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Azamara Cruises
Website: www.azamaraclubcruises.com.
Azamara Club Cruises
Unveils Extensive 2011-12 Itinerary Lineup
Azamara Club Cruises is offering its most comprehensive
selection of itineraries for 2011-12, with sailings in 54 countries and calls
at 174 ports. The 694-guest Azamara Journey looks forward to a truly global
season that sees the ship begin with a transatlantic voyage from Miami in April
2011 and finish 12 months later in the Caribbean, via the Mediterranean and
South America. Each successive sailing will allow cruisers wanting a lengthier
holiday to combine two or more, seven-night itineraries back-to-back, with very
few, if any, repeat ports depending on the segments chosen.
-- Azamara Journey
Season highlights for Azamara Journey include a four-night
Monaco Grand Prix sailing from Nice on May 26, 2011, including a visit to Monte
Carlo on the day of the famed race, as well as stops in popular Portofino
(Italy) and St. Tropez (France). Prices start from £643 per person.
In the summer the ship’s sailings focus initially on
wine-themed Mediterranean cruises with a unique ten-night sailing from Dublin
(August 29, 2011) highlighted by visits to Holyhead (Wales) and Cork (Ireland),
where guests can visit the famed Guggenheim Museum; Gijon and Vigo (Spain),
featuring the magnificent town of Santiago de Compostella, and overnight stays
in Bordeaux (France), and Lisbon (Portugal) during the grape harvest season.
Prices start from £1,818 per person.
Also new is a season in South America, beginning with two
consecutive 14-night voyages – one each from San Juan and from Manaus
(Brazil), with visits to the Grenadines (Barbados), and exotic locations along
Brazil’s Amazon River. Prices start from £2,106 per person from San Juan on 25
October sailing.
From December 4, 2011 until March 9, 2012, Azamara Journey
will offer a series of itineraries ranging from eight to 16 nights, with the
latter highlighted by three consecutive days in the Antarctic Sound, a visit
just off Cape Horn, and a stop in the Falkland Islands.
Many of Azamara Journey’s South America voyages were
designed around popular local events, such as two nights at chic Punta del Este
(Uruguay) during the Christmas holiday; viewing New Year’s Eve fireworks off
the shores of Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) as well as two full
days in Rio during its famous ‘Carnaval’ in February.
The exotic West
Indies again welcomes guests on Azamara Journey in March 2012, with a series of
three seven-night sailings that round out the ship’s new deployment. Among the
destinations are Mayreau (Grenadines); St. Lucia (Marigot), St. Martin (Virgin
Gorda) British Virgin Islands; and an overnight stay in Gustavia (St. Barts).
Prices start from £946 per person.
These voyages can be combined into back-to-back 14-night
segments allowing guests to explore a new set of hideaway ports each week.
--Azamara Quest
A first-ever
call at Krakatoa is the undoubted highlight of unusual ports and sights visited
by Azamara Quest for 2011-12. Guests will have the chance to get close to the
world’s most famous – and active – volcano during a 12-night
Christmas and New Year voyage from Singapore calling in Thailand and Vietnam.
Weather permitted, a landing will be attempted!
Also new is a ten-night Red Sea itinerary from the line’s
first-time departure port of Suez (Sokhna, Egypt), on November 17, 2011,
featuring overnight stays in both Sharm el Sheikh and Safaga (Egypt), along
with Aqaba (Jordan), and Eilat (Israel). Excursions will include the
opportunity to take in historic treasures, including Luxor and St. Catherine’s
Monastery in Egypt, Masada in Israel, and the fabled Petra and the Wadi Rum
Desert in Jordan. Prices start from £1,424 per person.
For the first time the ship will feature a selection of
India itineraries, calling at Mumbai during both April and November. Also
making its debut is the Omani capital of Muscat.
Azamara Club Cruises
Presents Special Europe Promotion
Extraordinary service, elegant surroundings and true
destination immersion await guests sailing with Azamara Club Cruises, and so
does an exceptional value that just became even more enticing.
The up-market brand’s special offer of 2-for-1 fares on all
sailings through March 2011 continues, and now, on bookings for select sailings
made by June 30, 2010, guests will receive an onboard spending credit of $500
per booking, as well as a $500 per-person ChoiceAir credit. Meanwhile, Travel
Professionals who book the new, limited-time offer will receive a $200 bonus
commission per booking.
The new offer applies to bookings for Azamara Club Cruises’
European voyages from April 25 through November 10, 2010 on Azamara Journey,
and voyages from May 3 through November 20, 2010, on Azamara Quest. The offer
is applicable to new, individual bookings in North America only, in all
categories with the exception of Club Interior staterooms.
Now, guests sailing on every voyage of Azamara Journey and
Azamara Quest will be offered complimentary, vintage red and white wines from
boutique vineyards around the world at lunches and dinners; bottled water,
sodas, specialty coffees and teas, whether in public venues or in staterooms and
suites; housekeeping, dining and bar staff gratuities; shuttle bus service to
and from port communities, where available; destination-influenced
entertainment and enrichment programs; specialty dining in the intimate
specialty restaurants, Prime C and Aqualina (complimentary for suite guests;
stateroom guests are charged a $15 per person cover); true English butler
service in suites; self-service laundry, and concierge services.
Among the European destinations in which guests sailing with
Azamara Club Cruises can immerse themselves this year are nine first-time
locations for the brand:
Bastia, one of the two largest cities on the mountainous
Mediterranean island of Corsica
Chania, one of Crete’s most appealing cities, marked by
stately neo-classical mansions and massive Venetian fortifications
Korcula, Croatia, an island rife with small, uninhabited
beaches, breathtaking views of nature and medieval architecture
Katakolon, the Greek seaside town offering a gateway to
Olympia, the birthplace of the competitive athletic games
Skiathos, one of Greece’s most environmentally protected
islands, known for its pine tree forests as well as its long, shining beaches
Zakynthos, Greece (also known as Zante), part of the Ionian
Islands and home to the endangered caretta species of sea turtle
Trieste, the historic Italian port and capital of the
Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, nestled in the northeast corner of the Adriatic
Sea against the backdrop of a limestone plateau
Gijón, located on the Catabrian Sea on Spain’s Costa Verde,
halfway between eastern and western Asturias
Liverpool, England’s centuries-old port made just as famous
by its one-time musical residents, The Beatles, as by the landmarks designated
as UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Azamara Club
Cruises presents overnight stays in Europe this year in Florence (Livorno),
Sorrento, and Venice, Italy; St. Petersburg, Russia; Barcelona, Spain;
Stockholm, Sweden; Istanbul, Turkey; Edinburgh (Leith), Scotland; London
(Greenwich), England; Bordeaux, France; Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany; Athens
(Piraeus), Greece; and Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Late-night stays (departing at 10 pm or later) are featured
in 21 European ports this year, including Dubrovnik, Croatia; Alexandria and
Port Said, Egypt; St. Tropez, France; Volos, Mykonos, Rhodes and Santorini,
Greece; Dublin, Ireland; Ashdod and Haifa, Israel; Ravenna and Trieste, Italy;
Valetta, Malta; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Kotor, Montenegro; Amsterdam, Netherlands;
Lisbon, Portugal; Gijón, Spain; and Bodrum and Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey.
