Costa Rica Raises Cruise Profile

With the 2013-14 cruise season officially now under way, Costa Rica has announced a new strategy to strengthen and promote its growing relationship with the cruise industry. 

Minsiter of Tourism Allan Flores explained: “In addition to reaching important agreements with industry executives, we have concentrated our efforts on improving port infrastructure and the amenities available to passengers through our local entrepreneurs. These relationships and efforts will continue to strengthen our position as a cruise destination and create an even better experience for visitors.”

The arrival of Princess Cruises' Island Princess to the Port of Limón (above) marked the start of a cruise season filled with new arrivals, partnerships and improvements aimed to support the destination’s offerings and passenger services. This was the first of 64 ships expected to arrive in the port city, 12 per cent more than last year. Officials also announced plans to include the improvement of infrastructure as well as projects for the recovery of

architectural and cultural heritage in the Caribbean city.

As part of the destination’s new strategy, Costa Rica has also announced a cooperative partnership with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Through this partnership, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston and New York will begin promoting travel packages that include three-night stays in Costa Rica, with a city tour, running through to December 31.

To further solidify the country’s cruise offerings, a new Mesoamerican regional agreement has also been implemented. For the first time, countries in the region have cooperatively developed a partnership with cruise lines worldwide to introduce new routes through the Pacific. The new route, named Amazing Pacific, will begin operations on January 14, with the arrival of Azamara Club Cruises, part of the Royal Caribbean company, to Costa Rica’s Puerto Caldera region. Additional major Pacific ports will include Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico.

More info: visit www.VisitCostaRica.com. 

Have you subscribed to World of Cruising magazine yet? We have a fabulous offer for all new subscribers this year - 50 per cent OFF the regular rate AND the chance to win a cruise in our free prize draw offer. See this link!

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

Welcome, Cruise Guy!

World of Cruising magazine is excited and proud to welcome aboard (or welcome back!) Stewart Chiron as our latest special guest contributor, starting with our Winter edition next month.

Stewart, better known on TV and Radio as The Cruise Guy, is a long-time cruise expert and proponent, dating back more than 20 years. He is one of the world's most-quoted cruise aficionados and is frequently called up by the major News channels for all things to do with cruising and cruise ships.

He's a regular contributor on trends and deals for leading news organizations, like ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, WGN, Good Morning America, CNBC, Travel Channel and CNN. He appears in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, USA Today, Detroit Free Press, Los Angeles Times, Newsday, Huffington Post, and The Miami Herald. 

He is also quoted in magazines like Money, Newsweek, Family Circle, Smart Money, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Tom Parsons' Best Fares, and Frommer's Budget Travel. And, from our new Winter edition, he will feature in World of Cruising as well!

Stewart (left, with Love Boat skipper Gavin MacLeod) was actually involved in the early days of the magazine 15 years ago and continues to be a great source of information and insight, hence The Cruise Guy column will be a lively, chatty place to get his opinion on the latest news of the day and learn even more about this fascinating business as he frequently rubs shoulder with the movers and shakers throughout the industry.

He says: "As a founding member of World of Cruising Magazine, I’m excited to be back on-board, sharing the inside track with some of the most informed, discerning cruise readers in the world. Brand new ship deliveries are slowing down, so stay-tuned as cruise industry tries to keep us stimulated."

It is just another reason to make sure you have your subscription up to date - and be ready for the next edition of the world's leading cruise publication. 

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

Follow Us At The World's Biggest Cruise Convention

Next week sees the annual gathering of the great and good in the cruise industry, Cruise Shipping Miami, where the world comes together to discuss all things maritime in passenger shipping.

And we will be there to bring you all the news and view, 'live' via our Time Spent at Sea blog.

Cruise Shipping Miami is a chance to hear all the main lines discuss the last 12 months in the industry and the coming months ahead, which could be especially insightful in light of the recent Costa Concordia disaster.

There are also regular press conferences by many cruise destinations around the world and a huge Exhibition Hall, featuring cruise ship manufacturers, suppliers, US Coast Guard and support industries, as well as a huge section devoted to ports of call, cruise regions and tourist boards for those areas.

It all adds up to a smorgasbord of cruise people and events, all set against the backdrop of South Beach, Miami, and one of the busiest ports in the world.

It promises to be a milestone occasion in 2012 for anyone even vaguely interested in cruising, so be sure to bookmark us and come back regularly next week!

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

Travel Channel's 'Cruise' Focus

Here's some great news from The Travel Channel, who are about to screen a series of specials this autumn on the UK cruise industry, and everything that goes with it.....

CRUISING IS BROUGHT TO LIFE...

Throughout October and November, the Travel Channel’s hit topical holiday and travel series THE HOLIDAY SHOW is focusing on the fastest growing sector of the travel industry, the world of cruising.

A series of specials fronted by regular presenters Ginny Buckley and Gareth Davis will be exploring the latest developments and trends in cruising, answering viewers’ cruise queries, and reporting from some of the newest cruise ships.

If there’s anything you’ve ever wanted to know about cruising in 2010 and beyond to help you plan your next cruise holiday then make a point of tuning into THE HOLIDAY SHOW Cruise Specials on Friday 22nd October, Friday 5th November and Friday 19th November 2010.

The programmes air at 6am, 8:30am, 12 noon, 4pm and 7:30pm on Travel Channel, Sky EPG 251and are repeated at the same times the following Saturday and Sunday.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.