AIDA Cruises
Azamara Cruises
Carnival Cruise Lines
Celebrity Cruises
Crystal Cruises
Cunard Line
Hapag-Lloyd Line
Holland America Line
MSC Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line
P&O Cruises/Australia
Princess Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International/UK
Seabourn Cruise Line
SeaDream Yacht Club

 

 

AIDA Cruises

AIDA Cruises Issues New Cruise Brochure
AIDA Cruises has issued its new yearly catalogue AIDAtime 2009/2010 and is now accepting bookings on all AIDA cruises from March 2009 to May 2010. The 179-page catalogue covers cruises in the regions of South-East Asia, North America, the Caribbean, Dubai, the Canaries, the Mediterranean, Western Europe, Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea. The six ships operated by AIDA on 58 routes with 123 dream destinations promise even more variety than before.
Cruises can now be booked for the first time on the AIDAluna, the newest member of the Club Ship fleet. The ship will leave Hamburg on March 22, 2009 for a 14-day maiden voyage to Palma de Mallorca.
The new program also includes cruises to the Land of Smiles. From October 2009 to April 2010, AIDA is offering a fascinating new cruise area in Southeast Asia. The Club Ship AIDAcara will cover four 14-day cruises with magical destinations between Bangkok and Singapore. Two further 14-day transAsian voyages will take passengers to the highlights of the Red Sea and the west coast of India. There are a total of 14 departure dates to choose from.
The AIDAdiva will combine Oriental charm with Indian magic for the first time on two new routes. During a ten-day Christmas cruise and an 11-day New Year's cruise, the AIDAdiva will be extending the Arabian route by also setting course for the Indian
metropolis of Mumbai and the region of Goa.
AIDA offers globetrotters and those taking short holidays a large selection of travel ideas under the new heading of AIDA Specials. The AIDAaura, for example, will be following in the footsteps of the Vikings from Hamburg to Iceland, then Greenland and finally New York on the trans-America route. The AIDA Specials also include cruises across the Atlantic, through the Suez Canal as well as trans-Asian and trans-Caribbean voyages. Experience a lot in a short time: the AIDAcara and AIDAluna will leave for four-day cruises in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea on 11 different departure dates between May and September 2009. Other mini-cruises are available on the AIDAvita and AIDAbella. The Club Ships will travel to the highlights of the Mediterranean a total of 16 times from Palma de Mallorca. 
Another new feature in the AIDA program are wedding arrangements: from March 2008, AIDA will take engaged couples to fantastic destinations and arrange everything for the happiest day of their lives.
Bookings can be made for the AIDA cruises offered in the AIDAtime 2009/2010 catalogue at www.aida.de . For reservations five months or more before the departure date, AIDA will grant an early booking discount of up to €400 per person. Families can also enjoy special savings during the swing seasons when children up to the age of 15 years can travel free as third and fourth persons in the same cabin.

 

Azamara Cruises

Azamara Cruises “Leaps” Into Exotic Europe In 2009
Azamara’s series of seven- to 15-night Europe itineraries in 2009 will visit 91 ports in 36 countries, and depart from five different homeports: Athens, Greece; Barcelona, Spain; Copenhagen, Denmark; Rome and Venice, Italy. Overnight stays will be offered in Barcelona, Edinburgh, Scotland; Florence and Ravenna, Italy, Istanbul, Turkey; St. Petersburg, Russia; and Stockholm, Sweden. Late-night (10 p.m. or after) departures will be offered in 10 ports of call, allowing guests to capture more of the flavor of each locale’s nightlife.        
An enhanced 14-night “Western Europe” itinerary includes a transit up the Thames River and into the heart of London, anchoring overnight within view of the Tower of London and including a new-for-2009 call on Antwerp, Belgium, with a unique downtown berth position and transit along the scenic River Scheldt before a sunset departure for the North Sea.
-- Docking in Zadar, Croatia (where larger ships have to anchor)
-- Rouen, France, just one hour from Paris (as opposed to Le Havre, where larger ships dock, which is two-and-a-half hours from the city)
-- Volos, Greece, where Azamara will offer excursions to the Meteora Monasteries, high atop massive granite rocks (made famous in the film For Your Eyes Only)
-- Amalfi, Italy, near the postcard-perfect Sorrento, Positano and Isle of Capri
-- A docking in La Spezia, Italy, where larger ships have to anchor
-- Dartmouth, United Kingdom, inaccessible to larger ships.
A series of four consecutive seven-night Mediterranean cruises, which, for travelers interested in pairing itineraries back-to-back, will present no repeat ports of call.
-- A new “Iceland and Norwegian Fjords” voyage roundtrip from Copenhagen, Denmark, featuring three Icelandic ports. The sailing also includes calls on Scotland’s Shetland Islands, Denmark’s Faroe Islands, which received National Geographic Traveler’s top score among islands in Europe in its November/December 2007 issue, and Scotland’s famed Shetland Islands.
-- A continuation of Azamara’s successful 2008 Baltic itineraries from Copenhagen, with an extended, three-day stay in St. Petersburg, Russia, allowing guests ample time to visit the Hermitage or take an overnight shore excursion to Moscow.
-- A 15-night Holy Land itinerary from Athens to Rome featuring 11 cities, including an overnight stay in Istanbul, Turkey.
-- An enhanced Best of Italy itinerary with overnight stays in Venice and Sorrento, as well as in Ravenna, giving guests the opportunity to visit Florence by train to experience one of the world’s oldest republics, the independent state of San Marino; the Ferrari and Lamborghini factories; or the sixth-century church of Chiesa di San Vitale, noted on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and famed for its collection of Byzantine mosaics.
-- Three 14-night Ancient Empires cruises departing from Rome or Athens, calling on five different Turkish ports as well as various ports in Greece, Cyprus and Egypt.
-- A ten-night Eastern Mediterranean and Adriatic Coast voyage with only one sea day and calls in Slovenia, Albania, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, and Italy.
The new lineup will open for sale on April 2, 2008, allowing travel agents time to become familiar with the widely varied new sailings. Cruise enthusiasts are encouraged to call their travel agent or visit www.azamaracruises.com for more information.

 

Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Offering All-Inclusive Cruise/Air To Europe Starting At $2,399 PP
For those seeking a more affordable way to see Europe this summer, Carnival Cruise Lines is offering special cruise/air packages for its 12-day Grand Mediterranean and Mediterranean, Greece & Turkey cruises aboard the 2,974-passenger Carnival Freedom, with rates starting at $2,399 per person. The special rates are available in conjunction with nearly 40 different North American gateway cities and eight different Grand Mediterranean and Mediterranean, Greece & Turkey voyages departing June through August.  Both itineraries operate round-trip from Rome (Civitavecchia). 
The special cruise/air packages are available in conjunction with Carnival Freedom’s 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruises departing June 3 and 27, July 9 and 21 and Aug. 2 and 26, 2008.  These voyages visit seven ports: Naples, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Venice (two-day call), Italy; Messina, Sicily; Barcelona, Spain; Cannes, France; and Livorno, Italy. On these cruises, guests can visit Capri, Taormina, Monte Carlo, Florence and Pisa, home to centuries-old landmarks and celebrated museums.  The two-day Venice call offers myriad opportunities to view that city’s stunning architecture and visit magnificent museums and cathedrals.  
Cruise/air packages are also available in conjunction with Carnival Freedom’s 12-day Mediterranean, Greece & Turkey voyages departing June 15 and Aug. 14.  These voyages feature eight ports: Naples, Italy; Marmaris, Turkey; Izmir (Ephesus) and Istanbul, Turkey; scenic cruising of the Dardanelles; Athens (Piraeus) and Katakolon, Greece; and Livorno, Italy; and an overnight call in Rome (Civitavecchia). 
Highlights include Greece’s legendary Acropolis and the ancient settlements of Olympia, Priere, Didyma, and Miletus. Guests can also visit Istanbul’s fabled Blue Mosque, and tour the Coliseum or Vatican City during the overnight call in Civitavecchia.
For additional information and reservations, call 1-800-327-9501 (individual) or 1-800-327-5782 (groups) or visit the line's travel agent Internet portal, www.bookccl.com.

New 7-Day Eastern Caribbean Itinerary For Carnival Conquest's 2009/10 Routes
Carnival Cruise Lines' 2,974- passenger Carnival Conquest will offer a new seven-day itinerary from Galveston, Texas, that will include port calls to Key West, Florida, and Freeport and Nassau, The Bahamas. The new weeklong cruise option will be offered approximately once a month from February 2009 through April 2010 and will complement the ship's existing Western Caribbean cruise schedule featuring stops at Montego Bay, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico.
For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit http://www.carnival.com.

Second Elvis Cruise On Carnival Fantasy From New Orleans In August 2008
Following the tremendous success of the inaugural Elvis Cruise last year, Carnival Cruise Lines and St. Louis, Mo.-based The Elvis Cruise, LLC, will offer a second Elvis Cruise.  This year, it will be a four-day voyage aboard the Carnival Fantasy in August 2008. 
The Elvis Cruise will sail round-trip New Orleans and visit Cozumel, Mexico, departing Thursday, August 28, and returning Monday, September 1, 2008.
The one-of-a-kind voyage will be hosted by Jerry Schilling, longtime friend and confidante of the late Elvis Presley, and author of the book, Me and a Guy Named Elvis.  Entertainment during the cruise will include live shows from artists who performed with Elvis and have been recognized for continuing his musical legacy, including the TCB Band, the Imperials, the Dempseys, Ronnie McDowell, Terry Mike Jeffrey & Band, Andy Childs, Ruby Wilson and others.
Reservations are currently being accepted for the upcoming “Elvis Cruise” aboard Carnival Fantasy. Prices begin at $699 per person based on double occupancy and include all “Elvis Cruise” activities.  Pre- and post-cruise New Orleans land stays are also available. 
For additional information or to book, call The Elvis Cruise, LLC at 1-800-704-3034 or visit www.theelviscruise.com.

