Disney Cruise Line Takes Delivery Of New Dream

Mediterranean Cruises A Good Vacation Idea

It’s Almost Here: Allure Of The Seas

The grand debut of Allure of the Seas is just around the corner and ready to ‘wow’ travelers everywhere.

Complete with exclusive at-sea firsts, innovative features, exciting attractions, and much more, this mega-ship will make your next vacation to the Caribbean and beyond completely unforgettable!

On Allure of the Seas itineraries, you can experience everything this brand new ship has to offer. From the highly anticipated DreamWorks Animation programming to exclusive Broadway productions and new Boardwalk eateries, Avoya Travel / America’s Vacation Center guests can discover more captivating features from Royal Caribbean on-board Allure of the Seas sailings from $599.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhoods

Sister-ship to the largest cruise ship at sea, Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas offers seven distinct neighborhoods where guests can meander through the lush gardens of Central Park, enjoy the Coney Island-style Boardwalk, cool off in the H2O Zone Aqua Park, and much more! Central Park offers tropical plant life that is beautiful both during the day and in the evenings to create the perfect mix of relaxation and serenity. The Hot Dog House on the Boardwalk treats travelers to a fun dining experience where they can create their own hot dog from a range of toppings or choose from a unique menu of hot dogs and sausages – all for free! While visiting the H2O Zone, you can practice surfing on the Flowrider surf simulators or take a zip-line ride high above the ship. Guests can also relax with a soothing massage at the Vitality at Sea Spa, visit a variety of nightclubs or Casino Royale in the Entertainment Place, have a blast with the kids in the Youth Zone, and more!

Shows, Shrek, and Shopping All On board!

Entertainment and activities are endless on Allure of the Seas, where guests can encounter DreamWorks Animation characters including Shrek and Kung Fu Panda, enjoy the first at-sea Broadway production of ‘Chicago: The Musical,’ take a spin on the beautiful free coupon book experience the dazzling AquaTheater, shop at the GUESS Accessory Boutique, and more. The ship is also equipped with various children’s and teen programs, plus a nursery for infants as young as 6-months old so parents can enjoy some alone time while the kids play. Innovative technology is also featured on-board, including a 3-D movie theater and iPod docks in every room. And, Avoya Travel / America’s Vacation Center guests can take advantage of a free coupon book to enjoy all these amazing Allure of the Seas features with incredible savings.

Captivating Cuisine Sure to Delight

With award-winning chefs and 26 amazing dining options, Allure of the Seas offers a wide variety of culinary creations. You and the whole family can enjoy Rita’s Cantina, a specialty restaurant blending traditional Mexican food with Southern California flair. From fish tacos, margaritas, fajitas, and more paired with live guitar music and dancing, you’ll have a blast at this new restaurant only available on Allure of the Seas. Guests can also indulge in Samba Grill, the ship’s exclusive Brazilian steakhouse, or sip a latte at the first ever Starbucks at sea. Enjoy a new spin on fine dining at the 150 Central Park restaurant conceptualized by The Culinary Institute of America alumna Molly Brandt or taste some tapas along the Central Park gardens. For more incredible cuisine and the total mega-ship experience, travelers can also sail to the Caribbean on Oasis of the Seas 7-night cruises.

With all it has to offer, it is no wonder why Allure of the Seas was recently named one of Oprah’s Favorite Things for 2010! As the official naming ceremony is set to take place this weekend, Allure of the Seas is almost here, so contact your Avoya Travel / America’s Vacation Center Personal Vacation Planner today to plan an amazing mega-ship vacation!

For more information, call 800-308-3077 and mention Discount Code 9094# to speak with an AVC Personal Vacation Planner today!  Travel Smart and Cruises by Capt Bob is An Authorized Independent Affiliate of America’s Vacation Center.

Hurtigruten’s Marks 150 Years Of Polar Exploration

Entertainment Battle Heats Up!

The Battle for your Entertainment Dollar heats up at Sea!

With the cruise lines completing for every dollar, they have up the ante to grab your attention:

With top cruise ship entertainment, you’ll be truly dazzled during your next vacation at sea. From electrifying live shows, award-winning Broadway productions, heart-pumping music, and more, you’ll experience some of the world’s best entertainment every night of your cruise vacation!

