Crystal
Cruises
Celebrity
Cruises’ ‘Millennium’ And ‘Infinity’ Do A Swap
Celebrity Cruises will “swap ships”
for its 2006 sailings in South America to avoid disruption
of guests’ vacations and keep both ships on track for
scheduled drydock periods. Celebrity’s Millennium will replace sister ship Infinity in South America, while
Infinity will
sail in the Caribbean. Meanwhile, sister ship Infinity
is scheduled for drydock in the Caribbean from March
20 through April 6, 2006.
All itineraries in both regions remain
exactly as scheduled. Guests currently booked on either
Infinity or Millennium in the first quarter of 2006
are being informed that they will retain the same accommodations
they have now. All guest data, such as booking and stateroom
numbers, will be automatically transferred to the appropriate
ship.
-- Millennium-South America Itineraries.
On December 24, Millennium will sail a 15-night South
America voyage from Fort Lauderdale to Valparaiso, Chile.
The ship then will depart on alternating 14-night South
America cruises from Valparaiso or Buenos Aires, Argentina,
January 8 and 22, and February 5, 2006.
On February 19, Millennium will offer
Celebrity’s wildly popular 14-night Rio Carnavale cruise
roundtrip from Buenos Aires. The ship’s South America
season will be capped with a 14-night cruise from Buenos
Aires to Valparaiso on March 5, and a 14-night Panama
Canal cruise departing Valparaiso on March 19, followed
by the resumption of Millennium’s Caribbean season beginning
April 2, 2006, with a seven-night cruise roundtrip from
Fort Lauderdale.
-- Infinity-Caribbean Itineraries.
Infinity will sail a nine-night Eastern Caribbean holiday
cruise roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale on December 24,
2005. On January 2, 2006, Infinity will set sail on
a special six-night Eastern Caribbean cruise from Fort
Lauderdale, and every Sunday through March 19 will offer
a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise roundtrip from
Fort Lauderdale. Following scheduled drydock from March
19 to April 2, 2006, Infinity will cap the season with
a 15-night Panama Canal cruise departing Fort Lauderdale
April 2, ending in San Francisco.
To compensate for Infinity’s two-week
dry-dock period in March and to meet guest demand for
additional Caribbean cruises this winter, Celebrity
also is offering four new seven-night cruises on Century. The ship will sail round-trip from Fort Lauderdale on March
19 and 26, and April 2 and 9, calling on Ocho Rios,
Jamaica; Georgetown, Grand Cayman; Cozumel, Mexico;
and Key West, Florida.
For more information, call your travel
agent, dial 1-800-437-3111, or visit www.celebrity.com.
Stone
Sculpting Art Classes Debut On Crystal Cruises’ 2006
World Cruise
Five hundred pounds of Colorado alabaster
is en route to Crystal Serenity to be used in the first-ever
stone sculpting art classes offered aboard a cruise
ship. Guests
traveling aboard the luxury cruise line’s 11th annual
World Cruise will sculpt the eight-pound stones into
personal treasures when an exclusive new Masterpiece
Art Program debuts on the 106-day odyssey traveling
from Los Angeles to London, January 18 to May 5, 2006.
The most comprehensive art program
at sea, Crystal’s Masterpiece Art Program combines worldly
destinations, regional style and personal flair with
an engaging course of progressive study in painting,
sculpture or crafts.
As of August 2005, Crystal is offering on every
cruise art courses incorporating the unique attributes
and art history of the destination.
The expanded Masterpiece Art Program will be
offered on the World Cruise and other two-week+ voyages.
Inspired by the beauty of the world
and the imaginations of its guests, Crystal collaborated
with long-time partner Linda Perlmutter, owner of the
highly regarded Odyssey Art Centers, to take art enrichment
to a new level with innovative programming and interactive
classes. With an emphasis on quality, only the finest
supplies will be used, including Daler-Rowney paints,
professional grade paper, Princeton and Loew-Cornell
paint brushes, Sanford drawing pens, and Model Magic
clay.
Each of the seven World Cruise segments
will spotlight a different art form incorporating the
artful nuances of the destination, with professional
instructors leading students on a progressive course
of study. For example, during the Australian segment,
the teacher may discuss aboriginal art and suggest ways
for students to incorporate it in their work.
The Masterpiece Art Program curriculum
is featured as follows:
--
Designer Decoupage.
Guests design a Chanel-type handbag or treasure
box with Aztec and Inca artifacts and memorabilia collected
during their cruise. World Voyage I; Los Angeles to
Lima, Peru; 14 days; January 18 – February 1, 2006.
-- Sensational Scrapbooking” Not just photos in an album, but a coffee-table book showcasing
the individual experiences of each guest with the serene
beauty of the South Pacific.
World Voyage II; Lima to Papeete, Tahiti; 14
days; February 1 – 15.
-- Fruits of the Field & Flowers
of the Forest. Budding artists create a relief using paper
sculpture depicting the diverse natural beauty of New
Zealand and Australia. World Voyage III; Papeete to
Melbourne, Australia; 16 days; February 15 – March 4.
-- A Vision of Eden.
Guests try their hand at sculpting with clay
as they journey through the Indian Ocean en route to
South Africa. World
Voyage IV; Melbourne to Cape Town, South Africa; 19
days; March 4 – 23.
-- Wonderful Watercolor.
In-depth instruction on color and technique culminating
with a framed painting – perhaps of Africa. World Voyage
V; Cape Town to Dubai, UAE; 17 days; March 23 – April
9.
-- Stone Sculpture.
Never before done at sea, novice sculptors learn
to transform an eight-pound piece of Colorado alabaster
into a work of art. Offered on two voyages using stones
in shades of pink, gray and white World Voyage VI; Dubai
to Rome, Italy; 15 days; April 9 – 24 and World Voyage
VII; Rome to London; 11 days; April 24 – May 5.
The Masterpiece Art Program is the
newest addition to the rich menu of daytime and evening
activities offered as part of the line’s renowned Crystal
Visions® Enrichment Program.
The 2006 World Cruise will again showcase stars
of the stage and screen, celebrated authors and journalists,
noted diplomats and ambassadors, and intriguing scientists
and explorers.
With a focus on choices and exceptional
quality, World Cruise guests have tremendous options
for enrichment on every segment of the journey with
dedicated theme cruise programming featuring presentations
by the Smithsonian Associates and Sotheby’s Institute,
as well as a Film Festival and Crystal’s popular Wine
& Food Festival.
For
reservations and additional information, please contact
a travel agent or call 888-799-4625. Website: www.crystalcruises.com
Fred.Olsen
Cruise Line
Musical
Themes Offered On Olsen Fall Cruises
Thirteen-night Canaries cruise departing
Southampton on November 20 (BW568) features two 50s tribute
bands – At The Hop and Class of 55 - versatile enough
to cover everything from Buddy Holly and the Crickets
to Elvis and Tom Jones! Everyone will be rocking round
the clock and jiving up a storm as the ship wends her
way across the sea from Southampton to Madeira and around
the islands of the sunny Canaries – she also calls in
to Morocco for some African spice and to La Coruna in
Spain on her return journey. The bands will perform
a series of great fifties-inspired sets making the evenings
go with a swing.
The next Canaries departure (BW569)
is thirteen nights from December 3 and has some of the
best tribute bands in the UK—both The Bandit Beatles
and Abba Solution will be entertaining guests with all
the old favorite hits. With Disco Fever to get pulses
racing, plus Tom Jones and Elvis, this cruise is a delight
for music lovers. Ports of call to visit between sets
are Lisbon, Agadir (Morocco), Arrecife (Lanzarote),
and an overnight stay in Las Palmas (Gran Canaria),
Santa Cruz, Tenerife and Funchal (Madeira).
