The Port of Los Angeles | Winter Cruise Season 2012

We love our cruise ships!

If it’s winter that means prime-time for cruise calls at the Port of Los Angeles.  Even though Los Angeles is a year round cruise destination, the winter months mark the time when the port welcomes ships that normally make infrequent calls.

Some of the ships that will call on the World Cruise Center at the Port of Los Angeles

• Crystal Symphony, which departs Los Angeles for Hawaii on Dec. 21 will also call again on January 4th embarking on a 13-day journey to the Panama Canal on January 4.
• Cunard Line is set to sail to Hawaii  on December 21 for a 14-day voyage aboard the Queen Victoria. Also scheduled for this ship from LA: a 15-day cruise to Fort Lauderdale via the Panama Canal on Jan. 4; a 14-day voyage to Hawaii on February 14; and a 17-day cruise to New York via the Panama Canal on February 28.
• Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess offers a 7-night sailing adventure to Mexico on December 31, February 18 and 25. The Sapphire Princess also cruises to Hawaii for 14 nights on Dec. 17 and Feb 4. The Golden Princess heads to Hawaii for 14 nights on December 21, January 4 and 18, February 1, 15 and 29.  Coral Princess leaves LA for Fort Lauderdale via the Panama Canal and multiple stops in the Caribbean for 14 nights on December 20, January 17 and February 14.
• Seabourn Odyssey offers several options to the Pacific from a 20-day “Pacific Tradewinds” cruise to exotic French Polynesia to the 60-day “Stars of the Southern Cross” trip to Australia and New Zealand as well as Hawaii. All voyages depart the Port of Los Angeles on January 5, 2012.

Making LA home for the winter

• Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wonder sets sail on a seven-night adventure to the Mexican Riviera almost every Sunday.
• New to the lineup and offering shorter cruises to Baja, Mexico from Carnival Cruise Line is Carnival Inspiration.

San Pedro - Port of Los Angeles Cruise Ship Calendar for 2012

Where would you cruise and be able to see some amazing stonework?

Drawing inspiration from this week’s FriFotos theme, on Twitter, I am in search of cruise destinations where I might find “stone.”

Port-of-call: Los Angeles. Limestone at the Getty Museum

Limestone walls The Getty Museum. Photo by KHueg.

Starting near my homeport of Los Angeles, I start with the stonework at the Getty Museum.

Port-of-call: Aqaba for Petra

Queen Elizabeth will call into Aqaba for Petra – the City of Stone during her 2012 World Voyage #FriFotos pic.twitter.com/Ru8Eal6C via @CunardLine on Twitter

Port-of-call: Loreto, Sea of Cortez cruise

Stone wall in Loreto, Mexico. Holland America Line ship.

To see some more great places that feature “stone,” check out the #FriFotos hashtag today to see some wonderful submissions from other travel enthusiasts.

The Chef’s Table is a unique culinary experience.  The multi-course menu is a specially created chef’s choice, and is not offered anywhere else on the ship.  Foodies have a unique treat: a rare opportunity to enter into the inner sanctum of the ship’s galley by the executive chef for pre-dinner cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by a dinner in the dining room.

On the Sapphire Princess, Cruise Buzz had the opportunity to try out the Chef’s Table.  Our menu was carefully created by Executive Chef, Antonio Constantino.  The multi course gastronomic extravaganza was well balanced and perfectly executed.  The Maitre d’hôtel, Giuseppe Gelmini, was equally amazing with all the front of house details necessary to pull off this event.

 Some of the activities involved in the Chef’s Table are:

 Private meeting with the Maitre d’hotel in the piazza to muster for the dinner.

• A personal escort through the dining room into the galley with a introduction to the executive chef.
• A lesson in hand washing and presentation of chef’s coats to be worn in galley (no open toed shoes allowed.)
• Private galley visit at its most busy time – during dinner.
• A beautiful ice sculpture to commemorate the event.
• A wine lesson from the Sommelier.
• French champagne paired with appetizer.
• Overview of hand-crafted menu by the chef.
• The group will be welcomed to their special table in the dining room by a team dedicated to the group of ten for the evening.
• Each course is accompanied by a detailed explanation of special features, preparation methods, and tasting suggestions.
• Red and white wine, selected by the Maitre d’ and Sommelier  to complement the meal, is included.
• During the dessert course, the chef  rejoins the group to recap the evening’s meal, answer any questions, and share culinary secrets
• Each couple at the Chef’s Table receives a personalized autographed copy of Princess’ best-selling cookbook, Courses, A Culinary Journey
• Guests will also enjoy a complimentary photo taken at the private table with the chef.

The Chef’s Table experience can be reserved by up to 10 passengers on select nights during the sailing, at a cost of $75 per person.

Thankfully Princess Cruises was kind enough to bestow upon me the opportunity to experience the Chef’s Table first hand.  Because I blog about cruising and I sell cruises, I managed to get a complementary seating at the Chef’s Table.  It was a good thing that I made arrangements ahead of time because the Chef’s Table was completely booked before 1:30 pm on embarkation day.  In fact, due to high demand, the Sapphire Princess actually opened up two seatings of the Chef’s Table for a total of 20 people over the course of two days.  Lucky for me they did otherwise I would have been out.  To find out how others managed to get a spot, click here.

Many people in California are starring great cruise values straight in the eye.  As Alaska cruises come to an end, ships will make their way down the coast.  While some ships will head out to open waters destined for exotic locales, some ships will call on Southern California cruise ports like Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Diego.

Southern Califonia cruisers have never had it so good.  With inventory well above the norm, ther cruise deals are abundant.

Princess Cruises $399 specials are still available for 7 night Mexican Riviera cruises.  Royal Caribbean and luxury lines like Oceania, Regent and Crystal are also offering sensational value.

What can you expect? Explore beaches, deserts, mountains and cities. Mexico has it all. Picture yourself on a gorgeous beach watching the sun setting into the Pacific Ocean. That’s the beauty of Mexico. The mysteries of the past and the pleasures of the present come together in one amazing vacation destination. Whether it’s deep-sea fishing, snorkeling or shopping for silver jewelry – you can find it all on the Mexican Riviera.

The Mexican Riviera refers collectively to several cities and resorts lying on the western coast of Mexico. Although there are large distances between these cities, they are often referred to as the Mexican Riviera because to their popularity among visitors.

As Mexico extends south toward Central America, you can travel beyond siestas and fiestas to explore the true Mexico. Trek through jungles and plantations. Or search for whales in the waters of Los Cabos. There’s no end to the adventures you can have in the Mexican Riviera.

 Ports & Cities…

	Cabo San Lucas, Mexico The southern-most tip of the Baja California peninsula, where the warm waters of the Sea of Cortez collide with the wild Pacific, is an area of striking beauty and one of Mexico’s top resort destinations.
	Ensenada, Mexico Just ‘south of the border, down Mexico way’ on the Baja Peninsula lies the flourishing, friendly port of Ensenada, joined to Tijuana by the spectacular tolled Trans-Peninsula Highway, with its breathtaking ocean views.
	Mazatlan, Mexico The city emanates a combination of laid-back seaside charm and affordable luxury, its beaches lined with bars and outdoor cafes and the sky above filled with colourful parasails.
	Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Puerto Vallarta is situated in the Bahia de Banderas, a 14-mile (22km) long bay lined with long stretches of sandy beaches.

Give Cruise Holidays of Mission Viejo  a call and we will answer all your cruise questions 888-203-3012 or email CruiseBuzz at cruise@cruisebuzz.net.