Carnival & Whodunit Productions Team Up For Mystery Cruises in 2008-2009
Carnival Cruise Lines, the world's largest cruise operator, and Whodunit Productions, the leading organizer of mystery cruises at sea, have teamed up for a series of Whodunit Cruises aboard the 2,052-passenger Carnival Paradise from Long Beach, California in 2008 and 2009. Eight different three-day Mystery Cruises will be offered, the first of which will depart, appropriately enough, on Halloween, October 31, 2008. Other departure dates include January 9, February 13, March 13, May 1, July 17, October 30, and December 4, 2009. Whodunit Cruises will encompass a variety of exciting activities taking place throughout the ship’s various public areas, all with the objective of solving the mystery at the end of the voyage.
When participants arrive on board, they are given their own role to play and are encouraged to utilize the traits of their character to find out whodunit. A variety of top-secret clues, everything from notes slipped discreetly under stateroom doors to instructions for various clandestine missions, are provided throughout the cruise. As the clues unravel, participants have to solve the mystery -- before it's too late!
Reservations are currently being accepted for the Whodunit Cruises aboard the Carnival Paradise. Rates start at $348 per person, based on double occupancy (includes all Mystery Cruise activities). Special discount rates for third and fourth guests sailing in the same stateroom, along with round-trip air supplements from a variety of North American gateways, are also available.
For additional information and and reservations, contact Carnival's special Mystery Cruise reservations number toll-free at 1-866-857-7080. Fare code CPMM/FPMM must be requested for individual bookings or CPMG/FPMG for group bookings. Participants must visit whodunitmystery.com after making their booking to register for the various on-board activities.

 

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises Invites Guests to Fall Northeast US Cruises In 2009
Featuring ten unforgettable ports and an overnight stay in Quebec City, Celebrity Cruises' 2009 Canada/New England sailings are a must for cruise enthusiasts who swoon at the sight of autumn foliage. The cruises open for booking today.
Although just three sailings comprise Celebrity's 2009 Canada/New England season, each itinerary offers spectacular views and Celebrity's signature service with style. The first sailing is a 14-night cruise on September 19, followed by a 13-night voyage on October 3, and a 14-night cruise on October 16, all on Celebrity Constellation, roundtrip out of Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey.
All three sailings feature an overnight stay in one of Celebrity's past guests' favorite ports, Quebec City, Quebec. Known for its French heritage, cobbled alleyways, and the scenic St. Charles and St. Lawrence rivers, Quebec City offers Celebrity's guests a host of shore excursions that range from a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride with dinner in the old quarter to a bicycling tour to the cascading Montmorency Falls. Each sailing also includes a full-day visit to Sydney, Nova Scotia, where guests can embrace the local culture through shore excursions such as The Heart of the Island, which takes guests to picturesque Cape Breton Island, highly rated by National Geographic Traveler. The excursion weaves through rugged countryside to the Nova Scotia Highland Village, a 50-acre historical site overlooking the Great Inland Sea, or Bras d'Or Lakes region.
The three voyages also feature calls on Newport, Rhode Island, and Boston, Massachusetts, which Celebrity Constellation hasn't visited since 2007, as well as Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and Portland, Maine, where Celebrity offers a shore excursion showcasing the beauty of White Mountain National Forest and the world's first mountain-climbing cog railway. Website: www.celebritycruises.com .

Celebrity Cruises' Offers Biggest Europe Season Ever In 2009
With its largest European deployment ever slated for 2009, Celebrity Cruises is offering cruises on five ships, including two new vessels--Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox--in a single European season for the first time in the line's history. Joining them are Celebrity Century, which underwent a $55-million makeover in 2006; Celebrity Constellation, built in 2002; and Celebrity Summit, which launched in 2001.
The line will visit 76 ports in 29 countries, five of which are brand-new to Celebrity Cruises. Celebrity's 2009 Europe season includes six homeports, overnight stays in eight different ports, and five unique cruisetour options. Celebrity also will offer nine transatlantic sailings in 2009. The cruises are open for sale.
With six different homeports in Europe for the season, including Amsterdam, Holland; Barcelona, Spain; Harwich and Southampton, England; and Rome and Venice, Italy, Celebrity's ships will sail much of the continent. Itineraries exploring Scandinavia and Russia, the Arctic Circle and North Cape, the Mediterranean, Israel and Egypt, and even transatlantic sailings, will offer guests a number of opportunities to get to know Europe. These include overnight, in-port stays that offer travel enthusiasts the opportunity to more thoroughly explore the culture of eight cities: Alexandria, Egypt; Copenhagen, Denmark; Istanbul and Kusadasi, Turkey; Rome, Italy; Stockholm, Sweden; and Venice, Italy.
Celebrity will call on five new ports:
Antwerp, Belgium, located on the River Scheldt, 50 miles from the sea.
Ashdod, Israel's largest port, offering access to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and must-see sites such as Mount Zion, the Tomb of David, the Tomb of Judges and the Dead Sea.
Haifa, Israel's third-largest city, nestled in a broad natural bay between the Mediterranean Sea and Carmel Mountain.
La Spezia, Italy, one of Italy's major harbors, located at the head of La Spezia Gulf between Genoa and Pisa on the Ligurian Sea, known for its numerous churches, museums, the Castle of San Giorgio, public gardens and Art Nouveau-style villas.
Portofino, Italy, the famed town in the province of Genoa on the Italian Riviera, considered to be among the most beautiful Mediterranean ports.
-- Celebrity Century will offer seven-night Western Mediterranean sailings roundtrip out of Barcelona from September 19-November 21. Celebrity's European itineraries have traditionally lasted 10 nights or longer, and this shorter offering will give guests who may not have enough vacation time for a longer sailing, the opportunity to enjoy Celebrity's Europe in a shorter format.
Celebrity Century will offer a 13-night Best of Europe sailing September 6, that begins with an overnight stay in Amsterdam and the line's first call on Antwerp, Belgium.
-- From August 18 through October 23, Celebrity Equinox will sail 13- and 14-night Ancient Empires itineraries out of Rome, featuring calls on Ashdod and Haifa, Israel, an overnight stay in Alexandria, Egypt, and ports throughout Greece, Turkey, and Italy.
Celebrity Century has increased the number of Scandinavia and Russia cruises roundtrip out of Amsterdam, with nine of these itineraries scheduled between May and August 2009 (in 2008, Celebrity Century will sail four Scandinavia and Russia itineraries). These voyages feature an overnight stay in St. Petersburg, Russia, and calls in Germany, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, and Denmark.
Celebrity Century's 12-night Arctic Circle and North Cape itinerary, offered June 26 and July 8 roundtrip out of Amsterdam, features calls on seven Norwegian ports, including the breathtaking Geiranger, which the line hasn't visited since 2006, back by popular demand.
-- Beginning May 4, Celebrity Solstice will sail ten- and 11-night Eastern Mediterranean itineraries roundtrip out of Rome, calling on ports throughout Greece, Turkey, and Italy. The 11-night sailings include overnight stays in Istanbul, Turkey.
-- Celebrity Constellation's 14-night transatlantic sailing from Harwich on September 5 will feature a stop in Reykjavik, Iceland, a country named by National Geographic magazine as one of the world's top destinations. This will be the first time Celebrity has called on an Icelandic port since 2004; the voyage, which ends in Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey, also features stops in France, Ireland, Scotland, Newfoundland, and New Brunswick.
-- Beginning May 10, Celebrity Summit will alternate 12- or 14-night Classical Mediterranean and Mediterranean Legacies sailings between Venice and Barcelona, calling on ports in France, Italy, Greece, Croatia and Turkey, collectively.
In 2009, Celebrity offers a variety of options to guests who wish to make the most of their time in Europe through cruisetours, a combined cruise and pre-voyage multi-night land journey package. Cruisetours are available for guests sailing on the following ships:
Celebrity Century and Celebrity Summit out of Barcelona (Mediterranean sailings)
Celebrity Equinox and Celebrity Solstice out of Rome (Mediterranean sailings)
Celebrity Summit out of Venice (Mediterranean sailings)
Celebrity Equinox out of Southampton (Mediterranean sailings)
Celebrity Constellation out of Harwich (Northern Europe sailings)
Mediterranean cruisetours include the following:
New in 2009, a five-night Venice, Florence and Rome package featuring two nights in Venice, one night in Florence and two nights in Rome -- a popular highlights of Italy tour that gives guests a true Italian experience.
The three-night Italian Lakes, Verona, and Venice cruisetour, which includes two nights in Lago Maggiore's Stresa, one night in Verona, and touring in Venice prior to boarding the ship. Guests on this cruisetour enjoy a lake tour to the Borromean islands as well as the Shakespearean city of Verona.
A four-night Madrid and Barcelona cruisetour, offering two nights in Madrid, two nights in Barcelona, city tours in both locations, a visit to the ancient city of Toledo, and enough free time to experience the true Spanish flair of these iconic cities.
Northern Europe cruisetours include the following:
A four-night Paris and London package, featuring two nights in each city and visits to major attractions such as Notre Dame and the Tower of London.
A three-night Brussels and Amsterdam cruisetour, with one night in Brussels, two nights in Amsterdam, a visit to the gothic city of Bruges and a private canal cruise through the Amsterdam waterways.
To see Celebrity's full European schedule for 2009, visit www.celebritycruises.com.