The next departure–BW570–is a pre-Christmas
Mini Cruise departing Southampton
December 16 and visiting Cobh (the port for Cork)
for an overnight stay, then Cherbourg in France. The
Bandit Beatles, Elvis and Tom Jones tributes will keep
the joint jumping between shore visits on this mini
cruise, which is the perfect way to get into the Christmas
spirit. Prices for BM568 start from £1,017 per person
with 45 percent discount; BW569 from £984 with Early
Special Discount; and the mini-cruise prices start at
just £297 per person, also with Early Special Discount.
For full details of all Fred. Olsen
cruises, call 01473 742424, visit www.FredOlsenCruises.co.uk
or see your
local ABTA travel agent.
Hebridean
Cruises
Hebridean
Cruises Announces Its Summer/Fall 2006 Cruises
Hebridean Cruises has announced publication
of its Summer and Autumn 2006 brochure for luxury cruise
ship Hebridean Spirit, which features 28 cruises including, new for next
year a voyage along the Gulf of Aqaba with a full day
visit to Petra. Other new sojourns for the 98-guest ship include
two seven-night Istanbul round trips along the Black
Sea coasts of Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine
and two new UK to UK cruises from Tilbury, exploring
the south English coast and near continent. Next year’s
program offers voyages of shorter three-, four- and
five-night cruises in addition to longer ones of nine-
and ten-nights duration with some departures on Saturdays.
While its smaller, 30 cabin Hebridean Princess will continue to cruise the coast of Scotland and
its western isles from early spring to late autumn,
during this summer it ventured further afield for the
first time and will repeat this exercise again in 2006.
This summer the ship sailed across the North Sea to
Norway and south to the Isle of Man, through the Menai
Straits to Liverpool and up the Manchester Ship Canal,
disembarking at Salford Quays on a new cruise focused
on Britain’s industrial past. And next summer she returns
again to Norway for two cruises from Bergen to the fjords
and sails three cruises to and from Dublin.
In another new departure, Hebridean
Spirit heads for South Africa this winter for the first
time undertaking a series of cruises out of Cape Town
and Durban between December 2005 and March 2006. During
the past four winters Hebridean Spirit has sailed in
the Indian Ocean and will be returning to the region.
Holland
America Line
A
Record Five Ships to Sail Europe for Holland America
Line in 2006
Heading into the 2006 Europe cruise
season, Holland America Line deploys a record five ships
and introduces a full summer of Mediterranean cruises
aboard the new ms Noordam. The premium line covers all
of Europe featuring 14 maiden port calls and 27 unique
itineraries sailing the Mediterranean, Scandinavia and
Russia, Greenland and Iceland, North Cape and Polar
Icecap, Black Sea, North Africa, British Isles and Transatlantic
voyages.
Fourteen maiden ports of call lead
guests to the pristine north of the Arctic Circle, once
forbidden Libya, the breezy esplanades of Alicante and
Palomos, Spain, or the rainforest-enveloped castles
of northern Turkey during one of fifty-five 10- to 35-day
cruises in spring through fall of 2006. In this hallmark
European season, Holland America Line will feature the
luxury of one- to two-night stays in Amsterdam, Athens,
Gdansk, Istanbul, Marseille, St. Petersburg and Venice;
and extended evening stays for enjoying night-life in
lively ports such as Barcelona, Monte Carlo and Santorini.
The European quintet of ships includes
the intimate 793-guest ms
Prinsendam designed for longer cruises; the new,
state-of-the-art, 1,848-guest Noordam with open, airy
spaces; the premium line's twin flagships the 1,316-
guest ms Rotterdam and 1,380-guest ms
Amsterdam; and the five-star 1,258-guest ms Maasdam.
Highlights of 2006 Europe Cruises
The new Noordam makes her graceful
debut in Europe starting with a 16-day Atlantic crossing
with the glamour of a live Big Band followed by a full
summer sailing the Mediterranean. Highlights of the
Prinsendam sailings feature a 21-day Midnight Explorer
journey to Jan Mayen Island and the Arctic Circle and
an epic 34-day transatlantic sojourn covering Western
Europe. The Rotterdam ventures throughout southern Europe
on eight varied itineraries from the thriving arts center
of Varna, Bulgaria to the impressive remains of long-
vanished empires in Tripoli, Libya.
A vast array of European shore excursions
are offered from adventurous Off the Beaten Path tours
such as Mallorca kayaking, a four-wheel drive safari
in the Sintra Mountains, or riding a jet boat through
Helsinki's waterways, to cultural and historical tours
featuring monumental museums, churches and castles,
and engaging cultural and folkloric experiences. Medallion
excursions deliver exclusive experiences such as Formula
One racing in Barcelona and popular Signature Collection
touring which provides a private luxury vehicle, a driver
and an English speaking guide; guests may design a self-styled
itinerary that suits their interests, drawing on the
professional expertise of shore excursion staff and
the local guide. Hundreds of detailed shore excursion
descriptions can be viewed online and are available
for booking online approximately six months prior to
sailing.
Four culinary experts will sail on
European cruises, conducting demonstrations and classes
in the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food &
Wine magazine. Robert Kinkead, chef/owner, Kinkead's
in Washington, D.C., sails on the May 26 Grand European
Capitals cruise aboard the Rotterdam; Michael Lomonaco,
chef/director, Guastavino's in New York City and co-host
of Epicurious on the Discovery Channel, sails July 28
aboard the Rotterdam's Best of the Baltic cruise; Mark
Fiorentino, chef, boulanger, Daniel Boulud Restaurants,
New York City, joins the Gems of the Baltic cruise on
the August 11 departure of the Amsterdam; and Charles
Dale, founder, Range and Rustique in Aspen, hosts the
Mediterranean Enchantment sailing on September 18 aboard
the Noordam.
-- With the arrival of the Noordam,
Holland America Line offers a full summer season of
10-day Mediterranean cruises in 2006. Two different
itineraries departing roundtrip from Rome feature either
the Western Mediterranean or Eastern Mediterranean and
Greek Isles, visiting various ports such as Naples,
Italy; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca,
Spain; La Goulette, Tunisia; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Corfu
and Santorini, Greece; Valletta, Malta; and Kusadasi,
Turkey. For guests interested in combining the two itineraries,
the premium cruise line offers a back-to-back booking
option creating a 20-day complete Mediterranean sailing
adventure starting from $2,999.
Altogether, three ships in the Mediterranean
sail on 25 10- to 16-day cruises from May to October.
New ports of call, from Ravenna, Italy, and its Byzantine
architecture, to Antalya, Turkey, and its mountain-sculptured
beaches, are in store for guests on the flagship Rotterdam
and elegant explorer Prinsendam. The Rotterdam offers
10- and 12-day voyages between Lisbon and Athens, with
four calls at Tripoli, Libya, which boasts colorful
architecture and Roman ruins. The Prinsendam spends
extra nights in Athens, Istanbul, Marseille and Venice
for added leisure time. Her 16-day Cradle of Civilization
itinerary explores eclectic markets in the maiden ports
of Bizerte, Tunisia and Banghazi, Libya. Fares start
at $1,749 per person, double occupancy.
-- The Rotterdam explores the Black
Sea on four 12-day sailings between Venice and Athens,
while the Prinsendam's Sept. 15 Empire of the Ottomans
cruise leads guests to the legends of Troy in the maiden
port of Canakkale, Turkey. Black Sea ports include Odesa,
Ukraine; Constanta, Romania; Istanbul, Turkey; and maiden
port calls to Varna, Bulgaria, and Samsun and Trabzon,
Turkey, featuring lush valleys and a fourth-century
monastery crowning a stunning mountain forest. Cruise
fares begin at $2,249 per person, double occupancy.
-- The premium line explores the shimmering
sights of Scandinavia and the Baltic on 19 10- to 16-day
cruises from May through September. Featured are nine
comprehensive Gems of the Baltic cruises, a 10-day compilation
of eight interesting ports in six countries in this
diverse northern sea. In 2006, every Baltic sailing
aboard the twin flagships Rotterdam and Amsterdam includes
an overnight in grand St. Petersburg and also calls
at regal Scandinavian capitals such as Aarhus, Denmark;
Tallinn, Estonia; and Helsinki, Finland on Vikings and
Czars, Best of the Baltic, and Treasures of Scandinavia
and Russia cruises. Fares start at $1,899 per person.
