Category Archives: Port Canaveral

Short cruises – the trend of 2014

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Cruise lines offer more and more short cruises every year because people want them. Just a few years ago, if you wanted to take a short cruise, you didn’t have many choices of ships or destinations. Now you can find plenty of options for three-to-five day cruises in the in South Florida, the capital of the short cruise.Carnival Ecstasy

“What we found is that short cruises are very convenient, they’re affordable because of the shorter itineraries, and there is a real variety,” said Terry Thornton, a senior vice president with Carnival Cruise Lines, ticking off the islands where short-cruise ships out of South Florida call. “So you’re not sacrificing destinations for the shorter cruise. It’s a good, convenient, affordable cruise that takes you great places.”

For consumers, short cruises are cheaper, give them another option for a short getaway, and offer a chance for first-timers to sample cruising or a new cruise line at less cost than a week-long cruise. For cruise lines, they are a way to introduce themselves to new customers and maybe win them over for a longer cruise.

Find more on this topic on OrlandoSentinel.

No matter the length of the cruise you choose, we can provide you the transportation!

Cirque du Soleil’s “La Nouba” turns fifteen

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fb_share_lanoubaCirque du Soleil’s “La Nouba” celebrates its 15th anniversary at Walt Disney World later this month. On December 23 actually, but he celebration of the milestone will be with a special pre-show moment during the 6 p.m. performance on Wednesday, December 18, 2013. The event will be celebrated with an unprecedented appearance by Special Friends from Walt Disney World Resort. The evening will also include a few more surprises to commemorate this historic moment. The anniversary also marks the 15-year partnership between two of the world’s most iconic entertainment brands.

La Nouba is a mesmerizing and extraordinary avant-garde circus spectacle performed by Cirque du Soleil exclusively in the Downtown Disney West Side area at Walt Disney World Resort. .La Nouba translates to English as “”to party, to live it up,”” and this theme is evident in the energetic performances, the colorful costumes and the moving live music.

Since opening, La Nouba has entertained more than 9 million guests and still features over 20% of the original cast. The unique cast of 65 international performers includes an artist who has not missed a show in 15 years – the trampoline performer Alexander “Sasha” Daniltchenko. He has spent his life on the trampoline: Before joining Cirque du Soleil, he was a gold-medal winning athlete for his homeland’s national team. He has no plans to stop jumping any time soon.
“Maybe I have a high pain tolerance,” he suggests with a grin. He can remember a painful time: “Around 7,000 shows, my back was so bad.”

la nouba

Others of the long-time performers of “La Nuoba” are the clowns Sergey and Balto. After a decade and a half, the clowns still love it. Balto shared that for him, “It’s a pride. It’s still a pleasure. After 15 years, we still get a standing ovation every show.” Sergey shares the sentiment, “It’s gone by fast. It’s a lot of work, but I still love the performance. This is my dream. For me, there won’t be a retirement … I was born a clown and I’ll die that way.”

 

Famous Kissimmee attraction closing at the end of the year

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5834785381_e55ac5a638The Arabian Nights dinner attraction announced it will be closed permanently after New Year’s Day. This will be the end of the 15-year long history of the dinner show with performing horses and a royal story line. Owner Mark Miller opened the dinner theater’s doors on Feb, 29, 1988. Over the years Arabian Nights has presented 10,000 performances for 10 million visitors.

This August the attraction won the 2013 Orlando Sentinel Award for Best Dinner Show. Set in a horseshoe-shaped arena with a dirt floor, the Arabian Nights show spotlights Al-Marah Arabian horses with acrobatic riders. Customers, who pay $66.99 for general admission, eat dinner in stands surrounding the action. The show was freshened with new acts and narrative during the summer and dubbed “The Royal Celebration,” a story about a romantic merger of two Bedouin kingdoms. But despite the changes, owner Mark Miller said, the numbers were no longer adding up. Ticket wholesalers, which handle the bulk of Arabian Nights’ sales, would no longer pay enough for the blocks of seats they purchased, Miller said.

“It has been an honor sharing my passion for the beauty and magic of horses with people from all walks of life over the last 25 years,” said Miller in a release. “Unfortunately, we have reached a point where the marketplace demands a cheaper product than we can provide.”

arabian-nights-cast-starsMiller, who grew up in a family that bred Arabian horses, said the company’s 40 horses will move to an 80-acre farm he has purchased. He also said he will explore other uses for the Arabian Nights building and will consider selling the land, which is off West U.S. Highway 192.