Carnival Cruises
Website: www.carnival.com
Carnival Allows
Military Personnel To Book At Discounted Rates
In honor of Memorial Day, Carnival Cruise Lines is offering
a promotion throughout May that allows active and retired military personnel to
book up to three “Fun Ship” staterooms at discounted rates for themselves and
their friends and family members.
Reservations must be made between May 1-31, 2010, to qualify
for this
special offer, which is available in conjunction with a wide
range of three- to
eight-day “Fun Ship” departures through April 30, 2012,
including voyages to The
Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, Canada and New England.
Rates start at $219 per person for three- and four-day
cruises; $299 per
person for five-day voyages; $389 per person for six-day
departures; $439 per
person for seven-day voyages; and $549 per person for
eight-day sailings.
Voyages operate from 12 convenient year-round US homeports
along the East and
West coasts and Gulf of Mexico, as well as seasonal
departures from Seattle, New
York and San Diego.
The promotion is valid for individual bookings only,
availability is capacity controlled and this promotion cannot be combined with
other discount offers such as resident or senior rates or past guest
promotions. Eligible military
personnel must sail to take advantage of this offer. Fare code PM1, PM2, or PM4 must be requested for the
military guest’s cabin and PM3 for the two additional cabins during the
reservations process. Military personnel must provide proof of service. Certain
other restrictions apply.
4th Annual John Heald Bloggers Cruise To Take Place
In February 2011
Fans of the popular blog of John Heald (www.johnhealdsblog.com ) will have an
opportunity to sail with the fun-loving senior cruise director when he hosts
his fourth annual Bloggers Cruise aboard the recently refurbished Carnival
Glory in February 2011.
The seven-day eastern Caribbean voyage will operate
round-trip from Miami February 27 – March 6, 2011, calling at Nassau, St. Thomas, San
Juan, and Grand Turk.
The Bloggers Cruise provides readers of Heald’s widely read
blog – which has attracted more than 6.3 million visitors since its debut in 2007 – with
an opportunity to interact with him and participate in a number of exclusive
activities and events throughout the week-long voyage.
Signature Bloggers Cruise activities such as welcoming and
closing receptions, trivia contests, question-and-answer sessions and the
popular “Tea
Time with John” will be held, along with a few surprises that are being developed just for this
voyage. A bloggers-only shore excursion is also being planned and a variety of
keepsakes and logo items will be provided to all participants. Heald will also
be blogging daily throughout the cruise.
In addition to seven days of fun with Heald, Bloggers Cruise
participants can enjoy the many resort-style facilities and features aboard the
Carnival Glory which earlier this year underwent a multi-million-dollar
renovation that added a Serenity adults-only retreat and a 270-square-foot LED
screen displaying movies, concerts and other programming on Lido Deck. Other
features include 22 lounges, bars and nightspots, diverse entertainment
options, including lavish production revues, a 14,500-square-foot health and
wellness center, and full casino gambling. A wide range of delicious dining
choices – including two two-level formal dining rooms, a two-deck-high casual poolside
eatery with a 24-hour pizzeria and a classic American-style steakhouse – are
also available.
Carnival Glory also offers organized activities for children
in three age groups – Camp Carnival (2-11), Circle “C” (12-14) and Club O2 (15-17) – with
expansive facilities and enthusiastic counselors dedicated to each group. Four
swimming pools, as well as a 214-foot-long Twister water slide, are featured,
as well.
Of the Carnival Glory’s 1487 staterooms, 60 percent offer
either an ocean view or balcony. All accommodations offer the Carnival Comfort
Bed sleep system with luxurious duvets, plush mattresses and high quality
linens and pillows.
Reservations are currently being accepted for the fourth
annual Bloggers Cruise. Prices begin at $479 per person based on double
occupancy and include all Bloggers Cruise-related events and activities. Fare
code PBL must be referenced during the reservations
Carnival Spirit To
Launch Mexican Riviera Cruises From San Diego In December
Carnival Cruise Lines will introduce a new one-of-a-kind
schedule from San Diego encompassing five- and nine-day Mexican Riviera voyages
aboard the 2,124-passenger Carnival Spirit beginning December 10, 2010. On this
unique program, five-day cruises will visit the popular resort town of Cabo San
Lucas for two full days, while nine-day cruises will also feature a two-day
call in Cabo San Lucas in addition to visits to the stunning seaside
destinations of Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and La Paz, the first time this port
has been featured as a regular stop on a Carnival itinerary.
The two-day visits to Cabo San Lucas were selected based on
guest feedback
requesting more time to enjoy this popular destination which
is highlighted by
its distinctive rock formations, lush landscape and
aqua-blue waters teeming
with tropical fish.
Nine-day cruises depart Friday and return Sunday so guests
can enjoy a longer
cruise with more time in the spectacular ports of call, all
within a typical
weekend-to-weekend vacation period. Five-day cruises depart Sunday and
return
Friday, offering the ideal short cruise vacation at an
attractive price.
Nine-day cruises will also call at Puerto Vallarta, a
charming city where guests
can relax on gorgeous white-sand beaches or stroll along the
famed Malecon, a
seaside walkway lined with restaurants, art galleries, and
shops. Also featured
is Mazatlan, known as the Pearl of the Pacific for its
beautiful beaches,
abundant marine life, and myriad fishing and diving opportunities. Rounding out
the itinerary is La Paz, a sun worshippers’ paradise famous
for its excellent
sportfishing, snorkeling and scuba diving, with white-sand
beaches stretching
the length of its magnificent waterfront.
The namesake vessel in the line’s Spirit-class, Carnival
Spirit offers a variety of on-board facilities and features – an indoor
wrap around promenade, an classic American-style steakhouse located at the top
level of a soaring-nine-deck high atrium, extensive spa and children’s
facilities, and a two-level promenade lined with themed lounges, bars and
nightspots. Four swimming pools,
as well as Carnival’s signature Twister Waterslide, are
featured, as well.
Carnival Spirit also offers bow-to-stern Wi-Fi, full casino
gambling, myriad
entertainment choices, including lavish production shows,
along with a wedding
chapel and conference center. In addition to the steakhouse, dining options
include a two-level formal restaurant and an expansive
poolside eatery with a
24-hour pizzeria, New York-style deli, an Asian specialty
venue and other casual
choices. Of the ship’s 1,062 staterooms, 80 percent offer
either an ocean view or
balcony – ideal for viewing the beautiful
scenery. All staterooms feature
the
Carnival Comfort Bed with plush mattresses, luxurious duvets
and high quality
linens and pillows.
