Princess Cruises Passengers Watch as Wyland Paints Dolphins on Bottom of Neptune Pool

Wyland has always been one of my favorite artists. We currently have two of his paintings in the reception area of our travel agency.   Marine life artist Wyland is an accomplished painter, sculptor, photographer, writer and SCUBA diver.  His non-profit Wyland Foundation has supported numerous conservation programs since 1993, including the monumental Whaling Wall mural project – and epic series of more than 100 life-size marine life murals that spans 14 countries on four continents and is viewed by an estimated 1 billion people every year

In a press release issued today, Princess announced that guests sailing onboard the Ruby Princess witnesses an unexpected live art event, as famed marine life artist Wyland painted an unusual canvas – the bottom of the ship’s Neptune Pool.

Known worldwide for his unique works featuring sea animals, Wyland is aboard the ship for special art events and meet and greets with passengers.  However, painting the ship’s pool was not on his original agenda.  Ruby Princess Captain Tony Draper suggested the idea to the artist after being inspired by watching ship crew members painting the Princess “seawitch” logo on the bottom of the ship’s other main pool.

A first for the cruise line, Wyland agreed to paint the mother dolphin and her baby as a way to increase awareness of his conservation message.  Passengers were invited to follow along with a live top-deck event hosted by the ship’s cruise director, including live video of the painting in progress broadcast on the ship’s Movies Under the Stars screen. 

“This is certainly one of the most unusual ways we’ve ever painted a pool,” said Jan Swartz, Princess executive vice president.  “But it’s a wonderful way to work with Wyland to address our shared concern with the importance of marine conservation, and to give our passengers a unique experience as they witnessed a one-of-a-kind artwork taking shape.”

Passengers were able to enjoy watching the artist at work just prior to the ship’s arrival into the Venice canal system.

Wyland and Princess Cruises have a long-time association.  Many Princess ships incorporate his sculptures in the swimming pool areas, and are featured in his latest book “100 Whaling Walls.”  Wyland’s artwork is also featured in the ships’ onboard art galleries.

Ruby Princess is currently sailing on 12-day Grand Mediterranean voyages between Barcelona and Venice, with calls at Monte Carlo, Florence/Pisa, Rome, Naples/Capri, Mykonos, Istanbul, Kusadasi, and Athens.

Want to sail on the Ruby Princess closer to home? The ship will be sailing 10 night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from October 25th through her last Caribbean sailing on April 9, 2010, before sailing back to Europe. Atlas has several departures that include added amenities such as shipboard credits, specialty dining and more. Call 800-942-3301 for more details.

For more posts about Princess Cruise Line click here

Wyland Paints Dolphins in Ruby Princess Pool is a post from: Atlas Cruises and Tours Travel Blog | Globus Tours | Italy Tours | Trafalgar Tours

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Passengers Can Enjoy a Quick Pre-Holiday Getaway on Line’s Newest Ship

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (April 3, 2009) – Princess has added two new sampler sailings aboard the new Ruby Princess, offering passengers an opportunity to escape from the holiday hustle and bustle with three-day cruises from Fort Lauderdale.

Departing on Monday, December 14 and Thursday, December 17, 2009, the new getaways each offer a call at the line’s private island, Princess Cays – an exclusive beach resort offering a day of relaxation and water sports.  The sailings replace a previously scheduled wetdock.

“We were able to cancel an unnecessary maintenance period scheduled for Ruby Princess and turn it into a great opportunity for passengers to try our newest ship,” said Jan Swartz, Princess executive vice president.  “These sampler sailings are a rare opportunity to experience the Princess product on a quick getaway.  We think our passengers will appreciate the great value of these mini cruises, plus the chance to escape just before the busy holiday period.”