The Arabian Night Christmas Show will run from 1st to 31 December, giving people one las chance to enjoy the attraction. “We know a lot of Central Florida Residents will want to see the show before we close, and we are offering them half price admission,” Miller said.

New Port Canaveral Terminal to bring bigger cruise ships

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portcanaveral1Port Canaveral is already one of the busiest cruise ports in the world. Disney, Norwegian, Carnival and Royal Caribbean all have ships based at Port Canaveral. It is also a port of call for many cruise ships. Last week the port officials announced plans for a new cruise complex. It will be constructed next year at the cost of $ 85 million.

The 185,000 square foot terminal at Port Canaveral will be the first modern one on the south side of the port’s ship channel. It will be adjacent to the port’s newly opened Exploration Tower, as well as the shops and restaurants on that side of the port. “Cruise visitors will be able to walk outside the terminal to enjoy port destination options or depart from the terminal and Exploration Tower to enjoy area excursions,” said John Walsh, the port’s director. Announcements regarding tenants for the new $85 million terminal, which comes with its own 1,000-space parking garage, are expected soon, Walsh added.

The port also added a terminal in 2012 at a cost of $ 65 million, bringing the total number of berths up to seven. We are planning four new terminals during the next 10-15 years. One is 2014-2015, one will replace [terminals 3 and 4] in 2016-2017 and then two added terminals likely in 2021 and 2025 based on current trends. We also will have terminal expansion coming for [cruise terminals 5 and 10].” Walsh said.

The 185,000 square foot terminal at Port Canaveral will be the first modern one on the south side of the port’s ship channel. It will be adjacent to the port’s newly opened Exploration Tower, as well as the shops and restaurants on that side of the port. “Cruise visitors will be able to walk outside the terminal to enjoy port destination options or depart from the terminal and Exploration Tower to enjoy area excursions,” said John Walsh, the port’s director.

Royal Caribbean has released details on the newest addition to its fleet set to sail next year, the Quantum of the Seas, an 18-deck ship that can carry 4,180 guests“The new cruise terminal complex will handle the largest cruise ships currently sailing as well as the 6,000-passenger vessels in design,” reads a press release from the port. This words started speculations. The only vessel of this class „currently in design” is the unnamed third Oasis-class ship of Royal Caribbean. Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of parent company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd says we shouldn’t read too much into that information. „The same reference was made when the new Kai Tak passenger terminal was opened in Hong Kong harbor last year.” he commented.

Another possibility for the new terminal is Anthem of the Seas – the second of three 167,800-ton, 4,180-passenger next generation Royal Caribbean cruise ships to debut, will launch spring 2015 with 2,090 cabins. Royal is expected soon to announce the home port and itineraries for the Anthem.

One thing is for sure – Port Canaveral keeps growing and getting better.

Disney Cruise Line’s itineraries for early 2015. All four ships will be based at Florida

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All Disney cruise ships will be based at Florida ports in early 2015. Dream, Fantasy, and Magic will all be based out of Port Canaveral, and Wonder will sail out of Miami.

Castaway_CayDCL itineraries for early 2015 include both Bahamian and Caribbean cruises, with the options to enjoy three-, four-, and seven-night sailings from Port Canaveral and four- and five-night trips from Miami. Each itinerary will include a stop at Castaway Cay, the Disney’s private island for DCL guests. It will be the second year in a row that Disney Cruise Line will have its entire fleet spend most of the season sailing Caribbean and Bahamian cruises from Florida.

Disney Dream will have three- and four-night voyages available to the Bahamas: Nassau and Castaway Cay. Disney Fantasy, the Dream’s sister ship, will offer seven-night trips to the Caribbean: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Costa Maya, Mexico; Cozumel, Mexico; and Castaway Cay. Disney Magic will also have seven-night trips to the Caribbean available. The Disney Wonder, sister ship to the Magic, will have four- and five-night cruises. Its itinerary for the four-night cruise will be to Castaway Cay; Nassau, Bahamas; the Florida Keys. The five-night itinerary includes Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands and Cozumel, Mexico or Cozumel, Mexico and Castaway Cay.

Disney says fares for three- and four-night cruises out of Port Canaveral in early 2015 will start at $450 and $600 per person, respectively. Fares for seven-night cruises will start at $980. As with any DCL sailing, guests should book as early as possible for the lowest prices. Disney Cruise Line already accepts bookings for early 2015.