Atlas Travel Web's Blog » Equinox

Biggest Cruise Sale of the Year

AtlasSue — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:00:44 +0000

CLIA World’s Largest Cruise Night

Many of our preferred suppliers have put together some special offers and incentives so you can take advantage of these great deals, and book the cruise vacation you’ve always dreamed of. Below is a summary of offers. Note that the offers may not start before October 14th and restrictions apply. Call or stop by for additional details.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises is offering a $100 per person shipboard credit booking incentive. Booking window October 1-November 14, 2009.
Windstar Cruises is offering a $50 SBC on select Wind Surf and Wind Spirit sailings. Booking window October 14–November 9, 2009.
Crystal Cruises is offering a $100 per person discount on most 2009-2010 departures. Booking window October 14–November 7, 2009.
Silversea Cruises is offering a $100 per person or $200 per suite discount on any 2009-2011 Silversea Voyage.
The Yachts of Seabourn is offering a $100 per booking bonus commission for bookings made during the Virtual WLCN (October 1-31) on request basis when booking is made.
Disney Cruise Line is offering up to $100 OBC for January-December 2010 cruises. Booking window October 14–28, 2009.
Azamara Cruises is offering up to $500 OBC on select 2010 Europe cruises. Booking window October 14–16, 2009.
Celebrity Cruises is offering up to $200 OBC on select January and August 2010 cruises. Booking window October 14–16, 2009.
Holland America is offering special 3-Day Sale rates on select 2009-10 cruises. Booking window October 14–16, 2009.
Norwegian Cruise Line is offering ship board credits up to $250 Booking window October 13-20
Princess Cruise Line is offering reduced deposit, onboard coupon booklet & ship board credits on select sailings. Booking window Oct 14-16, 2009.

Celebrity Cruise Line Dining Plan

AtlasSue — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:53:32 +0000

Celebrity announced today it would be the first cruise line to add pre-cruise reservations to a flexible dining program. , Celebrity Cruises introduced Celebrity Select Dining,(SM) a new flexible dining option that allows guests to choose when they dine in the main dining room onboard, on a day-by-day basis, which includes the industry’s first pre-cruise day-by-day flexible dining reservation system.
Click here for more details on the program.

Celebrity Solstice and Equinox Corning Hot Glass Show

AtlasSue — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:00:47 +0000

When you travel on a Celebrity Solstice Class ship, you have the rare opportunity to experience the art of glass blowing up close. As you sit on the top deck adjacent to the Lawn Club, you and a small number of guests will look on as gaffers from the Corning Museum of Glass carefully manipulate molten glass inside the 2,300 degree furnace, watching as a special, heat-resistant camera placed inside the oven broadcasts the images to large overhead screens. Then, in a moment of pure drama, you’ll gaze in awe as the glass emerges and the gaffers coax it to life, in much the same way that the Hot Glass Show breathes life into this ancient craft.

The Corning Museum of Glass is committed to helping support developing artists and students who aspire to work in one of the world’s most compelling mediums, through education and scholarship programs. The Hot Glass Show, which has been in existence over 10 years, is one of their many outreach programs. At the end of each sailing, Celebrity Cruises and The Corning Museum of Glass will auction off a few of the best pieces created by these artists during the live show, with proceeds being donated to Celebrity Cruises Glassmaking Scholarship Fund, which gives emerging artists the opportunity to study with the world’s best gaffers at The Studio, the museum’s glassmaking school.

Celebrity Equinox Cruise

AtlasSue — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 13:00:06 +0000

Celebrity Equinox left Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany on June 6, 2009. The 2,850-passenger ship is the second in Celebrity’s widely heralded Solstice Class fleet.

Celebrity Equinox will sail a series of Ancient Empires and other European itineraries from Southampton and Rome this summer, followed by 10- and 11-night Ultimate Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., beginning in November.

Click here for more on Celebrity Sostice class ships including pictures, cabin information and reviews.