One of the most amazing features of a cruise vacation is the entertainment, and on a cruise ship, Avoya Travel / America’s Vacation Center guests can experience it all. Looking for something everyone can enjoy? On select itineraries to the Caribbean, Europe, and beyond from just $229, you’ll have the chance to see critically-acclaimed acts from celebrated entertainers, talented musical performers, and more!

‘Epic’ Entertainment from Norwegian Cruise Line

During 7-night Norwegian Cruise Line sailings from $329, you’ll have the freedom to choose your entertainment experience with the ‘Freestyle Cruising’ program. Whether it’s a relaxing evening of classical music in the Piano Bar, an exciting encounter with ‘Lady Luck’ in Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) award-winning ‘Casinos at Sea’, fun-filled dance experiences at the ‘White Hot Party’, and more, NCL offers endless entertainment options. On NCL’s newest ship the Norwegian Epic, you can experience even more top entertainment – from the legendary Blue Man Group, the hilarious Nickelodeon SlimeTime Live, the melodious ‘Legends in Concert’ tribute show, and beyond. And, with exclusive pricing and amenities valued at up to $137, you can enjoy everything on board the Norwegian Epic and other exciting NCL ships!

Original and Talented Shows with MSC Cruises

Experience day and nighttime fun on MSC Cruises 7-night sailings from just $229. Complete with cutting-edge Wii consoles, a 4D cinema, and more, everyone will have a blast with MSC Cruises’ interactive entertainment. Each night, your cruise will feature breathtaking performances that feature special effects, French illusionists, Italian tenors, and other outstanding world-class acts. From old-style variety shows, popular opera, thrilling aerobatics, pop dance shows, and more, you’ll discover a new show every night during your cruise vacation. Travelers of all ages will enjoy Broadway theater productions, engaging cabaret shows, sports tournaments, karaoke nights, and beyond. There’s something fun for everyone with MSC Cruises, and for a limited time kids sail free!

Award-Winning Choices from Princess Cruises

On 7-night sailings with Princess Cruises from $329, you’ll have countless entertainment choices to choose from! Enjoy blockbuster Hollywood movies set under the twinkling night sky during ‘Movies Under the Stars’ on select ships. Complete with a 300-square foot poolside movie theater, complimentary popcorn, warm cookies and milk, cozy blankets, chaise lounges, and more, everyone can experience a relaxing evening onboard Princess Cruises. Looking for live shows? Princess Cruises features some of the largest casts at sea that perform everything from Broadway hits to long-running classics. Also, during The Talent Search and Showcase, you’ll have the chance to see a variety of entertainers hoping to land their big break in cruise ship entertainment. From dancing in the ballroom, singing to karaoke favorites, laughing out loud during comedy shows, and more, Princess Cruises offers an array of entertainment to enjoy! And, Avoya Travel / America’s Vacation Center guests can receive amenities valued at up to $140 plus exclusive pricing during their cruise vacation.

For an exciting vacation at sea filled with incredible cruise ship entertainment, contact your Avoya Travel / America’s Vacation Center Personal Vacation Planner today!

TravelSmart and Cruises by Capt Bob is An Authorized Independent Affiliate of America’s Vacation Center.

World’s Largest Cruise Sale!

Huge Savings with the World’s Largest Cruise Sale!

Attention Cruisers: Now is your Chance to Save Big on your Next Cruise!

The World’s Preview Largest Cruise Sale is coming up this week! Looking for some of the best discounts of 2010? As one of our biggest cruise sales of the year, this will be the time to save big on your dream vacation. From hundreds of dollars in shipboard credit, free upgrades, and much more, Avoya Travel / America’s Vacation Center guests will discover a plethora of special offers and savings from an array of top cruise lines during the World’s Largest Cruise Sale!

In celebration of National Cruise Vacation Month, top cruise lines are offering Avoya Travel / America’s Vacation Center travelers amazing specials for a limited time! As one of our biggest blowout sales of the year, you’ll have access to tons of cruise deals beginning this week. Make sure to take advantage of these incredible cruise specials exclusively for you – before it’s too late!

