Welcome to Ships and Cruises - Special Cruises

AIDA Cruises presents more than 160 dream destinations in its new AIDAtime 2011/2012 catalogue. The annual catalogue contains cruises from April 2011 to April 2012. New items in the program include voyages through the Black Sea and along the coast of the Red Sea.

The new AIDAtime catalogue presents many new dream destinations and tempting cruise ideas on over 200 pages. For example, guests can now explore the Black Sea for the first time, with AIDAaura setting course on a 14-day cruise to the Crimean Peninsula and fascinating cities like Sochi, Odessa and Varna from June to August 2011.

In November 2011 and from March to April 2012,

AIDAblu will embark on a 7-day cruise to view the cultural treasures and underwater paradises of the Red Sea, where visitors will be able to marvel at the Pyramids of Gizeh, the Rock City of Petra and the Valley of the Kings on the Nile. The resort cities of Sharm El-Sheikh and Eilat are ideal for swimming and bathing.

AIDAaura and AIDAluna also offer cruises in the Caribbean. In addition to 14-day cruises, AIDAluna offers additional six-day and eight-day trips, also enabling holidaymakers who do not have so much time to travel to faraway places.

One-week cruises for Southeast Asia are also scheduled in addition to 14-day routes. In November 2011 and February 2012, AIDAdiva will set course for the lands of smiles on a seven-day voyage from Singapore or Bangkok. In addition, AIDAdiva will set off on its 14-day round trip from Singapore between December 2011 and February 2012. The ship will stay in the Port of Singapore overnight to allow guests enough time to discover this vibrant city.

Holidaymakers on the 14-day North American route with AIDAluna can also look forward to a detour into the Caribbean, with visits to Bermuda and the Bahamas via a stopover in New York.

Aida’s newest vessel will premiere in Kiel in April 2011; and will spend the summer season in the Baltic.

With the Early Booker Plus discount, passengers can save and, at the same time, enjoy all the AIDA PREMIUM benefits, such as free choice of cabin. The Early Booker Plus discount is valid for all AIDA PREMIUM cruises in the AIDAtime 2011/2012 catalogue: this applies for bookings up to 31 October 2010 for all cruises up to 30 October 2011, and up to 30 March 2011 for all cruises with a later departure date.

Bookings for the AIDA cruises presented in the AIDAtime 2011/2012 catalogue can be made from 24 February 2010 with your local travel agent, on the Internet at www.aida.de or by contacting the AIDA Service Center at +49-(0)381-202 707 07.

Costa Cruises

Website: www.costa.com/

Costa Cruises Releases 2011 Brochure

The first Costa Cruise ship to make a call to Australia will be in 2012. From December 2011 to April 2012, the 92,600-ton Costa Deliziosa will cruise across the world's five continents and visit Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

The line has also released its 2011 brochure with over 250 destinations and more than 130 different itineraries including the Around the World cruise. Highlights include a new 14-day itinerary in the Far East tailored specifically for Australian cruisers, sailing from Singapore to Thailand and Malaysia. It will sail between December 2010 and April 2011 and can be broken down into two seven-day segments.

The cruise line is also offering for the first time seven-night cruises during the Winter Mediterranean season. It has added Valencia to the itinerary on the Costa Magica, allowing passengers to disembark at the Spanish city and catch the high-speed train to Madrid.

The Costa Magica will also be offering seven-day cruises to Savona, Civitavecchia, Palermo, Tunis, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona and Marseilles.

Another exciting development for Costa in Spring 2011 will be the arrival of its new Concordia -class ship Costa Favolosa. It features a new entertainment area called Club Cavallo Bianco, with a 4D Cinema, PlayStation World, a bar with ice-cream, drinks and popcorn, kids' dance floor, children's game room, and a new Aqua Park water playground for little ones with its own galleon. The Costa Favolosa will leave from Venice on her maiden cruise on July 7, 2011 on a 10-day voyage of discovery to Israel, Greece and Turkey.

Crystal Cruises

Website: www.crystalcruises.com

New Crystal Itinerary Focuses On Spain

Crystal Serenity sails a new route from Rome, calling in Barcelona, home of Gaudí’s masterpieces; Valencia, where classic Spanish paella was first perfected; Málaga, birthplace of Pablo Picasso, and a maiden visit to Almería, known for its expansive coastline and beaches. Late night and overnight calls enable guests to even enjoy Spain’s cultural treasures, outdoor adventures and vivacious nightlife.

Numerous culinary and cultural Crystal Adventures ashore complement exclusive experiences– like a private apartment visit in Gaudí’s famed La Pedrera House – and aerial adventures like helicopter and paragliding experiences.

The 11-day, October 31 voyage also calls in Naples and Sicily, Italy; Valetta, Malta; and Tunis, Tunisia. Among the noted history and world affairs speakers slated for this cruise are former Washington Post bureau chief Thomas Lippmann (also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations) and Dr. Jay Wolff of Florida Gulf Coast University’s Renaissance Academy and a commentator on the History Channel.

With Crystal’s two-for-one promotion, per person, double occupancy, fares start at $5,080, including $1,000 per person ‘All Inclusive – As You Wish’ shipboard credits, and free air transportation from many North American gateways, as well as Business Class air for Penthouse guests.

Dance With The Crystal Stars On Big Band Transatlantic Voyage

Featured on Crystal Serenity’s December 1 Transatlantic Big Band and Ballroom Dance

voyage, Crystal’s That’s Ballroom! Boot Camp allows passengers to

master the steps, grace and nuances of various dance styles. The line is also adding

advanced-level classes in American Rhythm, American Smooth, International Latin

and International Standard for more experienced dancers. Beginning classes

(also complimentary) and private instruction (for a fee) are also available.

Headlined by the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the ocean crossing will feature

more dance classes, Ambassador Hosts for ladies without dance partners,

live music and nightly dancing and performances by championship dancers.

guest lecturers, Yamaha keyboard and Berlitz language classes (all

complimentary).

The ten-day cruise departs Lisbon for Ponta Delgada, Grand Turk, and Miami.

Promotional per person Two-for-One cruise fares start at $4,000, double

occupancy, including free air transportation from more than 20 North American

gateways and $500 per person ‘All Inclusive – As You Wish’ shipboard credits.

Wellness Program Highlight Of September 5, 2010 Cruise

Comprehensive wellness programming, dozens of special interest classes, plus visits to Dublin, Iceland, and Greenland are among the highlights of Crystal Symphony’s September 5 voyage from London to New York. Leading experts and instructors from The Mayo Clinic, Tai Chi Cultural Center, and even the world of professional baseball are on the roster.

Also a tremendous value, the voyage offers two-for-one fares, $1,000 per person ‘All Inclusive – As You Wish’ shipboard credits and free air transportation from more than 20 North American gateways. In fact, the 2010 fares are up to 15% less than 2009 prices.

Wellness experts leading complimentary classes and talks include:

* Dr. John McMichan – The former Mayo Clinic critical care, anesthesiology and medical education specialist will provide valuable take-home messages for better health and longevity;

* Jerry Kindall – The former Major League Baseball coach, player and today’s USA Baseball senior advisor will share insights from his 55-year career;

* Dr. Martin Lee – The founder of the Tai Chi Cultural Center will teach daily classes in the ancient discipline; and

* Pat Laster – The veteran yoga instructor and specialist in relaxation therapies will conduct daily classes.

Ashore, guests can visit Reykjavic’s legendary Blue Lagoon, whose waters are reputedly filled with healing minerals, and where local Icelanders go for the ultimate relaxing spa treatment.

Double occupancy promotional cruise fares for the 14-day cruise – including free air from 20 cities and the $1,000 bonus spending credit – start at $5,710 per person.

Crystal Cruises Sets Value-Added Fares For 2011 Worldwide Itineraries

Luxury specialist Crystal Cruises announces the opening of reservations for 2011 with value added for all of its worldwide cruises:

* Two-for-one fares for World Cruise, including all segments, booked by April 30, 2010;

* Save Now, Save Later promotion for World Cruise, including all segments. Two-for-one fares now and 20% off most additional 2011 or 2012 cruises;

* Two-for-one fares for all cruises (except World Cruise) booked by September 30, 2010;

* ‘All Inclusive – As You Wish’ spending credits for all cruises;

* Free roundtrip air transportation, with transfers, for all cruises; and

* Free Business Class roundtrip air transportation for all Penthouse accommodations with European cruises.

Air transportation is included from more than 20 North American gateways, or guests can opt to arrange their own air transportation and deduct an air credit from the fare.

Effective immediately, Crystal is taking reservations for the full year.

Whether celebrating a reunion or a romantic getaway, Crystal’s 2011 cruise repertoire highlights the best of each destination on a variety of seven- to 21-day itineraries, in addition to the full World Cruise. Most itineraries boast overnight night stays and late night port calls. In all, Crystal’s 59 cruises in 2011 will visit 167 ports in more than 65 countries. News and highlights for 2011 include:

* 110-day World Cruise from Los Angeles to London, via the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, Southeast Asia, India, and Africa.

* Maiden calls in the Greek island of Kefalonia; Komodo, Indonesia; Koper, Slovenia; Fethiye, Turkey; Trabzon, Turkey; Golfo de Papagayo, Costa Rica; and Marigot Bay, St. Martin.

* Return to West Africa for the first time since 2001.

* Return to Alaska with 12-day voyages round-trip from San Francisco, for the first time since 2005.

* Seven World Cruise segments departing from Los Angeles, Papeete, Auckland, Sydney, Singapore, Mumbai and Cape Town.

* Additional North Cape opportunities to the Polar Ice Cap, two cruises in 2011.

* Every fall New England/Canada cruise includes shipboard overnights in New York and Montréal.

* Eight Mexican Riviera choices round-trip from Los Angeles, including several seven-day voyages and a holiday cruise.

* All but one Crystal Symphony voyage embarking and/or debarking from a U.S. port.

* Overnight calls in Ashdod and Melbourne, as well as Barcelona, Cannes, Istanbul, New York and other worldwide cities.

* Double overnight calls in Cape Town, St. Petersburg, Montréal, Yangon and Stockholm.

* More than 80 possible combo cruises throughout Europe without repeating ports.

* Thanksgiving cruise roundtrip from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera.

* Christmas/New Year holiday cruise round-trip from Los Angeles to the Hawaiian Islands.

* Christmas/New Year holiday Panama Canal cruise round-trip from Miami, including Gatun Lake.

