Disney Vacation Club

Disney Vacation Club, There’s lots and lots of fun for all ages at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii. Everyone – adults, teens and kids – can enjoy amazing adventures with one of the greatest pools in Hawaii, the secluded beach and lagoon, guided excursions and activities, delectable dining and enchanting entertainment.

And now Aulani offers a sixth night free plus complimentary breakfast,* when guests book a five-night consecutive stay at the spectacular oceanfront resort with a touch of Disney magic. Now there’s an opportunity to experience even more of the resort’s family activities, world-class entertainment and dynamic water playground.

With this special offer, guests can extend their stay and also enjoy complimentary continental breakfast daily in the resort’s lounge, The ‘Olelo Room. The continental breakfast features a selection of fruits, pastries, coffee and hot teas, plus the opportunity to learn some Hawaiian language in the popular ‘Olelo (“Word”) Room lounge which features wooden sculpture representations of common objects and labels that convey their Hawaiian names.

This Aulani special spring offer is available for purchase now through February 29, 2012. Visit DisneyAulani.com or call toll-free (800) 824-1146 and mention offer code E7D. This offer will be available for stays most nights* from March 1 through March 17, 2012; and April 15 through May 31, 2012.

Set on a beautiful lagoon along the coast of Oahu, Aulani welcomed its first guests on Aug. 29, 2011. The family vacation paradise offers something for everyone in an unforgettable experience combining the beauty and spirit of the Hawaiian islands with the magic of Disney storytelling and guest service.

Each day of their stay, Aulani guests can customize their experience – relaxing on the beach or in the 18,000-square foot Laniwai spa, playing in the pools and snorkeling at Rainbow Reef, or discovering the island on special excursions. Among the unique experiences at Aulani are the Makai Preserve stingray adventure, the Painted Sky teen lounge and spa, and the Menehune Bridge, a water play area full of fun and surprises. Aulani also features two signature restaurants – the oceanfront, full-service ‘AMA ‘AMA and the buffet-style Makahiki – offering foods inspired by Hawaii.

Young guests even have their own kids’ club, Aunty’s Beach House. Here children can explore Hawaiian culture through supervised entertainment, including interactive touch tables, wildlife and nature programs, arts and crafts, Disney movies and traditional Hawaiian games.

Aulani is situated upon 21 acres of oceanfront property in Ko Olina, adjacent to a nine-acre, crystal-blue lagoon and white-sand beach. Ko Olina is 17 miles from Honolulu International Airport and less than an hour from Waikiki Beach. When all phases are complete, Aulani will include 359 traditional hotel rooms and 481 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club villas in two towers, each featuring rooms that offer thrilling views of the ocean, mountains and the magnificent, lush surroundings.

*The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Excludes Resort fees and taxes. Not valid in combination with any other discounts or offers. Offer excludes suites and three-bedroom Grand Villas. Additional per adult charges may apply if more than two (2) adults per room. Offer applied once per reservation and not valid for previously booked rooms. Check for offers for other lengths of stay. Limit two (2) rooms per reservation and subject to room occupancy limitations. Advance reservations required. Subject to restrictions and change without notice. Breakfast entitlements expire upon checkout, and are for guests ages 3 and older in the traveling party.

About Aulani, a Disney Resort & SpaUniquely designed for families and inspired by the wonders and traditions of Hawaii, Aulani is a family paradise with a touch of magic. Aulani offers kids, adults and families Hawaiian vacation experiences with a special magic that only Disney can create. Delightful rooms and spacious Disney Vacation Club villas, a perfect location on a beautiful beachfront lagoon, and renowned Disney service and enchanting entertainment let dreamers of every age savor their time together on Hawaii as never before.

Cruise Ship Stranded

Cruise Ship Stranded, (AFP) – Dozens of sailors stranded for weeks in Canada after their cruise ship was seized over unpaid debts have returned to Russia while the ship is to be sold, a Russian embassy official said Tuesday.

The Russian owner of the Lyubov Orlova is “frantically” looking for a buyer in order to avoid it being auctioned off by Canadian authorities at a cut rate to pay back a 250,000-dollar debt owed to a Canadian company that had chartered it, the official said.

The Lyubov Orlova’s 51 crew were stuck in Saint John’s, Newfoundland since September 25. Thirty-four of them returned home to Russia on Sunday.

Canadian media said the ship was sold to a Norwegian company, but neither the Russian embassy nor the Canadian charter company would confirm it. Regardless, the debts would have to be paid in full before it is released.

A lawyer for charter company Cruise North Expeditions, Isabelle Pillet, said the company had paid the ship’s owner in advance for summer adventure tours of northern Labrador, which did not occur.

The ship’s crew is also claiming four months of unpaid wages in a Canadian court. Those who remained aboard the docked ship stayed to upkeep the vessel.

Stranded Cruise Ship

Stranded Cruise Ship, What began Sunday as a luxurious cruise accommodation of 4,500 people has simply become a flotation device from 952 feet, without air conditioning, hot water or telephone service.

Passengers stranded 200 miles south of San Diego on the coast of Mexico are being towed to shore after the ship lost power on Monday when the engine room caught fire for unknown reasons. No one was injured in the fire. became auxiliary power Monday night to allow a stream of cold water.

A tug towing Mexico has slowly begun Carnival Splendor to Ensenada, Mexico, where 80 buses an escort for Americans across the border. It is likely that two tugs eventually help in the effort.

The cruise departed from Long Beach, in what is supposed to be a seven-day trip. Carnival Splendor place should reach the coast sometime last week. The boat will travel 132 miles nautical less than ideal conditions, with strong winds and waves.

Meanwhile, the crew is to provide passengers with snacks, cold drinks and entertainment. “There are activities for children, quizzes and musical performances and answers provided by our artists,” Carnival spokesman Vance Gulliksen Cruise Lines reportedly told The Union-Tribune.

The cruise has been in contact with the U.S. Coast Guard, which alerted the Navy of Mexico and the U.S. Navy, including aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan to send thousands of kilos of supplies and food purchased by cruise line passengers.

Carnival Splendor restitution to all guests.

Cruise Ship Fire

Cruise Ship Fire, (AFP) – An engine room fire has left a cruise ship carrying nearly 4,500 people stranded with minimal power in the Pacific off the coast of Mexico, the operator said Tuesday.

Tugboats were heading towards the “Carnival Splendor,” some 200 miles (320 kilometers) south of San Diego after the fire early Monday, said Carnival Cruise Lines, adding that passengers had no air conditioning or hot food.

“The ship has been operating on auxiliary generators and engineers have been unable to restore additional power to the vessel,” it said.

“Conditions on board the ship are very challenging and we sincerely apologize for the discomfort and inconvenience our guests are currently enduring,” added company president Gerry Cahill.

The fire erupted in the aft engine room around 6:00 am Monday (1400 GMT), and was extinguished with no injuries to guests or crew — but the ship, carrying 3,299 passengers and 1,167 crew, was left without key services.

“Currently several key hotel systems, including air conditioning, hot food service, and telephones are not available.

“Last night, the ship? S engineers were able to restore toilet service to all cabins and public bathrooms, as well as cold running water. The ship? S crew continues to actively work to restore other services,” it said.

It added that tugs were expected to reach the ship around midday (2000 GMT) on Tuesday to tow it to Ensenada, Mexico “in an effort to get the guests home as quickly as possible.”

The 113,000-ton ship, which first entered service in July 2008, was on a seven-day Mexican Riviera cruise which started Sunday in Long Beach, California.

The US Navy announced that the USS Ronald Reagan had been diverted to help the stricken cruise liner at the request of the US Coast Guard.