 

Three Celebrity Cruises Ships To Visit Alaska’s Largest Glacier In 2009
Hubbard Glacier is the reigning beauty in Alaska. Guests on all three Celebrity ships that will sail in the region in 2009 will have the opportunity to gaze at the glacier, which is the only advancing glacier in Alaska. Hubbard Glacier is but one of countless must-see sights in the region, and much of Alaska’s coastal magnificence is featured in Celebrity’s 2009 season there. Unique cruisetours will afford guests the opportunity to experience inland Alaska, the Canadian Rockies, and Whistler, British Columbia. Celebrity Cruises’ 2009 Alaska sailings opened for sale today.
Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Mercury, and Celebrity Millennium will sail Alaska in 2009, from a total of five ports. The season’s cruise highlights include the following:
Celebrity is offering the industry’s first roundtrip Alaska cruise out of Los Angeles, with a 14-night roundtrip Ultimate Alaska sailing on Celebrity Mercury. The voyage includes visits to five Alaska ports as well as Seattle, Washington and Victoria, British Columbia, on April 27. Immediately following that cruise, the ship will sail a 13-night Ultimate Alaska voyage from Los Angeles to Vancouver, also visiting five Alaska ports, among others.
Celebrity Millennium will sail the line’s first ten-night roundtrip-from-Vancouver sailing with an Ultimate Alaska voyage on September 18, visiting six Alaska ports and one Canadian port.
At the core of Celebrity’s 2009 Alaska season is a series of seven-night sailings between May and September that include stunning views of Hubbard Glacier, with the itineraries varying between the three ships.
Celebrity Infinity will depart Fridays roundtrip from Seattle, visiting Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska, and Victoria, British Columbia. Nearly all of these sailings also feature a call at Icy Strait Point, giving guests the opportunity to experience Alaska’s only wilderness port. Adjacent to the largest Tlingit Indian settlement and home to the historic salmon cannery and carefully restored museum, Icy Strait Point offers numerous shore excursions, including flightseeing, whale watching, sport fishing, biking, kayaking, and rides on the world’s longest zip line, which measures 5,330 feet in length and includes a 1,300-foot vertical drop.
Celebrity Mercury will depart Sundays roundtrip from Vancouver, calling at Sitka, Juneau and Ketchikan, and cruising the famed Inside Passage, one of National Geographic Traveler’s highly rated destinations.
In Juneau, the Taku Glacier Lodge Flight and Feast excursion lets guests board a floatplane and enjoy 50 minutes of flightseeing over five glaciers before landing at the historic Taku Lodge for a King salmon feast.
Celebrity Millennium will cruise between Seward, Alaska and Vancouver, British Columbia, departing on Fridays, calling at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, and cruising the Inside Passage. In Ketchikan, guests can taste local seafood in an intimate setting with the Alaskan Chef’s Table excursion.
Celebrity Mercury will reprise its popular 2007 and 2008 wine cruise with an 11-night sailing from Vancouver to San Diego, California on October 12, 2009. Celebrity Mercury will continue to alternate between three- and four-night Pacific Northwest sailings out of Seattle in September and October, with calls at Nanaimo and Victoria, British Columbia.
In Victoria, the Butchart Gardens, Wine and Chocolate shore excursion gives guests an introduction to the city’s charms, including the renowned Butchart Gardens and a unique wine-and-chocolate-pairing experience at a local winery.
In 2009, Celebrity is increasing its cruisetour offerings, offering a total of 21 Alaska cruisetours to guests sailing seven-night voyages on Celebrity Millennium out of Seward and Vancouver. In 2009, these offerings include a new seven-night post-cruise tour through Seward, Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali National Park and Fairbanks, Alaska.
Three Canadian cruisetour journeys (two Canadian Rockies and one Whistler) are available to guests sailing seven-night voyages on Celebrity Mercury out of Vancouver.
A five-night Canadian Rockies package featuring rail travel on Rocky Mountaineers’ RedLeaf will visit Calgary, Banff and Vancouver. A three-night Whistler package features rail travel on Rocky Mountaineers’ Whistler Mountaineer Coast Classic and visits the 2010 Winter Olympics sites of Vancouver and Whistler.
To learn more about Celebrity’s 2009 Alaska and Pacific Northwest cruises and cruisetours, visit www.celebritycruises.com.

 

Crystal Cruises

2009 Cruise Guide Highlights 61 Itineraries To 185 Destinations 
Luxury cruise specialist Crystal Cruises has published its 2009 Cruise Guide, the line's first publication of next year's entire fleet-wide schedule, featuring new itineraries, new ports of call and the World Cruise.  A preview to the 150+-page Crystal Cruises Worldwide Atlas available in May, the 21-page, full color brochure lists the 61 worldwide cruises, ports and fares for Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity. 
Color-coded by destination, the Cruise Guide provides a first-look at Crystal's comprehensive 2009 roster of journeys, ranging from seven-day voyages on both ships to the celebrated 106-day World Cruise aboard the 1,080-guest Crystal Serenity.
New for 2009 will be a fall cruise to Israel and Egypt, Asia itineraries on both Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity and a return to the Amazon for the first time in three years.  Most of the cruises feature at least one overnight stay in port, including two voyages with overnight stays in Dubai, and several itineraries offering double overnights in St. Petersburg.  In addition to attractions like Shanghai, Bordeaux, Copenhagen and Montréal, the line has increased its maiden calls with uncovered, exotic gems like Kotor, Montenegro; Lipari, Italy; Patmos, Greece; Sinop, Turkey; Alesund, Norway and Kiel, Germany.
For more information, Crystal reservations, and to request a complimentary copy of the 2009 Cruise Guide, please contact a travel agent or call 888-799-4625 or visit www.crystalcruises.com

New Adventures Spice Up Mediterranean Wine And Food Cruise
From sampling fresh oysters from the famed Ston oyster beds in Dubrovnik, to private cooking instruction in the South of France, Crystal guests will savor 14 carefully crafted culinary excursions during Crystal Serenity's Wine and Food Festival cruise this summer.  A delicious tour of coastal France, Italy, Spain, Greece and Croatia, the voyage maneuvers through the region known for its bountiful delicacies.  Highlighting the onboard experience with cooking demonstrations and a chef's dinner is world-renowned Italian chef Gualtiero Marchesi, the first chef in Italy to be awarded three coveted Michelin Stars.  Master Sommelier Robert Bath and wine educator Philip di Belardino will be aboard for wine tasting and further wine education.
The cruise travels from Monte Carlo to Venice, stopping in seven of the nine ports along the way for farmhouse visits in the Roman and Tuscan countryside, tapas tours and lessons in traditional Spanish cooking in Barcelona, and other wine and food-themed Crystal Adventures that allow guests to immerse themselves in the rich flavors and the culinary heritage specific to each region.
Wine tasting in four countries and multi-course meals in spectacular settings such as the Isle of Capri and Dubrovnik's ancient sea port round out a list of extraordinary culinary shore tours, including six brand new options that allow guests to:
* New Explore the underground Codorniu Cava Cellars and visit Montserrat and its famous Benedictine monastery.
* New Travel to the Tuscan village of Monte Carlo to taste local wines, cheeses and extra-virgin olive oils.
* New Join a cooking class at a scenic country farm and prepare traditional Roman dishes including fresh fettuccini.
* New Visit a farmhouse to see how mozzarella and Limoncello are made and lunch at a deluxe Relais hotel.
* New Sample and learn about the cultivation of Croatia's world-famous Ston oysters.
* New Sample Umbrian wines in Orvieto's regional wine house in the underground passages of a former convent.
* Signature Collection Prepare and sample Italian cuisine during a hands-on cooking lesson in Florence.
Crystal Serenity's 12-day wine and food festival voyage, July 31 - August 12, 2008, begins with a shipboard overnight in Monte Carlo and features calls in Marseille, France; Barcelona, Spain; Florence/Livorno, Rome/Civitavecchia, and Sorrento, Italy; Corfu, Greece; and Dubrovnik, Croatia; before concluding in Venice.  Fares begin at $5,166, per person, double occupancy, depending on suite selected.
For additional information and Crystal reservations, please contact a travel agent or call 888-799-4625. Website: www.crystalcruises.com

Luxury Goes Extreme With Fast Cars, Private Yachts And Helicopters
Crystal Cruises is raising its own shore-side bar with lavish, over-the-top Crystal Adventures in Europe.  New "extreme luxury" tours, designed for a discerning few, boast European sports cars, helicopters and private yachts to explore European destinations in extravagantly different ways. Crystal guests can maneuver Monaco in a Maserati, motor through Umbria in a Ferrari or have a pro do one's driving at the Porsche factory racetrack.  Fly to Florence, soar over the Cote d'Azur or navigate Greek islands in a private 50-foot yacht.   
The new tours are priced from close to $1,000, per person, to as much as $19,500, per couple, for the ultimate Ferrari plus five-star spa fling in Italy.  Available with most Crystal Serenity Mediterranean itineraries from May to October, the "extreme luxury" tours were not designed to amass as many travelers as possible, but rather to offer truly luxurious, singular travel experiences.
For additional information and Crystal reservations, visit www.crystalcruises.com.
      

New 10-Day Crystal Land Tour Creates 32-Day Vacation Experience
As a result of guest demand, Crystal Cruises has crafted an unusual ten-day Portugal/Spain overland tour in connection with Crystal Serenity's October Mediterranean/Canary islands cruise and November Transatlantic crossing.  The overland program is designed to sate its guests' interests in longer Crystal cruise and land experiences - and appeal to those who want to reduce their air travel.
This year, Crystal Serenity's annual, scheduled dry dock left a 10-day gap between the last Mediterranean sailing of the season and the transatlantic itinerary to Miami.  The innovative overland tour begins as soon as guests disembark from Crystal Symphony's 12-day Barcelona-Lisbon itinerary on November 11 and concludes on November 21 when travelers re-embark the ship in Lisbon to sail the 10-day Big Band transatlantic cruise to Miami. 
The land program, which includes stays in five-star hotels and resorts, highlights:
* Lisbon's Belem district, a World Heritage site founded in the 19th century
* The wild beauty of Portugal's Arrabida Park and the surrounding fishing villages of Seimbra and Setubal
* Portugal's walled town of Obidos; Batahla, with its famed World Heritage site monastery; and Fatima, renowned as Christian pilgrimage site
* Bilbao, the largest city in Spain's Basque country
* Santander, with beautiful views of the sea; and Santillana del Mer, one of the best preserved towns in Spain, dating back to the 9th century
The combination of the two cruises with the Portugal/Spain land program enables travelers to enjoy three distinctive vacation segments that vary in pace and style.  The port-intensive itinerary from Barcelona to Lisbon features ports in Spain, Morocco, the Canary Islands and Portugal, while the land tour allows guests to thoroughly investigate still more destinations in the two countries.  Finally, the transatlantic Lisbon-Miami itinerary combines relaxing and stimulating days at sea mixed with calls in the Azores, Ponta Delgada and Turks & Caicos.  In the evening, guests can dance the night away on this Big Band-themed itinerary.  Crystal guests can also celebrate Thanksgiving with a lavish multi-course feast.
Travelers can also opt to begin their Crystal vacation with the 10-day Spain/Portugal land program, followed by the transatlantic cruise.  Or begin with the Canary Islands cruise, followed by the 10-day land program.
The ten-day Spain/Portugal land program is priced at $10,999, per person, double occupancy.  Crystal Serenity's 12-day Canary Islands cruise starts at $4,445, while the ten-day transatlantic starts at $3,145. Website: www.crystalcruises.com

 

Cunard Line

QE2's Farewell Season Marked by Poignant Final Calls 
As Cunard Line's famed QE2 continues her farewell season - the iconic ship's 40th year since her maiden voyage - her final year with the fleet will be highlighted by a series of poignant voyages, including three calls in favorite North American ports that are expected to draw an outpouring of well-wishers.  Widely considered the most famous ship in the world, QE2 has logged more than 5.6 million nautical miles (equivalent to traveling to the moon and back 13 times), carrying over 2.5 million passengers.  The regal ship will complete her service for Cunard Line in November 2008 as the company's longest-serving liner.
Following her 26th and final World Cruise, which departed New York amid unprecedented fanfare on January 13, 2008, QE2 will embark on a series of 19 voyages, including stops in such quintessential favorites as the Mediterranean, Norway, Portugal and Canada. Her final visits to Los Angeles (March 30), Ft. Lauderdale (April 10) and New York (Oct. 16) will be duly celebrated by Cunarders, with her final New York departure marked by commemorative festivities,  as Cunard's historical North American connection is strongest here. 
There is limited space available on QE2's final voyages.  For more information about QE2 or Cunard Line, contact your travel professional, call 1-800-7-CUNARD or go to www.cunard.com. 
     