* Dozens of career-friendly itineraries embarking and/or debarking on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Crystal’s detailed 2011 itineraries are now available at www.crystalcruises.com as well as downloadable listings. The 2011 Cruise Guide, including fares and itineraries, will be available for download and request in April. The comprehensive 2011 Worldwide Cruise Atlas will follow.

Top Culinary Talent On The Menu For Back-To-Back Wine & Food Cruises

Michelin Star chefs Michael Mina and Tom Aikens are among an impressive roster set to share their specialties aboard two Wine & Food Experiences of Discovery Crystal cruises this fall. Aboard the back-to-back Mediterranean voyages, foodies can sate their palates with cuisine and demos from the chefs, savor the nuances of wine pairings with guest sommeliers and wine experts and learn the art of the perfect cocktail from guest mixologists. The 12-day, star-studded sailings depart September 5 and 17 on award-winning Crystal Serenity.

Wine and food highlights include:

September 5, Istanbul to Barcelona

* Michael Mina – Founder of the Mina Group, with 11 concept restaurants including two-Michelin-Starred Michael Mina in San Francisco;

* Chris L’Hommedieu – Chef de Cuisine at Michael Mina in San Francisco;

* Aglaia Kremezi – Writer and publisher of Greek and Mediterranean cookbooks;

* Victoria Ordonez – Her family is Spain’s largest wine wholesaler and exporter to the U.S.;

* Tony Abou-Ganim – Master mixologist and mastermind behind Crystal’s cocktail program.

September 17, Barcelona to Venice

* Tom Aikens – Youngest British chef ever awarded two Michelin Stars; owner of Tom Aikens Restaurant in the U.K., named eighth best restaurant in the world;

* Gerhard Retter – Renowned wine & cheese sommelier at 2-3-star Michelin restaurants worldwide;

* Francesco La Franconi – Co-founder of the U.S. Bartenders Guild (Nevada); National Director of Mixology & Spirits for Southern Wine & Spirits.

Calling in cities throughout Italy, Greece, Turkey, Spain, Monaco and France, the voyages feature tasteful experiences ashore, from exclusive private tours and tastings at a farm and wine cellar in Sorrento to a classic Spanish tapas feast in Barcelona.

Double occupancy two-for-one cruise fares start at $5,940 per person, and include $1,000 per person ‘All Inclusive – As You Wish’ shipboard credits and complimentary air transportation from more than 20 North American gateways – Business Class air for Penthouse guests.

Guests can extend their culinary vacation and save up to 10% by combining the two voyages.

Cunard Line

Website: www.cunard.com

Cunard Line Announces Its 2011 Itineraries

With the addition of Queen Elizabeth to the fleet later this year, Cunard Line will offer its most extensive range of voyages in 2011 - providing the widest choice for guests.

Queen Elizabeth based in her homeport of Southampton, offers a Maiden Season of 22 voyages from five- to 24-nights from GBP499 per person that include five five-night voyages.

Voyages from Southampton feature the Fjords, the Baltic, the British Isles, the Mediterranean, USA / Canada and the Caribbean.

Growing interest in overnight calls will see Queen Elizabeth stay overnight in St Petersburg, Amsterdam, Venice, New York and Quebec giving guests more time to explore these famous cities. The 23-night Caribbean voyage from Southampton in December will take in 6 famous ports including Barbados, St Lucia, St Kitts and St Maarten. The 19-night Eastern Mediterranean voyage in October will take in Cairo, Cyprus, Jerusalem and Haifa in Israel. Every voyage in the maiden season will be treasured as over 52 ports welcome Queen Elizabeth for the first time adding an extra sense of excitement and intrigue for guests.

Queen Victoria offers 23 voyages from seven- to 22-nights from just GBP799 per

Person from Southampton to the Canaries, the Mediterranean, the Baltic and the Fjords.

And fly-voyages to the Mediterranean with eight voyages for 12-nights sailing out of Venice, Rome and Athens from GBP1,349 per person. In addition there is a 15-night Caribbean voyage from Venice to Fort Lauderdale from GBP1,999 per person and a 14 night Christmas voyage from Los Angeles taking in the best of Hawaii from GBP2,699 per person

Queen Mary 2

The QM2 offers 21 Transatlantic voyages between Southampton and New York with

most crossings now seven nights in duration from GBP899 per person.

There are 11 roundtrip Southampton departures to Europe and the Caribbean from two to 29- nights from GBP399 per person.

And a repeat of the popular 'Around the British Isles' voyage--eight-nights from GBP999 per person.

All referenced fares are per person, based on double occupancy. Cruise rates available in American currency.

Cunard’s 2011-2012 voyage schedule is online. Reservations for Cunard’s 2011 and 2012 voyages will open for booking on April 26 for Cunard World Club Members and April 27 for non-members.

Fred. Olsen CruiseLines

Website: www.fred.olsen.com

Fred. Olsen Cruises Features Special 2010 Fall Pricing

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has three great fall cruises that will help your clients hold on to summer a little longer. Each cruise features discounted pricing and $120 onboard spending per cabin! Beauty of the North is a 12-night Baltic cruise starting at $1,673 per person; it departs September 9, 2010 and offers the flagship golf package. Canaries Collection is a 12-night Canary Islands cruise starting at $1,682 per person; it departs October 5, 2010 and offers the Artsclub theme-crafts. Splendors of Spain is a 14-night Mediterranean cruise starting at $1,626 per person; and offers the flagship golf package. Cruises must be booked 90 days prior to sailing to receive the promotional price and onboard spending credit.

New destinations are on the horizon in 2011; all new programs include exciting ports of call and exotic locations, including less visited places, such as Korcula (Croatia), Sandane (Norway) and Ullapool (Scotland). Summer and fall 2011 cruises are available with early booking discounts, with booking by May 1, 2010 to secure the best pricing.

Holland America Line

Website: www.hollandamerica.com

Holland America Line Announces 55 New Shore Excursions For Summer 2010

To complement its already extensive and award-winning shore excursion offerings, Holland America Line has put together 55 new and captivating tours for its 2010 summer season. The new excursions range from an afternoon in the French city of Cognac, France, where one can discover the secrets of making Cognac and sample the delights of what many French call “the healing drink;” to a nostalgic steam-hauled train ride which crosses the world-famous Glenfinnan Viaduct — a 21-arch, 1000-foot span featured in the Harry Potter and Narnia films; to an unforgettable flightseeing Brown Bear and wildlife tour in the wilds of Southeast Alaska, visiting remote areas that only a bush pilot can visit.

Holland America adds Anchorage, Alaska, to itinerary and will include 22 new shore excursions

Holland America Line will, for the first time in the line’s history, pay calls to Anchorage, Alaska. A diverse line-up of shore excursions within the state’s largest city has been arranged. Highlights include: fly-in fishing expeditions to remote Alaska backcountry; a sled dog rodeo; flightseeing safaris through the Chugach Mountain Range and over Captain James Cook’s Turnagain Inlet in search of beluga whales; a Prince William Sound Glacier cruise; a full-day scenic ride aboard the historic Alaska Railroad to Talkeetna with the chance to view Mt. McKinley; a guided, fly-out bear-watching tour where guests can view Alaska black and brown bears in their natural habitat; and a visit to Wildberry Park and Anchorage Museum, home of many Native Alaskan art and artifacts as well as paintings by renowned Alaskan artist Sydney Laurence.

Europe

In addition to the line’s Alaska offerings, 17 new excursions have been added to the company’s Europe tour itineraries. Featured tours include:

– Roman Catacombs, Pompey’s Pillar and National Museum of Alexandria — An exploration of one of the most distinguished museums in the world — the National Museum of Alexandria — home to antiquities ranging from Egyptian mummy cases to Greek statues and papyri. The museum also displays the underwater excavation of the Faros Lighthouse — one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In addition, guests will explore the 2nd-century catacombs at Kom el Shugafa, where tombs are cut 115 feet into the bedrock, and the famous Pompey's Pillar, a column of polished, rose-colored Aswan granite that stands before the ruins of the Temple of Serapis.

– Budva, Kotor and Coastal Views — An extraordinary tour in the port of Montenegro, showcasing the exotic Montenegrin Riviera with visits to The Old Town, a 15th century walled city in Budva, followed by a spectacular coastal tour to Kotor, a medieval Mediterranean town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

– Traces of Alexander the Great — A fascinating drive across the Macedonian countryside with a tour of Pella, birthplace of Alexander the Great, where guests can enter the residences of the ancient aristocrats and explore archeological sites dating from the 4th century BC.

– Historic Jewish Dublin — A panoramic tour of Dublin’s main attractions coupled with a heritage tour of Dublin’s historic Jewish community whose presence in Ireland can be traced back to 1079.

– The Atlantic Ocean Road and Håholmen Island — A unique tour, which zigzags across bridges and causeways between dozens of forested islands and right out to the ocean’s edge, will delight guests who love the call of the sea. From the Varden Viewpoint, guests will enjoy a spectacular view over Romsdalsfjord with its many small islands. A stop at Bud village, a charming fishing village facing the open ocean, is also included.

Holland America Line Offers Holiday Escapes With 22 Warm Water Cruises

Holland America Line offers 22 holiday cruises in 2010 for warm weather celebrations.

--Sail the Caribbean on 7 to 14-day Cruises

Departing between Dec. 17 and Dec. 31 aboard seven ships — ms Westerdam, ms Maasdam, ms Eurodam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Ryndam, ms Prinsendam and ms Noordam — options abound for Caribbean cruises with 13 holiday sailings from Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa over one or both holidays. Itineraries include exploring the southern Caribbean via a seven-day cruise with stops in such exotic ports as Aruba, Curaçao and Half Moon Cay, Holland America Line’s private Bahamian island. Or try seven days exploring the rich waters of the eastern Caribbean and legendary ports of call such as Nassau, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Finally, holiday cruisers can settle into several western Caribbean options with stops that may include Belize, Montego Bay, Georgetown, Costa Maya and Key West.

The more adventurous travelers can opt for a 10- or 14-day cruise throughout the Caribbean and usher in the New Year in St. Thomas or St. George’s while sampling the ports of Barbados and Grand Turk.

Most itineraries feature a visit to Half Moon Cay, the line’s award-winning exclusive private island experience with white sand beaches, aqua waters and shore activities from horseback riding to a stingray adventure. Per person fares begin as low as $999, double occupancy. Taxes are additional.

--Sunny Mexican Riviera & Panama Canal for a Festive Occasion

Departing from Fort Lauderdale, San Diego or Los Angeles in mid to late December, Holland America Line offers five cruises that visit the warm water ports of the Mexican Riviera — Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, Puerto Chiapas and Puerto Quetzal — as well as the Central America coastline and Panama Canal. Per person fares begin at $1,099.

