set to debut Sept. 21, 2009, and Carnival Magic, scheduled to enter service in June 2011.
For additional information on Carnival’s “Fun Ship” vacations, contact a member concierge by calling 1-888-392-5643 or visit osotravel.com.

MSC Cruises announced new theme cruises for it’s 2009/10 Caribbean season, including the line’s first Polka cruise. The season marks the first time the brand new MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia will sail the Caribbean.

A new addition to the Caribbean season theme cruise lineup is a Polka cruise. Guests will be able to dance the polka to the sounds of two polka bands on MSC Poesia’s Jan. 8 10-night Southeast Caribbean sailing.

Among the themed cruises will also be five baseball theme cruises, during which guests can mingle with and learn from some of the greats of the game.

The baseball theme cruises will be on the Magnifica’s Jan. 2, Feb. 6, March 6 and April 3, 2010 sailings, as well as Poesia’s Nov. 10 10-night sailing.

Another popular theme cruise returning for 2009/10 is the line’s Big Band cruise. MSC Poesia’s 10-night deep Western Caribbean itinerary, departing Dec. 10, 2009 and Feb. 27, 2010, will feature the 15-piece Les DeMerle Big Band with vocalist Bonnie Eisele. The band will perform a Big Band Jazz concert and conduct a lecture on the Big Band era.

All itineraries are roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale.  For more information or to book your MSC Cruise, contact an Oso Travel Member Concierge by calling 888-392-5643 or email myconcierge@osotravel.com

In keeping with the traditions of a region steeped in spirituality and ancient wellness practices, Crystal Cruises is announcing a “Mind, Body & Spirit” focus on its March 27 Asia cruise. Complementing the destination’s heritage, the Experience of Discovery sailing will feature guest experts for yoga, Pilates, stress management and general physical and mental health classes. Departing from Hong Kong, the 15-day itinerary to Japan and China offers a 12-day cruise and includes a three-night post-cruise land program in Beijing.

Noted wellness and health magazine writers, yoga and Pilates specialists, and hiking and adventure author Rick Deutsch will provide nourishing insights on board Crystal Symphony, while inspirational Crystal Adventures ashore take guests to sacred monasteries, monuments and temples.

“Asia is a natural setting for a wellness-related theme, since the connection between mind, body and spirit is so integral to the history and culture,” says John Stoll, director land programs. “Additionally, the onboard programming offers guests the chance to learn about physical health and general wellness from top experts.”

Guests can also take advantage of Crystal Symphony’s Feng Shui-inspired Spa & Fitness Center, 360-degree Promenade deck ideal for walking or jogging, and newly introduced Tour de Spin indoor cycling classes, Kinesis equipment and acupuncture treatments.

With an abundance of fresh fruit and fish, creative and healthful salads, low-calorie and low-carb meals and trans fat-free dining experiences, Crystal offers a host of culinary options. Even the cocktail menus include only the freshest fruit purees and juices.

Crystal Symphony’s “Far East Focus” cruise calls at Hiroshima, Japan; Dailan, China; as well as overnight stays in Kobe, Japan; Shanghai and Hong Kong, China. Fares for the land/sea package start at $5,995 per person, double occupancy. Cruise only fares begin at $3,995 per person, double occupancy, plus a complimentary two-category stateroom upgrade for all deluxe staterooms. Guests can also save $2,000 per person on Penthouse accommodations. Cruise fares without the Beijing land program start at $3,995.

The March 27 itinerary is one of several 2009 cruises Crystal is offering to China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India. Crystal is also offering a Mind, Body & Spirit Experience of Discovery with its May 7 Panama Canal cruise.

About Crystal Cruises

In 2008, Crystal Cruises was recognized with an unprecedented number of top awards by discerning travelers, respected industry critics and professional travel agents. Among the top honors, the line was voted “World’s Best Large-Ship Cruise Line” by the readers of Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler magazines for an unprecedented 13 and 15 years, respectively.

For more information and Crystal reservations, contact an Oso Travel Member Concierge 888-392-5643 or visit our website, OsoTravel.com.

Cunard’s legendary Queen Elizabeth 2 ran aground near Southampton, England this morning on its way to ceremonies marking her final cruise after four decades of service.

Southampton’s Daily Echo, a sister paper to USA TODAY, reported that the historic ocean liner was caught by the wind and blown onto a sandbar near the port town, though it was not stuck for long.

Tug boats pulled the QE2 off the bank quickly, and the ship only was a half hour late for planned farewell celebrations. She doesn’t appear to be damaged, and no one was injured in the mishap. The UK’s Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, presided over the ceremonies, which included a fly-over by a Royal Air Force Harrier jet that dropped her nose as a mark of respect.

The QE2 also was showered by a million poppy petals to acknowledge her time as a troopship during the Falkland Islands war in 1982 and also to mark her departure on Veterans Day.

The aging vessel is scheduled to set sail for her final voyage this evening at 7:15 PM GMT. After gliding away from her traditional berth in Southampton’s Eastern Docks, she’ll hover just off the port town’s Mayflower Park to serve as a backdrop for a fireworks display. From there, the QE2 is heading to Dubai, where she’ll be turned into a floating hotel and museum.

Launched in 1967 by Queen Elizabeth II, the QE2 has carried more than 2.5 million passengers and is the longest-serving ship in Cunard history.

If you are sad to see the QE2 retire? Leave your thoughts and memories of this magnificent ship in the comment area below.