 

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Offers Unique Classic Music Cruise This Fall
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ MS Europa is offering guests a world-class 14-day music festival departing Hamburg, Germany on September 14 and ending in Barcelona, Spain on September 28, 2008.  The Ocean Sun Festival is the only classical music festival on the High Seas and will feature internationally-acclaimed classical music stars performing on board, as well as exclusive concerts at historical sites ashore.  Rates start at $7,182 per person/based on double occupancy for an outside cabin for this musical voyage. 
Award-winning artists aboard the cruise will include: Austrian pianist Oleg Maisenberg, 2008 Grammy Winner for Best Chamber Music Performance; celebrated cellist Mischa Maisky; renowned German-Canadian Mozart tenor Michael Schade; the French coloratura soprano Patricia Petibon; German soprano Annette Dasch; Russian-born violinist Alina Pogostkina, a member of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra; and a quintet from the Münchner Philharmoniker (Munich’s symphony orchestra) and many more who will give masterclasses, perform duets, chamber music concerts and public rehearsals.
 In addition to these performances, the cruise will feature exclusive concerts ashore for guests in Hamburg, Lisbon, Cadiz, and a grand finale concert with all the performers in Palma de Mallorca.  For an added dimension to the musical experience, international music critics will offer lectures along the way.
While the concerts are the highlights of this itinerary, guests will also enjoy excursions and stops in the following ports along the musical route: St. Peter Port/Guernsey/Channel Islands, St. Malo/France, Bordeaux/France, Villagarcia/Spain, Lisbon/Portugal, Cadiz/Spain, Palma de Mallorca/Balearic Islands, Formentera/Balearic Islands, Ibiza/Balearic Islands.
For information on additional Hapag-Lloyd Cruises visit, www.hl-cruises.com.

 

Holland America Line

 Holland America Line Offers New Asia Pacific Cruise Itineraries In 2009
Holland America Line will feature a selection of nine unique voyages to the Asia Pacific region in 2009. For the first time next fall, ms Volendam will sail to destinations throughout the Pacific, calling at exotic locales in China, Southeast Asia, Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam and Russia. A convenient new round-trip Hong Kong itinerary is offered and for guests looking to add to their port repertoire, the 2009 Asia Pacific voyages also include four maiden ports of call: Puerto Princesa, Philippines; Otaru, Japan; Sanya, Hainan, China; and Keelung (Taipei), Taiwan.
The enticing itineraries offer a comprehensive exploration of over a dozen of the most popular Pacific Rim nations on cruises from 14- to 19-days that were designed to enable guests to combine cruises for a truly unique and extended experience of up to 66 days. The Explorations Speaker Series provides further opportunities for guests to immerse themselves in the region with lectures focused on select ports of call.
-- For guests wanting a new adventure, Holland America Line offers a round-trip Hong Kong itinerary for the first time. The 14-day journey departs October 26, 2009, and explores the ancient wonders and mysteries of China and Vietnam.  Guests enjoy an overnight stay in Shanghai where shopping abounds and a visit to the tranquil Yuyuan Gardens awaits. A maiden call at Sanya, Hainan, a popular resort area in China, enhances the alluring itinerary.
-- From Singapore to Hong Kong, Volendam is set to explore Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines, offering two itineraries – a 14-day cruise starting April 4 and a 12-day cruise starting November 7, 2009.  Highlights of the new 14-day itinerary include a maiden call at Puerto Princesa in the Philippines, famous for its crocodile farms, underground rivers and dive spots. Named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park features a spectacular limestone karst landscape. An overnight stay in Laem Chabang (Bangkok), Thailand, allows guests plenty of extra time for shopping and exploring the city’s amazing pagodas and temples.
-- Great Wall of China, Forbidden City explored on 14- and 16-day voyages
On Volendam’s 14- and 16-day China, Japan and Korea cruise, there’s plenty of time to explore the palaces and tombs that dot the ancient lands, take in the tranquility of the temples and gardens and sample the unique flavors of Asian cuisine. The itinerary offers two overnight stays in China to ensure that guests are able to explore the bustling city of Shanghai with an abundance of shopping and historical sightseeing opportunities, and Xingang (Beijing) with optional shore excursions to the Forbidden City, Ming Tombs and the Great Wall of China. Volendam departs on this 14-day itinerary on April 18, 2009 and 16-day itinerary on October 10, 2009.
-- Guests wanting a cruise with amazing scenery and diverse ports need only join Volendam for its Japan, Eastern Russia and Alaska itinerary. On the cruises between Kobe (Osaka), Japan; and Vancouver, the ship will explore Petropavlovsk — known as Russia’s Far East — with it’s scores of volcanoes, as well as the scenic Kurill Islands off the coast of Russia and Alaska’s Aleutian Islands and Inside Passage.
An overnight stay in Yokohama (Tokyo), Japan, allows guests time to experience one of the world’s busiest cities and take in the Senso-ji and Kannon Temples. Guests on this voyage are in for a double treat: crossing the International Date Line and visiting the maiden port of Otaru, Japan. Otaru is located on Hokkaido Island and is one of Japan’s leading tourist destinations.
The 19-day cruise — which actually is 18 calendar days in length due to the crossing of the international dateline — departs May 2, 2009, and sails from Kobe (Osaka) to Vancouver. The 16-day cruise in the reverse direction departs Vancouver on Sept. 23, 2009 or guests can board the 15-day version sailing from Seattle on Sept. 24, 2009 and take the ship to Kobe (Osaka). This cruise gains one day by crossing the dateline, thus actually making the voyage 17 or 16 calendar days, respectively.  
-- Volendam’s two new Indonesian Islands and the Great Barrier Reef itineraries are firsts of their kind among major cruise lines in the region. Several interesting ports will be visited in Indonesia, including Komodo Island, part of the Komodo National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — as well as Padang Bai, Bali, with an abundance of shopping opportunities, and Semarang, a bustling city teeming with ancient temples. Also on these exclusive cruises, guests enjoy four days cruising the Great Barrier Reef, including two days of daylight cruising through the world’s largest coral reef system. Scenic highlights in the reef include viewing the sunrise while anchored off Lizard Island, an overnight anchorage in the reef near Sherrard Island, cruising Torres Strait and taking in the sunset off Booby Island. The 19-day itinerary from Auckland to Singapore departs March 16, 2009, and the 15-day Singapore to Sydney cruise departs Nov. 21, 2009.
-- Holland America Line also features a further selection of nine adventurous voyages Down Under in 2009 with 14-day cruises and a special 16-day holiday sailing between Australia and New Zealand.
For a 2009 Asia Pacific cruise brochure or for more information, consult a professional travel agent, call 1-800-426-0327 or visit www.hollandamerica.com.

Gray Line of Alaska Adds New Optional Land Tours in 2008 On HAL Cruises
With thousands of travelers choosing to explore Alaska with Gray Line of Alaska each year, the company has added optional tours that appeal to an increasingly broad range of interests ranging from fly-fishing and flight seeing to bear viewing and hiking. Travelers wanting to see Alaska by car, deluxe motor coach or by luxurious full-domed rail can choose from Gray Line’s single and multi-day tours.  A diverse selection of optional tours offers travelers more opportunities to further customize their Alaskan vacation. 
In Fairbanks, a Wildlife Viewing by Air tour takes guests on a scenic 90-minute bush plane flight over wetlands and the Alaska Range looking for moose and Dall sheep. A full refund is offered if no wildlife is spotted. Another new tour in Fairbanks is Evening at the Museum of the North.
In Denali, the Stampede Trail ATV Adventure follows the same path taken by Chris McCandless, as detailed in the recent movie based on Jon Krauker’s book Into the Wild. This self-drive ATV narrated trip includes viewpoints to see Mt. McKinley, opportunities to spot wildlife and a snack and beverage around a campfire. Other new tours in Denali include Fannies Flapjack Feed and three Denali Hiking Excursions.
In Anchorage, travelers can go to where the fish are biting on the One-day Fly in Fishing: Fly or Spin Casting.  Fly by seaplane to a remote lake or stream to fish for salmon, trout or graylings with an experienced guide leading the way. Other new tours here include Knik River Jet Boat Tour, Redoubt Bay Flightseeing & Bear Viewing, Lake Clark National Park Bear Viewing Tour and Chugach Mountain Explorer Flightseeing. In nearby Alyeska, there is a new Twentymile Jet Boat Tour.
Details can be found at www.graylineofalaska.com. The pre- and post-tours are available to all travelers, regardless of which tour or cruise line is used to travel to Alaska.  Arrangements and reservations for Alaska tour packages can be made with your travel agent or via the Gray Line website.
A division of Holland America Line, Inc., Gray Line of Alaska has been the premier tour operator in Alaska for almost 60 years. For 2008, the company offers multiple-day package tours and a la carte touring options for independent travelers, as well as sightseeing tours in Fairbanks, Juneau, Skagway, Anchorage, Denali, Dawson City and Whitehorse, capital of the Yukon.