--The Sunfarer Caribbean Holiday cruise is a 10-day trip departing roundtrip Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 23 aboard ms Zuiderdam and sailing through the southern Caribbean with Christmas Eve at Half Moon Cay, a partial transit of the Panama Canal to Gatun Lake and New Year’s Eve at sea before returning on Jan. 2, 2011.

--Two additional cruises visit the Panama Canal beginning with the 14-day Panama Canal which departs Los Angeles on Dec. 22 aboard ms Amsterdam in time for Christmas Day at sea and stops in Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica before traversing the Canal en route to Ft. Lauderdale. Or guests can opt for the 14-day Panama Canal Holiday Cruise aboard ms Statendam departing San Diego on Christmas Eve. Stops in Mexico include Puerto Vallarta and Puerto Chiapas before crossing the Canal to Fort Lauderdale.

--Christmas and New Years holidays along the Mexican Riviera can be particularly memorable with an eight-day cruise from San Diego aboard ms Oosterdam on Dec. 18 or a seven-day sailing on Dec. 26 that visit Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. Or guests can opt for a 12-day cruise departing Dec. 22 aboard ms Rotterdam that features Christmas Eve in Cabo San Lucas, Christmas Day at sea and New Year’s Eve in Mazatlan.

--White Christmas in the Antarctic

Guests who want their holidays adorned with snow and ice will see a white Christmas aboard the adventurous 17-day South America and Antarctica Explorer journey. Departing Valparaiso (Santiago), Chile, Dec. 20, ms Veendam steers south amid the glaciers to spend Christmas Eve cruising Darwin Channel and the Chilean Fjords, Christmas Day sailing Amalia Glacier Canal and New Year’s Eve in the Antarctic Sound. Per person fares on longer voyages range from $1,999 to $2,699 per person for starting fares.

Holland America Line’s on-board festivities for the entire family include holiday decorations, sumptuous traditional meals, special movie showings, a visit for the kids from Santa — sometimes arriving by parasail — activities and crafts for the Club HAL kids program, strolling carolers, tree lighting ceremony, eggnog in the Atrium, Christmas brunch, Santa’s milk and cookie late-night snack and a holiday show by the crew on Christmas Eve. For sailings over Hanukkah, ships display a ceremonial Menorah.

New Year’s Eve cruisers will enjoy the New Year’s Eve Gala and the broadcast of select college bowl games on board ships. Each holiday voyage features clergy to conduct Catholic, Protestant and Jewish services (for cruises over Hanukkah).

Another special feature for the holidays are culinary classes highlighting such traditional seasonal treats as latkes with rosemary and brown butter sauce; Alsatian potato and bacon tarts; sausage cakes with red wine prunes; and other tasty holiday fare.

Captain Keith Colburn To Sail On Zaandam June 18

Captain Keith Colburn of Discovery Channel’s Emmy-nominated “Deadliest Catch” series is scheduled to sail as part of the guest-enrichment program on the June 18, 2010, Alaskan Explorer Voyage aboard Holland America Line’s ms Zaandam.

The seven-day cruise sails round-trip from Seattle, and calls at Glacier Bay, Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan, Alaska, and Victoria, B.C., Canada.

During his cruise, Colburn will share his expertise on how to select, crack and clean fresh crab, while Holland America Line’s executive chef demonstrates different ways to prepare and serve this delectable Alaska seafood favorite. Colburn is one of more than 65 celebrated chefs and wine experts scheduled to sail in 2010 and share their expertise in the line's Culinary Arts Center, presented by Food & Wine magazine.

Colburn started as a true greenhorn on an Alaskan crabber in 1985. The fishing lifestyle and camaraderie of being part of a crew, along with working in and against the elements, captured him immediately. While initially looking only for adventure in Alaska’s unknown waters, Colburn found something unexpected: a career. In 1988, he became a full-share deck hand on the Wizard, and in 1992 he received his master’s license and has since remained as captain of the vessel that he eventually purchased.

Louis Cruise Lines

Website: www.louiscruises.com

Louis Cruises Announces Smart Rates

Louis Cruises presents outstanding deals on Western Mediterranean cruises featuring savings of up to 50 percent off brochure rates. Called Smart Rates, these special deals invite travelers to book early to get the lowest prices. These Smart Rates include: onboard Louis Majesty - 7-day Mediterranean Highlights from $710 (down from of $1440), 8-day Spanish Odyssey & Tangier from $790 (down from $1600), and 9-day Italy, Greece, Ionian Islands & Albania from $850 (down from $1670); onboard Orient Queen - 11-day Adriatic Coast, Italy and the Ionian from $1065 (down from $1955); and onboard Louis Cruises' Coral - 11-day Corinth Canal, Greek Islands, Istanbul from $1000 (down from $1885). These Smart Rates are based on per person, double occupancy and are valid for May-October 2010 departures. Smart Rates are commissionable to travel agents.

MSC Cruises

Website: www.msccruises.com

MSC Cruises Offers Cruises For The 2010/11 South African Cruise Season

MSC Cruises has announced that they will be operating two cruise ships simultaneously out of South African ports during the upcoming 2010/11 summer season to meet increased market demand and offer variety to the South African cruise market.

The MSC Sinfonia, with a capacity of over 2,100 passengers, has enjoyed a highly successful maiden season operating out of Durban and will be back for a second extended cruise season from November this year up until May 2011. She will be joined by the smaller, l ship - already well known to the South African public - the MSC Melody, with a capacity of just 1,500 guests.

MSC Sinfonia will continue its itinerary in and around the Indian Ocean Islands while MSC Melody will offer South African and international travelers new and varied cruise options and experiences. Itineraries will feature cruises out of Cape Town and offer longer cruises out of Durban with ports of call in Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion and Seychelles.

Both MSC Sinfonia and MSC Melody will offer early booking incentives and children under 18 years of age will still cruise and eat free - a feature that has already proved so popular for Family holiday makers.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Website: www.ncl.com or www.ncl.eu

NCL Offers A Power Hour Of Savings Before Price Increase

Norwegian Cruise Line is giving travel partners and customers an extra hour to book a cruise vacation before the line implements its largest rate increase in company history with prices going up by as much as seven percent fleet-wide on Friday, April 2, 2010. The company’s call center will stay open until 1 a.m. the morning of the increase giving everyone a last chance to book current pricing on the line’s 10 Freestyle Cruising ships along with its newest and largest ship, Norwegian Epic.

Price increases will take effect on more than 125,000 rates across the fleet on every ship and every sail date through 2012. For instance, a seven-day Hawaii cruise on Pride of America will go up from $1,389 to $1,489; a 12-day cruise on Norwegian Sun through the Baltic will rise from $3,099 to $3,319; and a seven-day Alaskan vacation on Norwegian Pearl will change from $1,699 to $1,819. Prices are based on double occupancy in a balcony stateroom.

NCL 2011/12 Launches Its Preview Cruise Brochure

This week, Norwegian Cruise Line has launched its preview brochure for the 2011/12 season. The new program features an expanded European deployment with two brand-new embarkation ports and a new ship sailing in the Mediterranean. The new fleet member Norwegian Epic will sail Western Mediterranean cruises from/to Barcelona and Norwegian Jade will homeport year-round in Italy – in summer in Venice and in winter, for the first time ever, in Civitavecchia (Rome). The 2011/12 winter cruises include a further highlight as, for the first time since 1999, NCL will once again visit Israel. As well Norwegian Sun will be departing from a new embarkation port and offer nine-night cruises from/to Copenhagen in the Baltic Sea.

This 2011/2012 season, NCL also offers the usual variety of worldwide cruise itineraries in the Caribbean, Alaska, Canada and New England. Caribbean highlights include new 10- and 11-night cruises in the southern Caribbean from/to Miami, the new embarkation port Tampa, as well as new year-round cruises from/to New Orleans.

--Europe: Mediterranean and Baltic Sea

A whole new Freestyle Cruising experience awaits guests on board the new Norwegian Epic, the largest and most innovative member of the NCL fleet to date. Launching this summer, Norwegian Epic will spend the summer 2011 in the Mediterranean and offer seven-night Western Mediterranean cruises from/to Barcelona from May to October 2011 (available from 649 Euro per person). In addition to two full days at sea, the itinerary includes stops in the Italian ports of Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Civitavecchia (Rome) and Naples, as well as Palma (Majorca, Spain). Furthermore, cruise fans can enjoy the exciting innovations on board during a four-night mini cruise from/to Barcelona on May 18, 2011 from 429 Euro per person.

During the 2011/2012 season, Norwegian Jade will depart year-round from two Italian ports. From spring to autumn 2011, the Freestyle Cruising resort will sail on the seven-night itineraries “Venice & Greek Isles” and “Venice & Classic Mediterranean” from/to Venice (available from 649 Euro per person). These two routes can be combined into 14-night cruises with no port repetition from 1.279 Euro per person. Friends of Mediterranean lifestyle can discover the "Highlights of the Mediterranean” on April 29, 2011 during a 15-night cruise from Barcelona to Venice. The cruise is available from 1.199 Euro per person and includes stops in e.g. Monaco, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Egypt. On October 8, 2011, Norwegian Jade will sail from Venice to Rome on a seven-night cruise that includes ports of call in Slovenia and Croatia and is available from 649 Euro per person.

In winter 2011/12, Norwegian Jade will offer ten- and 11-night cruises from her new homeport Civitavecchia (Rome). From 769 Euro per person, Norwegian Jade’s 11-night cruise “Rome & the Holy Land” takes passengers to Alanya (Turkey), Limassol (Cyprus), Haifa and Ashdod (Israel), Port Said and Alexandria (Egypt), combined with four relaxing days at sea. Optional shore excursions in Israel include an overnight stay in Jerusalem and excursions to Galilee, Tel Aviv, Jaffa, the Dead Sea and Masada. In Egypt, passengers can look forward to visiting Cairo’s pyramids and tombs. On a safari in Turkey, guests can discover the Taurus Mountains and, in Cyprus, take a wine tour through the island's picturesque villages. Norwegian Jade’s 10-night itinerary “Rome & Classic Mediterranean” is available from 749 Euro per person and includes stops in Katakalon (Olympia) and Piraeus (Athens) in Greece, Izmir (Ephesus) in Turkey and Alexandria in Egypt. Norwegian Jade will drop anchor overnight in Alexandria, so that passengers have plenty of time to explore all the destination's antique treasures.