Celebrity Equinox

AtlasSue — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:21:50 +0000

This summer, after a 10-night maiden voyage sailing from Southampton to Rome, Celebrity Equinox will embark on a series of 13 & 14 night Ancient Empires cruise itineraries, visiting ports such as Alexandria, Egypt; Haifa, Israel; Ephesus, Turkey and Split, Croatia. On these cruises, you’ll encounter the rich historical narrative that defines the Mediterranean. you’ll also discover history being made onboard as Celebrity Equinox showcases a number of brand-defining industry firsts. Explore the Lawn Club, with a half-acre of real grass. Visit the adjacent glassblowing show and studio developed with the Corning Museum of Glass. Revel in unrivaled dining venues offering trendsetting cuisine and design. Or enjoy the widely varied entertainment, including spectacular new shows in partnership with Poet Theatricals, The 2,850 guest vessel also boasts spacious staterooms and bathrooms, and several categories of accommodations, including Celebrity’s new spa-inspired AquaClass staterooms.

With two Solstice class ships sailing through the Mediterranean, Celebrity Cruises promises to deliver a summer season like you’ve never experienced. Call 800-942-3301 for more details.

Free Things to Do on a Cruise

AtlasSue — Fri, 01 May 2009 14:19:49 +0000

Cruise rates, particularly for Alaska and the Caribbean, are a great value this year. Considering the fact that the cruise fare includes accommodations, meals, several onboard activities and entertainment, if you plan ahead, you can have very little out of pocket expenses.

In December we wrote some tips on how to save while on a cruise. For those of you who have never been on a cruise, we now want to share more details on the different types of onboard activities that are available.

Plenty of things to do on a cruise ship are free, like using the pool, library, game room, basketball courts, fitness center or catching live entertainment…you’ll find everything from Reggae Bands by the pool, to Comedians, Magicians and Broadway style performances throughout your cruise. Children’s programs are free, and the activities cater to several age groups. If you are interested, you can also dance the night away at various lounges, or the night club. Check your daily planner (or “compass” as it is called on many ships,) that is left in your cabin each day, so that you don’t miss out on the activities.

Activities vary by ship and cruise line, but in general here are some of the popular/free activities available while on a cruise:

Onboard parties include:

Captain’s Welcome Reception

Sail Away Party

Dancing Under the Stars Pool Party

Family Disco Night

Singles Party / Mix-and-Mingles

Itinerary-specific parties (e.g., Caribbean Night, Toga Night)

’70s, ’80s Theme Party

Games include:

Scavenger Hunts

Backgammon / Chess / Scrabble^®

Bridge & other Card GamesContests include:

Karaoke Superstar

Name that Lyric Game Show

Trivia: Music or Movie

Game Shows (such as the Newlywed Game)

Guest & Staff Talent Shows

Tournaments include:

Ping-Pong

Shuffleboard

Basketball/Volleyball

Mini Golf (Select ships)

Pool Volleyball

Some ships have come up with other unique forms of free entertainment. For example, several Princess ships offer Movies Under the Stars – a 300 sq. ft. screen around the pool. During the day, all sorts of videos and family movies are shown. At night, the chairs are covered with comfortable padding, blankets are provided and fresh popped popcorn…it’s almost like being at a drive-in! Make sure and arrive early, as the seats do fill up. Newer Carnival ships also have an outdoor screen, and some it’s and MSC ships have added it as well.

The Celebrity Solstice, which launched in November, features the first “Hot Glass Show” at sea, where glassblowers from New York’s Corning Museum of Glass give free glassblowing demonstrations. On the same deck right off of the Glass blowing area, the Solstice also has a deck with real grass called the “Lawn Club” where you can play bocce or croquet or putt golf balls for free. The Eclipse (2009) and Equinox (2010) will offering the same activities as the Solstice.

For “Foodies,” Holland America has an excellent Culinary Arts Presentations Center. Each cruise features chefs and experts offering cooking demonstrations. On several cruises throughout the year, famous guest chefs will be onboard. Demonstrations are offered on seas days – usually twice during a 7 day cruise. After the demonstration, which lasts about 45 minutes to an hour, everyone in attendance gets to sample a few of the dishes that were prepared on stage. Many other cruise lines also offer cooking demonstrations, ice carving, napkins folding and more.

