my Travel story has been published

my Travel story has been published on the Travel Coach network, check it out;

https://thetravelcoachnetwork.com/2020/05/11/a-dream-come-true/

Disney cruises to Aruba in 2017

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2016/04/13/disney-cruise-southern-caribbean/82972722/

Aruba Readies for Record Cruise Year

Aruba Ports Authority is ready to welcome a record breaking 2013 with 340 calls with a 2,000 passengers average capacity. This is also an increase in numbers compared to 2012 during which year they welcomed 294 calls.

January 1st, 2013 started with Coral Princess, Grand Princess, Maasdam and Thomson Dream in the Oranjestad port. During the entire year they will also welcome a total of six (6) inaugural calls, from Tere Moana, Queen Elizabeth, Riviera, Alexander von Humboldt, Marina, and Mein Schiff II.

The port will also see an increase in calls from Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian and Pullmantur during the Summer months. They expect to handle a record breaking amount of passengers as well.

Cruise passengers dissembarking at the cruise terminals this year will for the first time be able to hop on the new downtown Trolley/ Electric Tram right at the passenger exit gate. The tour will take them through downtown Oranjestad. Points of interest along the route include : The Aruba Bank House, Huisje Wild, Cas Henriquez and the Archaeological Museum, the Protesant Church, Zoutman Straat #1, Government offices, House of Parliament, Fort Zoutman (Historical Museum), Hotel Colombia, Wilhelmina Straat # 11, and the Town Hall.

Pullmantur cruise line to visit Aruba all year round in 2013 and 2014

After months of conversations and deliberations with top executives of the Pullman Cruise Line, the Aruba Tourism Authority is pleased to announce and celebrate another important milestone for our tourism industry, especially for our cruise tourism.

The government of Aruba, the Aruba Tourism Authority and the Aruba Ports Authority, diligently working together, has succeeded in getting a commitment from the prestigious Pullman Company to include Aruba on their itinerary and in a rather large manner.

Aruba is one of the destinations in high demand in the Caribbean, nevertheless during the so-called low season, cruise lines send their ships to other regions resulting in Aruba receiving a very limited number of cruise ships during the low season. This, by the way, is the same for the entire Caribbean region. For this reason, very clever and strong negotiations are required to get these cruise lines to visit during a time when they would normally not do so.


Pullmantur has committed to visit Aruba’s port practically every week with 48 visits during 2013 and with 52 calls in 2014. This is a major milestone especially because it includes our low season.

Pullmantur will make 26 calls both in 2013 and 2014. In addition, Aruba will also serve as “home port.” This means that passengers can board and disembark here, thanks to the natural advantage for easy flight connectivity from Aruba.

Together with the 8 visits scheduled from Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines during the 2013 low season and Pullmantur’s calls, we will receive a total of 34 additional calls for the low season. This results in a growth from 44.822 passengers in 2012 to 136.062 passengers in the 2013 low season. This is equivalent to a record growth of 86.101 passengers and 34 calls in this period.

Certainly, something unique and historic for Aruba! In 2013 Pullmantur will make 12 calls with their Horizon ship which carries 1.828 passengers and a crew of 620 members, and 36 calls with Monarch of the Seas which carries 2.733 passengers and 860 crew members.

Monarch of the Seas will return in 2014 with 52 calls. The ships itinerary will include Cartagena, La Guaira, Curacao and Panama.

ATA is extremely pleased with this agreement and pledges to continue working with their partners to achieve even more growth for Aruba with a special focus on the other cruise and tourism seasons as well.

7 day cruise leaving from Aruba

priced from $1150 p.p. p.week (based on double occupancy)

book at Maduro Travel- Aruba: http://www.madurotravelaruba.com/oa-cruises/

Southern Caribbean cruise, 7 nights, from $249

The Real Deal: Seven nights in an interior stateroom aboard Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas, all meals, and nonalcoholic beverages, from $249 per person — plus taxes of $32.

When: Embark March 1, 15, 29, 2009; add $150 for March 8, 22 with ports of call in St. Maarten, Dominica, Isla de Margarita and Aruba; departures for other southern Caribbean sailings are available through April 12.
The fine print: Airfare is not included.
Government taxes are an additional $32 per person. Transportation between the airport and the port is also not included, but can be purchased for an additional $19 per person each way. Optional travel insurance starts at $57 per person. Based on double occupancy; single supplement is $159 for an inside stateroom and $259 for an ocean-view room. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29373197/

Holland America Line Expands 2009 Panama Canal Program With More Full Transits

Holland America Line offers an unprecedented number of Panama Canal sailings in 2009, offering 45 total cruises on nine different ships departing from five separate ports. Guests can experience daylight transits of the historic and fascinating Panama Canal and itineraries that feature diverse and intriguing ports of call on voyages.