Aboard the Prinsendam's 16-day Scandinavian
Summer sojourn on June 24 guests enjoy two nights and
three days in St. Petersburg as well as an overnight
in Gdansk, Poland. A new 21-day Midnight Sun Explorer
cruise roundtrip from Amsterdam on July 10 epitomizes
awe inspiring scenic cruising, as the ship sails Norwegian
fjords, and into the Arctic Circle to northernmost Longyearbyen
then on to Iceland and Scotland. Fares start at $3,669
and $5,069 respectively.
-- Offering a taste of Europe's diverse
tapestry, the Rotterdam sails between Athens and Rotterdam
or London in May and September, visiting the ancient
treasures in Kusadasi, Turkey; Tripoli, Libya; Rome,
Italy; Barcelona, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; and Le Havre
(Paris), France. The July 31, 14-day Prinsendam cruise
visits Invergordon (Inverness), Scotland; the remote
Hebrides; Dublin, Ireland; La Rochelle, France; Leixoes
(Porto), Portugal; Funchal, Madeira; and Cadiz, Spain.
Fares start at $2,549 per person.
-- Holland America Line's eight 17-to-35-day
transatlantic sailings offer many options to explore
less-visited ports while crossing the ocean. Highlights
include Prinsendam's May 21 Epic Explorer cruise sails
from Fort Lauderdale to the maiden port of Narvik, Norway,
via La Rochelle, France, and Casablanca, Morocco; docking
overnight in the final city of Amsterdam. The Maasdam's
July 1 sailing offers 17, 18 or 35 days of charming
towns and stunning fjords in Ireland, Greenland, Iceland
and Norway, as she sails roundtrip from Boston, with
a chance to embark or disembark in Rotterdam. For a
unique taste of two continents, the Rotterdam sails
15-day voyages between Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Lisbon,
Portugal. Ports calls will be made at the Cape Verde
Islands off of Africa. Transatlantic cruise fares start
at $1,879 per person.
For a 2006 Europe cruise brochure or
for more information, consult a professional travel
agent, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com
.
MSC
Cruises
MSC
Cruises Presents the Caribbean with a Distinctly European
Flavor
Visiting the Caribbean onboard an MSC
Cruises’ ship is not your “typical” Caribbean cruise
experience. MSC Cruises combines its uniquely authentic
Italian culture and cuisine (which are part of every
MSC cruise) with a distinctly European way of experiencing
Caribbean destinations to create lifetime memories for
its guests.
“We present our guests with a bit of
Italy in the Caribbean Sea,” says Richard E. Sasso,
president and CEO of MSC Cruises USA, “taking them to
not only the customary and popular ports of call but
also the less crowded, undiscovered gems of the Caribbean.”
There are many exciting and memorable
experiences to be found both onboard and ashore on MSC
Cruises’ Caribbean sailings of MSC Opera and MSC Lirica.
Onboard, guests will enjoy the line’s
“True Italian Signature” experience. An Italian-owned
company, MSC Cruises features fine cuisine ranging from
traditional authentic Italian recipes to gourmet delights
and perennial All-American favorites. The ambiance is
further enhanced by the ships’ elegant Italian design,
the incomparable hospitality of the Italian officers
and international crew, and the European-style entertainment
including the roaming Pagliacci troupe that consistently
earns rave reviews.
With this distinctly European ambiance
as a backdrop, guests can swim or soak up some sun on
deck, enjoy pampering in the spa, work out in the state-of-the-art
fitness center, play miniature golf, or take part in
some unique programs perhaps even learn to speak Italian!
MSC Cruises is also hosting several
special theme cruises during the 2005-06 Caribbean season:
-- Baseball Greats:
December 10 and April 22 (MSC
Lirica) and January 28, February 18, and March 11
(MSC Opera) Six former “greats
of the game” (player lineup varies by sailing) share
tips, stories and complimentary autographs.
-- Big
Band: January 13, March 20 and April 22 (MSC
Lirica) The 15-piece Les DeMerle Big Band features
vocalist Bonnie Eisele.
-- The Ink Spots: Jan. 24 (MSC Lirica) With more than
80 hit records and numerous million sellers, The Ink
Spots will delight audiences with the wonderful harmonies
and arrangements that have made the group a musical
legend around the world.
-- Jazz:
Feb. 15 (MSC Lirica)
Jazz pianist Joe Augustine and award-winning
singer Dana Paul will be featured on this musical cruise,
lending their stylings to the music and lyrics of the
“greats” of yesterday and today.
On shore, MSC Cruises’ seven-, ten-
and 11-night Caribbean itineraries offer an assortment
of shore excursions with something for everyone’s interests,
whether it is relaxing and rejuvenating on white sandy
beaches or more adventurous island explorations.
MSC Cruises’ private paradise, Cayo
Levantado in the Dominican Republic, is sure to be one
of the highlights of the 2005-06 Caribbean season. Known
for its pristine beaches and turquoise waters, the Samana
Bay that surrounds the island is also where humpback
whales migrate each winter to give birth, making it
ideal for whale watching.
Guests who enjoy sightseeing and exploration
can choose to tour the historic sites and picturesque
scenery by bus, Jeep, catamaran, bicycle, or even by
helicopter.
Golfers who want to enjoy their hobby
while on vacation will find themselves challenged by
some of the Caribbean’s most renowned championship courses.
Several Caribbean port calls also offer
guests the opportunity to try something adventurous,
such as kayaking, clay shooting, skeet shooting, off-road
ATV adventures and whitewater rafting, or horseback
riding along the shore or through rainforest and countryside.
Since the best way to get close to marine life is in
the water, guests can dive in and learn to scuba dive,
go snorkeling, or swim with dolphins.
MSC Lirica departs Genoa November.
23, 2005 on a 17-night transatlantic journey that brings
her to Fort Lauderdale December 10. MSC Lirica’s first
sailing of the 2005-2006 Caribbean season is a seven-night
itinerary that departs Fort Lauderdale December 10,
2005 and calls at San Juan and St. Maarten in addition
to La Romana and Cayo Levantado in the Dominican Republic.
The ship then sails several itineraries
roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale:
-- Ten-night Deep Caribbean Holiday
Cruise (December 17)
San Juan, Antigua, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Maarten
and Nassau.
-- 11-night Panama New Year’s Cruise
(December 27) Montego Bay, Cartagena, Cristobal, Puerto Limon,
Roatan Island and Cozumel.
-- 11-night Panama Cruise (January
13, February 4, February 26, March 20, April 11)
Ocho Rios, Cartagena, San Blas, Cristobal, Puerto
Limon and Roatan Island.
-- 11-night Deep Caribbean Cruise (January
24, February 15, March 9, March 31, April 4)
San Juan, St. Maarten, Grenada, Barbados, Antigua,
Tortola, and Cayo Levantado.
-- MSC Opera departs Genoa December
27 on an 18-night westbound transatlantic itinerary
to Fort Lauderdale that includes eight nights at sea
and calls at Valencia, Funchal, Grenada, Margarita Island,
Martinique, St. Maarten and San Juan. MSC Opera begins
a series of seven-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries
roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale January 14-April 1. The
itinerary includes calls at San Juan, St. Maarten, La
Romana and Cayo Levantado.
MSC Opera departs Fort Lauderdale April
8 on a 17-night transatlantic crossing that calls at
Cayo Levantado, Tortola, Martinique, Funchal, Malaga
and Marsiglia before arriving in Genoa. MSC Lirica begins
her return to Genoa May 3 on a 17-night journey that
includes calls at Cayo Levantado, Tortola, Martinique,
Funchal, Malaga and Barcelona.
For more information, visit www.msccruises.com or your local travel agent.