Norwegian Sun completes NCL’s European fleet and, from spring to autumn 2011, will sail 15 nine-night cruises from her new homeport Copenhagen towards the Baltic capitals. The cruises are available from 859 Euro per person and feature stops in Warnemunde (Berlin) in Germany, Tallinn in Estonia, St. Petersburg in Russia, Helsinki in Finland and Nynaeshamn (Stockholm) in Sweden.

On April 23, 2011, Norwegian Sun will cross the Atlantic from Orlando to Copenhagen. From 749 Euro per person, passengers can experience a 15-night cruise that includes stops in Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands. On September 20, 2011, the floating resort will take the same route back to Orlando. On May 7, 2011, Norwegian Epic’s transatlantic cruise will take passengers from Miami to Barcelona on an 11-night itinerary (available from 649 Euro per person). On October 23, 2011, Norwegian Epic will sail back to Miami during a 13-night cruise that is as well available from 649 Euro per person.

--Caribbean and Bahamas

With 16 itineraries, nine ships and five embarkation ports, the company offers a once again varied cruise program in the Caribbean. Miami remains the company’s most important port for cruises towards the Caribbean in the 2011/2012 season. Norwegian Epic, which is to date the company’s largest and most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship, will set off from Miami for her seven-night cruises “Miami & Eastern Caribbean” from November 2011 to April 2012. The cruise is available from 569 Euro per person and includes stops in Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St Thomas, US Virgin Islands and Nassau, Bahamas as well as three full days at sea to give passengers the opportunity to make full use of the many excellent facilities and first-class on-board entertainment.

Norwegian Pearl will also be returning to Miami from October 16, 2011 to April 8, 2012. The seven-night cruise "Miami & Western Caribbean" is available from 499 Euro per person. New additions to the program are the ten- and 11-night cruises “Miami & Southern Caribbean I” (from 799 Euro per person) and “Miami & Southern Caribbean II" (from EUR 849 per person) on board Norwegian Dawn, available from November 13, 2011 to April 8, 2012. Ports of call on these itineraries will e.g. include St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Dominica and Antigua.

Norwegian Star will set sail from her new embarkation port Tampa between October 2011 and April 2012. The seven-night cruise “Tampa & Western Caribbean" will depart on Sundays and can be booked from 439 Euro per person.

From October 8, 2011 to April 7, 2012, Norwegian Sun will be returning to Orlando (Port Canaveral) in Florida, from where she will be sailing on alternating cruises to the eastern and western Caribbean. Both itineraries can be booked from 499 Euro per person and can be combined into a 14-night cruise.

For the first time in NCL’s history, the cruise line will be offering year-round cruises with Norwegian Spirit from/to New Orleans. Between April 2011 and April 2012, the Freestyle Cruising resort will depart on Sundays for the seven-night itinerary “New Orleans & Western Caribbean”. This cruise can be booked from 439 Euro per person.

For those who would like to combine a visit to the Big Apple with Caribbean charm, Norwegian Gem offers the ten-night cruise “Manhattan & Eastern Caribbean” from/to New York from January 8 to February 8, 2012 (available from 799 Euro per person).

Up to three NCL ships will be setting sail for the Bahamas during the 2011/2012 season. Norwegian Jewel accommodates up to 2.400 passengers and will continue to sail from/to New York on Saturdays on the seven-night cruise "Florida & Bahamas”. The cruise is available until April 2012 and can be booked from 499 Euro per person. Ports of call will be Orlando (Port Canaveral) in Florida, Great Stirrup Cay (NCL’s private island) and Nassau in the Bahamas. From December 2011 to April 2012, Norwegian Gem will also be serving this route (departures on Sundays).

Shorter Bahamas cruises will be provided by Norwegian Sky, which will continue to operate three- and four-night cruises year-round from/to Miami until April 20, 2012. The three-night cruise from 229 Euro per person will set sail on Fridays and include stops in Nassau (Bahamas) and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private island in the Bahamas. On Mondays, Norwegian Sky will be setting sail on her four-night Bahamas route with stops in Grand Bahama Island, Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau. The four-night cruises are available from 289 Euro per person.

--Alaska, Canada and New England

Both Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Star will return to Alaska's fascinating world of glaciers in summer 2011 on seven-night cruises from/to Seattle. The weekly trips of Norwegian Pearl to Glacier Bay and Alaska’s Inside Passage start on Sundays and are available from 649 Euro per person whereas Norwegian Star will set sail towards Sawyer Glacier and the Inside Passage on Saturdays (available from 589 Euro per person). On both routes, passengers will experience typical Alaskan ports such as Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan.

During the Indian Summer, Norwegian Jewel will set sail from/to New York on the seven-night itinerary “Canada & New England” from September 17, 2011 to October 8, 2011. The cruise is available from 669 Euro per person.

--Hawaii

As the only cruise ship sailing under US flag in Hawaii, Pride of America will continue her year-round cruises from/to Honolulu around Hawaii's four main islands until April 28, 2012. The seven-night cruises “Hawaiian Islands” are available from 899 Euro per person.

--Panama Canal

In spring and autumn 2011, both Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Star will be crossing the Panama Canal between Los Angeles and Miami respectively from Los Angeles to Tampa. The 14 to 15-night cruises can be booked from 1.149 Euro per person.

Note: US cruise rates available on www.ncl.com

E-Mail: aelsner@ncl.com

NCL’s Winter/Spring 2011/12 Deployment Adds Tampa And Rome As Homeports

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that its 2011/12 winter/spring deployment includes two new seasonal homeports: Tampa, Florida and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy, marking the first time Norwegian has initiated voyages from these cities. In addition, for the first time since 1999 the cruise line will visit Israel.

Guests cruising from Tampa on Norwegian Star will sail a seven-day Western Caribbean itinerary beginning October 16, 2011 through April 8, 2012. In Europe, Norwegian Jade will sail from Rome (Civitavecchia) on 11-day Mediterranean and Holy Land cruises, along with 10-day Eastern Mediterranean sailings, from October 15, 2011 to April 11, 2012.

In the Caribbean, Norwegian Pearl’s seven-day Western Caribbean cruise from Miami now includes Ocho Rios, Jamaica as a port of call. The company also announced new sailing dates for Pride of America in Hawaii.

Oceania Cruises

Website: www.oceaniacruises.com

Oceania Cruises Introduces 2011 European Collection

Oceania Cruises has unveiled its 2011 European Collection, which opened for reservations today. With voyages to more than 125 ports on three elegant, mid-sized ships, including the magnificent new Marina, the line’s 2011 Europe itineraries are unrivaled in their scope and diversity. Featuring 21 new itineraries, Insignia, Nautica and Marina will cover the continent in its entirety. In addition to its award-winning destination experience, Oceania Cruises offers the finest dining at sea and an entirely new level of value with unlimited and complimentary bottled water and soft drinks for all guests.

With 32 unique itineraries to choose from, more than any other premium or deluxe brand, Oceania Cruises offers new and unique opportunities to travel to off-the-beaten-path destinations in Greece, Turkey, Sweden and Denmark along with the continent’s perennial favorites in France, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia and Russia. With a keen focus on providing the most unique and enriching destination experience, every aspect of the 2011 European Collection has been meticulously crafted with the discerning traveler in mind.

Marina’s Inaugural European Season

Marina, the line’s new $600 million flagship, sets sail on her inaugural season of Europe voyages. From the tony yacht harbors of the western Mediterranean and ancient splendors of Israel, to the majesty of Russia and rugged wilderness of Iceland, Marina offers 20 unique and scintillating voyages to choose from. Travelers may choose from alluring choice of voyages which range from the ancient sands of Egypt and Israel to the rugged lands of Iceland and the Polar Ice Barrier.

Highlights of the 2010 European Collection

The introduction of Marina, the first ship designed specifically for lovers of fine food and wine offers 125 intriguing ports of call and 65 overnight port stays and 21 brand new itineraries. Itineraries range from the Polar Ice Barrier to the desert sands of Egypt and Israel.

A unique selection of Western European itineraries that focus on the extraordinary wine producing regions and local cuisines of Italy, Spain, Portugal and France

2-for-1 Cruise Fares with Free Air Begin at $1,799 per Guest

With free air transportation from 20 North American gateway cities and two-for-one cruise fares, these extraordinary voyages are the pinnacle of value and start at just $1,799 per guest. Travelers are urged to make their reservations as early as possible to ensure that they take advantage of the free airfare and receive the accommodations of choice on their preferred voyage.

P&O Cruises/UK

Website: www.pocruises.co.uk

P&O Introduces Adonia

P&O Cruises will offer fly-cruise holidays in the Mediterranean in 2011. The development comes with the introduction of 710 passenger ship Adonia, joining the fleet in May 2011. Full details of Adonia will be released in the P&O Cruises 2011/12 brochure, and her cruises can be booked from Tuesday April 27, 2010.

The ship will be based in Southampton between May and October 2011, offering cruises from seven to 26 nights in duration to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. The itineraries will feature overnight calls in Athens and St. Petersburg, as well as a round Britain cruise.

In October, 2011, Adonia will reposition to the Mediterranean and offer six open-jaw Central and Eastern Mediterranean fly-cruises, departing from Savona, Athens, Trieste and Naples. Itinerary highlights include a Christmas and New Year cruise to the Holy Land.

Prices on Adonia start from £1,924** for the 16 night Western Mediterranean maiden cruise from Southampton in May 2011, £899 for a seven night ex-Southampton Norwegian Fjords cruise, and £1,399 cruise only, for a 14 night Central Mediterranean holiday from Trieste to Athens in December 2011. A holiday package add-on with flights is available for £99.

New ports of call for Adonia are: Bourgas, Bulgaria; Flekkefjord, Norway; Foynes, Ireland; Jersey and Liverpool, UK; Koper, Slovenia; Sassnitz, Germany; Savona, Italy; and Zadar, Croatia.

Early bird savings are available for bookings made by 30 June 2010. Double savings are offered on balcony cabins, with savings up to £800 per couple for a 14-night cruise, and also on all cabin grades on two of Adonia’s fly-cruise holidays in October 2011 and January 2012.

Free car parking is available on all of Adonia’s cruises from Southampton, and on board spending money of between £50 and £250 per cabin is also available (amount depending on duration).

For more information or to request a copy of the brochure call P&O Cruises on 0845 3 555 333, visit www.pocruises.co.uk or see your travel agent.

Ponant Cruises

Website: www.ponant.com

French-flagged Ponant Cruise Ships Visit 240 Ports In 2010

Compagnie du Ponant, the French-flagged cruise company, has opened a US sales office in Miami and hired cruise veteran Terri Haas as chief commercial officer. The line operates three vessels -- the three-masted Le Ponant, the Le Levant yacht and the ice-class expedition ship Le Diamant -- which sail to ports in Europe and the Caribbean, as well as more remote areas like Greenland, Antarctica and the Maldives.