Royal Caribbean offers free rock climbing on most of their ships. Newer ships also have free Ice skating shows, and on Freedom Class ships you can try out the Flow Rider, a surf simulator that attracts hundreds of eager surfers and golfers to the aft sports court each day. The sloped, wavelike surface of the FlowRider is perfect for beginning, intermediate and advanced surfers. And for those not brave enough to attempt the FlowRider, the surrounding stadium seating is great for surveying wipeouts.

Needless to say, there is plenty to do on a cruise. Let one of our agents help you find the best value and cruise line for you next vacation.

Contributed by: S. Brages

Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox

AtlasSue — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:42:42 +0000

Book any Celebrity Solstice or Celebrity Equinox 2009 Europe cruise between March 23 and April 1, 2009 and receive up to a $500† Future Cruise credit.

Use your Future Cruise Credit for select 2010 Celebrity cruises 7-nights or
(Excludes holidays and Celebrity Xpedition®)

• $300 Future Cruise Credit for Inside & Ocean View bookings.

• $500 Future Cruise Credit for Verandah & Suite bookings.

Celebrity Solstice
10/11-Night Eastern Mediterranean
May 4 through November 20, 2009
Departing from Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
Ports may include: Santorini, Greece; Mykonos, Greece;
Istanbul, Turkey; Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey; Athens
(Piraeus), Greece; Naples/Capri, Italy
Starting from: $1,249*

Celebrity Equinox
13 Night Ancient Empires
August 18 through October 23, 2009
Departing from Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

Ports may include:: Naples/Capri, Italy; Athens (Piraeus),
Greece; Rhodes, Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey; Haifa, Israel;
Ashdod, Israel; Alexandria, Egypt
Starting from: $2,099*Celebrity Equinox
10 Night Best of Europe
August 8, 2009
Departing from Southhampton, England

Ports: Paris (Le Havre,), France, Cherbourg, France; Vigo, Spain,
Lisbon, Portgual; Gibraltar, United Kingdom; Cartagena, Spain;
Barcelona, Spain; Rome, Italy
Starting from: $2,399*For some great pictures of the Solstice, click here

†Offer valid for new bookings only. To qualify for the future discount, you must book and fully deposit your 2009 Celebrity Solstice or Celebrity Equinox between March 23 and April 1, 2009. The value of your future discount is $300 per stateroom when you book an Inside/Ocean View stateroom and $500 per stateroom for Veranda/Suites. Your discount coupon will be mailed approximately 10 days after the applicable 2009 cruise has been completed The discount coupon is valid from one year from date of issue and is not transferable. Not combinable with any other offer. The discount coupon is valid on select 2010 Celebrity cruises of 7 nights or longer;, excludes holidays and Celebrity Xpedition® sailings. Certain restrictions apply. Discount coupons have no cash value.

*Prices are per person, double occupancy, cruise only on select sail dates. Prices are in U.S. dollars. Itineraries and prices are subject to change without notice. Government taxes and fees are additional. Certain restrictions apply. ©2009 Celebrity Cruises, Inc. Ships’ registry: Malta. 09014472 • 3/2009

Celebrity Equinox

AtlasSue — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:58:15 +0000

The very essence of luxury, this is Celebrity Equinox. Shimmering in sophistication from bow to stern, she will exceed your expectations as soon as you step aboard. Delight in your choice of ten exceptional dining venues; relax in spacious and well appointed accommodations; or let the grass between your toes take you out to sea at the unprecedented Lawn Club. With every imaginable comfort, along with Celebrity’s unrivaled guest services, you are bound for greatness no matter your destination.

The ship is expected to be ready early, so they have added an additional sailing prior to the maiden voyage from Southampton to Rome on August 8th, 2009. The ship will sail on July 31, 2009 through the Norwegian Fjords from Southampton. This 8 night cruise will stop in Stavanger, Flam, Geiranger & Oslo, Norway. Inside & ocean view cabins are already sold out. Balconies begin at $1,799 pp and suites at $3,399 pp, based on double occupancy.

The Equinox is the sister ship to the Solstice & will offer the same great features including the Lawn Club, a dedicated area on the top deck of the ship featuring real grass where guests can play croquet, mini-golf or have a picnic. Solstice ship review & ship photos available.