Launched in November 2008, the 3,080-passenger Ruby Princess features the line’s most popular new features including a dramatic piazza-style atrium with small-bite eateries and an ever-changing line-up of street performers.  Passengers will also enjoy an array of dining venues including the signature Sabatini’s Italian restaurant and the Crown Grill steak house, plus the new Wheelhouse Bar pub lunch.  The ship offers many other Princess innovations including the relaxing adults-only oasis called The Sanctuary, the poolside Movies Under the Stars experience, and a unique behind-the-scenes option called the Ultimate Ship Tour.

Escape fares for the new sailings begin at $249 for the December 14 departure, and $299 for the December 17 cruise.

Atlas has group space on both departures, and can offer savings of over $20 per person on most categories. Balconies are a great buy! We have a complimentary 3 category upgrade to a category BD (from $334 pp) for $10 less than lowest available price from Princess on a Category BG ($349 pp.)

Princess Cruise Deals is a post from: Atlas Cruises and Tours Travel Blog | Globus Tours | Italy Tours | Trafalgar Tours

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I came across this article on CNN on the 9 reasons people will not be traveling next year. There are some good points, but I would like to suggest a different point of view.

We all agree that 2008 has brought about drastic economic changes in this country.  However, we find that consumers are still traveling.

Vacation budgets:  It’s hard to imagine setting aside money for a vacation, but small adjustments make it very possible to include a vacation in your budget. Cosmos tours recently launched a campaign called “A little change could go a long way.” Cut out just a few stops at the specialty coffee shops and you an enjoy a delectable taste of the real thing on the other side of the globe. 20 grand lattes = 1 grand day in Italy or a couple of days on a National Park tour. It’s that simple.

The article points out that people feel uncertain about the future. After 9/11 we as a country learned that life brings unexpected challenges, tragedies and fear, but these emotions in many cases bring people together, and makes families and individuals want to enjoy their lives more. Even as we were uncertain of the security in our country and what the the future would bring, there was a significant increase in pregnancies after the terrorist attacks. Logic would have suggested the opposite – why bring a child into an uncertain world? You could argue that uncertainty makes people realize the value of living a meaningful and fulfilling life, providing a constant source for inspiration to work hard towards these goals.

Staying at home and seeing local attractions can be monotonous, so people will want to venture away from home. Why not take a driving vacation through New England or the National Parks? Rafting trips in the Midwest are also very affordable. A good travel agent can help you think “out of the box” and find the right trip for your family.

The article mentions that deals are good, but consumers feel they could be lower. Cruises are going for as low as $99 for 3 days…we just  booked a client on a 3 day NCL cruise in March, balcony cabin for $306 pp and the promotion included a $40 ship board credit. Worried about onboard expenses? You can go on a cruise and spend little money out of pocket.  Read our blog for some great ways to save while on your next cruise!

Another point, was that people don’t feel like traveling right now. Each time a new ship came out this year we saw a spike in interest to experience them.  We were part of the Inaugural cruises for both the Celebrity Solstice and Ruby Princess, and consumer excitement in both of these ships was evident with the surge of bookings for these ships. The Oasis of the Sea is not sailing until November 2009, but consumers could not wait to begin booking the world’s largest cruise ship when reservations opened in September of this year.

Stress! Plunging markets. Shaky mortgages. Pricey bailouts. The financial crisis is taking a toll on budgets, but could also be affecting people’s health. Stress has been linked to overeating, heart disease, high blood pressure, depression and more. Relaxation is key, and what better way to relax than to take a short vacation?

Hiking, biking, river rafting, cooking and wine tours have all increased in popularity over the past several years. We also see increased bookings for family travel to the Galapagos, Alaska, Costa Rica, Canada, Hawaii and Europe as these itineraries ensure that there are plenty of activities for both adults and children. People are interested in travel, they just seem to be looking for new destinations and experiences.

The article also suggests that the travel industry is not offering enough incentives. Early payment discounts, payment plans and incentives are in place for several tour companies and cruise lines. For the month of January, many cruise lines have not only lowered fares,  but they are reducing the deposit required  by 50% to make a reservations. The airline industry should be dropping prices as they start to purchase new fuel contracts at lower rates, but there are plenty of vacation alternatives close to home if they don’t. Purchasing from a travel agency could also give you some added benefits such as savings on travel insurance, complimentary shore excursions, onboard credits and more at no additional cost to the consumer.

