Volunteer While Cruising
Our cruise excursion provider, ShoreTrips, has launched a new program that lets your family spend a morning helping charities. The program, 
called GIVE, offers nine four-hour volunteer tourism excursions on five Caribbean islands — Antigua, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Thomas and Tortola. Belize, Roatan and Cozumel will soon be added. The GIVE tours differ in content from island to island. For example, on Barbados, you can help a volunteer lunch program, preparing meals and cleaning up. On St. Thomas, options include volunteering at a rescue animal shelter or a community development organization. ShoreTrips plans to include one charitable activity as an option in its “Three-Port Discount Package” of Caribbean shore excursions. Land based vacationers can also take advantage of this unique program.
Crystal’s Hypoallergenic Cabins
Allergy-friendly pillows and bedding are not a rare find on cruise ships. But entirely hypoallergenic cabins will be a 
first for the industry when Crystal Cruises gives 70 verandah cabins aboard Crystal Serenity the “Extreme Makeover” during its November dry dock. Partnering with PURE Marine Solutions, the cabins will undergo a seven-step process to remove all allergens, bacteria and viruses. Among the weapons in the hypoallergenic arsenal are ozone shock treatment, air purification system, tea tree oil cartridge and hypoallergenic bedding. The luxury line is preparing for a $17-million redesign with sweeping makeovers of the ship’s Crystal Penthouses (the line’s coveted top accommodations) and Lido Deck, including the popular indoor/outdoor Trident Grill, Tastes restaurant, and Crystal Serenity’s Lido cafe. Crystal is expanding its green concept “living wall” to the Lido area as well. Maintenance, cleaning, mechanical updates, and environmental upgrades will also be implemented throughout the ship’s interior and exterior spaces.
Disney Cruise Line Updates
Disney Cruise Line will prohibit smoking on stateroom balconies effective November 15. However, portions of open-air decks on each ship will continue to be designated as smoking areas. Guests found smoking in their staterooms or on their verandahs will be charged $250 for air filter replacement, carpet extraction, verandah cleaning and cleaning and replacement of drapes, comforters, blankets and pillows. In addition, the cruise line will drop language prohibiting shorts in as suitable dining room attire. The change applies to the three “rotational” restaurants on Disney ships, such as Animator’s Palate, but not the specialty restaurants such as Palo or Remy. Through September 30, cruise from Miami on the Disney Magic are on sale with 5 night sailings to the Western Caribbean.
French Barging for Families
Looking for a unique and relaxing way to travel with your family in France? Barges in France wants your family to save 20 percent off regular rates on the June 1, 2014 canal cruise on the 8 passenger and ultra-deluxe C’Est la Vie barge. 
Cruise through the centuries-old Burgundy canal on this lovely 6-day trip. The barge will moor in picturesque, medieval villages and meander through miles of magnificent countryside dotted with wineries and chateaux, where superb wines, bountiful regional cheeses and sumptuous foods are synonymous with the good life in this part of the country. The itinerary in Northern Burgundy includes visits to the Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay, the Renaissance Chateau of Ancy le France, local markets, and the historic town of Auxerre. A drive through the vineyards to Chablis for a wine tasting will highlight the beauty and practicality of this well-known area. Sit back and unwind as your cruise takes you into the peaceful and tranquil life that defines rural France. Walk, jog or bike on the various towpaths along the way or relax on the sun deck and soak up the rays and enjoy the ever-changing vistas. Explore the route on one of the bicycles provided on board as you breeze along the riverbank, or stroll through the picturesque villages along the towpath and meet up with the boat at the next lock.
New NCL Programs
Norwegian Cruise Line is introducing new offerings for parents with toddlers as well as for fans of magic and illusion. 
The cruise line just added a new fleetwide program called Guppies for parents and children ages 6 months to 3 years old. The programs lets parents engage in sensory-based activities with their little ones including art, Rhyme Time and a mini workout. Meanwhile, the cruise line announced a new magic-themed dinner show on the Norwegians Getaway when it enters service next February. The Illusionarium will feature a 30-foot video dome and a collection of magic artifacts in a steampunk-inspired environment. The show, inspired by magicians such as Houdini, is being designed in part by magician Jeff Hobsob. There will be 12 magic and illusion performances per cruise, two shows per night. The venue will seat about 230-240 people for dinner; the cover charge has not been determined.
Crystal’s Dream Job
Crystal Cruises announced a variety of new shore excursions and onboard programming to inspire children to focus on a dream job. 
Each cruise offers a different career option. For example, your children and grandchildren can demystify the last frontier with the Northern Enchantment voyage from Copenhagen to Stockholm where they will get a taste of what becoming an astronaut entails. They will get a lesson in zero-gravity, check out the world’s largest hydro-space laboratory and install a space antenna while wearing an authentic liquid-cooled spacesuit. Future writers will want to check out the Aquitaine Tapestry voyage from Lisbon to London where they can take a journalism lesson from award-winning journalist, Tom DeFrank. Other cruise options feature careers such as a pilot, a veterinarian, an athlete and a teacher. And through August 30, Crystal allows a child free as a 3rd passenger on select 2013 and 2014 sailings!
Holiday Bonus
Royal Caribbean International is offering up to $200 onboard credit for new individual bookings made through July 31, for a five-night or longer itinerary departing between December 18-31. The credit is $100 for those who book an interior or ocean-view stateroom or $200 per balcony and suite-category accommodations. Choose from 35 different sailings from 5-15 nights long with pricing starting at only $699/first and second in the cabin (plus tax).
Bon Voyage
Oh la la! Tauck Bridges is adding France to its family river cruise destinations. Their Bon Voyage: France Family River Cruise is a 10-day trip that begins with a two-night hotel stay in Paris with guided sightseeing and a special dinner at the famed Fouquet’s. Then travel via high speed train to Lyon where you will board Tauck’s Swiss Emerald for a week long cruise on the Rhone River. Engaging and fun family activities include a scavenger hunt in The Louvre, a pentanque lesson in Viviers, a hayride in the Camargue, biking in Avignon and hands-on French culinary lessons in Tournon. Three departures will be offered in July 11, July 25 and August 1, 2014. Book early while the best cabins are available!
Pick Your Perk
Book by the end of this month and you can pick from four different perks when we book your next Celebrity cruise in Europe, 
the Caribbean, Asia or Australia (for 4 days or longer) sailing between September 2013 and April 2014. Choose from a classic beverage package for two, free tips, onboard credit of up to $300 or savings on your air worth up to $600. We can help you assess your most valuable option! In addition, the cruise line is “Solsticizing” its four Millennium Class ships, adding venues and on board experiences found on its five Solstice Class vessels. The four ships undergoing these transformations include Celebrity Constellation (originally renovated in 2010, but now adding more venues, renovated cabins and bathrooms and features), Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Millennium and Celebrity Summit.
RCCL Drink Packages
Royal Caribbean International has introduced two new beverage packages joining other lines that offer similar inclusive deals. The Classic Beverage Package costs $45 per guest, per day, for beer, house wines by the glass, non-alcoholic cocktails, fountain soda and juices. The Premium Beverage Package costs $55 per guest, per day, and includes the aforementioned, as well as frozen drinks and all cocktails including premium brands. Both package prices include service charges. Beverage packages are available for purchase on all four-night or longer sailings and can be purchased in advance or on the first day on board. If you choose either package, you must also purchase the package for guests 21 years old or older sailing in the same stateroom. The beverage packages are honored at any of the bars or lounges, Windjammer Café, Main Dining Room, and RCCL’s private destinations during normal business hours. Room service and minibar are not included.