The line’s newest vessel, the 466-foot mega-yacht Le Boréal, will be christened in May; its sister ship, L’Austral will debut in May 2011. The line’s North American sales office is located at 2 Biscayne Blvd., Ste. 2000, Miami, Fla. 33131.

For 2010, the four ships will visit more than 240 ports. Compagnie du Ponant will visit 22 ports in Italy, 14 in Greece and the Greek Islands, and 12 ports and islands along the Dalmatian coast, including many inaccessible to larger ships. All vessels are equipped with Zodiac fleets. Currently sailing in the Indian Ocean around the Maldives, the Le Ponant will offer Mediterranean itineraries from May through October, calling at ports in Italy, France, Greece and Croatia. Le Levant sails the Caribbean during winter and heads to the Mediterranean in April. Through October, its Mediterranean sailings visit ports in Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey. Le Diamant has just finished its Antarctic itineraries and is cruising up the coast of South America, where it will transit the Panama Canal on its way to the Caribbean. After crossing the Atlantic, the ship will offer cruises in the Mediterranean from April through June before heading to the Baltic and then on to Iceland and Greenland. Le Diamant returns to the Mediterranean in mid August through October, and then heads to Asia for the winter. Le Boréal will be christened on May 3 in Marseille and will sail in the Mediterranean in May and June and head to the Baltic, returning to sail around Greece, Turkey and Italy from mid August through the end of October. For more information, call 888-400-1082, email usreservations@ponant.com.

Le Boréal’s First Season: From The Baltic To Antarctica

Compagnie du Ponant’s first newbuild, Le Boréal, will enter service with two Secrets of the Adriatic itineraries, May 20 and 27, 2010 sailing to and from Venice along the Dalmatian Coast stopping at eight ports and islands in Croatia and Montenegro.

On June 8, Cruising to the Rhythms of Jazz and Gospel takes the ship around Italy from Venice to Nice.

The June 18 Nice-Honfleur cruise has a wellness theme; passengers can practice yoga and Pilates while visiting ports in France, Spain and Portugal.

The ship will offer two Baltic sailings before heading to Iceland for cruises on July 22 and 29. Starting August 23, Le Boréal returns to the Mediterranean with three Greek Islands and Turkey itineraries and two cruises to the Black Sea and then makes its way from the Adriatic to the Western Mediterranean at the end of October.

On November 1, the 264-passenger vessel departs Nice for Rio de Janeiro on a 15-day repositioning voyage for its first season in Antarctica where it will remain until the end of February,, 2011.

All but two cruises for the spring, summer and autumn are seven-day itineraries.

Princess Cruises

Website: www.princess.com

2011 Season Includes Most Princess Ships Sailing In Europe

Princess Cruises has unveiled its most extensive Europe season ever for 2011, with more ships, departure choices and itinerary options than in previous years. In total, seven vessels will offer 42 itinerary choices, including seven new routes, with calls at more than 135 ports. More than half of these ports feature access to notable attractions designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These remarkable places that make up the planet’s cultural and natural heritage range from Italy’s Amalfi Coast and the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg to the birthplace of Apollo on the island of Delos (from Mykonos) and the 16th-century Suleymaniye Mosque (in Istanbul).

In addition, Princess has enhanced overnight offerings to give passengers extra time in fascinating ports throughout Europe, such as Venice, Istanbul, St. Petersburg, Alexandria, Dublin and Edinburgh on various routes.

The line’s 2011 program includes seven new itineraries, offering fresh vacation opportunities in each major cruise region. Among the new routes are an expanded 11-day Scandinavia & Russia itinerary featuring calls in ports such as Oslo, Berlin, Stockholm and a two-day stay in St. Petersburg. The season also features new seven-day Interlude voyages that can be combined for longer sailings, visiting boutique ports in the Mediterranean.

The 2011 Europe program ships and routes:

--Ruby Princess returns with the line’s signature 12-day Grand Mediterranean itinerary and Greek Isles routes.

--Star Princess also cruises the Mediterranean, taking over the 12-day Egypt, Greek Isles and Mediterranean itineraries.

--Emerald Princess returns to Europe with a new 11-day Scandinavia & Russia itinerary including the best of the Baltic region with Princess’ signature two-day experience in St. Petersburg

--Crown Princess sails to the British Isles on two 12-day itinerary options, as well voyages to Norway and Iceland from seven to 12 days.

Grand Princess offers three new itineraries featuring a selection of Mediterranean and Northern Europe voyages, ranging from seven to 17 days.

--The intimate Ocean Princess offers new seven-day Greek Isles and Mediterranean Interlude itineraries that can be combined into 14-day or longer voyages, giving passengers the opportunity to explore boutique ports such as Cephalonia in Greece, and Koper, Slovenia.

--Small sister ship Pacific Princess sails to the Holy Land and Black Sea, and offers experiences in classic destinations such as Egypt, Israel, Ukraine, Greece and Turkey

Overnight Calls and Two-Day Experiences

--More itineraries than ever offer passengers more time to explore port highlights and enjoy a more immersive experience. All 12-day Mediterranean voyages have been enhanced to include an overnight stay in Venice, while the 12-day Black Sea & Crimean Coasts route now features an overnight stay in Istanbul. Passengers on 12-day Holy Land voyages can explore more of Egypt and Israel, with calls in two ports in each country. In Northern Europe, overnight calls in Dublin and Edinburgh are featured on select voyages, and 11-day Scandinavia & Russia sailings offer two full days in St. Petersburg on every voyage.

--New ports – Princess ships will add five new European ports this season, including the charming city of Aahus, home to the tallest cathedral in Denmark; Motril (for Grenada), on Spain’s beautiful coast of Andalusia and within reach of the stunning Alhambra palace; the Mediterranean port of Sete, France; the resort city of Aghios Nikolaos on Crete (Greece), and cosmopolitan Antwerp, Belgium.

--Mediterranean and Greek Isles – Princess ships offer 21 different itineraries through the storied waters of the Mediterranean, including six new routes. Both Ruby Princess and Star Princess will offer the line’s signature Grand Mediterranean and Greek Isles itineraries, as well as Egypt & Aegean sailings, giving passengers 30 different cruises to choose from in the Mediterranean. Grand Princess offers roundtrip voyages from Southampton to the Western Mediterranean, including new Canary Isles and Mediterranean & Adriatic sailings.

--Seven-Day Interlude Voyages – Ocean Princess offers the small ship experience on a number of Mediterranean options, including new week-long Interlude voyages that are specially designed so they can be combined into longer 14- or 21-day sailings without repeating a port.

--Holy Land and Black Sea – Pacific Princess also offers an intimate cruise experience as it sails to the unforgettable ports of the Holy Land, plus Mediterranean Collection voyages and a Black Sea & Crimean Coasts itinerary.

--Scandinavia & Russia – Emerald Princess returns to the Baltic region to debut a rich new 11-day itinerary that features the best of the region with calls in Oslo, the new port of Aarhous (Denmark), Berlin, Tallinn, a two-day experience in St. Petersburg, Helsinki, and Stockholm.

--Northern Europe – A selection of 14 different itinerary options throughout Northern Europe offers passengers cruise options to the British Isles, Norwegian fjords, and even Iceland and Greenland. A new seven-day Norwegian Fjords Interlude adds to a lineup that includes sailings from Southampton aboard Crown Princess, Grand Princess and Ocean Princess; plus the opportunity to travel on top-of-the-world voyages aboard Ocean Princess to explore the beauty of Iceland and Greenland, or sail on a week-long Ireland & Scotland Interlude.

--Princess also offers three European cruisetours which combine certain sailings with a fully-escorted land tour to explore the Italian destinations of Rome and Florence, Ireland’s wild west and the breathtaking Ring of Kerry, or the imperial treasures in Budapest, Vienna, Prague and Berlin.

--The 2011 Princess Europe season opens for bookings on March 25, 2010. Launch Fares for seven-day Europe sailings start at $1,199 per person, based on double occupancy.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Website: www.rssc.com

2011 Europe And Alaska Sailings Now On Sale

Regent Seven Seas Cruises is accepting reservations for its collection of cruises from April through November 2011 to Europe, Alaska and beyond. The elegant Seven Seas Voyager, Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Navigator – which all recently emerged from a multi-million dollar refurbishment – will discover the Old World in depth on cruises to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Holy Land and Baltic. New North America voyages include cruises beginning or ending in San Francisco and Montreal.

2011 Program Highlights:

--Seven Seas Mariner will offer seven- to 14-night cruises to storied ports in the Greek Isles and Mediterranean, departing from Barcelona, Rome, Athens, Istanbul and Venice.

--Seven Seas Voyager visits Scandinavian and Russia capitals on seven- to 12-night voyages in June and July before sailing Southern Europe from August through October; three voyages depart from Southampton.

Explore the wonders of antiquity – Seven Seas Voyager offers two fall voyages that visit Egypt and the Holy Lands via the Suez Canal.

--Seven Seas Navigator operates a series of seven-night Alaska cruises between Vancouver and Seward, plus two new, 12-night Alaska cruises that begin or end in San Francisco. A three-week cruise takes Navigator from San Francisco to New York via the Panama Canal. The splendors of Canada and New England will be offered onboard Seven Seas Navigator on two all-new, fall foliage cruises that begin or end in Montreal.

Round-trip air transportation from 23 North American gateways, including all surcharges, airline fees and government taxes

Royal Caribbean

Website: www.royalcaribbean.com

Royal Caribbean To Deploy A Record Ten Ships In Europe In 2011

Royal Caribbean International has announced the cruise line’s 2011 Europe cruise and cruisetour season, the cruise line’s biggest ever European deployment with ten ships slated to sail Baltic and Mediterranean waters. The 2011 European deployment will be an increase from eight ships in 2010 and offer 109 unique itineraries, ranging from three to 15 nights and visiting 27 countries and 78 ports. Two ships, Liberty of the Seas and Grandeur of the Seas, will sail their maiden Europe seasons from Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca, Spain, respectively. Independence of the Seas will continue its year-round service from Southampton, U.K. and, with Liberty of the Seas, make two Freedom-class ships to sail European waters as the largest and most innovative cruise ships. Navigator of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, and Splendour of the Seas will sail a variety of Mediterranean itineraries, while Jewel of the Seas and Vision of the Seas will ply the Baltic and North seas. Most 2011 Royal Caribbean International Europe cruises and cruisetours are now open for booking.