MSC
Cruises Combines Italian/American Traditions On Caribbean
Sailings
Celebrate the holidays with a unique
blend of authentic Italian traditions and familiar American
celebrations onboard MSC Cruises Caribbean sailings
this holiday season
To make it easier to share this celebration
with the entire family, kids ages 12 and under sail
free on MSC Lirica’s December 17 and December 27 roundtrip
cruises from Fort Lauderdale when they stay in the same
stateroom with two paying adults.
“An MSC Cruises holiday sailing is
truly a gift to all involved. It eliminates the stress
often associated with planning holiday activities and
get-togethers and puts the emphasis on just enjoying
the season ‘With a True Italian Signature’,” says Richard
E. Sasso, president and CEO of MSC Cruises USA. “One
of the Italian signatures that distinguishes MSC Cruises
is our attention to family values. Our officers and
staff enjoy creating an environment that will allow
our young guests to enjoy a vacation like no other.”
Guests can escape it all or share the
warmth of the season with family and friends (both old
and new) as they enjoy holiday music and classic films,
visits from Santa, beautiful decorations, specially
prepared seasonal menus and champagne toasts
all without any of the work needed to plan a
celebration at home. Members of the clergy will also
be on board to conduct holiday services.
MSC Lirica’s December 17 ten-night
roundtrip cruise from Fort Lauderdale includes calls
at San Juan, Antigua, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Maarten
and Nassau, as well as three days at sea. Prices start
at $1,150 per person, double occupancy, cruise only.
The December 27 11-night sailing calls
at Montego Bay, Cartagena, Cristobal, Puerto Limon,
Roatan Island and Cozumel, and spends three days at
sea before returning to Fort Lauderdale. Prices start
at $1,350 per person, double occupancy, cruise only.
“All
our guests have to do is relax and enjoy the season’s
good cheer,” adds Sasso.
For more information about MSC Cruises’
holiday sailings, visit a travel agent or log onto www.msccruises.com.
Norwegian
Cruise Line
‘Norwegian
Jewel’ Offers East/West Alternating Cruises In Caribbean
This Winter
After a series of sold-out New England/Canada
cruises in September and October, NCL’s newest ship
Norwegian Jewel
will be cruising out of Miami during the Winter/Spring
season. The 93.502-ton vessel will be sailing alternating
cruises to the eastern and western Caribbean. Eastern
Caribbean sailings will call at San Juan, Puerto Rico;
St. John’s; Antigua; St. Thomas; USVI and NCL’s private
island, Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.
Western Caribbean itineraries will
call at Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas; Ocho Rios. Jamaica;
Georgetown, Grand Cayman and Roatan, Bay Islands. The
seven-day cruises depart each Sunday from November 6
through April 23, 2006 from Miami.
The vessel then deploys on April 30
to the Mediterranean on a 14-day transatlantic crossing
where she will sail seven-day roundtrip cruises out
of Barcelona from May through August.
In September, she will offer two 12-day
cruises from Barcelona to Istanbul on September 3 and
October 9. The ship also offers two 12-day cruises from
Istanbul to the Greek Islands September 15 and 27.
On October 21, 2006, Jewel recrosses
the southern Atlantic to Miami for the winter/spring
season.
The Norwegian Jewel offers freestyle
cruising where passengers have a choice of ten restaurants
to choose from. In addition to two garden villas, the
ship introduces a new style of accommodations—the Garden
Villas that feature a private pool, hot tubs, sundeck,
and a concierge lounge. There are additional family
friendly connecting staterooms and suites along with
family oriented recreational activities on board including
a giant water side, chess court, full-sized basketball
court and bungee jumping.
For more information, click www.ncl.com
.
Oceania
Cruises
Oceania
Cruises Releases The New 2006-2007 Winter Collection
Oceania Cruises announced the debut
of their new 2006-2007 Winter Collection of sailings
to Asia, South America and the Caribbean. Comprised
of 29 sailings that range from 10 to 35 days in length,
all voyages will offer the extraordinary value of Free
Air and 2-for-1 Cruise Fares that begin at $1,299 per
guest.
Sailing to 90 ports on five continents,
Regatta, Insignia and Nautica showcase the crème de
la crème of cosmopolitan cities, scenic natural wonders,
tropical island hideaways and off-the-beaten-path locales.
Guests will be treated to the mystical wonders of Beijing
and Xiamen, the crystal-clear waters and sugar-sand
beaches of Grand Turk or the awe-inspiring majesty of
Iguaçu Falls and the Amazon. Enriching the destination
experience, Oceania Cruises offers more than 40 overnight
port stays throughout Asia, South America and the Caribbean
along with an abundance of enticing shore excursion
and overland touring options. “Oceania Cruises has set
the industry standard for upscale destination cruising
and this diverse array of itineraries raises the benchmark
for excellence to new heights,” commented Frank Del
Rio, President and CEO of Oceania Cruises.
Highlights of the 2006-2007 Winter
Collection
-- Singapore to Hong Kong, 15 Days—Bangkok
(Laem Chabang), Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Hanoi (Ha
Long Bay), Canton (Huangpu)—December 22, 2006; January
6, 2007 (reverse); January 21, 2007
-- Bangkok to Beijing, 24 Days—Ko Samui
(Thailand), Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Da Nang (Vietnam),
Hanoi (Ha Long Bay), Hong Kong, Taipei (Keelung), Kagoshima,
Nagasaki, Shanghai, Seoul (Inchon)—February 20, 2007
-- Hong Kong to Athens, 35 Days—Da
Nang (Vietnam), Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Bangkok (Laem
Chabang), Singapore, Phuket, Goa (Mormugao), Bombay,
Salalah, Luxor (Safaga), Aqaba, Suez Canal, Cairo (Port
Said)—April 21, 2007
-- Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires,
10 Days—Ihla Grande (Brazil), Parati (Brazil), Santos
(Brazil), Itajaí (Iguaçu Falls), Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil),
Montevideo (Uruguay)—December 9, 2006
-- Buenos Aires to Valparaiso, 16 Days—Montevideo
(Uruguay), Puerto Madryn (Argentina), Port Stanley (Falkland
Islands), Ushuaia (Argentina), Cape Horn, Punta Arenas
(Chile), Chilean Fjords, Laguna San Rafael (Chile),
Puerto Chacabuco (Chile), Puerto Montt (Chile)—December
19, 2006; January 4, 2007 (reverse); January 20, 2007;
February 5, 2007 (reverse)
-- Manaus to Bridgetown, 14 Days—Anavilhanas
Archipelago (Brazil), Amazon River, Boca da Valeria
(Brazil), Santarem (Brazil), Devil’s Island, St. George’s
(Grenada), Isla Margarita (Venezuela)—March 20, 2007
-- Miami to Miami, 26 Days—Tortola,
St. Barts, St. Lucia, Tobago, Amazon River (Macapa),
Santarem (Brazil), Boca da Valeria (Brazil), Manaus
(Brazil), Parintins (Brazil), Devil’s Island, Barbados,
Dominica, Antigua, Virgin Gorda, Samaná (Dominican Republic),
Grand Turk (Turks and Caicos Islands)—November 25, 2006
-- Miami to Miami, 12 Days—Virgin Gorda,
St. Barts, Dominica, St. Lucia, Antigua, Tortola, Samaná
(Dominican Republic), Grand Turk (Turks and Caicos Islands)—
December 21, 2006; February 13, 2007;
March 11, 2007
New Ports of Call include Laguna San
Rafael, Chile; Puerto Chacabuco, Chile; Nanjing, China;
Qingdao, China; Xiamen, China; Samaná, Dominican Republic;
George Town, Grand Cayman; Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos
Islands
Free Air and 2-For-1 Cruise Fares
These new itineraries represent the
pinnacle of value and are certain to sell out as quickly
as the 2005 and 2006 sailings, which are virtually sold
out. Complete itineraries, fares and shore excursions
are available online at OceaniaCruises.com or through
your travel agent. The offer of Free Air and 2-for-1
Cruise Fares is capacity controlled and expires January
31, 2006. For additional information or reservations,
please contact your Travel Agent or Oceania Cruises
at 800-531-5658, or visit www.OceaniaCruises.com.