Royal Caribbean’s Incredible Sale

During 7-night cruises with Royal Caribbean from $479, you’ll sail to the Caribbean, Europe, and beyond to discover an incredible fleet filled with some of the most amazing features at sea! From ice-skating rinks to Flow-Rider surf simulators, rock-climbing walls and more, you’ll encounter endless adventures while on your Royal Caribbean cruise. Also, on board the largest ship at sea, the Oasis of the Seas, you can walk through an open-air Central Park neighborhood, zoom across the Boardwalk while on a spine-tingling zip-line, watch a spectacular water show and incredible high-diving aerial acts in the Aqua-Theater, and so much more! And, with the Allure of the Seas making its debut in December 2010, now is the time to take advantage of amazing specials during the World’s Largest Cruise Sale!

• To save big on the largest cruise ships in the world and other incredible Royal Caribbean ships, take advantage of great savings with exclusive reduced pricing!

Norwegian Cruise Line’s ‘Epic’ Specials!

On 7-night Norwegian Cruise Line sailings from just $329, you’ll discover great values during your cruise vacation with your choice in dining, activities, and entertainment! With ‘Freestyle Cruising’, you can experience an array of cuisine ranging from decadent buffets to specialty Teppanyaki, one-of-a-kind activities such as a two-story screen for playing Nintendo Wii, and much more. Also, on-board NCL’s newest cruise ship, the Norwegian Epic, you’ll discover some of the most groundbreaking at-sea firsts! From the 17-degree Svedka Ice Bar, exclusive Blue Man Group entertainment, New Wave staterooms with modern curved walls, and beyond, you’ll have an unforgettable cruise vacation onboard this amazing ship.

• With up to $250 shipboard credit, reduced deposit, & free upgrades available, you can enjoy the brand new Norwegian Epic and other exciting NCL ships with some of the best savings this year!

Celebrity Cruises’ Mind-Blowing Offers

With 7-night Celebrity Cruises sailings from $399, you’ll experience an innovative fleet including the one-of-a-kind Solstice Class ships. During ‘Celebrity Life’ programming, you can learn one of 13 languages during Rosetta Stone courses, taste specialty wines from Celebrity Cruises’ sommeliers, and watch unique pieces of art being created during the Hot Glass Show on Solstice Class ships. Also, with the first-ever Lawn Club at sea, you can enjoy a relaxing picnic or fun round of bocce ball all on a half-acre grass lawn – while sailing to the Caribbean, Europe, and beyond!

• For a mind-blowing experience with Celebrity Cruises’ Solstice Class and other incredible ships, you can get fantastic savings!

Regent Cruises’ Savings on Luxury Sailings

Discover an unforgettable cruise experience on 7-night luxury sailings with Regent Cruises. With almost everything included in your cruise vacation, you’ll travel to the Caribbean, Europe, South America, and beyond in complete comfort and extravagance. Boasting up to four gourmet restaurants including the new steakhouse Prime 7 and Signatures, featuring Le Cordon Bleu-inspired cuisine, every meal is sure to delight during your sailings with Regent Cruises. From unlimited shore excursions, complimentary beverages including wine, 24-hour room service, and many more all-inclusive offerings, you’ll receive exclusive values from Regent Cruises during the the World’s Largest Cruise Sale!

• Avoya Travel / America’s Vacation Center guests can take advantage of up to $200 off Regent Cruises’ lavish sailings!

The World’s Largest Cruise Sale only comes once a year, and now is the time for you to contact your Avoya Travel / America’s Vacation Center Personal Vacation Planner to get some of the best cruise deals of the year!

For more information, call 800-308-3077 and mention Discount Code 9094# to speak with an AVC Personal Vacation Planner today!

Travel Smart/Cruises By Capt Bob is An Authorized Independent Affiliate of America’s Vacation Center

New Name, Same Great Benefits – Don’t Miss Out!

New Name, Same Great Benefits – Don’t Miss Out!

Disney UnVeils Its New Plans

“Let the Memories Begin”

Disney Parks & Resorts, in coordination with its new “Let the Memories Begin” consumer campaign, is adding to the experiences those guests receive at Disney parks by developing new and updated attractions in California and Florida, new vacation opportunities on Disney Cruise Line, a new luxury resort in Hawaii, and new ways to explore the world with Adventures by Disney.
At Disneyland Resort, “World of Color,” the new nighttime spectacular presented in Disney California Adventure, brings classic Disney and Disney-Pixar animation to life with nearly 1,200 powerful fountains, larger-than-life projections, lasers, fire, music and special effects. Next up for the continuing expansion of Disney California Adventure is the first major attraction based on the modern Disney classic, “The Little Mermaid.” The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure will treat guests to a musical retelling of the classic motion picture. Guests will get to visit Trident’s world under the sea. The attraction represents the next big milestone in the ongoing expansion of Disney California Adventure. Disney California Adventure also now features Silly Symphony Swings, a Disney-flavored version of the traditional swing ride themed to the tornado finale of the classic Mickey Mouse cartoon “The Band Concert.”