 

 

 

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises Hosts Another All-Star Season Of Baseball Theme Sailings
MSC Cruises will kick off a new series of baseball greats theme cruises on the December 13 sailing of MSC Lirica. The seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale provides unique insight into the world of Major League Baseball as seen through the eyes of some of the greats of the game. Special guests on this itinerary will be Hall-of-Famer Bob Feller, Dave Campbell, Tommy Davis, Jeff Torborg and Stan Bahnsen.
The baseball theme cruise includes free interactive guest/player activities, including a player-hosted trivia game in which guests can test their baseball knowledge, question-and-answer sessions with the players, a passenger pitching contest and a lively story-telling session in which the players share some candid revelations about some of the “characters” of the game. Players will also host pitching, hitting, fielding and base running clinics.
While in port, guests can take a “seventh-inning stretch” from talking baseball to explore beautiful and exciting ports of call – Key West, Florida; Cozumel, Mexico; Georgetown, Grand Cayman; and Cayo Levantado, Dominican Republic. In addition to experiencing the different cultures and shore excursions, guests can visit the line’s private paradise on Cayo Levantado.
Cruise-only prices begin at $449 per person, double occupancy for a category 1 interior stateroom. For a limited time, guests can get a complimentary oceanview stateroom by purchasing a category 5 interior stateroom and receiving an upgrade to a category 6 oceanview stateroom from $629 per person, double occupancy 
This special offer, which expires April 30, represents a savings of up to 50% or more off of retail rates. Government fees and taxes are additional, as is a fuel surcharge for the first
For more information about MSC Cruises and its Baseball Greats theme cruises, visit www.msccruisesusa.com or a local travel professional.

Free Oceanview Upgrade On MSC Lirica’s 2008-09 Caribbean Itineraries
The free oceanview upgrade from an interior stateroom has been so popular that MSC Cruises is making the offer available on all of MSC Lirica’s 2008-09 Caribbean itineraries. The free upgrade equals a savings of up to 52 percent off retail prices.
Cruise-only prices for a seven-night Caribbean roundtrip itinerary from Fort Lauderdale begin at $629 per person, while rates for a ten-night Caribbean itinerary begin at $879 per person.  In addition, children ages 17 and younger sail free when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults. All prices are cruise only, per person, double occupancy. Government fees and taxes for all guests are additional, as well as a fuel surcharge for the first and second guests in a stateroom. Prices are subject to availability; certain restrictions apply. Guests who book the Free Oceanview Upgrade promotion need only to place a deposit of $100 per person. Reservations must be made by June 30.
For more information about MSC Cruises and the free oceanview upgrade promotion, contact a local travel professional.

 

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line Announces 2009 Alaska, Bermuda, and Europe Deployment
NCL Corporation (NCL) unveiled its 2009 Alaska, Bermuda and Europe deployment and itineraries in March. Nine Freestyle Cruising ships will give guests the opportunity to explore exotic destinations, from the wilderness of Skagway, to the pink sand of St. George's, to the pyramids of Giza.
NCL will offer the following Alaska itineraries in 2009:
-- Norwegian Pearl -- Seven-day Glacier Bay, roundtrip from Seattle. Ports of call include Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, Alaska and Victoria, British Columbia
Norwegian Pearl sails May 10, 17, 24 and 31; June 7, 14, 21 and 28; July 5, 12, 19 and 26; August 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30; and September 6 and 13
-- Norwegian Star -- Seven-day Sawyer Glacier itinerary, roundtrip from Seattle
Ports of call include Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, Alaska and Prince Rupert, British Columbia. Norwegian Star sails May 9, 16, 23 and 30; June 6, 13, 20 and 27; July 4, 11, 18 and 25; August 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29; and September 5 and 12
-- Norwegian Sun -- Seven-day Sawyer Glacier itinerary, roundtrip from Vancouver. Ports of call include Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, Alaska.
-- Norwegian Sun sails May 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31; June 7, 14, 21 and 28; July 5, 12, 19 and 26; August 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30; and September 6
NCL will offer the following Bermuda itineraries in 2009:
-- Norwegian Dawn -- Seven-day itinerary, roundtrip from New York. Three days in King's Wharf, Bermuda. Norwegian Dawn sails May 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31; June 7, 14, 21 and 28; July 5, 12, 19 and 26; August 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30; and October 4, 11, 18 and 25
Norwegian Majesty
-- Five- and seven-day itineraries, roundtrip from Baltimore -- Calls in St. George's, Bermuda. Norwegian Majesty sails a five-day itinerary August 23 and a seven-day itinerary May 24 and 31; June 7, 14, 21 and 28; July 5, 12, 19 and 26; and August 2, 9 and 16
-- Six- and seven-day itineraries, roundtrip from Charleston -- Calls in St. George's, Bermuda. Norwegian Majesty sails a six-day itinerary May 16 and a seven-day itinerary May 2 and 9.
-- Seven-day itinerary, roundtrip from Philadelphia -- Calls in St. George's, Bermuda.
Norwegian Majesty sails September 26 and October 3, 10, 17 and 24.
-- Norwegian Spirit -- Seven-day itinerary, roundtrip from Boston. Three days in King's Wharf, Bermuda. Norwegian Spirit sails May 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29; June 5, 12, 19 and 26; July 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31; August 7, 14, 21 and 28; and September 4, 11 and 18
Beginning March 30, 2008, NCL will deploy a ship year-round in Europe, a first in the company's 41-year history. The 2,400-passenger Norwegian Jade will remain in Europe through spring of 2010.
NCL will offer the following Europe itineraries in 2009 and 2010:
-- Norwegian Gem -- Seven-day Western Mediterranean itinerary, roundtrip from Barcelona. Ports of call include Valletta, Malta; Naples, Rome ( Civitavecchia) and Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy; and Cannes or Nice (Villefranche), France* In 2009, Norwegian Gem sails May 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31; June 7, 14, 21 and 28; July 5, 12, 19 and 26; August 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30; September 6, 13, 20 and 27; October 4, 11, 18 and 25; and November 1, 8, 15 and 22.
* May 10 and August 30 sailings call in Nice (Villefranche), France.
-- Norwegian Jewel -- 12-day Baltic Capitals, roundtrip from London ( Dover). Ports of call include Copenhagen, Denmark; Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany; Tallinn, Estonia; St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; and Stockholm, Sweden. In 2009, Norwegian Jewel sails April 28; May 10 and 22; June 3, 15 and 27; July 9 and 21; August 2, 14 and 26; and September 7.
-- Norwegian Jade -- Nine-day Canary Islands and Morocco, roundtrip from Barcelona.
Ports of call include Casablanca and Agadir, Morocco; Las Palmas, Canary Islands; Funchal, Madeira; and Granada ( Malaga), Spain. In 2009, Norwegian Jade sails January 16; February 6 and 27; and March 20. In 2010, Norwegian Jade sails January 15; February 5 and 26; and March 19. 12-day Eastern Mediterranean roundtrip from Barcelona Ports of call include Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Ephesus (Izmir), Turkey; Alexandria, Egypt; and Valletta, Malta. In 2009, Norwegian Jade sails January 4 and 25; February 15; March 8 and 29; and April 10. In 2010, Norwegian Jade sails January 3 and 24; February 14; and March 7 and 28
21-day Eastern Mediterranean, Canaries and Morocco, roundtrip from Barcelona
Ports of call include Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Athens, Greece; Ephesus (Izmir), Turkey; Alexandria, Egypt; Valletta, Malta; Barcelona and Granada (Malaga) Spain; Casablanca and Agadir, Morocco; Las Palmas, Canary Islands; and Funchal, Madeira
In 2009, Norwegian Jade sails January 4, 16 and 25; February 6, 15 and 27; and March 8 and 20. In 2010, Norwegian Jade sails January 3, 15 and 24; February 5, 14 and 26; and March 7 and 19.
Website: www.ncl.com    

 

Oceania Cruises

Oceania’s 2009 European Collection Offers 56 voyages In Europe
Oceania Cruises’ 2009 European Collection includes 56 voyages to Scandinavia and Russia, the British Isles and Norway, the Western Mediterranean, and the Greek Isles. Sailings range from 10 to 30 days in length, call on more than 80 ports of call, and feature an abundance of overnight port stays.
Highlights of the 2009 European Collection
-- From the Black Sea to the Baltics, there are 56 extraordinary voyages to choose from including 10 distinct Western Mediterranean itineraries.
-- A New 16-day Venice-Rome voyage highlights the scenic splendor and intriguing history of the Dalmatian Coast. Insignia sails from Venice to Rome on May 15 and calls on Koper, Split, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Corfu, Sarande, Valletta, Taormina, Sorrento, Amalfi, Florence, St Tropez, and Cinque Terre.
-- Regatta returns to Scandinavia and Russia and sails to Norway and the British Isles for the very first time. A 12-day Norwegian Fjords and British Isles cruise sails roundtrip from Dover on July 13 and calls on Edinburgh, Invergordon, Alesund, Hellesylt, Belfast, Dublin, Waterford, and Fowey.
-- A new 14-day Egypt and Israel itinerary sails from Barcelona to Istanbul and includes Tunisia, Malta, Greece, Egypt, Israel, Cyprus and Turkey. This voyage departs aboard Nautica on June 27, Insignia on August 9 and Regatta on October 31.
-- Four new Grand Voyages that span all of Europe and South America. Guests may sail from Venice to Stockholm; Barcelona to Venice, showcasing virtually the entire Mediterranean; Istanbul to Miami; and Rome to Rio de Janeiro.
For additional information, to make a reservation, or to order a brochure, please contact your Travel Agent or Oceania Cruises at www.OceaniaCruises.com.