Offer expires January 31, 2006. Fares listed are cruise
only in U.S. dollars, per person, based on double occupancy
and include Non-Discountable Fares. Fares do not include
government fees and charges, taxes, and handling and
security charges. All fares and offers are subject to
availability, are capacity controlled and may be withdrawn
at any time without prior notice. 2 for 1 fares are
based on published Full Brochure Fares, are cruise only,
and do not include Prepaid Charges, Optional Facilities
and Services Fees, and personal charges, as defined
in the Terms and Conditions of the Guest Ticket Contract
which may be viewed at www.OceaniaCruises.com. Air promotion
applies to economy, round-trip flights only from select
Oceania Cruises U.S. & Canadian gateways and does
not include ground transfers, air taxes and air fuel
surcharges. Air ticketing fee will apply. Free Airfare
is available only from the following Oceania Cruises
Primary Air Gateways: ATL, BOS, ORD, DFW, DEN, IAH,
LAX, MIA, JFK, EWR, MCO, PHL, PHX, SAN, SFO, SEA, TPA,
YYZ, YVR, IAD. Airfare is available from all other U.S.
& Canadian gateways at an additional charge. Oceania
Cruises reserves the right to correct errors or omissions.
Additional terms and conditions may apply. Complete
terms and conditions may be found in the Guest Ticket
Contract.
Peter
Deilmann Cruises
Deilmann
Announces Free Air, 10% Reduction In Cruise Rates On
18 Select Ocean Voyages On ‘Deutschland’
Peter Deilmann Cruises is enticing
Americans to sail its five-star ‘MS Deutschland’ in
2006 with free air and 10 percent reductions in cabin
rates on 18 Select Voyages of seven to 21 nights to
the Indian Ocean and southern Africa, the Mediterranean,
Norwegian Fjords, the British Isles and Ireland, the
Baltic and Black Seas and on a gala onboard music cruise
in October. New for 2006 is a 21-night “Discovery” cruise
to Greenland.
The cruise line is offering savings
of up to $1,800 on cabin prices, free air transportation
from 16 U.S. gateways, free airport/ship transfers and
50 percent reduction on pre-arranged English-language
shore excursions. The free air on the 18 diverse voyages
is available from New York and 15 other eastern U.S.
gateways and, in addition, there are low air supplements
starting at $50 from 19 gateways in central states and
at $200 from 13 gateways in western states. The free
airport/ship transfers are included in any air arranged
by Deilmann Cruises. For those who prefer to arrange
their own flights, Deilmann will deduct an additional
air allowance of $750 per person from cruise rates.
For 2006, Deilmann has expanded its
golf, garden and music cruise programs that feature
an onboard musical gala celebrating Mozart’s 250th anniversary
in October and introduce new equestrian riding packages
in May, August and September.
The musical tribute to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
Oct. 4-17, will celebrate the composer’s birth on a
two-week Mediterranean cruise from Malaga to Piraeus
(Athens). New for those who like a more active lifestyle,
are shore excursions of hiking, rafting and other physical
activities.
U.S.
travelers can select from four sailings to Indian Ocean
islands and southern Africa from Port Louis, Mauritius;
Cape Town, South Africa, and Mombasa, Kenya in January
and February that offer free air and 10 percent reduced
rates on cabins.
-- Mediterranean, Western Europe. Western Mediterranean and Western Europe cruises are the Select Voyages
in April and May calling at ports in Italy, Monaco,
Spain, Portugal, Morocco and France. Among the Italian
destinations are the Lipari Islands, Syracuse, Naples,
Genoa, Livorno (Florence) and Ajaccio, Corsica, while
Spanish port calls include Barcelona, the Costa del
Sol, La Coruňa and Santander.
-- Norwegian Fjords, British Isles
and Ireland are highlights of two other voyages, May
19-June 9, calling at Tromso, the fjords of Spitzbergen,
Geiranger, Alesund and Bergen; London and Falmouth,
England; Cobb and Dublin in Ireland; and Edinburgh and
Loch Ness Lake in Scotland. Two more Norwegian Fjords
voyages, June 12-28 and July 10-19, offer the savings
as does the 21-night Greenland “Discovery” voyage on
the North Sea to the Hebrides Islands, Reykjavik, Iceland,
Greenland ports and Aberdeen, Scotland, July 22-August
12.
-- Among other choices are two British
Isles cruises from London to Dublin, Belfast and Plymouth,
Aug. 12-28, and to the English ports of Hull, Plymouth,
Pembroke Dock and Liverpool on an 11-night sailing that
overnights in London and visits Amsterdam, September
10–21. Dates of the two Baltic Sea voyages in the
Select program that visit Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg,
Tallinn, Riga, Visby and Copenhagen are June 28-July
10 and August 28-September 10.
--
The 13-night music cruise on the western Mediterranean,
October 4-17, begins in Malaga and calls at Alicante,
Palma de Mallorca, Toulon (France), Monte Carlo, Civitavecchia
(Rome), Valetta (Malta), Heraklion (Crete) and Piraeus
(Athens). Other
voyages offering the savings sail the Atlantic to the
Mediterranean from Hamburg to Malaga calling at cities
in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain and Portugal,
September. 21-October 4, and a Black Sea cruise roundtrip
from Piraeus to the ports of Varna (Bulgaria), Odessa
and Yalta in Ukraine, Constanta in Romania and Sinop
and Istanbul, Turkey, October 17-27.
The 286-cabin MS Deutschland, launched
in 1998 and refurbished annually, is a classically appointed
ocean liner recalling the grand days of ocean travel
of the 1920s and ‘30s. The ship’s three restaurants vary from formal to casual, each serving
multi-course gourmet cuisine and other passenger choices
include an outdoor dining terrace, comfortable bars
and cafes. The nine-deck ship has outdoor and indoor
swimming pools, three sun decks, open-air promenade
deck, a plush theater for film screenings and lectures,
fitness center, sauna, Turkish bath, grand two-level
ballroom with dancing and international revue shows,
boutique, beauty salon with massage therapy and infirmary.
Prices on these 18 Select Voyages,
including the 10 percent savings, start at $3,249 per
person for a twin-bedded cabin. Single cabin rates start
at $3,561. Port
charges are additional starting at $125 per person.
The Grand Hotel Voyages brochure of Deutschland sailings
through March 2007 is now available from Peter Deilmann
Cruises at 1-800-348-8287 or by e-mail at pdcmail@ deilmann-cruises.com. For a free video of the Deutschland, call the
cruise line’s toll-free number; to view and download
sailings, log on to www.deilmann-cruises.com
Radisson
Seven Seas Cruises
‘Circle
Of Interest’ Options For ‘Voyager’s’ Oct. 30 Mediterranean
Sailing;
Radisson
Seven Seas® has unveiled an innovative “Circle of Interest”
concept, offering guests of select cruises their choice
of exclusive packages featuring ship and shore programs
linked by a common theme.
The enrichment programs will be launched on the
Seven Seas Voyager’s® October 30 Athens to Monte Carlo
voyage where nature, antiques and archaeology themed
experiences will feature onboard lectures and workshops
plus specially created excursions and events led by
“Circle” guest experts.
Following the July rollout of its “Travel
Concierge” program, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises has
added another highly customizable ship to shore option
for guests. “The
easy-to-book ‘Circle of Interest’ packages enable guests
to adjust their experiences in various ports through
their own personal lens on the world,” said Mark Conroy,
president of Radisson Seven Seas.
“Our ‘Circle of Interest’ offerings will provide
an entertaining, educational means for them to obtain
these enriching experiences, while drawing fellow guests
into a social circle of shared interests - the kind
that foster an easy spirit of camaraderie.”