Carnival Spirit will operate its new five- and nine-day
Mexican Riviera
schedule through April 1, 2011. The Carnival Spirit will then offer its
previously scheduled 12-day Hawaii cruises (April 10 and 22,
2011) and a full
season of seven-day Alaska cruises departing from Seattle
(beginning May 10,
2011).
The new five- and nine-day cruises replace the Carnival
Spirit’s previous
eight-day Mexican Riviera program. Guests scheduled to sail
on the eight-day
voyages have the following options: switch to a new nine-day
Mexican Riviera
cruise with their eight-day cruise fare protected; re-book
an alternate Carnival
sailing and receive a $50 per person on-board credit; or
cancel and receive a
full refund. Travel agent commissions will be protected.
Celebrity Cruises
Website: www.celebritycruises.com
Celebrity Cruises’
Four Solstice Class Ships To Summer In Europe
Celebrity Cruises’ summer 2011 destination line-up for the
summer sees all four of its Solstice-class ships – including Celebrity
Silhouette, which will set sail next year – in Europe at the same time,
for the first time. The move marks the return of the widely lauded Celebrity
Solstice – the class’s flagship vessel – to Europe. Celebrity
Cruises’ 2011 Europe season also will include a series of new seven-night
Mediterranean voyages from Celebrity Constellation, which will undergo a series
of refreshments inspired by the Solstice-class vessels, later this month.
Celebrity Cruises’ 2011 summer voyages and cruisetours will begin opening for
sale from today – 9 April 2010.
Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club members can be the first
to book voyages on Celebrity Silhouette in Europe and, in a Solstice-class
first, in the Caribbean out of Bayonne, New Jersey, in the winter of 2011-12.
Celebrity Cruises opened its summer Bermuda voyages – seven-night
roundtrip sailings from Bayonne, New Jersey, on Celebrity Summit – on
March 10.
-- When Celebrity Silhouette sets sail for the first time in
July 2011, she will offer a unique maiden voyage from Hamburg to Rome and a
special nine-night Mediterranean voyage. Then, the new ship will offer a series
of 12- and 13-night Holy Land sailings roundtrip out of Rome. Celebrity Equinox
also will sail from Rome, offering ten- and 11-night roundtrip Mediterranean
cruises.
-- Celebrity Solstice, offering summer Caribbean voyages out
of Fort Lauderdale in the summer of 2010, will return to Europe next summer
with a series of 12 night round-trip itineraries out of Barcelona, and
Celebrity Eclipse – launching this month in Southampton, UK – will
offer a similar line-up from that same port in 2011. The 2011 Europe cruises on
Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Eclipse, and Celebrity Equinox are now
-- In another Solstice-class first, Celebrity Silhouette
will sail from Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey following launch celebrations
in Europe. During winter 2011-2012 Celebrity Silhouette will offer a series of
12-night Caribbean voyages.
Celebrity Cruises has designed a series of back-to-back
seven-night cruises from Athens. Guests can take these separately or as a
14-night cruise. Three sets of the cruises will sail in September and October,
and with only one or two sea days per cruise, the itineraries offer guests the
opportunity to fully experience the culture-rich “Holy Land” and Greek isles.
The summer 2011
season also will mark the first time that Celebrity Cruises will have six ships
in Europe, with Celebrity Mercury sailing in the region as well. In total,
Celebrity Cruises will visit 70 total ports in 23 countries in Europe, including
six new ports: Leknes (Lofoten) and Longyearbyen, Norway; Bari and La Spezia,
Italy; Bodrum, Turkey; and Kotor, Montenegro. Celebrity Constellation’s and
Celebrity Mercury’s 2011 Europe voyages will open in the coming weeks.
Variety of Cruisetours and Shore Excursions Offered
Cruisers who wish to make the most of their time in Europe
can choose from a variety of cruisetours, land tours offered pre-cruise that
are combined with the cruise itself for a longer, more in-depth experience of a
destination. In Europe in 2011, Celebrity Cruises will offer a new four-night
Greece package on Celebrity Constellation from Athens. The package features
Athens, Delphi (with an overnight in Itea) and Olympia. Additionally, Celebrity
Cruises will offer a variety of escorted cruisetour packages with immersive
experiences in various cities:
· A four-night
Madrid and Barcelona package
· A five-night
Venice, Florence and Rome package
· A four-night Paris
and London package
· A three-night Paris
and Amsterdam package
Shore excursions include:
· In Ephesus,
Turkey, the famous ruins of Ephesus, the largest collection of Roman ruins in
the eastern Mediterranean, including the iconic Library of Celsus.
· In Israel, during
itineraries offering overnight stays, two-day overland tours of some of the
most sacred sites in the Holy Land, including Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Wailing
Wall, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
· In Cairo, Egypt,
trips to the awe-inspiring Pyramids and Sphinx. Itineraries with two days in
Egypt offer further overland tour options.
· In Naples, Italy,
a trip to explore the ruins of Pompeii, or Capri.
· In Florence,
Italy, tours of Michelangelo's "David," Ghiberti's "Bronze
Doors" and numerous architectural wonders including the Ponte Vecchio,
Duomo and Pisa's Leaning Tower and Field of Miracles.
· In Berlin,
Germany, a visit to the Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag, which served as
Germany's Parliament building until the early 1930s, and Potsdam Square, where
the Berlin Wall used to stand.
More on Alaska Cruises
When Celebrity Cruises’ 2011-12 Alaska season opens for sale
on 13 April cruisers will find more opportunities to enjoy the breathtaking
scenery from the privacy of their stateroom verandas. For the first time,
Celebrity Century, which was redesigned to offer an additional 314 verandas in
2006, will sail in Alaska, alongside seasonal favorites Celebrity Millennium
and Celebrity Infinity. Replacing Celebrity Mercury in the region will be
Celebrity Century, which has 73 percent more veranda and Concierge Class
staterooms. To complement the increase in available verandas, Celebrity Cruises
has designed new itineraries, cruisetours and shore excursions including two
wine-themed cruises along the Pacific Coast and a new 18-night cruisetour
package.
Discerning cruisers seeking the opportunity to experience
British Columbia and Alaska in style can choose from a total of 17 repeating
seven-night Alaska Hubbard Glacier cruises on Celebrity Century. In addition to
the expanded number of veranda staterooms, the 1,814-guest vessel’s 2006
“makeover” also included the unveiling of Murano, Celebrity Cruises’ popular
European-style specialty restaurant, and the first “ice” Martini Bar at sea.
Visiting Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan, and cruising by the awe-inspiring
Hubbard Glacier, the cruises sail roundtrip out of Vancouver from May to
September. Preceding the season will be an eight-night coastal cruise along the
Pacific Coast, sailing from San Diego to Vancouver on 14 May.
Celebrity Infinity will continue to offer seven-night Tracy
Arm Fjord cruises roundtrip from Seattle, Washington, from May to September
2011. The itinerary also will include calls at Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway,
Alaska, as well as a cruise through the Alaska Inside Passage. Either end of
Celebrity Infinity’s seven-night pattern will be two 10-night Ultimate Alaska
voyages from Seattle on 10 May and 16 September.