Vacationers also can choose a Royal Caribbean Europe cruisetour, providing a more comprehensive vacation experience. A cruisetour allows guests to choose from packages that combine a Europe cruise aboard one of seven Royal Caribbean ships with a three-night Italian Lakes and Venice, four-night Paris and London, four-night Madrid and Barcelona, five-night Venice, Florence and Rome, or a four-night Istanbul and Cappadocia land tour itinerary. Each land tour is escorted by a Tour Director, and ground transfers, hotel reservations, city tours and some meals are inclusive.

Guests can enhance their Europe cruise vacation with a panoply of excursion options for an additional charge, including overland options such as one featuring a comprehensive overview of the Holy Land with a stay in Jerusalem on “Grand Overland,” and another which includes both Cairo and Luxor and the Valley of the Kings on "Grand Egypt Tour." Guests also can choose from a long roster of day excursions, from visits to the ruins of Athens’ Acropolis on “Athens Sightseeing and Acropolis,” trips that explore the craters of Italy’s Mt. Etna on “Taste of Sicily: Mt. Etna & Taormina,” and an overview of Russia’s St. Petersburg, visiting the famed Hermitage Museum, Catherine’s Palace and Peterhof Palace on “The Grand St. Petersburg with Hermitage.”

--Liberty of the Seas will begin its very first Europe season at Barcelona with nine short roundtrip sailings, four- and five-night Western Mediterranean itineraries. Then, Liberty of the Seas will offer a repeating seven-night Western Mediterranean itinerary for the remainder of the season. Sister-ship Independence of the Seas will offer year-round Europe itineraries for the second consecutive year, beginning with alternating 14-night roundtrip Eastern and Western Mediterranean sailings from Southampton, U.K. The ship will then sail 11-night Canary Islands itineraries in autumn and 18-night Ultimate Mediterranean itineraries during the winter months. Liberty of the Seas and Independence of the Seas will be the only vessels in Europe exclusively featuring amenities that have revolutionized the cruise industry, such as the FlowRider surf simulator, the H20 Zone water park, a boxing ring, cantilevered whirlpools, and the four-bedroom, four-bathroom Presidential Family Suite that sleeps up to 14. With eight restaurants and more than 15 bars and lounges, each of the two ships offer guests one-of-kind vacation experiences found on no other ship in Europe.

-- In 2011, Voyager of the Seas will mark the first ever arrival of a Voyager-class cruise ship to Venice and offer new seven-night roundtrip itineraries from the City of Canals, opening for booking at a later date. Sister-ship Adventure of the Seas will homeport for a second year in Malaga, Spain, offering a seven-night Western Mediterranean itinerary through early autumn, followed by six five-night sailings alternating a Mediterranean with Canary Islands itinerary. Navigator of the Seas, meanwhile, will offer a seven-night roundtrip Eastern Mediterranean itinerary from Rome, which includes a call at Chania (Souda), Greece, a new port for Royal Caribbean. All three Voyager-class ships are equipped with ice-skating rinks, the line’s iconic rock-climbing walls, nine-hole miniature golf courses, and the Royal Promenade, a boulevard, lined with shops, restaurants, bars and lounges running nearly the length of the ship.

--Grandeur of the Seas will offer vacationers two brand-new alternating seven-night itineraries, Western Mediterranean and Italian Mediterranean, sailing roundtrip from Palma de Mallorca, a new homeport for the cruise line. Brilliance of the Seas will return to Barcelona on alternating 12-night roundtrip Mediterranean sailings, which feature maiden calls at Italy’s Naples (Salerno) and Ravenna, a new port offering more choices of tours to Milan and Florence.

--From Istanbul, Turkey, Vision of the Seas will offer six roundtrip sailings in autumn 2011 on new 10- and 11-night Holy Land itineraries. Splendour of the Seas will be homeported at Rome (Civitavecchia) and offer a variety of itineraries, including new 12-night roundtrip Mediterranean Holy Land and Mediterranean Egypt cruises. The Egypt itinerary features a two-day overnight call in Alexandria Egypt.

--The 2011 summer Baltic season for Jewel of the Seas will offer vacationers a range of 12-night roundtrip itineraries from Harwich, England, to Scandinavia and Russia. Ports of call include Copenhagen; Stockholm; Tallinn, Estonia; and an overnight at St. Petersburg, Russia. Vision of the Seas, meanwhile, will offer a range of three- to seven-night Baltic and Scandinavia itineraries sailing from Copenhagen, Oslo, or Stockholm. On the June 11, 2011 sailing, Vision of the Seas will make a maiden call at Liverpool, England.

Travel professionals should go www.cruisingpower.com or call (800) 327-2056.

2011-12 Cruises From US Northeast

Royal Caribbean International has announced its roster of 2011-12 Bermuda, Caribbean, and Canada and New England cruises, ranging from five- to 12-night itineraries sailing from three convenient U.S. Northeast cruise ports. In 2011, Enchantment of the Seas will continue year-round service from Baltimore – its second consecutive year; for the fifth consecutive year; Explorer of the Seas will remain the most innovative cruise ship in the New York City metropolitan area, sailing year-round from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, N.J.; and Jewel of the Seas will offer its eighth short season from Boston. Royal Caribbean’s 2011-12 Bermuda, Caribbean and Canada and New England cruises from the Northeast U.S. are open for booking.

Vacationers can take in the breathtaking seasonal color of Canada and New England on 16 Royal Caribbean voyages in fall 2011. Jewel of the Seas will sail a seven-night itinerary, with calls at Portland and Bar Harbor, Me.; St. John, New Brunswick; and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Vacationers also can choose longer, nine-night itinerariesaboard Explorer of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas, which include Boston as a port of call.

In the summer and autumn seasons, vacationers have a choice of two ships sailing from convenient local homeports to Bermuda and the Caribbean. From Cape Liberty, Explorer of the Seas will alternate a five-night Bermuda and a nine-night Bermuda and Caribbean itinerary. Enchantment of the Seas will alternate a five-night Bermuda and a nine-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary from Baltimore. Both ships’ short Bermuda itineraries include an overnight in King’s Wharf, enabling guests to enjoy the island’s nightlife at their leisure. Both ships also will feature seven-night winter and Easter holiday sailings, with port calls at Port Canaveral, Fla.; Nassau, Bahamas and Coco Cay, Royal Caribbean’s private island paradise.

During the 2011-12 winter months, vacationers also have choices of longer cruises to the warm waters of the Caribbean. Explorer of the Seas will alternate 10-night Eastern Caribbean and 11-night Southern Caribbean itineraries from Cape Liberty, while Enchantment of the Seas will alternate nine-night Bahamas and 12-night Southern Caribbean itineraries from Baltimore. Most Caribbean itineraries also will include a call to Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beach destination on the northern coast of Haiti.

Travel professionals should go www.cruisingpower.com or call (800) 327-2056.

Royal Caribbean/UK

Website: www.royalcaribbean.co.uk

Cruise Through The Suez Canal

Join Royal Caribbean International for a 14-night Suez Canal fly/cruise sailing through the exotic Middle-East to the tropical waters of the Mediterranean onboard Brilliance of the Seas from just £1,439 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin).

Price includes flights from London Heathrow to Dubai, transfers and a 14-night cruise calling at Muscat (Oman), Safaga (Egypt), Sharm El Sheik (Egypt), Suez Canal (Passage) and Alexandria (Egypt) before arriving into Barcelona (Spain) for the return flight from Barcelona to London Heathrow; meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on April 19, 2010 departure.

Celebrity Cruises

Website: www.celebritycruises.com

Celebrity Eclipse Returns To Southampton In 2011

Celebrity Eclipse will return to Southampton for a second summer in 2011 and sailings for the season are now on sale.

Celebrity Eclipse will be officially launched in Southampton at the end of April before embarking on its inaugural season of itineraries to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. The 122,000 GRT ship will spend the winter in the Caribbean and will now return to the UK in April 2011 for a similar series of sailings including the popular short break and traditional 14-night holidays to the Mediterranean. A new itinerary for 2011 is the 14-night Italian Mediterranean cruise. which ports at some of the famous Moorish influenced cities of Spain en route to Italy. Also, due to popular demand the 16-night Western Mediterranean and Adriatic Coast itinerary has increased from two to four sailings for 2011.

Seabourn

Website: www.seabourn.com

Cruise Savings For Sojourn’s Maiden Season In Europe

Seabourn is currently offering two-for-one cruise fares and value-priced round trip airfare on Sojourn’s Europe maiden season. All-inclusive cruise-only fares start from $4,950 per person, based on double occupancy. Reduced round trip add-on airfares start from $499 for economy class and only $1,999 for business class, from 40 North American gateways.

On Jan. 5, 2011, Sojourn will embark on a 111-day World Cruise from Los Angeles to London via the South Pacific, New Zealand, around Western Australia, Indonesia and Southeast Asia, India, Arabia and the Mediterranean.

Like its sister ship, Seabourn Odyssey, Sojourn will provide the most exclusive all-suite accommodation available at sea, with 225 suites in total, 90 percent of which have private verandas. Top of the range suites include Wintergarden Suites with private solarium and veranda, and Signature Suites with sweeping verandas and unrivalled views facing forward. All suites will feature separate living areas and bedrooms, writing desks with personalized stationery, iPod and MP3 connections and spacious granite bathrooms with separate bath and shower and twin sinks.

The two-deck, state of the art Spa at Seabourn will feature a Spa Villa that can be reserved for hours of pure indulgence and relaxation. The new vessel will offer four dining venues, including a spacious open-seating Restaurant capable of seating all guests. Six bars and lounges will serve a full range of beverages including fine wines and spirits with Seabourn’s compliments.

All Seabourn Voyages Through Fall 2011 Are Now Open For Sale

The Yachts of Seabourn has opened its 2011-2012 cruise season for sale today, with a value-packed promotion featuring Two-for-One cruise fares plus value-priced air add-ons on all Seabourn voyages through fall of 2011. Cruise fares start from $3,250 per person, and value-priced round-trip, add-on airfares from 40 North American gateways begin from $499 for economy and from $1,999 for business class. A complete, 24-month listing of cruise itineraries and fares is available on Seabourn’s website, www.seabourn.com.

To qualify for the Two-for-One promotional fares, 2010 and 2011 cruises must be booked by May 31, 2010. Both the cruise fare and airfare promotions are capacity controlled and subject to space availability. Certain other restrictions apply.