The inaugural seven-night “Circle of
Interest” cruise on the 700-guest all balcony-suite
Seven Seas Voyager departs Athens for Monte Carlo on
October 30, calling at Kusadasi, Rhodes, Heraklion,
Sorrento, and Civitavecchia (Rome).
These classical Mediterranean ports will come
to life through three optional “Circle of Interest”
packages: “Explore the Natural Beauty of the Mediterranean”
with acclaimed environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau;
“Archaeology & Ancient History” with well-known
destination author and world traveler Dr. Sandra Bowern;
and “Antiques, Art & Artifacts” with experts from
the popular BBC television series Antiques Roadshow.
Stunning Scenery
-- From plunging cliffs to charming
countryside villages, guests will “Explore the Natural
Beauty of the Mediterranean” during four excursions
through some the area’s most exquisite coastal destinations. Among the package’s highlights are “Positano
& Lunch at Hotel San Pietro with Jean-Michel Cousteau”
(Sorrento), “Panoramic View of Rhodes,” “Flavors of
the Etruscan Countryside” (Civitavecchia), and “Acardi
and Old Rethymnon” (Heraklion). The tour package is $395 per person, and is
limited to just 50 participants.
Participants of the “Archaeology &
Ancient History” package will enjoy in-depth historical
perspectives of ancient Mediterranean sites from Dr.
Sandra Bowern. In
addition to two exclusive onboard evening events, four
shore excursions are featured: “Ephesus & the Sirinee
Villas with Sandra Bowern” (Kusadasi), “The Palace of
Knossos & the Heraklion Museum,” “Medieval Rhodes
& the Grand Masters Palace,” and “Ancient Pompeii”
(Sorrento). The tour package is $246 per person.
-- Hidden treasures of Turkey, Greece
and Rome will be unearthed during the “Antiques, Art
& Artifacts” program. Antiques Roadshow experts
will host workshops to help guests find the most unique
local offerings, and provide advice on appraising quality
and price. In addition to the experts leading forays in
Kusadasi and Rome, guests will also enjoy three half-day
tours (which will allow time for independent shopping):
“Cretian Pottery and Vineyards” (Heraklion), “Panoramic
View of Rhodes,” and “Ancient Ephesus” (Kusadasi). At the end of the week, an “Antiques Boatshow”
will be staged onboard, where participants can share
their discoveries with the appraisers.
The tour package is $260 per person.
Per person fares for the October 30
Seven Seas Voyager cruise start at $3,746 and include
25 percent savings, all shipboard gratuities, wine with
dinner, all juices and soft beverages, and an in-suite
bar set up.
For further information, contact Radisson
Seven Seas Cruises, 600 Corporate Drive, Suite 410,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33334; or toll-free 800-477-7500;
for brochures and reservation information toll-free
800-285-1835; or visit www.rssc.com. To make reservations contact your travel professional.
‘Paul
Gauguin’ To Feature New Australia Itinerary In 2006
Luxury cruising on the Paul
Gauguin in
2006 will chart appealing new waters as the ship expands
her repertoire with some exciting new ports.
In addition, she will reprise her popular Marquesas
voyages, as well as her romantic series of seven-night
cruises sailing roundtrip from Papeete in Tahiti &
Her Islands.
In 2006, the Paul Gauguin, synonymous
with luxury cruising in Tahiti since entering service
in the famed islands in 1998, will offer a selection
of 24 seven-night Society Islands itineraries, plus
an expanded lineup of nine-, 10-, 11-, and 14-night
sailings reaching the Marquesas, Tuamotus, Australs,
and Cook Islands. Additionally,
following a 22-day January dry dock in Brisbane, Australia,
she will set sail on a new, already sold-out 18-night
course from the Queensland capital to the Tahitian capital
of Papeete.
The ship’s 24 seven-night roundtrip
sailings depart Papeete on Saturdays and visit Raiatea
(the cultural heart of Polynesia), Tahaa (for a call
at the ship’s private islet of Motu Mahana), Bora Bora
(for two full days on the island James Michener used
as the model of his idyllic “Bali Hai”) and two days
in Moorea (the inspiration for Herman Melville’s novel
Omoo).
Also in 2006, she will sail two 14-night
Marquesas cruises; one 14-night Cook and Society Islands,
Australs and Tuamotus voyage; three 11-night Society
Islands, Tuamotus and Marquesas voyages; three 10-night
Society Islands and Tuamotus cruises; and two nine-night
Society Islands Holiday voyages which include calls
at Huahine. Plus, in response to demand for more adventurous South Pacific itineraries,
select departures of the Paul Gauguin’s seven-, 10-,
and 14-night sailings will feature an optional six-night
post-cruise land program including three nights in Auckland,
New Zealand and three nights in Sydney, Australia from
just $1,795 per person.
Among the wide array of new, optional
shore excursions are a “Capture Moorea Photo Adventure,”
“Botanical & Agricultural Walk” (Moorea), “Sunset
Sail Aboard the ‘Margouillat’” (Moorea), and a “Romantic
Escapade at Boar Pearl Beach” (overnight).
Other choices include island and lagoon explorations,
parasailing, shark and stingray feedings, off-road mountain
adventures, wave-runner tours and helicopter flight-seeing
expeditions.
Launched last year to much applause,
the Paul Gauguin’s “Ambassadors of the Environment”
program will again be offered to youngsters on the June
10 to August 23 sailings.
In partnership with Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean
Futures Society, the program aims to give young cruise
guest participants aged nine to 15 interactive experiences
with and knowledge of marine and island ecosystems,
emphasizing the critical importance of coral reefs,
sustainable lifestyles and traditional Polynesian culture.
For further information, contact Radisson
Seven Seas Cruises, 600 Corporate Drive, Suite 410,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33334; or toll-free 800-477-7500;
for brochures and reservation information toll-free
800-285-1835; or visit www.rssc.com
. To make reservations contact your travel professional.
‘Voyager’s’
2007 World Cruise To Visit 45 Ports In 26 Countries
From Rio de Janeiro to Shanghai and
Alexandria, the Seven Seas Voyager’s® 2007 111-night World
Cruise will entice guests to experience all of the romance
and mystique of a global itinerary while exploring 45
destinations in 26 countries on five continents in six-star
luxury. On the most extensive World Cruise ever offered
by Radisson Seven Seas®, the acclaimed 700-guest all-balcony
suite vessel will begin her exploration by steaming
southeast from Ft. Lauderdale for South America on January
9, 2007.
On the World Cruise, the cruise line
will return to southern and eastern Africa for the first
time since 2003, calling at Walvis Bay, Cape Town, Richards
Bay, Maputo (Mozambique), Mombasa, Mahe (Seychelles),
and Male (Maldives).
And, among the almost four-dozen destinations
reached, three will be maiden calls at Maputo (Mozambique),
Maura (Brunei) and Colombo (Sri Lanka). The sailing
will also feature 14 overnights in popular ports, allowing
guests ample time to explore both the immediate cities
plus the interiors of the countries visited through
optional multi-day overland tours.
Suites for the 2007 World Cruise are
first being offered to Radisson Seven Seas’ 2006 full
World Cruise guests as well as other past long cruise
guests on a priority basis.
Reservations for the full 2007 itinerary will
open to the general public the week of October 24.
Individual segment sales will open in early December.
By the end of this 111-night adventure,
guests will have seen and explored ports of call in
Antigua, Barbados, Brazil, St. Helena (United Kingdom),
Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya, Seychelles,
Maldives, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan,
Japan, China, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Oman, Egypt,
Greece, Italy, Monaco, and Spain before returning to
Ft. Lauderdale on April 30.
In addition to all-balcony views from
the largest lead-in suites in the industry, guests who
book the entire World Cruise will enjoy complimentary
inclusions both onboard and ashore: roundtrip first
class air from 86 North American gateways; up to $2,000
per suite shipboard credit; luggage delivery service
from guests’ home to their onboard suite; private car
transfers in port of embarkation/disembarkation; a Bon
Voyage celebration and many included events; visa costs
for US and Canadian guests residing in North America;
full liquor package; and five percent savings for past
RSSC Full World Cruise guests and Seven Seas Society
members.
