What is So Special About Each Luxury Cruise Line? It’s Time for Them to Get Creative!

Goldring Travel June 7, 2019

I have, for years, been asking the question of each luxury cruise line, “What makes your cruise line so special?” and over the past decade Silversea, Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas, and Crystal have responded with a variety of answers; each seeking to differentiate themselves. (I would be remiss if I did not include Grill Class

Queen Mary 2 Remastered – She’s Better Than Ever

Goldring Travel July 7, 2016

I was invited to join the celebration yesterday of the Queen Mary 2’s “Remastered” upon her arrival in New York at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. Honestly (am I any other way?) I love the ship…even more so with her $175,000,000 worth of renovations. (They actually cost more, but with Brexit the exchange rate changed.) Carnival

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 – A Winter Transatlantic Crossing on Her 10th Anniversary

Goldring Travel January 23, 2014

Cunard invited me to experience the Queen Mary 2’s celebration of her 10th Anniversary (January 8, 2014) with a beautiful hand calligraphied invitation offering me a complimentary suite in Princess Grill, business class airfare, private transfers, a hotel, spa and internet credits plus a number of special events. As some say in New Jersey, “It

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 Fails Sanitary Inspection

Goldring Travel June 25, 2011

Cunard’s “luxury” oceanliner, Queen Mary 2 flunked its sanitary inspection by the United States Centers for Disease Control. More importantly, its score of 84 was not merely on account of technical issues, but because of some pretty basic and inexcusable lapses. There hasn’t been as ship that failed an inspection in over a year…and only one

Cunard and Princess Have a New Heavy Handed Cancellation Policy – Yikes!

Goldring Travel September 28, 2010

I generally do not post the day to day changes in the dealings with the various cruise lines including such things as Carnival slightly shortening each penalty period. But I had to write about this one: Effective Wednesday, December 1, 2010, ALL Princess Cruises and Cunard Line bookings will automatically cancel as soon as the

Seabourn and Silversea Cruise Lines – Are They Really Competitors?

Goldring Travel July 17, 2009

At first blush this may seem like worse than a naive question, but one that is just silly. I mean, how could the two largest true luxury cruise lines not be direct competitors? Yesterday I learned some very interesting statistics. Silversea claims that it actually has more former Princess passengers on it ships than Seabourn

Update on SeaDream Yacht Club – Smooth Seas and Stability Promised

Goldring Travel January 7, 2009

According to industry publications, such as Seatrade, Atle Brynestad, CEO…again…has stated that SeaDream’s bookings are strong and that while he expects some changes in titles and duties since Larry Pimental’s departure, there will be no corporate shake up and that he considers SeaDream to be a “family”. Mr. Brynestad, former CEO of Seabourn, former chairman

Cruise Lines’ Fuel Supplements Suspended by Carnival Corp.

Goldring Travel December 4, 2008

With oil prices having plummeted to $46 a barrel, Carnival Corp. has suspended (not eliminated) its fuel supplement for all of its major brands: Seabourn, Cunard, Holland America, Princess, Costa and Carnival. This is how it will work: A refund of the fuel supplement will be made in the form of a shipboard credit for all

Queen Elizabeth 2 Has Minor Grounding Incident

Goldring Travel November 11, 2008

Oh, for the QE2 to exit gracefully! Today it was reported that on her approach to Southampton she had a minor grounding incident. She was refloated, escorted to Southampton and, after an MCA inspection, given the all clear to continue on her final voyages.

Carnival Brands Drop Fuel Surcharge For New 2010 Bookings- UPDATED

Goldring Travel October 10, 2008

In a move that I felt was long in coming…as I felt was the drop in oil prices…Carnival Corp. has announced today that effective October 31, 2008 it will eliminate the fuel supplement charge on all new 2010 bookings on any of its lines (Seabourn, Cunard, Holland America, Princess, Carnival and Costa) and will, instead, institute a

Windstar’s Wind Surf – Caribbean – January 2014

Goldring Travel Blog – Making Waves

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