Goofy’s Sky School

Also at Disney California Adventure, Goofy’s Sky School will join the fun along Paradise Pier in 2011. The coaster attraction is inspired by the 1940 cartoon short “Goofy’s Glider,” and the theme is a flying academy with Goofy as the instructor. Guests will enjoy all the dips, twists and thrills as Goofy tries to teach a group of novice pilots how to soar through the sky.

Mickey’s Soundsational Parade

At Disneyland Park, Disney characters will stomp down Main Street, U.S.A. in a new parade called “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade,” which brings to life some of the most beloved melodies from Disney films. Live musicians will amplify the fun and colorful dancers will entertain guests to the tune of a syncopated drum line, twinkling cymbals, steel drums and more. Mickey Mouse and some favorite Disney characters will encourage members of the crowd to join the giant jam session.

Two themed suites opened in 2010,

Also at Disneyland Resort, renovations continue at the Disneyland Hotel, including a new pool and water play area, enhancements to the existing pool, a new restaurant and bar, and a re-theming of the hotel’s three guestroom towers. Two themed suites opened in 2010, the Fairy Tale and Big Thunder suites, and a third new suite is under development. They join the existing Mickey Mouse and Pirates suites.

“Star Wars” galaxy using 3-D technology

At Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, a revamped Star Tours 3-D Adventure, bridging the period between the two “Star Wars” trilogies, will make its debut. Star Tours: The Adventures Continue will take flight in 2011 and take guests to thrilling destinations throughout the “Star Wars” galaxy using 3-D technology.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Also at Walt Disney World, Disney’s Animal Kingdom in early 2011 will feature a new add-on experience, Wild Africa Trek, which will take small groups of adventurers on personalized, guided excursions that include a bushwalk through unexplored areas of the forest, home to many species of wildlife, along with over-landing in customized vehicles across an animal-filled savanna. To complete the journey, guests will experience a taste of Africa while viewing wildlife from a specially designed observation station.
At Epcot, new dining venues at the Italy and Mexico pavilions opened in August and September. In August, an authentic Neapolitan pizzeria called Via Napoli opened in the Italy pavilion. Operated by Patina Restaurant Group, the same restaurateurs who run the pavilion’s Tutto Italia restaurant, the 300-seat pizzeria features wood-burning ovens named for volcanoes in Italy. The 14,000-square-foot space includes indoor and outdoor dining. Meanwhile, the Mexico pavilion this month welcomed guests to La Hacienda and La Cantina de San Angel – two restaurants under one roof. La Hacienda is a 250-seat restaurant serving romantic dinners beside World Showcase Lagoon while La Cantina is a 150-seat quick-service restaurant serving both lunch and dinner.

Disney Channel Rocks!

At Disney Hollywood Studios, Disney Channel Rocks! is set to debut this fall as a live, rock-concert-style show that celebrates great music and great friends through hit songs from popular Disney Channel original movies and series. Disney Channel Rocks! will feature music from a variety of Disney Channel hits, including the “High School Musical” series, “Camp Rock” and “StarStruck.” The show – at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – will follow a format that is similar to “High School Musical 3: Senior Year – Right Here! Right Now!”
In the Magic Kingdom, Rapunzel, along with Flynn Ryder from the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures animated feature “Tangled,” will begin greeting guests of all ages in a new interactive “play and greet” offering in Fairytale Garden this October. The movie opens Nov. 24 in theaters nationwide.
The newly relaunched ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort continues to add more athlete enhancements in 2011 with the addition of the new Hewlett-Packard Photo Creation Center inside the renamed HP Field House at the complex. The creation center will allow athletes, coaches and fans to create and design an assortment of uniquely customized posters, photo albums, and materials to commemorate their sports experience.