Highlights of the World Cruise also
include a series of complimentary special shore side
events including: “Brazilian Celebration in Dance” in
Fortaleza; “Dinner Under the Desert Stars” in Walvis
Bay; “Safari to Tsavo East” and “Amboseli in the Shadow
of Mighty Kilimanjaro” in Mombasa; “Acrobats” in Shanghai;
“Overnight in Royal Bangkok”; and “The Pyramids and
a Nile View” plus “Cairo & the Pyramids” from Suez.
A distinguished roster of lecturers
and prominent celebrity guests will offer stimulating
talks on a variety of fascinating topics; Spotlight
themes and hands-on Le Cordon Bleu cooking classes will
round out the shipboard programming.
Combinable Segments
Six individual segments of the World
Cruise may be combined.
-- Segment one “Passage East,” is a
25-night voyage from Ft. Lauderdale to Cape Town, departs
January 9, 2007.
-- Segment two “Indian Ocean Splendor”
offers 21 nights from Cape Town to Singapore.
-- Segment three “Jewels of Asia” offers
14 nights from Singapore to Hong Kong.
-- Segment four “Voyage to Antiquity”
offers 21 nights from Hong Kong to Muscat.
-- Segment five “Egypt and the Med”
offers 15 nights from Muscat to Monte Carlo.
-- Segment six “Passage West”: 15 nights
from Monte Carlo across the Atlantic, arriving in Ft.
Lauderdale on April 30.
To accommodate World Cruise guests
from California and the West Coast, Radisson Seven Seas
planned a 14-night Panama Canal, Costa Rica and Mexico
New Year’s cruise on the Seven
Seas Mariner® from Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale
December 26 - January 9, 2007.
The additional sailing, which will create a 125-night
global journey, is timed to meet the Seven Seas Voyager
in Port Everglades for the World Cruise departure.
In addition to luxury accommodations,
four main dining, open-seating venues include the 110-seat
Signatures, directed by Le Cordon Bleu® chefs.
The Carita Spa combines the art of gentle pampering
with renewal and rejuvenation and offers a full menu
of spa, beauty and grooming services.
The ship houses Club.com, an Internet café with
eight computers, and a learning center with 21 computers.
Butler service is available in the top 88 suites.
Per person prices from $54,995 for
the 111-night voyage include Early Booking Savings (if
booked 120 days prior to departure) and all inclusions
mentioned above, resulting in exceptional value for
a World Cruise. And
in true “ultra-luxury” spirit, shipboard gratuities,
wine, liquor and soft drinks throughout the cruise are
also included in the fare.
Website: www.rssc.com
Seabourn
Cruise Line
Seabourn
Offers Great Value On October 16 Mediterranean Voyage
Due to the recent hurricane in New
Orleans, the National D-Day Museum located there, which
had chartered Seabourn Legend for a commemorative voyage
to Italy departing October 16, 2005, had to cancel their
contract with Seabourn for this sailing date.
Faced with the last-minute cancellation
of a chartered voyage aboard its all-suite Seabourn
Legend, the ultra luxury cruise line is offering
exceptional pricing on a seven-day Mediterranean cruise
between Monte Carlo and Rome. The newly-created itinerary
includes full-day calls at Cannes, Nice and Ajaccio
(Corsica), France; plus Portofino,
Livorno (Florence) and Portoferraio
(Elba), Italy. Website: www.seabourn.com
Silversea
Cruises
Silversea
Announces Expanded Collection Of Culinary And Wine Cruises
For 2006
Ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises is rolling
out an expanded collection of 15 Culinary Arts Cruises
and 12 Wine Series Voyages in 2006. It's the biggest program the line has ever
offered and will feature, for the first time, award-winning
authors in addition to a stellar lineup of international
wine experts, winemakers, and acclaimed chefs from the
world's top restaurants, including the distinguished
dining establishments of Relais & Châteaux -- Relais
Gourmands. Among the talented food and wine writers
set to join the program is the culinary power couple
of Jill Van Cleave and William Rice, scheduled to jointly
host Silver Wind's Voyage 2610, sailing April 8 from
Lisbon to Barcelona. Van Cleave is a renowned author, food stylist
and chef and Rice is the food and wine columnist for
the "Chicago Tribune," former editor-in-chief
of "Food and Wine," and winner of the Who's
Who award for "Best Food Journalism."
Other acclaimed writers tapped to host
a culinary or wine cruise include Eunice Fried, author
of numerous books, including "Burgundy: The Country,
The Wines, The People"; writer-photographer Gerry
Dawes, author of "Spain: An Insider's Guide to
Food, Wine and Travel in Spain"; Joyce Jue, food
consultant and award-winning author of "Savoring
Southeast Asia"; and Sarah Edington, whose book
"The Captain's Table: Life and Dining on the Great Ocean Liners"
offers a fascinating exploration of shipboard life and
dining from the golden age of liners to the present.
On 15 culinary sailings spanning the
globe from Auckland to Zanzibar, the distinguished guest
chefs will show off their exceptional culinary talents
during informative and entertaining cooking demonstrations.
Guests can taste and learn firsthand the secrets of
enticing signature dishes created by award-winning chefs
like Raymond Blanc, the Michelin two-star chef/owner
of Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons in Oxford, England; Joachim
Koerper, the Michelin two-star chef/owner of Spain’s
famed Girasol restaurant; Rick Tramonto, partner and
executive chef of Chicago's Tru, a Mobil Four star and
AAA Five Diamond restaurant; and chocolatier Katrina
Markoff, founder of Chicago's innovative Vosges Haut-Chocolat
and one of Inc. magazine's "26 Most Fascinating
Entrepreneurs" -- to name a few. The Culinary Arts Cruises also feature food and wine pairings, creative
regional dishes, and a five-course grand gourmet dinner. Throughout these special voyages, the featured
guest chef and Silversea’s executive chef are on hand
to share their culinary expertise and answer any questions.
From the lush vineyards of Victoria
on Australia's southern coast, to the famed French town
of Cognac, to the rolling hills of Jerez de la Frontera
in Spain, guests will have a chance to explore fabled
wine regions throughout the world on 12 different Wine
Series Voyages. Discerning travelers with a passion
for fine wines will enjoy sampling some of the world’s
finest vintages and visiting world-famous wineries,
cellars and vineyards. Top experts, like Remington Norman, author
of "The Great Domaines of Burgundy", and Georges
Muller of Riedel Crystal, the wine glass company, plus
winemakers from renowned establishments like Castello
Banfi, will be on board to provide enriching lectures,
conduct special tastings of vintage blends and guide
Silversea’s guests on excursions to celebrated wineries
and vineyards in select ports of call.
A complete list of the 2006 Culinary
Arts and Wine Series Voyages will soon be available
at www.silversea.com.
Silversea's Culinary Arts Cruises
-- 2006 (Fares listed do not include port charges.)
-- Silver
Shadow's "Across the Tasman Sea" 15-day cruise from Auckland to Sydney, January 5 - 20, 2006 (Voyage 3601). Guest Chef:
Shane Delia, Eleonore's at Chateau Yering, Melbourne,
Australia. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $8,546
per person.
-- Silver
Wind's "Into Africa"
nine-day cruise from Mauritius to Mombasa,
January 14 - 23, 2006 (Voyage 2602).
Guest Chef:
Jacques Ledu, The Prince Maurice Hotel, Mauritius.
Early Booking Incentive fares start at $4,161
per person.
-- Silver Cloud's
"Fire and Ice"
15-day cruise from Buenos Aires to Valparaiso,
January 29 - February 13, 2006 (Voyage 1603). Guest Chef/Author: Eyvind
Hellstrøm, Michelin Two Star Bagatelle, Oslo, Norway. Cookbooks include "Bagatelle." Early Booking Incentive fares start at $7,816
per person.
