Smokey Robinson to play Carnival Cruise Lines

By Tom Stieghorst

Singer Smokey Robinson will be one of the new acts to perform on a Carnival Cruise Lines ship next year.

The R&B legend is scheduled for concerts April 21, 22 and 23 as part of Carnival voyages docking in Cozumel.

Carnival last year inaugurated the Carnival Live format in which well-known entertainers play on Carnival ships. The price of the concerts is in addition to the cruise fare but generally lower than a comparable event on land.

Next year, Carnival said it will offer the concerts at a new port, St. Thomas, in addition to Nassau and Cozumel. This year, concerts were also scheduled on Catalina Island near Los Angeles.

The anthem rock band Journey launches the St. Thomas concert series March 18 and 19. Other artists announced for the first half of 2015 include country acts Little Big Town and Rascal Flatts, and rock band Styx.

Carnival said the price range for the 2015 season would be $35 to $60 for general admission and $125 to $250 for VIP tickets, which include seating in the first four rows, an artist meet-and-greet, a souvenir photo with the artist and a commemorative concert pass.

How to upgrade your cruise

We all love getting a great deal, an upgrade or a little VIP treatment. Here are some invaluable insider tips for making your holiday even more special

Book early

“MSC Cruises is keen to reward clients who book early,” says Giles Hawke, Executive Director, MSC. “For 2015 sailings we have rejigged our pricing structure into four distinct sales periods. Bookings made before the end of June this year attract the very best deals – an ‘experience’ upgrade and up to £200 off the published brochure price. We’re also offering some excellent deals on MSC Yacht Club for early bookers. An upgrade from a balcony cabin with Fantastica to an MSC Yacht Club Suite, which includes exclusive areas, butler service, private restaurant and all-inclusive dining and drinks, is available from £650.”

In the rapidly growing river cruise market, planning ahead is essential. Viking River Cruises Managing Director Wendy Atkin-Smith advises, “As a matter of course, our guests book early. River cruising is an early-booking market and so we encourage our guests to plan ahead – offering incentives to do so.”

“If you book early, you can name your cabin, pre-book dining and you’ll be offered extra incentives, such as free onboard spending money,” says Simone Clark from iglu.com. “And with some cruise lines, you can state you’ll accept an automatic upgrade if available.”

Some companies also offer online booking discounts so you can take advantage of add-ons, knowing that you’ll pay less overall.

Top tip

Early booking not only gives you a better choice of stateroom, it may also give you free onboard spend and the potential for a cabin upgrade.