Celebrity Millennium will present seven-night alternating northbound
and southbound cruises between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska, from May to early
September. These cruises will visit Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Ketchikan, and
Skagway, and will cruise by Hubbard Glacier. Celebrity Millennium’s 2011 Alaska
season will start with a ten-night West Coast wine cruise from San Diego,
California, to Vancouver on 3 May, featuring an overnight call in San
Francisco, followed by a roundtrip seven-night Hubbard Glacier cruise from
Vancouver. Celebrity Millennium will then offer another wine cruise, sailing
for 10 nights from Vancouver to San Diego with another overnight call in San
Francisco, as well as calls to Monterey and Catalina Island, California.
Celebrity Cruises has designed 21 Alaska cruisetours to
offer cruisers a variety of land tour experiences into the interior of Alaska.
New in 2011 is “The Ultimate Cruisetour – Canadian Rockies & Alaska,”
an 18-night package being offered to guests sailing on Celebrity Millennium.
The experience features a six-night pre-cruise Canadian Rockies tour, a
seven-night northbound Alaska cruise, and a five-night post-cruise Alaska land
tour. Highlights of the Canadian Rockies portion include rail travel through
the Rockies, accommodations at Victoria’s acclaimed Fairmont Empress, and a two-night
stay in Denali.
All cruisetours include hotel accommodations, in-tour
transportation and baggage transfers, and some meals. In Alaska, Celebrity
Cruises’ local tour directors travel with the guests as they enjoy the luxury
of Celebrity Cruises’ glass-domed Wilderness Express railcars and deluxe
coaches.
Celebrity’s Caribbean
Designed For You” Promotion
Celebrity Cruises, the cruise brand known for designing
unforgettable cruise vacations, has created a new booking promotion,
“Celebrity’s Caribbean, Designed for you,” in celebration of its extensive
variety of Caribbean cruise offerings. Featured in the promotion are seven
stunning ships and 27 itineraries sailing between May 2010 and April 2011.
Discerning cruisers who book these itineraries between May 1 and May 30, 2010,
have the opportunity to take advantage of extraordinary values, including free
Solstice-class veranda upgrades, inside staterooms starting from $599 per
person, and third- and fourth-berth rates from $349 per person.
“Celebrity’s Caribbean, Designed for you” features
promotional rates and upgrade opportunities on select sailings on seven ships
and itineraries ranging from seven to 14 nights in length, in the Eastern,
Western and Southern Caribbean. On select seven-night Caribbean cruises, rates
start as low as $599 per person for an inside stateroom, $799 per person for a
veranda stateroom, and third- and fourth-guest rates starting from $349 per
person. These rates are available on select Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises
on the award-winning Celebrity Solstice roundtrip out of Fort Lauderdale;
Eastern Caribbean cruises out of Miami on the brand-new Celebrity Eclipse,
which launched earlier this month in Southampton, England; and Southern
Caribbean cruises on Celebrity Summit, roundtrip out of San Juan.
Celebrity is including multiple nine- to 14-night cruises in
the promotion, with rates starting from $799 per person for an inside
stateroom, $999 per person for a veranda stateroom, and third- and fourth-guest
rates starting from $499 per person. These are available on select 14-night
“Exotic Southern Caribbean” cruises roundtrip out of Fort Lauderdale on
Celebrity Constellation; ten- and 11-night “Ultimate Caribbean” cruises on
Celebrity Equinox roundtrip out of Fort Lauderdale; ten- and 11-night Southern
Caribbean cruises on Celebrity Millennium, roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale; nine-
to 12-night Caribbean cruises on Celebrity Mercury from Baltimore; and ten- and
11-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises on Celebrity Mercury from
Charleston.
Cruisers who book inside or oceanview staterooms on select
sailings will be eligible to take advantage of stateroom upgrades, including
free upgrades on select Solstice-class sailings. Free upgrades from oceanview
to veranda staterooms are available on select seven-night sailings departing
between on Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Eclipse, and on select ten- and
11-night Caribbean cruises on Celebrity Equinox. Celebrity Summit, Celebrity
Millennium, Celebrity Constellation and Celebrity Mercury will offer upgrades
from an inside stateroom to an oceanview, or from an oceanview to a veranda,
starting at up to $99 per person.
Celebrity
Warm-Weather Getaways In Winter 2011-12
Hot on the heels of its recent announcement that all of its
widely heralded Solstice-class ships will sail together in Europe in the summer
of 2011, Celebrity Cruises announced that the four stylish vessels also will
glide through the waters of the Caribbean later that year and into early 2012.
Cruisers can book most of Celebrity’s 2011-12 winter cruises and cruisetours
beginning today.
With Caribbean offerings on eight ships and itineraries
ranging in length from four to 14 nights out of five homeports, discerning
cruisers who seek a relaxing warm-weather getaway will have numerous ways to
pamper themselves in style. “Firsts” in the season include not only the
deployment of four modern, sophisticated Solstice-class ships to sail in the
Caribbean, but also the availability of four- and five-night Caribbean cruises
on Celebrity Millennium.
For the first time, a Solstice-class ship – Celebrity
Silhouette, launching in 2011 – will sail from Cape Liberty (Bayonne),
New Jersey, offering cruisers throughout the Northeast easy driving access to a
vacation on the newest ship in the line’s award-winning Solstice-class fleet.
From November 2011 to April 2012, Celebrity Silhouette will sail 14 alternating
Southern and Eastern Caribbean voyages of 12 nights in length. The Southern
Caribbean itineraries will visit St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Lucia and
St. Maarten. Celebrity Silhouette’s Eastern Caribbean cruises include visits to
San Juan, Labadee (Celebrity’s private-island destination in Haiti), St. Croix,
St. Thomas, Antigua and St. Maarten.
Sister Solstice-class ship Celebrity Equinox also will offer
long Caribbean itineraries in the winter of 2011-12, sailing 15 alternating ten-
and 11-night “Ultimate Caribbean” cruises out of Fort Lauderdale. The ten-night
line-up focuses on Southern Caribbean experiences, with visits to St. Thomas,
St. Kitts, Barbados, Dominica and St. Maarten. The 11-night cruises take
cruisers into the Western Caribbean and Panama, with visits to Mexico, Belize
or Honduras (depending upon itinerary), Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Grand
Cayman.
Celebrity Constellation will present a series of 14-night
Southern Caribbean cruises roundtrip out of Fort Lauderdale, from November 2011
through April 2012. Ports of call include Aruba, Curacao, Grenada, Barbados,
St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Maarten and St. Thomas.