-- Silver
Shadow's "South China Sea Sojourn" 9-day cruise from Hong Kong to Bangkok, March 4 - 13, 2006 (Voyage 3607). Guest Chef/Author: Raymond Blanc, Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, Great Milton, Oxford,
England. Cookbooks
include "Simple French Cookery."
Early Booking Incentive fares start at $4,756
per person.
-- Silver
Whisper's "Pacific Coast Passage" 10-day cruise from San Diego to Costa Rica,
March 8 - 18, 2006 (Voyage 4608).
Guest Chef/Author: Rick Bayless, Frontera Grill, Chicago, Illinois.
Cookbooks include "Mexico One Plate at a
Time." Silver
Sailing fares start at $2,997 per person.
-- Silver
Shadow's "Indochina Interlude I" 10-day cruise from Bangkok to Singapore,
March 13 - 23, 2006 (Voyage 3608).
Guest Chef: Joachim Koerper, Michelin Two Star Girasol,
Moraira, Alicante, Spain.
Early Booking Incentive fares start at $5,266
per person.
-- Silver
Wind's "Iberian Images" ten-day cruise from Lisbon to Barcelona,
April 8 - 18, 2006 (Voyage 2610).
Guest Chef/Author: Jill Van Cleave. Cookbooks include "The Neighborhood Bakeshop." (Also a
Wine Series Voyage.)
Silver Sailing fares start at $3,597 per person.
-- Silver
Shadow's "Indochina Interlude II" 10-day cruise from Bangkok to Singapore,
April 17 - 27, 2006 (Voyage 3611).
Guest Chef/Author: Joyce Jue.
Cookbooks include "Savoring Southeast Asia." Silver Sailing fares start at $4,197 per person.
-- Silver
Wind's "Artistic Inspirations" 7-day cruise from Barcelona to Rome, April 18 - 25, 2006 (Voyage 2611). Guest Chef/Author: Tony Mantuano, Spiaggia, Chicago, Illinois. Cookbooks include "The Spiaggia Cookbook:
Eleganza Italiana in Cucina."
Advance Payment Bonus fares start at $3,356 per
person.
-- Silver
Whisper's "Atlantic Passage" 14-day cruise from San Juan to Las Palmas,
April 20 - May 4, 2006 (Voyage 4615).
Guest Chef: Sergio Torres, H'Anoa at El Rodat, Javea, Alicante,
Spain. Silver
Sailing fares start at $3,348 per person.
-- Silver
Cloud's "Vintage Reflections" 12-day cruise from Barcelona to London, May 21 - June 2, 2006 (Voyage 1613). Guest Chef/Author: Sarah Edington. Cookbooks
include "The Captain's Table:
Life and Dining on the Great Ocean Liners."
Silver Sailing fares start at $5,637 per person.
-- Silver
Whisper's "Mediterranean Mosaic" 7-day cruise from Venice to Rome, June 26 - July 3, 2006 (Voyage 4623). Guest Chef/Author: Rick Tramonto, Mobil Four Star / AAA Five Diamond Tru, Chicago,
Illinois. Cookbooks include "Tru: A Cookbook from
the Legendary Chicago Restaurant."
Advance Payment Bonus fares start at $3,896 per
person.
-- Silver
Cloud's "North Sea Explorer" 10-day cruise from Stockholm to London, September 13 - 23, 2006 (Voyage 1626). Guest Chef:
Katrina Markoff, founder of Vosges Haut-Chocolat,
a Chicago-based worldwide gourmet chocolate company.
Silver Sailing fares start at $3,898 per person.
-- Silver
Whisper's "Through the Pillars of Hercules"
14-day cruise from Amsterdam to Barcelona,
September 15 - 29, 2006 (Voyage 4633).
Guest Chef: Sergio Torres, H'Anoa at El Rodat, Javea, Alicante,
Spain. Silver
Sailing fares start at $6,597 per person.
-- Silver
Whisper's "Indian Ocean Passage" 14-day cruise from Dubai to Singapore, November 2 - 16, 2006 (Voyage 4637). Guest Chef/Author: Suvir Saran, Dévi, New York City. Cookbooks include "Indian Home Cooking." Silver Sailing fares start at $4,557 per person.
Silversea's Wine Series Voyages
-- 2006 (Fares listed do not include port charges.)
-- Silver
Wind's "South Africa and Beyond" 10-day
cruise from Cape Town to Mauritius, January 4 - 14,
2006 (Voyage 2601).
Hosted by Duimpie Bayley, South African wine
expert. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $4,316
per person.
-- Silver
Shadow's "Australian Discovery" 13-day
cruise from Sydney to Fremantle, January 27 - February
9, 2006 (Voyage 3604).
Host: (Wine
expert to be announced).
Early Booking Incentive fares start at $7,736
per person.
-- Silver
Wind's "Iberian Images" 10-day cruise
from Lisbon to Barcelona, April 8 - 18, 2006 (Voyage 2610). Hosted by William Rice, wine expert and author
of "Feasts of Wine and Food."
(Also a Culinary Arts Cruise.)
Silver Sailing fares start at $3,597 per person.
-- Silver
Whisper's "From the Canaries to the Casbah"
10-day cruise from Las Palmas to Barcelona, May 4 -
14, 2006 (Voyage 4616).
Hosted by Georges Muller, Riedel Crystal, the
wine glass company. Silver Sailing fares start at $3,598 per person.
-- Silver
Wind's "Jewels of the Aegean and Adriatic"
9-day cruise from Istanbul to Venice, July 23 - August
1, 2006 (Voyage 2622). Hosted by Philip di Belardino, Castello Banfi Vineyard Estate &
Winery, Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy.
Silver Sailing fares start at $5,676 per person.
-- Silver
Wind's "Croatian Medley" 10-day cruise
from Genoa to Venice, August 22 - September 1, 2006
(Voyage 2626). Hosted
by Mario Belardino, Italian wine expert.
Silver Sailing fares start at $4,677 per person.
-- Silver
Cloud's "From the Channel to the Bay of Biscay"
10-day cruise from London to Lisbon,
September 23 - October 3, 2006 (Voyage 1627).
Hosted by Remington Norman, wine expert and author
of "The Great Domaines of Burgundy." Silver Sailing fares start at $4,677 per person.
-- Silver
Cloud's "Accent on Spain" 10-day cruise
from Lisbon to Monte Carlo, October 3 - 13, 2006 (Voyage 1628). Hosted by Gerry Dawes, wine expert and author
of "Spain: An
Insider's Guide to Food, Wine and Travel in Spain."
Silver Sailing fares start at $4,437 per person.
-- Silver
Wind's "Spanish Splendor" 9-day cruise
from Monte Carlo to Lisbon, October 24 - November 2,
2006 (Voyage 2633).
Hosted by William J. Whiting, wine education
manager for Banfi Vintners. Silver Sailing fares start at $2,548 per person.
-- Silver
Wind's "Iberia, Morocco & Canary Isles"
9-day cruise from Lisbon to Las Palmas,
November 2 - 11, 2006 (Voyage 2634).
Hosted by Eunice Fried, wine expert and author
of "Burgundy: The Country, The Wines, The People."
Silver Sailing fares start at $2,348 per person.
--
Silver Wind's "Argentinian Explorer" 10-day
cruise from Buenos Aires to Buenos Aires,
December 3 - 13, 2006 (Voyage 2637).
Hosted by Remington Norman, wine expert and author
of "The Great Domaines of Burgundy." Silver Sailing fares start at $3,717 per person.
-- --Silver
Wind's "Accent on Brazil" 10-day cruise
from Buenos Aires to Buenos Aires,
December 13 - 23, 2006 (Voyage 2638).
Hosted by Remington Norman, wine expert and author
of "The Great Domaines of Burgundy." Silver Sailing fares start at $3,717 per person.
For more information on Silversea Cruises,
please contact a travel agent. For a complimentary brochure,
please call toll-free (877) 215-9986 or visit www.silversea.com.
