Giving Back In Port

June 18, 2013 | By | 1 Comment

Crystal Cruise Charity
A big blue tour bus with a capacity for some 60 people waited outside the pier for us — all five of us. We were three passengers, one crew member and one host. We were all volunteers for Crystal Cruises‘ You Care, We Care voluntourism excursion to the Feed Nova Scotia food bank in Halifax.
On the bus a guide waited to take us — passengers on Crystal Symphony — to the food bank. “Bless you,” she said as we boarded, her response to the fact we were all giving up some of our cruise vacation time to do volunteer work.
Launched in 2010, Crystal’s You Care, We Care program is designed to give passengers a chance to give more than just tourist dollars spent in retail shops to the communities they visit. On every sailing, one free hands-on voluntourism excursion is offered. Opportunities range from helping orphans with their homework in South Africa or playing a game of snooker with troubled teens in Dublin to removing invasive weeds from Oahu’s coastal ecosystem or planting trees to restore native forests in New Zealand.

Find out what it’s like to volunteer while cruising.

    Category: Cruises of a Lifetime, Destinations, Ports, We're At Sea
    Tags:

    Poll Position: Could Theme Cruising be your Style?

    June 17, 2013 | By | No Comments

    Theme Cruise Spice Market
    Soaking up the sun, umbrella drink in hand … this conjures up the image of a postcard-perfect cruise. But if you could sail to the sounds of your favorite musician or throughout your country of heritage, sampling authentic dishes along the way, would you be interested in spicing up your routine with a theme cruise?
    More cruisers are testing the waters (pun intended) by cruising up a notch, whether it involves an onboard cooking class, tai chi lessons or a few bucket-list excursions. So, we wanted to get an idea of which themes our members would be most interested in. Who knows, maybe your next cruise will include dance lessons from Dancing with the Stars professionals or a fundraiser for your favorite cause.
    Click here for the question and the answers.
      Category: Poll Position, Uncategorized

      From the Ship to the Trails

      June 14, 2013 | By | No Comments

      Cruise Road to Hana Hawaii
      If Hawaii were a flavor, it would probably taste something like a medley of tropical fruit, rich coffee and rain-kissed honeysuckles. From trekking down the Road to Hana to a helicopter ride over the famous scene of Jurassic Park, member puddles99 and her husband’s cruise to the islands allowed them to digest every piece of their itinerary aboard Norwegian’s Pride of America.
      Read on to see how their cruise unfolded.
        Category: Cruise Reviews of the Week

        The Early Word on Royal Princess: Hits & Misses

        June 14, 2013 | By | 5 Comments

        After days of hype over Princess Cruises’ new Royal Princess, culminating in an elegant and truly moving naming ceremony with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, as godmother, it’s time to focus on what’s ultimately the most important thing: What’s the ship really like?
        As a prototype — cruise industry parlance for a new design, rather than the “third ship in a series of” — the first impression is a simple one. Royal might represent an evolution for Princess, but it’s still offering an experience that will feel familiar to fans.

        Learn which features were hits — and which ones missed the mark

          Category: Live from Royal Princess, We're At Sea

          Steal of the Week: 14-Night Southern Caribbean Balcony + Air from $136/Night

          June 13, 2013 | By | No Comments

          Everyone is looking for the deal of the century. So how do you choose the one that’s right for you? Check the Lido Deck each week to get the scoop on our favorite deals — then grab the phone and pack your bags.
          THE DEAL: Online Vacation Center is offering a 14-night Southern Caribbean cruise onboard Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas, sailing roundtrip from San Juan on December 7, 2013. Prices start from $1,899, per person, for a balcony cabin. Airfare, onboard credit and specialty dining are included.

          See why this is such a bargain … and what you need to know.

            Category: Deal of the Week

            Celebrity Cruises Brings Lawn Club to NYC

            June 12, 2013 | By | No Comments

            celebrity cruises nyc
            On June 10 and 11, Celebrity Cruises brought a surprise to New Yorkers rushing through Grand Central Station’s Vanderbilt Hall — a lush, green lawn.
            Complete with a jazz band, lawn chairs set up under white canopies and men in suits handing out lemonade and iced tea, the grassy oasis was meant to offer a taste of what Celebrity Cruises calls The Lawn Club Experience.

            Find out what The Lawn Club looks like in Grand Central

              Category: From the News
              Tags: >

              What does a Royal Godmother Mean to You?

              June 12, 2013 | By | No Comments

              duchess Catherine royal princess cruise
              As we count down to the christening festivities Thursday for
              Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess              , featuring Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, we wondered: Does a royal godmother trump a celebrity?
              Mostly, yes. Some 54 percent of Cruise Critic members who
              voted in our recent poll               said absolutely, the mix of royalty and cruise ships is a winning combination. Another 32 percent said maybe: It depends on which royal (clearly, Queen Elizabeth 2 has to rank at the top of the list; this decade alone she’s christened Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth). Interestingly, less than 1 percent found “celebrities from world of music, TV, sport and film far more interesting” choices for godmother.
              Judging from the buzz down here in Southampton at Ocean Terminal, where christening ceremony event planners are constructing a stage and installing stadium seating and Princess executives are walking around the ship with draft copies of the Duchess’ talking points, there is an extra fission of excitement.

              Celebs or Royals? Which do you prefer?

                Category: Forum Fire, Live from Royal Princess, New Ship Alert, We're At Sea

                Poll Position: Cruising Green Over the Ocean Blue

                June 11, 2013 | By | No Comments

                Cruise Fish Green
                In the past few years, a growing number of ships already have been cutting down diesel emissions by using shoreside power, while others are installing energy efficient appliances and donating unused supplies to charity. And cruise lines are required to adhere to low-sulfur fuel and waste-water standards set  forth by the International Maritime Organization, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and the Environmental Protection Agency.
                Princess Cruises, for example, practices recycling and waste-management strategies such as converting used cooking oil into biodiesel as part of its standard routine. Other lines, such as Holland America and Seabourn, aid by promoting sustainable seafood in their menus.
                But aside from cruise ships, the biggest impact — good or bad — comes from cruisers themselves. To give you the benefit of the doubt, cruising is meant to be worry-free. Luckily, making a difference onboard doesn’t require an arm and a leg. Before we suggest a few tips for your next cruise, let’s see how “green” most of you already are.
                Click here for the question and the answers.
                  Category: Poll Position
                  keep looking »

                • Subscribe to the Lido Deck by E-Mail


                   








                • About the Lido Deck

                  Welcome to the Lido Deck, where Cruise Critic readers and editors gather to share ideas, news, photos, videos and opinions on everything from ship etiquette and past voyages to happy hours and excursions. Please note: When commenting, Cruise Critic's community guidelines apply.

                  Click here to meet the crew.



                • Recent Posts


                • What’s Your Cruise IQ?


                • RSS Cruise Critic News




                • Categories