For the first time, Celebrity Century – which
underwent a significant revitalization in 2006, including the addition of 314
new stateroom verandas, a Murano specialty restaurant and the first “Ice
Martini Bar” at sea – will present a season of 12-night Eastern Caribbean
sailings out of Baltimore. The Caribbean season will be bookended by two Hawaii
“mini-seasons” – one in the fall and one in spring – and also will
include two special Panama Canal sailings between Baltimore to San Diego. These
itineraries will open for sale in the coming weeks.
Continuing to offer popular, port-intensive seven-night
voyages will be Celebrity Summit, sailing in the Southern Caribbean on
Saturdays, roundtrip from San Juan. Celebrity Summit also will offer guests the
opportunity to use technology to share aspects of their Caribbean escape, as it
will be retrofitted this May with a “Celebrity iLounge” mirrored after the one
debuting on Celebrity Eclipse, the newest Solstice-class vessel launching later
this month in Southampton, England. The Celebrity iLounge will replace the
Internet Café on Celebrity Summit, and feature a retail area offering the
latest products through Celebrity’s Authorized Apple Reseller status. The venue
will be staffed by certified technologists who will offer contemporary online
classes through the ‘Discover’ series of our inspiring and enriching ‘Celebrity
Life’ experience. Also, early in the 2011-12 winter season, Celebrity Summit
will join other Millennium-class ships in being “Solsticized.”
Celebrity Solstice, which will return to South Florida to
offer roundtrip seven-night Caribbean cruises out of Fort Lauderdale in the
winter of 2011-12. These will be a series of 25 alternating Eastern and Western
Caribbean itineraries, including a special eight-night Eastern Caribbean
holiday sailing on December 18 that will feature an extra sea day, giving
cruisers even more time to enjoy Celebrity’s outstanding cuisine and
extraordinary service. Celebrity Solstice also will present a one-time
six-night Western Caribbean voyage on January 2, ideal for cruisers who wish to
experience a Solstice-class ship in the Caribbean but have less than a week to
spend at sea. Celebrity’s third Solstice-class ship, Celebrity Eclipse will
return for the Caribbean for a second consecutive winter season in 2011-12,
offering seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises roundtrip out of Miami.
Celebrity Millennium takes over Celebrity Century’s previous
five consecutive winter seasons of short Caribbean cruises. Sailing four- and
five-night cruises roundtrip out of Miami, Celebrity Millennium will offer a
total of 41 sailings with four distinct itineraries visiting a total of six
ports.
Building on the variety that Celebrity continues to offer,
the brand will continue to offer its popular year-round Galapagos Islands
experiences on the 92-guest mega-yacht, Celebrity Xpedition. These
all-inclusive voyages that feature naturalist-led excursions through the
awe-inspiring region, include pre- and post-cruise stays in Quito, Ecuador.
Celebrity Xpedition’s 2011-12 cruises opened for sale last month.
Celebrity will continue to sail even further south than the
Galapagos Islands with a variety of itineraries in South America – a
region will visit for the 12th consecutive year in the winter of 2011-12. From December through February,
Celebrity Infinity will present 13-, 14- and 15-night cruises between
Valparaiso and Buenos Aires. These will be bookended between a 15-night
repositioning cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Valparaiso – including a
trip through the Panama Canal – on December 3, and the reverse on March
11.
Celebrity Infinity’s line-up also includes a wide range of
Panama Canal voyages lengthened from 14 to 15 nights. The Panama Canal voyages
will now include the new port of Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, and two-day Canal
experience including a full day spent in the crossing and an extended
(full-day) stay in Colon, Panama, allowing cruisers to spend more time in the
region. Celebrity Infinity’s Panama Canal voyages between the U.S. East and
West coasts will be offered in September and October 2011, and March and April
2012. Celebrity Millennium also will offer a 15-night Panama Canal cruise from
San Diego to Miami to reposition the ship from Alaska to the Caribbean,
departing on September 19, 2011.
Cruisers who wish to make the most of their time in South
America in the 2011-12 winter season can choose from a variety of cruisetours
– escorted land tours offered pre- or post-cruise that are combined with
the cruise itself for a longer, more in-depth destination experience. In South
America, Celebrity offers several fully escorted land tours offered in
combination with cruises departing from or arriving in Buenos Aires and
Valparaiso. The five-day, four-night “Buenos Aires and Iguazu Falls” package
includes visits to a gaucho “estancia,” Buenos Aires’ San Telmo region, and the
city’s trendy Puerto Madero neighborhood. The package also includes a short
inland flight to Iguazu Falls, one of the continent’s most stunning natural
wonders, where guests spend two days exploring the massive waterfalls during
included tours encompassing Devil’s Throat, the lower and upper circuits of the
Argentinean side of the falls, and a Zodiac ride along the lower Iguazu River. The six-day, five-night “Machu Picchu
Adventure” package gives guests the opportunity to experience the Sacred Valley
of the Incas in and around the Cuzco region, as well as the capital city of
Lima. The package is highlighted by train travel to and from Machu Picchu, and
over four hours of exploration time there. The experience also includes a tour
of Cuzco and its walled Sacsayhuaman Inca area and the Cuzco Cathedral, as well
as a city tour of Lima and several other activities that will enhance guests’
South America vacation experience. Several inland flights are included.
Celebrity has designed a variety of shore excursions to
round out the cruise experience in the Caribbean, the Panama Canal and South
America in 2011-12.
In the Caribbean, Celebrity has designed its line-up of shore
excursions to give cruisers a way to unwind in tropical paradise through
nature-based activities, and opportunities to experience local history and
culture. Examples include:
· In St. Croix,
“Carambola Beach Break” features snorkeling with tropical fish and turtles and
over coral reefs
· In St. Maarten,
“Loterie Farm Treetop Adventure Tour” presents an adventure course consisting
of a pulse-pounding sequence of zip-lines, rope swings and ‘bridges' suspended
from platforms mounted in the serene forest
· In Costa Maya,
“Kohunlich and Dzibanche Mayan Ruins Combo” tour includes the majestic pyramids
and manicured lawns at Dzibanche, plus the ancient multilevel Mayan city of
Kohunlich, with its magnificent cahoon palms
· In Cozumel,
“Mexican Cuisine Workshop Tasting” allows guests to cook fine traditional
Mexican cuisine, guided by an experienced chef, before enjoying their creations
From St. Lucia, “Coastal Cruise to the Pitons” presents the
wonder and sights of Petit and Gros Pitons, which are over 2,600 ft. high.
From Machu
Picchu to penguin-sighting, Celebrity’s South America and Panama Canal cruises
are designed to highlight the region’s natural beauty and culture, and a
variety of shore excursions offer a more in-depth experience.
In Peru, “Cuzco and Machu Picchu Adventure” includes
intensive exploration of the lost city of the Incas
In Buenos Aires, “Estancia San Lorenzo Penguin Reserve and
Punta Norte” tour pairs a visit to a Magellan penguin colony with lunch at a
typical estancia
From Puerto Montt, “Petrohue River Rafting” is an
exhilarating class III-IV rafting trip down the Rio Petrohue River, one of
Chile's glacial rivers
In Colon, Panama, “Panama Canal Tour” lets guests experience
the wonder of the Panama Canal from a different perspective – that of a
ferry boat as it navigates the Miraflores Locks, Pedro Miguel Locks and Gaylard
Cut.