Disney Cruise Line will introduce Disney Dream

Meanwhile, as previously announced, Disney Cruise Line will introduce Disney Dream, its newest and largest ship, set to launch in January 2011. The Disney Dream, slated to set sail on its revenue cruise on Jan. 26, 2011, from Port Canaveral, Fla. The 4,000-passenger ship will feature three-, four- and five-night Bahamian itineraries. Meanwhile, the Disney Wonder in early 2011 will feature new West Coast itineraries, including, for the first time, Alaska cruises sailing from Vancouver. Disney Wonder also is scheduled for cruises out of the Port of Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera, before and after the summer Alaska cruises.

Disney is building Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina

On the island of Oahu, Disney is building Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawaii that includes traditional hotel rooms and Disney Vacation Club villas. The property is located on 21 acres of oceanfront property in Ko Olina, 17 miles from Honolulu International Airport and approximately 30 minutes from Waikiki. Aulani draws its inspiration from the traditions and heritage of the people of Hawaii. Walt Disney Imagineers, with the help of local architects, artisans and historians, are weaving Hawaiian stories into the buildings, interiors, art and gardens of the resort. Upon completion, Aulani will include 359 traditional hotel rooms and 481 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club villas with views of the ocean, mountains and the lush grounds.
In 2011, Adventures by Disney, Disney’s family tour operation, will debut new seven- and nine-night Egypt itineraries to its existing programs covering such destinations as Italy, South Africa and China.   The pyramids and the sphinx in Giza, a Nile River cruise, and days and nights in Cairo are all part of the experience. In 2011, Adventures by Disney will offer 25 itineraries, six to 13 days in duration, on six continents.

Beyond 2011

Beyond 2011, Disney Parks has already announced new attractions for its parks and cruise line, including Cars Land, a 12-acre expansion themed to the Disney-Pixar blockbuster “Cars,” and scheduled to open in 2012 at Disney California Adventure. Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, at Walt Disney World Resort, is scheduled to open in late 2012 with family suites themed to Disney and Disney-Pixar animated films. Disney Fantasy, the sister ship to the Disney Dream, scheduled to set sail in 2012. Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom is in the midst of a multi-year expansion that is the largest in history of the flagship park at Florida’s Walt Disney World Resort. For more information on Disney Parks & Resorts.

Capt Bob

How To Get The Best Air Fares:

Getting the Best Air Fare for your Money:

There is a wide variety of air fares available to travelers. This fact sheet will help you choose the one that’s best for you.

Be flexible in your travel plans in order to get the lowest fare. The best deals may be limited to travel on certain days of the week (often Tuesday through Thursday, or Friday night through Sunday morning) or particular hours of the day (e.g., late-night departures). This applies to each of your flights, not just the first flight in your itinerary. After you get a fare quote, ask the reservations agent if you could save even more by flying a day earlier or later, or by taking a different flight on the same day. Or simply ask the agent what the lowest fare is, and what you need to do to qualify for it.

Discount seats are usually “blacked out” during holiday periods. However, you might be able to get a discount fare if you fly on the holiday itself (e.g., New Year’s day).

Plan as far ahead as you can. Most airlines set aside only a few seats on many desirable flights at the lower rates. The real best bargains often sell out very quickly. On the other hand, if a particular flight is not selling as well as expected, air carriers sometimes make more discount seats available for a particular flight just before the advance-purchase deadline expires. For example, if the lowest fare has a 21-day advance-purchase requirement but is sold out for most dates, and you can go any time, ask about fare availability on flights 21 or 22 days from when you call.

While planning ahead is a good general rule, if you can bide your time you might encounter a “fare sale.” Many airlines put seats on sale for brief periods several times a year (although you usually can purchase tickets for flights weeks or months after the end of the sale period). It is difficult to predict when these sales will occur, although they often fall during times when people are less likely to buy airline tickets (e.g. early autumn or right immediately after New Years).

In a large metropolitan area, the fare could depend on which airport you use. For example, if you are going to Southeast Florida and plan to rent a car, it might not make much difference if you fly to Miami or Ft. Lauderdale, except for ticket price. Also, a connection (change of planes) or a one-stop flight is sometimes cheaper than a nonstop. Always check on alternate airports and routings when pricing a ticket.

Look into all airlines that serve the market you are interested in, including low-cost carriers that offer low fares. Many times the major carriers will match the fares of a low-cost airline between the same cities; but often this will only be for a certain limited number of seats on each flight. On a low-cost carrier, find out what you get for your money: baggage transfers from one carrier to another, meals, advance seat assignments, etc. Note that small airlines sometimes have only one flight per day in many markets, and they frequently will not reroute you on another airline if your flight is canceled or delayed. In such cases you may have to wait until the next day to fly.