Silversea

Website: www.silversea.com

Silversea Launches Circle Australia Voyage

Silversea has announced an exciting new itinerary for 2011, providing discerning travelers with the unique opportunity to circumnavigate Australia on one bespoke voyage for the first time ever.

The 30-day Sydney roundtrip, which sails from January 19 to February 18, 2011, will enable guests to visit a diverse range of destinations, from great State capitals and paradise islands to remote regions which are only accessible by Silversea’s intimate vessel, Silver Shadow.

Departing from the vibrant city of Sydney, Silver Shadow will sail counter-clockwise around the vast island continent with calls in Brisbane, Whitsunday Islands, Willis Island (Great Barrier Reef), Port Douglas, Cooktown, Darwin, Broome, Exmouth, Perth, Albany, Port Lincoln, Adelaide, Geelong, Melbourne and Hobart.

Throughout the voyage, guests will have the chance to:

• Discover the abundant marine life and deserted white sand beaches at the Great Barrier Reef

• Explore the oldest tropical rainforest in the world at Port Douglas

• Celebrate Australia Day in historic Cooktown, the first British settlement in Australia

• Soak up the culture in the dynamic cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Darwin and be charmed by quaint coastal villages such as the pearling town of Broome

• Indulge in mouth watering regional cuisine throughout the journey and visit artisan wine and cheese makers in the Barossa Valley, South Australia

• Learn about Ancient Aboriginal culture

• Be amazed by outstanding natural wonders such as the pristine wilderness of Kangaroo Island

• Enjoy unique encounters with native wildlife including koalas, emus, wombats and wallabies and visit the beautiful island state of Tasmania

In addition, the Silver Shore Concierge is on hand to organize exclusive shore excursions for guests seeking travel adventures that go beyond the ordinary, from interesting twists on popular attractions to off the beaten track adventures. Several overnight land excursions are also available to those wishing to immerse themselves in remote areas such as the Outback.

Cruise-only fares for this 30-day, all-inclusive cruise (#3102) start from £11,282* based on two people sharing a Vista Suite. The price includes port charges, government fees and taxes.

* US fares available

Silversea Announces First-Ever Corporate Chefs Culinary Cruise

Silversea continues its commitment to the culinary enrichment of its guests with the creation of Flavors of the Mediterranean, a special program showcasing the talents of its corporate chefs, slated for the May 24, Rome-to-Nice sailing of Silver Whisper.

This unique voyage is designed to highlight the flavors of the Mediterranean by bringing together, for the first time, Silversea's corporate culinary stars to tantalize guests with festive dinners and tastings, cooking demonstrations and wine pairings. Guests can attend lectures discussing top trends from terroir to sustainable; join optional tours to renowned wineries and bistros; and visit a local market with a chef to learn how to pick the perfect ingredients for a delicious meal.

The cast for this epicurean extravaganza includes:

--Rudi Scholdis -- voyage host and Silversea's director of culinary development. Belgium-born Scholdis has catered to an impressive list of international celebrities. After cooking his way across Europe, he spent five years working in top London hotels, culminating with the legendary Dorchester. From Alain Ducasse to Charlie Trotter, Scholdis has worked alongside some of the world's leading chefs. He has catered for Queen Elizabeth, the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Charles; and served heads of state from President Bill Clinton and Saudi Arabia's King Fahd to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, plus an array of Hollywood superstars.

--David Bilsland -- Silversea's culinary trainer and program leader for L'École des Chefs. Educated in classic French cooking, Bilsland's career includes several years as a chef/instructor at Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in London. He currently hosts Silversea's L'École des Chefs, a unique interactive cooking school offered in partnership with Relais & Châteaux.

--Richard Weichbold -- the corporate chef for Silversea. This son of a South African restaurateur moved to London where he became sous chef at the Dorchester. In 2003 he left the urban scene to join Silversea as executive chef aboard Silver Shadow and was promoted to corporate chef in 2009.

--Alberto Colombo -- Silversea's corporate Italian chef. A native of Turin, graduate of the Culinary Institute in Alessandria and an alumnus of some of Piedmont's top restaurants, Colombo is steeped in the gastronomic traditions of a region known as Italy's culinary star. He oversees the authentic Italian regional cuisine for Silversea's fleet-wide La Terrazza restaurants.

--Alex Hekimov -- the corporate pastry chef for Silversea. From Shanghai to London, Hekimov has practiced his craft in a number of major international hotels before joining Silversea in 2002. In 2009, he was named "Barcardi Chef of the Year" for his Citrus & Barcardi Indulgence recipe. However, his true addiction is chocolate and today he travels from ship to ship, making sure the croissants are flaky, the dough perfect, and the desserts -- a chocoholic's nirvana.

--Lyn Farmer -- the wine consultant for Silversea. This widely published wine and food writer and senior editor of The Wine News magazine, has been honored with the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Writing on Wine and Spirits. He has judged international wine competitions and led tastings and tours to food and wine regions throughout the world. His A Moment on Wine video series is featured throughout the Silversea fleet.

From Rome to the Riviera, guests on this seven-day voyage will explore lands where wines are mellow, glories eternal and breezes fragrant with rosemary and thyme. They will chart their own course to gastronomic discovery with the option to savor the flavors of Sicily at a Relais & Châteaux restaurant along the Amalfi Drive, or by joining a cooking class in St. Tropez, perhaps, or Corsica.

The May 24, 2010, Flavors of the Mediterranean cruise (#4013) aboard the all-suite, 382-guest Silver Whisper departs from Rome for Sorrento, Taormina, Palermo, Calvi (Corsica), St. Tropez and Nice. Silver Savings fares for this 7-day voyage start at $4,227 (reflecting a 55% discount) per person, based on double occupancy.

Also available is a free roundtrip air package that includes transfers between airport and pier on the day of embarkation and disembarkation. The free air package is available from 22 gateway cities in the U.S. and Canada. It is a capacity-controlled program offered for a limited time. Additionally, there are specially priced air programs available from another 50 cities.

Dan Rather And Robert Lacey Speakers On World Cruise 2011

Silver Spirit, will take to the seas next January on a 119-day eastbound World Cruise traversing both hemispheres from Los Angeles to Southampton. To complement such an extraordinary odyssey, Silversea is lining up an impressive array of distinguished speakers.

Among those already tapped to host enriching presentations include:

--Dan Rather: The Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist who anchored the CBS Evening News for 24 years, and contributed to CBS' 60 Minutes and other prime-time news programs, will host Voyage 5107, March 22 - April 3, Hong Kong - Singapore.

--Robert Lacey: The British historian and biographer, whose numerous international bestsellers include Majesty, considered the definitive study of British monarchy, is slated to host Voyage 5110, May 3 - 19, Athens - Southampton.

--Zahi Hawass: The world-famous Egyptologist and secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Cairo will host Voyage 5109, April 18 - May 3, Dubai - Athens.

--Bruce Riedel: A senior fellow in foreign policy at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy of the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., former C.I.A. analyst, counter-terrorism expert and author is slated to host Voyage 5110, May 3 - 10, Athens - Southampton.

--Geoffrey Blainey: The eminent Australian historian, commentator and author of numerous books, including his highly acclaimed A Short History of the World, will host Voyage 5105, February 12 - March 1, Auckland - Sydney.

--Lawrence Blair: The writer, host and co-producer of the Emmy Award-nominated BBC/PBS adventure series Ring of Fire, tracing a ten-year epic journey across the Indonesian archipelago, will host Voyage 5106, March 1 - 22, Sydney - Hong Kong.

--George Losey: A professor of zoology and marine biology at the University of Hawaii, who has studied the behavior and ecology of marine animals throughout the world, will host Voyage 5103, January 20 - February 1, Los Angeles - Papeete.

--Mark Eddowes: The New Zealand archaeologist who has lived in the Society Islands for over 20 years, doing field work throughout Polynesia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Easter Island and the Cook Islands, will host Voyages 5103 - 5104, January 20 - February 12, Los Angeles to Auckland.

--John Hartley: The retired Australian major general, a graduate of Duntroon's Royal Military College, the University of Queensland and the U.S. Army War College, will host Voyage 5106, March 1 - 22, Sydney - Hong Kong.

--Denise Heywood: The author, journalist, photographer, fellow with the Royal Geographical Society, and lecturer for the British Museum on their Asian Art course, will host Voyages 5106 - 5107, March 1 - April 3, Sydney - Singapore.

--Scott Pearson: The recipient of a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University, who taught economic development and international trade at Stanford University, winning several awards for his research and teaching, will host Voyages 5108 - 5109, April 3 - May 3, Singapore - Athens.

--Lyn Farmer: The widely published wine and food writer and senior editor of The Wine News magazine, who has been honored with the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Writing on Wine and Spirits, will host Voyage 5105, February 12 - March 1, Auckland - Sydney.

--Rosanne Martorella: The professor of sociology at William Paterson University and author of several books on art and society will host Voyage 5110, May 3 - 10, Athens - Southampton.

The Spirit of Discovery cruise begins in Los Angeles on January 19, 2011 when Silver Spirit is set to welcome no more than 540 privileged guests for a 119-day odyssey exploring 60 destinations in 25 countries -- with 11 overnight port visits -- before concluding in Southampton on May 19. Along the journey, Silver Spirit will take in the tranquillity of French Polynesia, Australia's untamed landscapes, the unique customs and cultures of Asia, ancient Egyptian wonders and timeless Mediterranean hideaways spanning from Italy and Monaco to Spain and Portugal.

Windstar Cruises

Website: www.windstarcruises.com

Windstar Cruises Announces Its 2011-2012 Sailings

Windstar Cruises, has announced its 2011 and Winter 2012 season which include new Baltic, Holy Land, European, Costa Rican, Caribbean and Transatlantic voyages.

New Baltic Voyages:

Architectural wonders, monuments, picturesque villages and dramatic landscapes are some of the sites on Baltic cruises:

· Seven-day sailing on Wind Spirit from Le Havre, France to Oslo, Norway departs July 9, 2011, and visits Dieppe, France; Oostende/Brugge, Belgium; Amsterdam, Netherlands (overnight); and Kristiansand, Norway.

· Seven-day sailing on Wind Spirit from Oslo, Norway to Stockholm, Sweden departs July 16, 2011, and visits Göteberg, Sweden; Århus, Denmark; Copenhagen, Denmark; Warnemünde, Germany; and Visby, Sweden.

· Seven-day sailing on Wind Spirit Stockholm, Sweden roundtrip departs July 23, 2011, and visits Helsinki, Finland; Tallinn, Estonia; and St. Petersburg, Russia (overnight).