 

P&O Cruises/Australia

Discover the Pearls of Tahiti with P&O Cruises
Savor some of the South Pacific’s most romantic island experiences, on a month-long voyage to Tonga, Samoa and Tahiti on Australia’s first superliner, Pacific Dawn. Sailing from Sydney on June 3, 2008, Pacific Dawn will follow the sun into the tropics to call at 14 ports during her 28-night voyage starting with bustling Noumea in New Caledonia before heading east to visit Tonga’s laidback capital, Nuku’alofa, and watch the humpback whales frolic around Vava’u island.
The stunning natural beauty of the Cook Islands’ capital Rarotonga will captivate passengers before they sail to four of the idyllic islands of Tahiti including Raiatea, revered in Tahitian culture as the birthplace of Polynesian civilization. With an overnight stay in the capital city of Papeete, guests will have the perfect chance to pick up one of the famed black pearls for which Tahiti is renowned and enjoy the buzz of the city’s nightlife, before sailing on to spectacular Moorea and to discover Bora Bora’s bluer-than-blue lagoons. 
A highlight of the voyage will be a day of scenic cruising past Tonga’s magnificent island of Niuafo’Ou. Surrounding a crater lake, the circular isle is better known as Tin Can Island thanks to a local tradition dating back to the 1930’s of collecting mail in a sealed tin can from passing cruise ships and posting it for passengers.
Pacific Dawn will also call in at Pago Pago in American Samoa, the unspoiled Samoan capital of Apia, and the Fijian ports of Savusavu, Levuka, Suva and Dravuni Island on her return journey to Sydney, arriving on July 1, 2008.
The 28-night cruise is priced from $3936* per person in a complete four-berth cabin or $6399* in a complete twin cabin, including all main meals, entertainment and accommodation onboard the sleek 2050-passenger Pacific Dawn.
The 70,000-ton Pacific Dawn was designed by famous Italian architect Renzo Piano and features 11 decks with two swimming pools, a choice of five evening dining areas, nine bars and lounges, a three-storey atrium lobby, “The Dome” entertainment area, a two-storey show lounge, fitness centre and dedicated children’s facilities. 
For more information and bookings contact a licensed travel agent or P&O Cruises on 13 24 69 or visit www.pocruises.com.au.
*Subject to availability, conditions apply.

 

 

Princess Cruises

‘Caribbean Princess’ Returns To New York In Summer 2009
Princess Cruises has announced that Caribbean Princess will return to New York in Summer 2009 for a second season of the line's popular roundtrip sailings to Bermuda and the Caribbean.  The ship will then change directions in late summer to head north for a season of roundtrip Canada & New England sailings.
In total the ship will offer 20 sailings on two primary routes from New York - including a nine-day journey heading to the pink sands of Bermuda and the resort atmosphere of Grand Turk, and a week-long voyage to the rich history and colorful scenery of New England and Canada's eastern provinces.  The ship also offers a special seven-day cruise from San Juan to New York.
Bermuda & Eastern Caribbean from New York -- Caribbean Princess' summer season from New York will feature ten departures between May 24 and August 13, 2009.  The nine-day voyages sail roundtrip on an itinerary that includes Bermuda (West End), San Juan, St. Thomas and Grand Turk.  Caribbean Princess will also offer one seven-day Bermuda & Eastern Caribbean sailing from San Juan to New York, departing May 17, calling at St. Thomas, Antigua and Bermuda.
Roundtrip Canada & New England - Starting in August, the itinerary moves north for an early season of cruises to the best of the northeast, with a roundtrip route offering New York departures with visits to Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor,  Saint John, and Halifax.  Caribbean Princess will offer nine sailings between August 22 and October 17.
Escape Fares for nine-day Caribbean Princess summer Bermuda & Eastern Caribbean cruises begin at $1,099 per person, and Canada & New England sailings begin at $945, based on double occupancy.  A $50 per person Captain's Circle Launch Savings discount is available to Princess past passengers on bookings made by December 31, 2008.  Sailings open for booking on March 21, 2008.
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting www.princess.co.

Princess Announces 2009 Alaska Cruisetour and Cruise Schedules
Princess Cruises will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Alaska's statehood in 2009 with a full season of cruisetour and cruise itineraries showcasing the best of the state, including the incomparable Denali National Park and Glacier Bay National Park.  The schedule features complete land and sea vacations featuring the line's own wilderness lodges and Direct to the Wilderness rail travel combined with sailings through the state's dramatic glacier rimmed Gulf Coast.  Cruises through the scenic Inside Passage as well as an extended two-week Connoisseur voyage will also be offered aboard the company's eight-ship Alaska fleet.
The program features four cruisetour categories, all featuring the state's top attractions - including at least two nights among the wilderness of the Denali area.  In addition, Princess will again take more passengers to the ice-filled wonder of Glacier Bay than any other line, with 81 visits (all Gulf and Connoisseur voyages).
 Throughout the May 9 to September 14 season, the Princess fleet will offer a total of 130 Alaska sailings, with Diamond Princess, Sapphire Princess, Coral Princess, and Island Princess traveling on the line's signature Gulf of Alaska sailings, Golden Princess, Star Princess and Sea Princess sailing the Inside Passage routes from Seattle and San Francisco, while Pacific Princess takes over the line's small ship experience on 14-day Connoisseur voyages to some of the state's less-visited ports.
Alaska Cruisetours
Princess cruisetour packages, featuring a Voyage of the Glaciers cruise and a selection of three- to nine-night land tour options, offer a complete land/sea exploration of "The Great Land."   Travelers can choose the way they want to experience the wilderness with Direct to the Wilderness, Classic Alaska, Explorer and Alaska Escorted cruisetour options.  All Princess Alaska cruisetour options offer at least two nights at either Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge or Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, or a combination of both, ensuring that travelers enjoy more time among the Denali-area wilderness and wildlife they came to see.
Direct to the Wilderness tours feature trains conveniently waiting right at the Whittier cruise ship dock to offer passengers the only same-day luxury rail service between the ship and Denali Park -- the only experience of its kind.  Classic Alaska packages combine two nights in the park area with overnights in Anchorage and Fairbanks, and include Princess' famed rail service.  Explorer tours include visits to Denali and other areas in the state, with stays at Princess' Copper River or Kenai wilderness lodges or adventures in the north into the Arctic Circle.  Alaska Escorted tours offer three itineraries featuring the services of a professional guide and including most meals.
 Princess' Alaska cruisetours include accommodation at the line's five exclusive wilderness lodges, with scenic riverside settings in some of the state's most desirable locations.  Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge and Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge house visitors to the Denali area, while the company's Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge and Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge are set, respectively, among the dramatic beauty of the Kenai Peninsula and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.  The Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge also offers quality accommodations in the heart of Alaska's interior, set on the Chena River.
The 2,670-passenger Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess will sail on the line's famed Gulf of Alaska route between Vancouver and Whittier on 36 week-long voyages departing on Saturdays -- featuring calls at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway with daylight cruising of Glacier Bay and the 16 glaciers of College Fjord.  In addition, the 1,970-passenger Coral Princess and Island Princess will offer 36 Monday departures of the same itinerary.
Alaska Connoisseur Voyages
Princess' small ship cruising experience returns to Alaska for the second year as the intimate 670-passenger Pacific Princess takes over this extended 14-day voyage which now departs from Seattle, featuring the less visited ports of Kodiak, Valdez, Icy Strait Point and Seward.  In addition the ship will also visit Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria, B.C., with daylight cruising of Glacier Bay.   Pacific Princess will sail on nine voyages departing Seattle on Thursdays.
Golden Princess and Star Princess From Seattle
The 2,600-passenger Golden Princess and Star Princess both return to sail on seven-day roundtrip itineraries from Seattle with ports of call in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria, plus treat passengers to dramatic glacier viewing in Tracy Arm and its twin Sawyer Glaciers.  Golden Princess sails on 19 voyages departing on Saturdays while Star Princess offers 19 Sunday departures.
Sea Princess from San Francisco
Sea Princess takes over the line's San Francisco departures, offering 11 sailings from "The City by the Bay" for her 1,990 passengers.  The 10-day roundtrip cruises sail on varying itineraries that include calls at Victoria, Juneau, Ketchikan, and either Skagway, Haines or Icy Strait Point, plus the premiere glacier viewing of Tracy Arm.  
Gulf of Alaska cruises and cruisetours for 2009 are available for reservations on April 9, 2008.  Escape Fares begin at $599 for seven-day voyages, and $1,299 for cruisetours.  A Captain's Circle Launch Savings Discount of up to $300 is available to Princess past passengers who book by September 30, 2008.
Additional information about Princess' Alaska cruises and cruisetours is available by visiting www.princess.com.

 