Compagnie du
Ponant
Website: www.ponant.com
Le Ponant Sails To
Hidden Corners Of Mediterranean
From this spring through the fall, Compagnie du Ponant, the
world’s only French-flagged cruise line, will offer unusual voyages to some of
the hidden corners of Europe’s most popular destinations: Italy, France and
Spain. From May 17 through October
23, guests aboard the luxury cruise line’s stylish Le Ponant will enjoy visits
to some 12 lesser-known island gems including Porquerolles, Minorca, Lipari,
Gozo, Hvar, Mljet and through the Kornati archipelago. Sailing on mostly seven-night itineraries,
the three-masted Le Ponant will sail along the French Riviera, Costa Brava and
the Ligurian and Dalmatian coasts.
Kicking off its European season on May 17, the seven-night
“Charms of Corsica and Italy” itinerary sails from Nice down the west side of
Corsica to picturesque Ile Rousse; along the towering granite cliffs of Piana
Calanches, a UNESCO World Heritage site; then to the cliff-top fortressed
medieval city of Bonifcacio; before continuing to Rome; Elba’s Portoferraio;
the medieval town of Lerici in the Cinque Terre, and back to Nice. “Treasures of the Blue Mediterranean”
(May 24, 31, September 2, 19, & October 10), seven-night sailings from Nice
to Valleta and back, include mostly Italian ports like the volcanic island of
Ponza, the jewel-like Amalfi, tiny Lipari in the Aeolian Islands, plus a cruise
around Stromboli’s active volcano and a visit to Taormina’s ancient Greek
theatre and its still-smoking Mount Etna.
Other Le Ponant cruises highlighting Italy include:
-- Sicily and
the Mezzogiorno (August 19, 26, September 26 & October 3) – Four
seven-night voyages, from Valletta (Malta) to Naples and Naples back to
Valletta, call at the famed Sicilian cities of Syracuse, Taormina and Palermo
and Castellamare, gateway to the Phoenician sites of Segesta and Erice, plus
Lipari and Amalfi.
-- Italian Promenades: Tuscany and Liguria (October 17 &
23) – The six-night Nice-to-Nice itinerary calls in Monaco and four
Italian ports, including the Tuscan resort of Viareggio, a jumping-off point
for visits to Pisa or Florence.
France and Spain are the focus of:
-- A Mediterranean Anthology (June 12, 19, 26 & July 3)
– Four seven-night itineraries from Nice to Barcelona and Barcelona to
Nice, visit: the nature reserve on Porquerolles; the medieval village of Port
Saint Louise du Rhone in the heart of the Alpilles; Port La Nouvelle for its
Crusader fortresses; the UNESCO Biosphere reserve of Minorca; Majorca’s
cobblestoned capital Palma de Majorca, and medieval Palamos north of Barcelona,
the Mediterranean’s most popular port.
Several itineraries explore the Dalmatian Coast, one of
this year’s hot destinations:
-- From the Riviera to Medieval Cities of the Adriatic (July
24) - This nine-night adds stops
at Elba and ports along Italy’s western coast with visits to the beautiful
island of Hvar; Split, a UNESCO World Heritage site with Diocletian’s Palace;
picturesque Rovinj, and medieval Piran.
-- Blown by the Wind in Croatia (August 2) – A
seven-night Venice-to-Venice itinerary calls at eight jewels along the
Dalmatian Coast including three UNESCO World Heritage sites: the walled city
Dubrovnik, Trogir and Sibenik. The cruise visits the fortified towns of Zadar
and Kotor; Mljet, one of this coast’s best kept secrets and medieval Korcula
before it sails through the Kornati archipelago.
-- From the Doge’s Palace to the Palace of the Grand
Master’s” (August 9) – A ten-night Venice-to-Valleta voyage combines
seven ports along the Dalmatian coast with stops at Otranto on Italy’s heel,
Taormina and Gozo.
Golfers can hit the links during “Tee Time in the
Mediterranean,” two seven-night, Nice-to-Nice sailings (July 10 and 17) playing
at select golf courses in Cannes, Corsica, Sardinia, Elba and Portofino. Included in the price are green fees at
five courses, golf carts and transfers to and from the courses. The yacht’s Sports Director will handle
all the details.
These itineraries are tailor made for Compagnie du Ponant’s
sailing yacht. Le Ponant’s zodiacs
allow guests to explore these intriguing ports as well as private coves and
deserted islets. And on a hot summer
day in the Mediterranean nothing is more refreshing then jumping off the marina
platform for a swim.
Le Ponant has 32 exterior staterooms with large windows and
all have individually controlled air conditioning, a choice of king or twin
beds and private bath with shower and L’Occitane amenities. Ranging from 113 to 165 square feet,
they come equipped with the latest technology: flat-screen satellite TV,
direct-dial satellite telephone, Wi-Fi as well as a mini-bar and safe.
All but six cruises are seven-night itineraries. Starting at
$3,045 per person, double occupancy for a Marie Galante Deck stateroom on the
six-night “Italian Promenades: Tuscany and Liguria” and ranging up to $5,680
per person, double for an Antigua Deck stateroom on the ten-day “From the
Doge’s Palace to the Palace of the Grand Masters,” cruise prices include all
wine, beer, mineral water, soft drinks and specialty coffees served with meals.
Compagnie du Ponant offers travel agent commissions ranging between 10 and 15
percent.
Le Ponant is an elegant 290-foot sailing yacht that
accommodates 64 guests in 32 outside staterooms. Two restaurants, one with panoramic views; two lounges and a
library provide plenty of entertainment options. Relaxing outside on the expansive 4,300-square-foot deck
– especially when the ship has its 16,000 feet of sails unfurled –
is particularly appealing. Aboard
the yacht, guests enjoy the best France has to offer: delicious cuisine,
tasteful accommodations and a chic, yet informal atmosphere. The intimate size of Le Ponant and a
staff-to-guest ratio of 1:2 translate to very personalized service. Compagnie
du Ponant’s aim: to have guests feel like they are sailing on their own yacht.
Crystal Cruises
Website: www.crystal.com
Crystal’s Fall New
England & Canada Voyages
A new overnight stay in New York and a maiden visit to
Portland, Maine are among the highlights of Crystal Cruises’ New England &
Canada series in fall 2010. Four
11-day cruises aboard the Crystal Symphony will sail between New York and
Montréal beginning September 19, each with two overnight calls and nearly 100
Crystal Adventures ashore to showcase the region’s natural beauty and rich
history.
Departing September 19, September 30, October 11 and October
22, all voyages
feature overnight stays in Montréal and either Boston or New
York, plus visits to Newport, Rhode Island; Saint John, New Brunswick; Halifax,
Nova Scotia; Québec City, Québec and either Bar Harbor or Portland, Maine.