We've increased our Panama Canal capacity significantly this year to make 2009 a very exciting season, especially with full transit cruises through the winter season," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. "While the roundtrip Florida canal experiences have been very popular, our guests have been asking for more Panama Canal cruises between the east and west coasts throughout the winter season. So now, there are canal cruises to suit everyone's tastes for season, length and ports of call." << >>
Ranging in length from 10 to 28 days, Holland America Line's Panama Canal itineraries feature more port-of-call options than any other major cruise line, with many port visits exclusive to Holland America Line. <<>>

Among the offerings in 2009 are ten 14-day Panama Canal cruises on ms Statendam between Fort Lauderdale and San Diego that feature different ports of call in each direction, with only one port in common. The sailings, from February into April and again in October and November, can be combined as back-to-back cruises for a 28-day round-trip Collectors' voyage. Sample ports of call include an overnight stay in Fuerte Amador (Panama City), Panama; Puerto Chiapas (gateway to the Pacific side of the Mayan world), Mexico; Cartagena, Colombia; Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; and Aruba. <<>>
Holland America Line also will offer a series of 10-day round-trip Fort Lauderdale Sunfarer cruises aboard the ms Zuiderdam. These cruises sail through the Gatun Locks and offer scenic cruising in Gatun Lake. They also feature less common Caribbean ports of call and the only itineraries with a private island: Holland America Line's exclusive Half Moon Cay, Bahamas. << >>
A new 14-day Sunfarer itinerary will depart Nov. 6 and Dec. 4 aboard the ms Maasdam roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale. In addition to cruising to Gatun Lake, ports will include Half Moon Cay, Bahamas; St. Croix; Dominica; St. Lucia; Aruba; Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; and Key West, United States. <<>>

Starting fares for Panama Canal cruises range from $999 to $2,599 per person, double occupancy. Taxes and fuel supplement charges are additional. For more information, consult a professional travel agent, call 1-800-522-3399 or visit www.hollandamerica.com. << - www.hollandamerica.com -- >>
About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)]
Holland America Line's fleet of 14 ships offers nearly 500 cruises to 320 ports in more than 100 countries, territories or dependencies. Two- to 108-day itineraries visit all seven continents, and highlights include Antarctica, South America, Australia/New Zealand and Asia voyages; a Grand World Voyage; and popular sailings to ports in the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama Canal. A 15th ship, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, is scheduled to join the fleet in 2010. << >>
The highest-rated premium cruise line in the world, Holland America Line is a member of the exclusive World's Leading Cruise Lines alliance, which also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line and Costa Cruises. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, these lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. The World's Leading Cruise Lines offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.

Caribbean reigns as world's top cruise destination

By Bob Retzlaff• Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN
There are many reasons why the Caribbean is and has been for years the No. 1 cruising destination in the world.
The primary reason, of course, is the region's warm climate. Year-round cruising is possible there, and that's not in the cards for many other also-popular but more seasonal itineraries, such as the Mediterranean, the Baltic, Alaska, the British Isles, and major areas in South America.
The price is usually right for a Caribbean cruise, too. Because cruising is popular all year, there is a plethora of competitive pricing among the 25 to 30 ships that ply the warm waters of the region.
There's plenty of room for cruising there, too. The Caribbean Sea is the world's fifth largest body of water and is home to more than 7,000 islands. While cruise lines don't stop everywhere, there is a host of choices when you're picking an itinerary. And the itineraries can be as short as three or four days or as long as about two weeks.
The Caribbean has a 40 percent-plus share of the world's cruising market. That translates into millions of passengers in 2008 it is estimated that 12.8 million people cruised; around 5 million of those were in the Caribbean.
The region breaks down into what most consider three somewhat different cruise offerings the western Caribbean, the eastern Caribbean and the southern Caribbean. Each has its own advantages , even though many of the cruises start from the same place Florida, from either Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Tampa.
First-timers should consider the basic western Caribbean itineraries for their initial experience. There is a pretty good mix of Central American and island ports, as well as days at sea always treasured by most cruisers.
Eastern Caribbean itineraries usually feature attractive stops in Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and St. Martin, where there is the best shopping and beaching.
But our favorite and we've cruised the Caribbean a dozen or more times is the southern reaches. We enjoyed that itinerary especially Aruba, Curacao and Costa Rica on a December cruise aboard one of Holland America Line's five-star vessels, the MS Zuiderdam.
The focus for us though, was a visit for the fourth time to the Panama Canal, and an excursion trip into the deep Panamanian jungle.
Aruba and Curacao plus Bonaire are known as the "ABC Islands" and have close ties to the Netherlands, and still are part of the Dutch kingdom.
Most striking are the islands' old colonial and colorful architecture. It is mostly Dutch style with picturesque gables overlooking narrow streets with Dutch names.
Aruba is dry and flat and it's almost impossible to grow crops. Fresh supplies are brought in daily by small boats from nearby Venezuela. Some of the best shopping in the Caribbean is offered at Oranjestad, which is the port of call in Aruba for cruise ships.
Curacao was discovered in 1499, only seven years after Columbus landed in the New World, and consequently it is one of the oldest European settlements in the region. It is the largest of the Dutch islands and has the most convenient location for shipping.

http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=21&a=380459

cruise from Aruba, each Saturday

10 day cruise from Aruba, November 18, Maduro Travel-Princess

Princess Cruises
http://www.madurotravelaruba.com/?cruises

Royal Princess Sail From Aruba

Fly Back from Guayaquil

SAIL DATE November 18 - November 28 , 200810 Days

CRUISE ITINERARYAruba - Cartagena - San Blas - Panama Canal - Puerto Amador - At sea - Punta Arenas - at sea - Esmeraldas - At sea - Guayaquil
AWG 3,029 Inside Cabin AWG 3,209 Outside Cabin AWG 3,771 Balcony
Included 10-day Cruise fare,Port charges,Government fees, fuel surcharges and tips.
Excluded Airline Tickets, Other Info Prices are subject to change.

Cruises to Aruba, very populair destination, see link

http://www.corsavoo.com/cruises/0,2577,420113,00.html

cruises from Miami, with flight from Aruba

http://www.madurotravelaruba.com/banners/ban1.pdf