· Seven-day sailing on Wind Spirit from Stockholm, Sweden to Oslo, Norway departs July 30, 2011, and visits Visby, Sweden; Warnemünde, Germany; Copenhagen, Denmark; Århus, Denmark; and Göteberg, Sweden.

· Seven-day sailing on Wind Spirit from Oslo, Norway to Le Havre, France departs August 6, 2011, and visits Kristiansand, Norway; Amsterdam, Netherlands (overnight); Oostende/Brugge, Belgium; and Dieppe, France.

New Holy Land Voyages:

Rich with history, ancient ruins, museums and archeological sites, the Holy Land sailings also feature optional excursions to Cairo and pre- and post-cruise programs to Jerusalem.

· 10-day sailing on Wind Star from Athens, Greece to Ashdod, Israel departs October 15, 2011, and visits Santoríni, Greece; Rhodes, Greece; Alanya, Turkey; Limassol, Cyprus; and Port Said, Egypt (overnight).

· 11-day sailing on Wind Star from Ashdod, Israel to Athens, Greece departs October 25, 2011, and visits Haifa, Israel; Port Said, Egypt (overnight); Limassol, Cyprus; Marmaris, Turkey; Patmos, Greece; and Ídra, Greece.

New European Voyages:

These European sailings highlight World War II sites, charming towns, castles, fishing villages and offer an optional post tour to Paris.

· Seven-day sailing on Wind Spirit from Lisbon, Portugal to Le Havre, France departs July 2, 2011, and visits Porto, Portugal; Brest, France; Roscoff, France; and Cherbourg, France.

· Seven-day sailing on Wind Spirit from Le Havre, France to Lisbon, Portugal departs August 13, 2011, and visits Cherbourg, France; Roscoff, France; Brest, France; and Porto, Portugal.

New Costa Rica Voyages:

New Costa Rica itineraries offer lush jungles, pristine beaches, abundant wildlife and a Panama Canal Transit.

· Seven-day sailings on Wind Star from Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica to Colón, Panama depart December 31, 2011 & February 4, 2012, and visit Bahía Drake, Costa Rica; Golfito, Costa Rica; Isla de Cobia, Panama; Panama Canal Transit; and San Blas Islands, Panama.

· Seven-day sailings on Wind Star from Colón, Panama to Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica depart January 7 and February 11, 2012, and visit San Blas Islands, Panama; Panama Canal Transit; Isla de Cobia, Panama; Golfito, Costa Rica; Bahía Drake.

New Caribbean Voyages:

Vibrant ports, white-sand beaches and azure waters are some of the elements that comprise these cruises.

· Seven-day sailings on Wind Surf from Barbados to St. Martin depart January 7, February 11, March 24, 2012, and visit Mayreau, The Grenadines; Pigeon Island, St. Lucia; Le Marin; Cabritts, Dominica; Marie Galante, Guadeloupe; and St. Barts, F.W.I.

· Seven day sailings on Wind Surf from St. Martin to Barbados depart January 14 and February 18, 2012, and visit Virgin Gorda, B.V.I.; St. Kitts, F.W.I.; Îles de Saints, F.W.I.; Pigeon Island, St. Lucia; Bequia, The Grenadines; and St. George’s, Grenada.

New Transatlantic Voyage:

· 13-day sailing on Wind Spirit from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain to St. Martin, F.W.I. departs November 20, 2011.

The 312-guest Wind Surf begins its 2011 season with a series of seven-day roundtrip, northbound and southbound Barbados voyages from January through March. From April through November, Wind Surf operates seven-day Mediterranean cruises from Lisbon, Portugal; Barcelona, Spain; Rome, Italy; Nice, France; Venice, Italy and Athens, Greece. During December 2011 through March 2012, Wind Surf sails seven-day northbound and southbound Barbados voyages along with new itineraries between Barbados and St. Martin.

The 148-guest Wind Spirit offers seven-day roundtrip St. Martin itineraries from January through March 2011 and again in December 2011 through March 2012. From April through June, and mid-August through mid-November 2011, Wind Spirit sails Europe and Greek Isles itineraries from Lisbon, Portugal; Barcelona, Spain; Rome, Italy; Athens, Greece; and Istanbul, Turkey. In July and August, Wind Spirit premieres new European seven-day voyages from Lisbon, Portugal; Le Havre, France; Oslo, Norway; and Stockholm, Sweden.

The 148-guest Wind Star starts its 2011 season with seven-day Costa Rica cruises roundtrip from Puerto Caldera. From April through mid-October and in November, Wind Star operates Europe and Greek Isles itineraries from Lisbon, Portugal; Barcelona, Spain; Athens; Greece; Istanbul, Turkey; Rome, Italy; and Venice, Italy. In mid-October, Wind Star premiers two Holy Land voyages—a ten-day Athens, Greece to Ashdod, Israel itinerary and an 11-day Ashdod, Israel to Athens, Greece itinerary. In December, Wind Star sails a 14-day Panama Canal cruise followed by a seven-day Costa Rica cruise roundtrip from Puerto Caldera. From January through March 2012, Wind Star will operate four new seven-day Costa Rica itineraries that feature a Panama Canal transit along with seven-day roundtrip Puerto Caldera cruises.

Reservations for Windstar’s 2011 and 2012 voyages will be open for bookings starting March 29 exclusively for Windstar Foremast alumni members and on April 12 for everyone. For more information on Windstar’s itineraries, please visit www.windstarcruises.com or 1-800-258-7245.

Windstar is a division of Ambassadors International Cruise Group, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ambassadors Cruise Group, LLC.

Sail Windstar with Winemaker Eric Dunham of Dunham Cellars

Windstar Cruises, which operates a three-ship fleet of luxury yachts that explore hidden harbors and secluded coves of the world’s most treasured destinations, offers guests the opportunity to learn about winemaking from Eric Dunham of award-winning Dunham Cellars aboard Wind Surf’s July 25, 2010, Rome to Venice sailing.

Windstar’s Signature Collection Host Series features distinguished guests and lecturers throughout the 2010 season, including Dunham. Dunham will discuss the wine making process during a lecture and question and answer session and also conduct wine tastings. When the ship is Dubrovnik, Dunham will host an exclusive shore excursion to the Dalmatian Coast wineries in Croatia.

Dunham trained in all phases of wine making through an internship with Hogue Cellars and served as assistant winemaker at the prestigious L’Ecole No. 41 winery under the tutelage of Marty Clubb. He handcrafted small lots of premium Cabernet Sauvignon under the Dunham Cellars name achieving prestigious awards including a Gold Medal and a 93 rating at the World Wine Championship. In the Spring of 1999, Dunham and his family opened the winery in a converted WWII airplane hanger at Walla Walla’s Regional Airport. Dunham Cellars was “2008 Pacific Northwest Winery of the Year” and their wines have received accolades from The Wall Street Journal, Wine Enthusiast and Food & Wine magazine.

Wind Surf’s seven-day Rome to Venice itinerary includes Capri, Italy; Taormina, Italy; Kotor, Montenegro; Dubrovnik, Croatia; and Hvar, Croatia. Cruise fares start at $1,949 per person, based on double occupancy.

To complement this sailing, Windstar is offering guests a special shore excursion with Dunham. The shore excursion begins with a scenic drive along the Adriatic Coast to the village of Komaji, home of the Crvik family’s vineyards and winery, where guests have the opportunity to try wines from the region and meet winemaker Andro Crvik. Next is a specialty food tasting at Orasac, a village known for its olive oil productions, and a visit to the Milos Winery in Ponikve Village for a tasting at one of the regions’ best-known wine cellars. From there, guests visit Mali Ston, the “oyster capital” of Croatia. Lunch is served at a local tavern featuring fresh seafood and local wines. The 7 ½-hour excursion is $159 per person and can be purchased online at www.windstarcruises.com.

Windstar Offers Future Cruise Credit of $250 Per Person For Select Sailings

Windstar Cruises offers a Future Cruise Credit of $250 per person for guests who book select April through June 2010 sailings now through April 30, 2010.

Select April through June Sailings Include:

Wind Surf

--April 4, 2010 Lisbon to Barcelona visiting Tangier, Malaga, Alicante, Palma de Mallorca and Valencia. From $2,399 per person, double occupancy

--April 18, 2010 Rome to Athens visiting Ischia, Sorrento, Messina, Zakynthos and Monemvassia. From $1,749 per person, double occupancy

--April 25, 2010 Athens to Rome visiting Ischia, Sorrento, Messina, Zakynthos and Monemvassia. From $1,949 per person, double occupancy

--May 2, 2010 Rome to Rome visiting Porto-Vecchio, Messina, Sorrento, Capri and Ischia. From $1,749 per person, double occupancy

--May 9, 2010 Rome to Nice visiting Bastia, San Remo, Cannes (overnight), Monte Carlo (two overnights). From $2,999 per person, double occupancy

--May 23, 2010 Nice to Rome visiting Monte Carlo (overnight), Portofino, Livorno, Portoferraio and Port Cervo. From $1,949 per person, double occupancy

--May 30, 2010 Rome to Rome visiting Ischia, Capri, Amalfi, Sorrento, Ajaccio, Livorno. From $2,149 per person, double occupancy

--June 6, 2010 Rome to Venice visiting Capri, Taormina, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Hvar. From $1,949 per person, double occupancy

--June 13 and 20, 2010 Venice to Venice visiting Rovinj, Opatija, Trogir, Dubrovnik. From $2,749 per person double occupancy.

Wind Star

--April 24, 2010 Lisbon to Barcelona visiting Portimao, Cadiz, Puerto Banus, Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca. From $2,399 per person, double occupancy.

Wind Spirit

--May 1, 2010 Barcelona to Nice visiting Palamos, Port Vendres, Sete, Marseille, Le Lavandou and Cannes. From $1,549 per person, double occupancy;

--May 8, 2010 Nice to Rome visiting Monte Carlo (overnight), Portovenere, Livorno, Portoferraio, Palau. From $1,749 per person, double occupancy;

--May 15, 2010 Rome to Rome visiting Ischia, Capri, Amalfi, Sorrento, Ajaccio and Livorno. From $2,499 per person.

Offer is valid on new bookings on select April through June 2010 sailings made by April 30, 2010. The Future Cruise Credit can be applied to any future 2010 or 2011 sailing booked at Advance Savings Advantage Program rates, Early Booking Incentive rates or Alumni rates. Future Cruise Credit certificates will be mailed two weeks after guests sail and are valid until December 20, 2011.Offer is combinable with one shipboard credit, upgrade or package offer. Taxes additional. Offer is capacity controlled and may be withdrawn or modified at the discretion of Windstar.