This week in cruise there are YouTube cruise sensations, Twitter trending cruise lines and lazy Americans.
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Hurtigruten have not only manage to 'trend' on Twitter this week, but they have also broken the Guinness World Record for the longest live TV documentary, with their coverage of a voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes. The film shows the ship's 134 hour journey, covering 2,600 km.
Kathryn Beadle, Managing Director of Hurtigruten, said: "Nobody could have imagined just how popular this show proved to be. Our website has seen record numbers of visitors and our social media platforms have been inundated with positive comments."
Here's a five minute trailer of their 134 hour epic.
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Demand in the US for the use of more localised departure ports could lead to more options and better value fly-cruises for British passengers.
With American's deciding that travelling to a world class cruise terminal is too much like hard work, cruise lines are being bullied into using more local terminals in destinations such as Galveston in Texas. From 2012, both Disney Cruise Line and Carnival Cruises will be using the Texan port as a base for ships, offering an alternative departure point for Caribbean cruises.
The advantage to Brits is the cost of flights, with Houston often offering better value than Florida. Carnival Cruises will be working with Texas Tourism to promote the route, along with promoting regional flights into New York, where the Carnival Miracle will be offering year-round sailings. Disney Cruise Line will be promoting cruise and stay packages, including seven-day ranch holidays followed by a cruise onboard the Disney Magic.
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So this week we have seen more diversity to cruising from America and a cruise line benefitting from the viral nature of the internet. Next week? Well anything could happen.
Written by Stephen Adam
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