When 2011 rolls around, there'll be a brand-new star joining Disney Cruise Line – and this time it's the ship herself. The Disney Dream, scheduled to make her maiden voyage January 26, 2011, is the third – and largest – addition to Disney's fleet of luxury ocean liners that harkens back to the golden age of cruising while providing an unforgettable vacation for every member of the family. Due to set sail from Florida's Port Canaveral, the Dream is currently under construction in Papenburg, Germany. Disney Cruise Line's Jason Lasecki talks about the Company's decision to ...

Thinking about booking a Carnival cruise for the coming summer? You might want to do it sooner rather than later. The world's largest cruise line today announced it plans to implement an across-the-board price increase on March 22 for all summer sailings as bookings continue to bounce back from the downturn of 2008. Carnival says in a statement that bookings since early January have been running at a record pace. "For the period of Jan. 1 through Feb. 21, 2010, bookings were at unprecedented levels," the statement says. Carnival says the price increases it plans will vary by departure date ...

If you want to visit Hawaii, Aspen, New York, Paris or Napa, you can bring a large billfold. Or you can time your visit to the periods during the year when these places are at their most affordable. International travel was estimated last month to have declined by 4% in 2009 to 880 million travelers, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization. This year the UNWTO predicts industry growth of between 3% and 4%. The best time to travel varies from destination to destination. That can mean shoulder season or off season, or finding that window in high season when rates take a d...

Beautiful sight for a great cause! Breast Cancer Awareness

  Celebrity Cruises today announced plans for a souped up Internet cafe on its next ship that will include a retail space with the latest must-have Apple gadgets.The iLounge, as Celebrity is calling it, will offer 26 stations with MacBook Pros in "a hip, modern lounge ambiance," the line says. It'll be aboard the 2,850-passenger Celebrity Eclipse, which debuts in April.The 122,000-ton Eclipse is the third in the line's much-heralded Solstice Class series, which began arriving in 2008. Two additional Solstice Class ships are under construction for delivery in 2011 and 201...

OYSTER POND, St. Martin — Just a few feet beyond the twisting border that separates the French and Dutch sides of this Caribbean island, things start to change. And the changes don't always sit well with visitors. Like one afternoon, at my hotel on the French side, I met an Ohio couple who had just returned from Le Galion, a fine beach tucked into a bay and favored by families for its tame surf. The couple, however, were unnerved by women baring their chests while children frolicked in the sand. They had seen no such thing on the Dutch side. "Coming from the U.S., that was obviously...

Princess Cruises is reviving a signature tradition from the early days of cruising, the opportunity for passengers to have non-sailing friends and family come aboard on embarkation day to wish them a "bon voyage."The only catch: It'll come with a charge.The "Bon Voyage Experience," as Princess is calling it, will cost $39 per person. As Princess notes in an announcement of the program today, friends and family of cruisers once routinely came aboard vessels to see them off, but the practice disappeared more than two decades ago as security procedures tightened.Princess says visitors who sign...

It's everyone's favorite excuse for a party. Here are the most over-the-top celebrations, each with its own traditions for music, costumes, and cutting loose. By Sean O'Neill, Wednesday, February 10, 2010 New Orleans: Say "Mardi Gras" in the U.S., and everyone thinks of New Orleans, with its masked partygoers. The city's pre-Lent Carnival is tamer now than it was before the 2005 hurricane. But it's still a blast (mardigrasday.com). Be sure to stop by Mardi Gras World, a museum showcasing famous floats and memorabilia (mardigrasworld.com). Belgium: Binche—a town close to the border w...

A premier oceanfront resort on the island of O`ahu, Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa is a place for families to gather, reconnect and immerse themselves in the stories of Hawai`i. Storytelling vividly brings to life Hawaii’s culture and connection to nature, so each member of the family gains from a deeper understanding, appreciation, and ultimately, enjoyment of Hawai`i. The design of the Resort honors Hawaiian tradition in its village concept, including hotel rooms, Disney Vacation Club Villas, meeting rooms and wedding facilities—spread over 21 wondrous acres. Disney’s world-class ser...