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises Announces 2009 Global Itineraries
Regent Seven Seas Cruises has launched its full schedule of 2009 voyages.  The 2009 program features an unprecedented two World Cruises, new itineraries across northern Europe and an enhanced version of the sold-out Discovery Collection series of voyages to Africa, the Middle East, India and South America.
Regent is offering a broad selection of sailings to Africa, Antarctica, Alaska, Asia, Australasia, Europe and the Mediterranean, India, the Caribbean and Mexico, the Panama Canal, South America, and Tahiti and the South Pacific in 2009. Aboard the 700-guest, all-suite, all-balcony ships Seven Seas Voyager® and Seven Seas Mariner®, the 490-guest, all-suite Seven Seas Navigator®, the 330-guest luxury vessel Paul Gauguin® and the 198-guest expedition ship Minerva, guests will experience natural and man-made wonders in some of the world’s most sought-after destinations, while they enjoy the luxurious and welcoming environment aboard Regent ships, which feature deluxe accommodations, gourmet cuisine, white-glove service and five-star amenities and facilities, including some of the highest space ratios at sea.
Highlights of the 2009 itineraries for Regent Seven Seas include:
-- Four Grand Voyages. Regent Seven Seas will make cruise history in 2009, becoming the first line in the luxury category to offer two 100-plus day World Cruise journeys in the same year. As extended cruise itineraries continue to grow in popularity, these exotic voyages feature fabled ports of call from the Far East to the Middle East and beyond to Asia, Europe, South America, Australia and the South Pacific. On January 12, Seven Seas Voyager will embark on a 116-night Grand Circumnavigation World Cruise to the South Pacific, Orient, Arabia, the Mediterranean and Bermuda, departing from Los Angeles. Seven Seas Mariner will embark on a 121-night Ring of Fire World Cruise on January 26, with visits to ports in South America, French Polynesia, Australia, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Russia and Alaska.
        Based on the popularity of a similar grand voyage offered in 2008, Regent Seven Seas will again offer a Discovery Collection of cruises to some of the world’s most compelling and seldom-visited destinations – Africa, the Middle East, India, Southeast Asia and South America in 2009. This six-continent odyssey was offered in 2008 on Seven Seas Navigator but for 2009 will be replaced by the larger Seven Seas Voyager. Also in 2009, Seven Seas Mariner will embark on a fourth extended sailing, a 102-night Grand Asia Pacific voyage to Alaska, Japan, Russia, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand and French Polynesia. This journey will offer guests opportunities to explore some of the world’s oldest and richest cultures, and encounter stunning natural beauty and wonder, along with the eye-opening sights and sounds of contemporary society in these exotic regions.
-- New extended cruise to Northern Europe. Regent Seven Seas has crafted an exciting new Northern Europe itinerary for 2009 that will transport guests from the exhilarating big cities of the Northeast to quaint New England villages and finally to sweeping landscapes across Iceland and the United Kingdom. Departing from Fort Lauderdale on May 8 aboard Seven Seas Voyager, this 23-day odyssey will journey along the historic Atlantic Seaboard, visiting New York City, Newport, R.I., Boston, Bar Harbor, ME and Halifax, Nova Scotia before embarking on a transatlantic journey to Iceland and the United Kingdom. The voyage is further highlighted by port calls in Scotland, Ireland and the Faroe Islands before ending in Southampton, England on May 31.
The full-year 2009 deployment for Regent Seven Seas is as follows:
-- Seven Seas Voyager will begin the year with a 116-night Circumnavigation World Cruise beginning in Los Angeles on January 12, 2009. Upon completion of the World Cruise in Ft. Lauderdale on May 8, 2009, the ship will sail to Europe via New York, Iceland and the British Isles, ending in Southampton for a summer season in the Baltic.  In September, Seven Seas Voyager will position to the Mediterranean, followed by the Discovery Collection of cruises in the fall.
-- Seven Seas Mariner will start 2009 with a 121-night Ring of Fire World Cruise departing from Ft. Lauderdale on January 26 and ending in Vancouver on May 27.  Seven Seas Mariner will then offer a series of seven-day Gulf of Alaska sailings, after which the ship will head west to the Pacific for its Grand Asia Pacific voyage. The ship will return to Los Angeles in late December and offer a Panama Canal cruise during Christmas and New Year's.
--  Seven Seas Navigator will spend the first four months of 2009 sailing from Fort Lauderdale on a series of Caribbean cruises. Next, Seven Seas Navigator will travel the Mediterranean from May through early November, offering several 10- and 11-night cruises as well as a complement of seven-night cruises featuring ample back-to-back sailing opportunities. The ship will return to Fort Lauderdale in late November and December for a series of Caribbean cruises.
-- Paul Gauguin will continue to sail French Polynesia from Tahiti in 2009, offering seven-night cruises in the Society Islands and a handful of ten-, 11- and 14-night voyages in the region, plus rare opportunities to sail to and from Brisbane, Australia on two 16-night cruises in January.
-- Minerva (formerly Explorer II) will offer two Antarctica voyages in 2009. Setting sail on January 14 to 25 and January 25 to February 8, each voyage begins with a visit to the quaint Falkland Islands village of Port Stanley. Minerva then sails to the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula, followed by a transit of the Drake Passage. Before returning to Ushuaia, Argentina, the ship will cruise along Cape Horn, at the confluence of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The 14-night, January 25 departure adds a call at South Georgia Island, which features large colonies of king penguins, fur and elephant seals.
As with all Regent Seven Seas voyages, fares include all shipboard gratuities and complimentary beverages, including select wines and spirits served throughout the ship. Per-person rates and more information can be found at www.rssc.com.

Explore The Jewels Of The Pacific With 2008 Grand Asia Pacific Voyage
Regent Seven Seas Cruises will offer a memory-making journey to the home of some of the world’s oldest civilizations and cultures during the Grand Asia Pacific Voyage, a 101-night journey featuring calls to 46 ports in 13 countries. Sailing from Vancouver, B.C. on Sept. 10, 2008, the ship follows the Ring of Fire from Alaska across the International Dateline to visit some of the world’s most exotic destinations. The voyage is available as a single journey or in individual segments as follows:
-- Vancouver, B.C. to Seward, Alaska (Sept. 10-18) – An eight-night voyage from Vancouver to Seward through Alaska’s breathtaking Inside Passage, calling at Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Sitka and cruising past inspiring Hubbard Glacier. Per-person fares start at $4,295 and include complimentary Economy Class air, or a $500 air credit.
-- Seward to Osaka (Sept. 18 – Oct. 3) – A 14-night journey across the Bering Sea and International Dateline, including a call in Eastern Russia’s remote Kamchatka Peninsula. The voyage continues through the Kuril Islands archipelago and Sea of Okhotsk to an overnight call in Yokohama, Japan and a visit to Osaka. This segment features six full days at sea, an ideal opportunity for fans of blue water cruising to spend time enjoying the serene and relaxing onboard atmosphere, spacious balcony suites, outstanding cuisine and white-glove service featured aboard Seven Seas Mariner. Per-person fares start at $5,695.
-- Osaka to Hong Kong (Oct. 3 – Oct. 18) – A 15-night cruise to Japan, South Korea and Eastern China travels the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and Formosa Strait and includes overnights in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong as well as a visit to Nagasaki and call to historic Inchon, South Korea. Per-person fares start at $9,795, including complimentary Economy Class air or a $1,500 air credit.
-- Hong Kong to Singapore (Oct. 18 – Nov. 2) – A 15-night sojourn begins with an overnight in Hong Kong before sailing to the Gulf of Tonkin for a week-long exploration of Eastern Vietnam, which includes overnight calls in Hong Gai (for Hanoi) and Ho Chi Minh City. In Thailand, guests will visit Ko Samui before sailing into Laem Chabang (for Bangkok) and finally to Singapore. Per-person fares begin at $9,495, including Economy Class air or a $1,500 air credit.
-- Singapore to Sydney (Nov. 2 – Nov. 19) – A 17-night sailing featuring visits to the exotic Indonesian ports of Bali and Java, plus an overnight in Fremantle, Australia, home to quaint terraced houses, ornate historic buildings and sidewalk cafés. Guests next proceed to Adelaide, known for progressive urban vitality with easygoing Australian charm, followed by historic Albany and Melbourne, Australia’s fashion capital and second-largest city. Per-person fares start at $8,995, including Economy Class air or a $1,500 air credit.
-- Sydney to Auckland (Nov. 19 – Dec. 2) – A 13-night voyage calling at Hobart before cruising the Tasman Sea to the stunning landscapes of New Zealand’s North and South Islands, made famous by Lord of the Rings. Ports of call include Lyttelton, a historic and charming city modeled in English style, and Napier, home to colorful vineyards and orchards and blessed by a sunny climate comparable to California and the Mediterranean. Fares start at $8,695 per person and include complimentary Economy Class air or a $1,500 air credit.
-- Auckland to Los Angeles (Dec. 2 – 20) – A 19-night journey beginning with the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, the country’s finest maritime park with 144 islands, secluded bays and an abundance of marine life. The voyage continues on to lush French Polynesia, including the Marquesas Islands and beautiful Tahiti, followed by six days of peaceful Pacific sailing. In all, this segment features 12 full days at sea, providing blue water cruising fans ample opportunities to spend time enjoying the serene and relaxing onboard atmosphere, spacious balcony suites, outstanding cuisine and white-glove service. Seven Seas Mariner will return to Los Angeles on December 20, 2008. Per-person fares start at $5,595.
Per-person fares for the entire 101-night Grand Asia Pacific Voyage start at $42,595. Cruise fares include all shipboard gratuities; complimentary beverages, including select wines and spirits served throughout the ship; complimentary 24-hour room service; refrigerator replenished daily with soft drinks, beer and bottled water replenished daily; and an in-suite bar setup in Butler suites. As with all Regent Grand Voyages, guests partaking in the entire 101-night voyage receive special savings and gifts, including complimentary First Class roundtrip airfare from 86 North American gateways, and per-suite shipboard credits of between $1,000 and $2,000. Guests sailing individual segments receive shipboard credits depending upon suite category.
Visit www.TheRegentExperience.com or contact a travel agent for details.

 

 

Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean Announces Eight Ships For 2009 Europe Cruise Season
Royal Caribbean International today announced the planned deployment of a record eight ships to the region for the 2009 summer and fall seasons. Vacationers can select from itineraries ranging from four to 14 nights aboard some of the world’s most innovative cruise ships: Independence of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s newest Freedom-class ship; two Voyager-class ships, Navigator of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas; as well as Brilliance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Legend of the Seas, Splendour of the Seas, and Vision of the Seas.
Totaling 70 distinct itineraries and 87 ports of call in 32 countries, Royal Caribbean will offer vacationers unprecedented choices throughout the Mediterranean Sea, Northern and Western Europe and a variety of transatlantic sailings in 2009. Bookings are available immediately for Royal Caribbean’s 2009 Europe cruises and cruisetours aboard all ships except for Vision, which will be opened in April 2008.
Vacationers can choose among twelve convenient European homeports to meet our ships – more than any other cruise line in the industry. In addition, guests can enhance their vacation by combining their cruise with a Royal Caribbean cruisetour and delve into Europe’s popular inland cosmopolitan centers.
Cruisetours complement a Royal Caribbean International vacation in Europe by combining a cruise with land journeys, city tours and hotel stays ranging from three to five nights prior to embarkation. A tour director escorts each group on the itineraries, featuring the must-see landmarks and attractions in Europe’s popular cities, including Paris, London, Madrid, Barcelona, Stresa, Verona, Venice, Florence and Rome. Air and ground transfers, hotel reservations, tours and some meals are inclusive, and guests will have ample time for shopping and independent pursuits.
Royal Caribbean Announces Summer And Fall 2009 Cruises From Northeast US Ports
Royal Caribbean International announced the line’s summer and fall 2009 itineraries sailing from the Northeast, offering more convenient homeports from which to embark on a memorable cruise. Vacationers can choose from one of 17 distinct and exhilarating itineraries to Canada and New England, Bermuda, and the Caribbean on 66 Royal Caribbean sailings from the New York, Boston, Baltimore, and Norfolk metropolitan areas. Bookings for these summer and fall 2009 cruises are open.
Guests on Royal Caribbean’s cruises from the Northeast will sail aboard one of three of the world’s most innovative ships, Explorer of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas and Grandeur of the Seas. Guests can choose among 15 Canada and New England cruises from June through October 2009.
---Explorer of the Seas will offer nine-night round-trip itineraries from Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, NJ, with calls at Sydney and Halifax, Nova Scotia; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and Quebec City, Quebec, a guest favorite and the line’s highest rated port of call. Guests also cruise the Saguenay River, the line’s second-highest rated Canadian port.
-- Jewel of the Seas and Grandeur of the Seas will make maiden calls at Rockland, Maine, as the largest cruise ships to call at the port. In addition to the wide variety of restaurants, galleries and museums, Rockland will turn the city’s main street into a pedestrian mall to welcome guests.
From Boston, Jewel of the Seas will take guests on five- and seven-night round-trip itineraries, while Grandeur of the Seas will offer eight- and nine-night round-trip sailings from the port of Baltimore.
Jewel and Grandeur will call at Canadian ports of St. John, New Brunswick, and Halifax, Nova Scotia, as well as the Maine ports of Portland, Bar Harbor and Rockland.
-- Great Bermudian and Caribbean Escapes
Royal Caribbean will sail to Bermuda and the Caribbean in 2009 with two ships, Explorer of the Seas and Grandeur of the Seas.
From Cape Liberty, Explorer of the Seas will continue to offer alternating five-night Bermuda and nine-night Bermuda and Caribbean itineraries. The nine-night voyage includes a day-visit at Kings Wharf, while the five-night itinerary overnights there, giving guests an opportunity to take in the island’s nightlife.
During April through mid-June, Grandeur of the Seas will offer alternating five-night Bermuda and nine-night Eastern Caribbean round-trip itineraries from Norfolk. The five-night itinerary also features an overnight call at Kings Wharf, and the nine-night sailing makes a call at Labadee, Haiti, Royal Caribbean’s private beach destination. In June, Grandeur repositions to Baltimore, also to offer similar and alternating itineraries through November.

 

Royal Caribbean International/UK

Book Now For Great  Savings On Next Year’s Cruise
Book next year’s cruise today and save up to £150 off the brochure price with Royal Caribbean International.
Try a ten-night Canary Islands & Morocco fly/cruise on board Brilliance of the Seas from as little as £898.00* pp (based on two sharing an inside cabin). Price includes return flights from London Heathrow; transfers and a ten night cruise departing Barcelona (Spain); calling at Malaga (Spain); Lanzarote (Canary Islands); Tenerife (Canary Islands) Casablanca (Morocco) and Seville (Cadiz, Spain) before returning to Barcelona (Spain); meals and entertainment on board the ship; all relevant cruise taxes and fees.
For more information or to book see www.royalcaribbean.co.uk, call 0845 165 8330 or talk to your travel agent.
*Price based on 16th January 2009 departure.

 

 

 

 

A Cruise For All Climates
 From whale watching to glacier trekking, join Royal Caribbean International’s Rhapsody of the Seas as she heads to the icy wilderness of Alaska. A nine- night Alaskan Fjord and Glacier fly/cruise onboard Rhapsody of the Seas starts from only £1,421.50 pp sailing from Seattle, Washington. Price includes return flights from London Heathrow; transfers; one night’s hotel accommodation; seven-night cruise departing Seattle (USA) and calling at Juneau (Alaska), Skagway (Alaska), Tracy Arm Fjord (Alaska) and Prince Rupert (British Columbia) before retuning to Seattle (USA); meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees.
Price is based on June 5, 2008 departure.  For more information or to book see www.royalcaribbean.co.uk, call 0845 165 8330 or visit your travel agent.

Hate the snow?
Leave the ice behind and book yourself a sunshine break in the Mediterranean onboard Royal Caribbean International’s brand new ship, Independence of the Seas, launching in May this year.
A 14-night Italian Mediterranean cruise onboard Independence of the Seas starts from only £1,589.00 pp (based on two sharing an inside stateroom). Price includes cruise departing Southampton (UK) and calling at Gibraltar (UK), Cannes (Monte Carlo/France), Florence (Pisa/Livorno Italy), Rome (Civitavecchia/ Italy), Cagliari (Sardinia/Italy), Seville (Cadiz/Spain), Lisbon (Portugal) and Vigo (Spain) before returning to Southampton (UK); meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Departure available on July 12, 2008.
For more information or to book see www.royalcaribbean.co.uk, call 0845 165 8330 or talk to your travel agent.
 

 

Seabourn Cruise Line

Seabourn Releases Its New 2009-2010 Cruise Program
Luxury cruise line, The Yachts of Seabourn, has expanded its range of luxury cruises with the release of its new 2009-2010 program. New ports now on offer on its three intimate all-suite ships - Seabourn Pride, Spirit and Legend - include St. Raphael, Bandol and Antibes on the French Riviera, Opatija and Split in Croatia, Brindisi, Bari, and Trieste in Italy and Lundy Island and the Isles of Scilly in the United Kingdom.
In all, the 2009-2010 program will visit a total of 220 ports in 66 countries thanks to the mid-2009 debut of the new Seabourn Odyssey, which has significantly increased itinerary options for the cruise line.
Highlights of the new program include:
-- Seven-day itineraries sailing between Civitavecchia (for Rome) and Venice onboard the Seabourn Spirit
-- 11-day voyages onboard Seabourn Pride from Dover to Copenhagen encompassing some unusual British Isles (Lundy Island and the Isles of Scilly) as well as France, Belgium and an overnight in Amsterdam
-- A 74-day circumnavigation of South America in January of 2010 onboard the Seabourn Spirit
Fares on the Florence and Italian Yacht Havens seven-day Seabourn Legend cruise, visiting Monte Carlo, the highlights of Italy and France and departing September 26, 2009, are available from US$4258* per person twin share. The same cruise is also available as one of Seabourn’s popular Sail & Stay packages in 2009, with two nights’ accommodation in both Monte Carlo and Rome and the seven-night cruise priced from US$6596* per person twin share, departing September 24, 2009.
For more information on 2009/2010 cruises aboard The Yachts of Seabourn, www.seabourn.com.            
* Subject to availability. Conditions apply.

 

SeaDream Yacht Club

Seadream Yacht Club Announces 2009 Schedules And Itineraries
SeaDream Yacht Club has published its  schedules and itineraries for 2009. All details from January through December 2009 for SeaDream’s mega yacht cruisers SeaDream I and II, may be found on www.seadream.com.
In Europe from May through October, SeaDream I and II will sail in the Mediterranean, the Adriatic Sea, the Aegean Sea, up into Croatia and even down to Tunisia. Embarkation ports include Barcelona, Seville, Tenerife, Lisbon, Nice, Monte Carlo, Rome, Venice, Athens and Dubrovnik.
In the Caribbean from January through April, the two SeaDream yachts will sail in the British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico’s Virgin Islands, French West Indies, Netherlands Antilles and the Windward and Leeward Islands. Embarkation and debarkation ports include convenient and accessible air gateways---San Juan, St. Thomas, Antigua and Barbados.
SeaDream will also call on the ports of Miami, Palm Beach and Key West in 2009.
New ports for 2009 for SeaDream’s European sailings are: Formentera (Spain); Lipari, St. Margherita, Trieste (Italy): Le Lavandou, Antibes, Port Vendres, Sete, Bandol and Menton (France); Piran (Slovenia); Vis (Croatia); La Goulette, Tunis (Tunisia); Katakolon, Elafonisos, Aigina, Chania, Crete (Greece); Mali, Losinj (Croatia) and Ponta Delgada (the Azores).
New ports in 2009 for SeaDream’s Caribbean sailings are: Dewey, Culebra (Puerto Rico’s Virgin Islands); Honeymoon Beach and Water Island (U.S. Virgin Islands); Cooper Island (British Virgin Islands); Coconut Grove, Nevis and Samana (Dominican Republic).

SeaDream Yacht Club Sets Speakers Program Or November Transatlantic Voyages
SeaDream Yacht Club, operator of the twin, ultra-luxury, mega yacht cruisers SeaDream I and II, will offer guests on its upcoming transatlantic westbound voyages a high- profile speakers’ program that will feature prominent speakers on World Affairs, Astronomy, Maritime History and People Profiling/Character Analysis.
The transatlantic sailings are:
-- SeaDream I, Voyage #1845, Tenerife-Antigua, 11 days, November 1-12. Cost is from $3,099. Price is based on double occupancy of a SeaDream Yacht Club stateroom. Modest government, port, document issuance, fuel surcharge and handling and service fees of $528 per person are extra. Rates are also available for solo travelers occupying a stateroom and for and third persons in a stateroom. Speakers will be Bruce Gronich, a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and later lectured there. Following his Army service he became a professor at University of Texas and taught both physical science and Astronomy; and Alice Weiser, a leading expert on People Profiling and Character Analysis. Weiser has had a lengthy career as a consultant to U.S. Government agencies and Fortune 500 companies.
-- SeaDream II, Voyage #2843, Tenerife-Miami, 11 days, November 13-24. Cost is from $2,999. The same fee and rate stipulations apply. Speakers will be Irving R. Levine---Known widely as one of the most renowned and respected figures in American journalism, Irving Levine who served as an NBC News correspondent for 45 years, pioneering coverage of economic news on TV;  Anthony Nicholas, an acclaimed TV and radio guest, writer and reviewer, who has made a lifetime study of what he terms “The Golden Age of Ocean Travel.” This love affair with maritime history began when he was ten and increased over the years until now when he is one of the world’s leading authorities on this colorful seagoing history and Rafael Vargas, a 30-year career U.S. Army officer, who is a well-known expert of European affairs. He retired as a Colonel after spending 16 years overseas culminating at NATO headquarters in Brussels where he shed his uniform to assume the role of diplomat. As chief of the Situation Center he was responsible for NATO crisis management throughout the world. The Transatlantic The Transatlantic speakers for SeaDream II, Voyage #2843 are:
Those interested in these or other sailings are invited by SeaDream to contact their travel agent. Further information is available from SeaDream---800 (707-4911.