Per person, Two-for-One (double occupancy) promotional fares
start at $4,275,
with $500 per person ‘All Inclusive – As You Wish’
shipboard credits, and
complimentary air transportation from many North American
gateways.
Eco-Adventures
Highlight Mediterranean Natural Wonders On Crystal Cruises
This summer, Crystal Cruises’ guests on Mediterranean
voyages can explore UNESCO declared national parks, the fragile ecosystems of a
Spanish nature reserve and various wildlife habitats with Crystal
Eco-Adventures. Several options ashore highlight Southern Europe’s
environmental treasures and natural wonders on dozens of Crystal Serenity
voyages from May through October.
Among the eco-adventures are:
* Horseback Riding at Montseny National Park –
(Barcelona, Spain) Ride through this UNESCO declared Biosphere Reserve;
* L’Albufera Nature Reserve – (Valencia, Spain)
Protected by many European environmental organizations, the reserve is a
habitat for thousands of aquatic birds; and
* Krka National Park – (Trogir, Croatia) Home to
dramatic waterfalls that cascade over 17 natural barriers.
Adventures ashore allow guests to explore the natural beauty
of the destinations in a variety of ways, from mountain biking in Greece to
paragliding in Spain and scuba diving off the coast of Turkey.
In 2010, the Crystal Serenity sails 19 voyages in the
Mediterranean, Black Sea and Canary Islands ranging from seven to 12 days. Per
person (double occupancy), Two-for-One cruise fares start at $3,680, and
include up to $1,000 ‘All Inclusive – As You Wish’ shipboard credits and
complimentary air transportation from many North American gateways –
Business Class air for Penthouse guests.
Holland America
Line
Website: www.hollandamerica.com
New Wellness Program
Caters to Diverse Interests of Premium Cruisers
From morning Tai Chi or Sudoku to afternoon Pilates and Wii
bowling, Holland America Line’s new Explore Wellbeing program is tailored to
guests who want engaging onboard activities while they cruise. Explore
Wellbeing offers new directions in sporting events, brain teasers and spa
features to intrigue, relax and excite guests.
Designed for guests of all ages, Explore Wellbeing extends
the offerings of the popular Greenhouse Spa to incorporate new entertainment,
fitness and sports activities. Leading the program on board is the resident wellness expert - the
LifeStylist - who hosts a diverse
array of sessions. Guests can
start each day with stimulating signature tai chi on deck. They can also can jump
into Boot Camp for a challenging regime of exercises, engage in a round of team
trivia, sharpen their fairway to green skills with the Golf Challenge, take on
fellow guests in Wii Bowling or attend one of many informative Greenhouse Spa
seminars. Other activities feature
yoga, step classes, additional Wii games, pilates, spinning, Sudoko puzzles,
ballroom dance classes and more.
Complementing Explore Wellbeing are other programs hosted by
the Explorations Team. The onboard
Party Planner will host Explore Food & Entertaining events in the Culinary
Arts Center, presented by Food & Wine Magazine, significantly expanding the
innovative program which brings more than 70 culinary experts on board each
year in addition to classes and demonstrations on every sailing. As the destination expert on board
under Explore Our World, the Travel Guide will give dynamic multimedia
presentations about the ship’s itinerary and be a one-stop source for
port-of-call information. The Techspert will offer Explore Technology classes
and Digital Workshops powered by Windows, where guests can learn how to blog,
work with digital photos, arrange a digital scrapbook, create a slideshow or
edit a movie. On cruises lasting
14 days or more, the Librarian also leads a book club.
MSC Cruises
Website: www.msccruises.com
Reduced MSC Singles
Supplement For Fall Foliage Canada/New England Cruises
Single travelers and those traveling alone can experience
the fall foliage of Canada/New England cruises on MSC Poesia for new, reduced
rates. Guests who book an interior, oceanview, or balcony stateroom for one on
MSC Cruises’ 2010 Canada/New England cruises by August 31, 2010 can save with
these new rates. This special single supplement offer is applicable for
Categories 1-11 on MSC Poesia Canada/New England cruises departing from New
York and Quebec.
Cruise itinerary highlights include:
• Six-night Maple Leaves & Mansions cruise from Quebec
City and calling in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada; Boston, Massachusetts;
Newport, Rhode Island; and New York. October 23; single rate was $1,078.20 and
is now $718.80 [plus $81.40 pp. government fees and taxes (GFT’s)] for a
savings of $359.40;
• Seven-night Scenic Splendors of Fall cruise from New York
City and calling in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Charlottetown, Prince Edward
Island, Canada; Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada, and Quebec City, Quebec;
Canada, October 2; single rate was $1,258.20 and is now $838.80 (plus $78.50
pp. GFT’s) for a savings of $419.40;
• Ten-night Dazzling Fall Foliage cruise from New York City
and calling in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada; Charlottetown, Prince Edward
Island, Canada; Quebec City, Quebec, Canada; Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada;
Newport, Rhode Island; and New York. September 22; single rate was $1,798.20 and is now $1,198.80 (plus
$72.90 pp. GFT’s) for a savings of $599.40;
• 14-night Autumn Leaves and Lighthouses, cruise from Quebec
City and calling in Sydney, Nova Scotia; Bar Harbor, Maine; Boston,
Massachusetts; Newport, Rhode Island; New York, New York; Halifax, Nova Scotia;
and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. October 9; single rate was $2,428.20
and is now $1,618.80 per person (plus $129.45 pp. GFT’s) for a savings of
$809.40.
Rates are available for residents of the US and Canada;
offer is per person, cruise only and subject to availability.
MSC Cruises/UK
Website: www.msccruises.com
Msc Cruises
Blossoming One Pound Sale
To mark the launch of its 2011 sailings and mini brochures
MSC Cruises is offering passengers the chance to cruise for just £1*! When one
adult books a 2011 Mediterranean cruise paying full brochure price, the second
passenger pays just £1. Offer based on two sharing a cabin and bookings must be
made between 14 April and 10 May 2010. Children cruise for free with MSC,
(paying port taxes, flights and transfers only).
More than 280 departures, 35 itineraries and 60 ports of
call/destinations are available on 11 ships, on all year around Mediterranean
sailings, for three, four, eight, 10 and 11 night cruises. Terms and conditions
apply.
Prices start from £299 for three nights and £799 for seven
and 11 nights (cruise only) for the first passenger and the second passenger
pays only £1. Flights are excluded from the ‘sail for £1’ deal but can be
booked through MSC Cruises’ flight centre, with departures from Barcelona,
Genoa, Venice, Livorno and Naples from £230 per person.
Passengers can book extras to enhance their cruise
experience, such as hotels, excursions and Spa packages. MSC Cruises now offer
an all inclusive beverage package offering even more value for money.