Last but not least, it seems that many consumers are planning their trips for 2010.  It’s okay to plan ahead, but keep in mind that as the economy recovers, the prices will start to go back up. With cruises, consumers can get a full refund of their deposit up to the time of final payment, so there is no risk in booking early to take advantage of these great promotions. Many insurance policies will offer coverage that allow travelers to cancel for any reason, (including work related issues.)  This is another advantage of booking with a travel agent, as booking direct may not always provide consumers the option to purchase the type of insurance coverage they need.

The article closes by stating that for those that do travel in 2009, even a small budget could offer a wonderful, and rewarding experience. You can read other great reasons to travel in 2009 in the article Thank you! 6 reasons we love to Travel Now.

We’d love to hear about your travel plans for 2009.

Why I Disagree with 2009 Being a ‘naycation’ Year is a post from: Atlas Cruises and Tours Travel Blog | Globus Tours | Italy Tours | Trafalgar Tours

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Passengers sailing aboard the new Ruby Princess can get an exclusive glimpse at the behind-the-scenes action onboard a ship. The tour will be offered one or twice per cruise on a sea day, and allows guests to explore the engine control room, medical center, back stage area, galley and food production areas, print shop, laundry, photo lab, bridge and other areas typically only seem by the crew. The tour will also include the ship’s command center, where passengers will meet the Captain, enjoy special refreshments and take in the dramatic views from the bridge’s wraparound windows. You can pose with the captain at the ship’s wheel. The framed photo and a certificate will be delivered to each participant’s stateroom. The tour will be 3 hours in duration and will cost $150 per person. Princess does plan to offer this program on other ships in the near future.

Do you think the experience is worth the asking price?

If you’d like to see more pictures of the Ruby Princess, just click here to visit my Flickr account.

Princess Cruises Ultimate Ship Tour is a post from: Atlas Cruises and Tours Travel Blog | Globus Tours | Italy Tours | Trafalgar Tours

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For years, Princess has been dubbed the “Love Boat,” & the 2 day inaugural cruise for the Ruby Princess’ on November 6th, exemplified just that. The theme was “romantic moments & milestones.”  Hundreds of guests dressed in formal & Ruby Red attire, & the ship’s crew surrounded the stage, while “Romance on the Ruby” contest winners Danielle Vurpillat & Kip Hickman were married. Gavin MacLeod, a/k/a Captain Stubing from the Love Boat, walked the bride down the aisle, while Trista & Ryan of “The Bachelorette” were the wedding attendants. The ceremony was short & sweet, with Princess offering up pink champagne & Ruby red martinis to toast the bride & groom. As the sun began to set, the Ruby Princess was christened by Trista & Ryan, who were also celebrating their 5th wedding anniversary. Although several areas were roped off for the media, we were able to get some nice photos of the event. Ruby Princess Inaugural video

Ruby Pricess Inaugural Cruise is a post from: Atlas Cruises and Tours Travel Blog | Globus Tours | Italy Tours | Trafalgar Tours

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The Ruby Princess just arrived into Ft. Lauderdale & will set sail for a 2 night preview cruise for hundreds of VIP guests on November 6th.  Although I don’t consider myself a VIP, I am happy to report that we will be on this 2-night cruise & can give you a first hand account of the event.

A couple will be married before the ship sails, with Love Boat captain (actor Gavin MacLeod) giving away the bride, & Trista & Ryan Sutter from the Bachelorette as wedding attendants.  During the 2 night sailing, several romance-themed activities are scheduled including a renewal of vows ceremony for all couple on Nov. 7th.  Ruby begins her 7 day cruises to the Western Caribbean on Nov. 8th.

Ruby Princess: Inaugural Cruise is a post from: Atlas Cruises and Tours Travel Blog | Globus Tours | Italy Tours | Trafalgar Tours

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