Ask about all restrictions on your fare. Typical requirements for discount fares include purchasing a round-trip ticket, buying the ticket a certain number of days before departure (e.g., for many fares, at least 14 or 21 days before you leave), purchasing the ticket within 24 hours of making a reservation, staying over a Saturday night, traveling during a certain time of the year, staying no more than 30 days, and, as discussed below, refund/change restrictions.

Ask about your ability to change or cancel your flight if you need to. Even if you get sick, you cannot assume you will get a refund. In fact, most discount tickets now are non-refundable, but can be applied toward the purchase of other tickets on the same carrier. You must usually pay an administrative charge and any difference between the fares for the old and new flights when you do this.

Consider using a travel agent. Agents usually do not charge a fee  and they can tell you about “consolidators” and other sources of discounted seats that are not available directly from the airline. However, consolidator seats can have even more severe restrictions than the airlines’ own deep-discount fares, particularly if the flight is delayed or canceled. A few travel agents sometimes have access to special deals with a particular airline (either discounts or extra services). If you are flying to a popular foreign destination, or to Las Vegas or Hawaii, ask the travel agent about Public Charters. These charters sometimes offer lower fares, but again with significant restrictions that are spelled out in an operator/participant contract that you should review carefully.

Ask the travel agent if the city where you live or the city where you are going is an airline “hub.” If it is, fares may be higher than for flights to other nearby cities because of reduced competition. Someone who lives at a hub might save money by leaving from another nearby city, even if they end up connecting through the hub to get to their destination.

A number of airlines send e-mail messages every week to receive notification of last-minute fare specials for departures within the next few days. See the airlines’ World Wide Web sites for information about these programs, or call their reservations line. For a list of airline web sites, go to http://www.airlines.com (Do not assume that an airline reservation agent or travel agent will be aware of the fares offered to e-mail subscribers.)

Many airlines offer a seniors discount off any fare to travelers over a certain age. In addition, some carriers offer bereavement and emergency illness fares with varying documentation requirements and discounts.

If you are a member of an airline’s frequent-flyer program and you are considering buying a promotional or deep-discount fare, ask if that fare will earn frequent-flyer miles.

After you buy your ticket, you may wish to call the airline or travel agent once or twice before departure to confirm your reservations and check the fare. Fares change all the time, and if that same fare goes down before you fly, some airlines will refund the difference. But you have to ask.

Capt Bob

Carnival, Launch Facebook Cruise Planning App

Carnival Cruise Lines in its effort to broaden it reach into Social Media is impacting its business in a big way.   Earlier this month Delta Airlines, Inc. announced its Social Media “Ticket Window” on FaceBook and now Carnival Cruise Lines has just put the finishing touches on their on FaceBook application.  I see this as a good move in that it puts another media on the Internet for people who like to travel.  With a few key strokes to be able to share information about their travel plans, planning reunions with their family and friends. Both companies are expanding their reach to the computer savvy generation.  This trend is just the tip of  the iceberg and I forecast you will see more companies coming on board via FaceBook with their products and services.

Capt Bob

Carnival Cruise Lines announced the launch of a new Facebook application that allows users to view, compare, select and share Carnival cruises with their friends. The application allows users to engage their social network in their vacation planning through personalized news feed updates and invite friends to book the same trip.

The application, available on Carnival’s official Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/carnival), enables users to explore all Carnival cruise options without leaving Facebook by providing the functionality to sort cruises by date, duration, port of call and accommodation type. Once users decide on a particular cruise, they can share the information with their Facebook friends by simply clicking a button. Users can also customize their newsfeed messages, which include a link to the cruise, to invite friends to book the trip as well.

“A Carnival cruise is a very social experience and this application is a natural extension of our efforts to engage our nearly 250,000 Facebook fans in a unique and exciting way,” said Jim Berra, Carnival’s chief marketing officer. “By allowing our customers to share their cruising plans with Facebook friends, we are making it easier for them to plan group trips and encourage others to join in the fun.”

Digital marketing agency Razorfish helped conceptualize, create and design the application. Once users have taken advantage of the Facebook application to choose and share their Carnival cruise plans, they will be directed to the appropriate shopping cart page on www.carnival.com to finalize the transaction. For additional information, call 800-CARNIVAL or visit www.GoCCL.com.

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