For families and couples wanting the ultimate experience,
flagships MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida are perfectly equipped, offering
children’s facilities, a huge choice of pools, entertainment facilities and
bars and restaurants to be enjoyed. Entertainment includes games arcades, 4D
cinema and F1 simulator.
The Musica Class is slightly smaller in comparison to MSC’s
flagships, but still offers a huge range of similar amenities in a more compact
and cosy environment. For those wishing to try out MSC Cruises latest offering,
MSC Magnifica has just been launched in March this year.
For a more intimate cruise experience the Lirica Class is a
collection of smaller ships, their size making them great for first time
cruisers and passengers wanting a more intimate space onboard. Thanks to its
size, the Lirica Class also visits smaller ports which
Oceania Cruises
Website: www.oceaniacruises.com
Oceania Cruises
Debuts Fall Foliage Cruises For Autumn 2011
Oceania Cruises will combine destination-rich ports with
renowned cultural and historical diversity on two New England and Canada
cruises this October. Scenic highlights include cruising in the Bay of Fundy,
Saguenay Fjord and St. Lawrence River.
Travelers will discover these new destinations aboard
Oceania Cruises’ 684-guest Regatta – an intimate ship acclaimed for its
open-seating gourmet dining (no surcharges), luxurious public rooms and
accommodations, and warm, attentive service.
-- New England/Canada
The 12-day “Colors, Coasts & Coves” cruise offers a
taste of French culture and cuisine, Scottish immigrant history, New England
hospitality, as well as Canadian and US history. Fares for these exciting new
voyages start at just $3,999 per person, based on double occupancy, and include
free air from 21 gateway cities. Departures are Sept. 30 and Oct. 12, 2011.
Ports include Newport, Rhode Island, where the Rockefellers
and Astors summered during the Gilded Age; Rockland, a picturesque hamlet north
of Boston; Bar Harbor, the quintessential Maine fishing village; St John, New
Brunswick; quaint Halifax, Sydney and Charlottetown in Nova Scotia; Corner
Brook, Newfoundland; and historic Quebec City, the 400-year-old "heart of
French Canada."
Thoughtfully designed optional tours and excursions enhance
the destination experience and include a horse-drawn carriage tour of Quebec
City; visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lunenburg fishing village; and
a lobster lunch at Dalvay by the Sea, the 19th-century summer home built by
then Standard Oil chief Alexander MacDonald. Outdoor activities include cycling
Acadia National Park and Prince Edward Island and kayaking coves in Maine and
Nova Scotia.
--Mexico and the Panama Canal
Oceania Cruises
will offer the “Ultimate Panama Canal” cruise before commencing her fall
foliage cruises. The 21-day voyage from San Francisco to New York departs San
Francisco September 9, 2011, and sails to the treasures of the Mexican Riviera,
including Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Acalpulco, Huatulco and Puerto
Chiapas, before visiting Costa Rica and Colombia via the Panama Canal. A full
day on Grand Cayman precedes visits to Savannah and Charleston, stalwarts of
Southern charm. Fares start at $5,299 per person, based on double occupancy,
and include free air from 21 gateway cities.
Princess Cruises
Website: www.princess.com
Princess Announces
2011 Alaska Cruise and Cruisetour Program
Princess Cruises’ 2011 Alaska program offers travelers a
full range of cruise and cruisetour options whether they want to explore Denali
in depth, plan independently, enjoy the attention of an expert guide, or
venture off the beaten path. The season opens for sale May 13 with special
rates that include adding three days at Denali to a cruise for just $299.
The 2011 lineup
will offer passengers the company’s hallmark Alaska experience, whether at sea
on board amenity-filled ships or on land with Princess’ signature wilderness
lodges and exclusive Direct to the Wilderness program, where guests step right
from their ship onto luxury railcars that transport them directly to the Denali
area.
The season includes a total of 104 Alaska departures aboard
six ships sailing on three itinerary options during the May to September
season. The lineup includes Diamond Princess, Coral Princess, and Island
Princess traveling on the line’s popular “Voyage of the Glaciers” route through
the scenic Gulf of Alaska; Golden Princess and Sapphire Princess sailing the
Inside Passage from Seattle, and Sea Princess cruising on 10-day journeys from
San Francisco.
The cruisetour program combines a seven-day Voyage of the
Glaciers cruise with three to eight additional nights on land exploring
Alaska’s interior. For 2011, travelers can choose from four types of land and
sea packages – Denali Explorer, On Your Own, Off the Beaten Path and
Connoisseur. All Princess cruisetours include the company’s exclusive
wilderness lodges, rail or motorcoach travel, plus the top two attractions in
the state – Glacier Bay National Park and Denali National Park, where
visitors spend at least two nights exploring the wonders of this area.
Princess offers three itineraries to the majestic glaciers,
historic towns and scenic waters of Alaska with sailings from seven to 10 days.
-- Voyage of the Glaciers – The line’s famed Gulf of
Alaska route between Vancouver and Whittier (for Anchorage) features calls at
Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway with daylight cruising in Glacier Bay National
Park and the 16 glaciers of College Fjord (or Hubbard Glacier on southbound
sailings). Diamond Princess and
Coral Princess sail on Saturdays and Island Princess offers new Wednesday
departures for a total of 54 sailing choices between May 18 and September 17,
2011.
-- Inside Passage from Seattle – Golden Princess and
Sapphire Princess offer convenient weekend departures on seven-day roundtrip
itineraries from Seattle along the scenic Inside Passage with calls at
Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria, B.C. Passengers will enjoy dramatic
glacier viewing in either Glacier Bay National Park (Golden Princess) or Tracy
Arm (Sapphire Princess). The two ships will sail on 37 departures between May
14 and September 17, 2011.
-- Inside Passage from San Francisco – Sea Princess
again sails from the “City by the Bay” on 10-day roundtrip cruises. The ship
offers 13 voyages from San Francisco featuring the scenery of Glacier Bay
National Park or Tracy Arm, stops at Victoria and Juneau, plus two other calls
in Ketchikan, Skagway, Haines, Sitka or Icy Strait Point. Departures sail between May 10 and
September 7, 2011.
Cruisetours
Princess cruisetours offer passengers a complete land and
sea Alaska experience with vacations ranging from ten to 15 nights. All
cruisetour options include at least two nights in the Denali National Park
area, stays at Princess’ own riverside wilderness lodges, and a seven-day
Voyage of the Glaciers sailing including Glacier Bay National Park.
-- Denali
Explorer – Featuring multiple nights at the line’s own Denali Princess
Wilderness Lodge and/or Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, these tours
also offer the exclusive Direct-to-the-Wilderness rail service between the
Whittier cruise terminal and the dramatic Denali National Park area. Most also
offer the opportunity to explore Fairbanks or Anchorage.
-- On Your Own
– A new option for independent-minded travelers, these tours offer a more
affordable and flexible way to see the Heart of Alaska. Tours do not include
any pre-planned excursions, giving travelers time to create their own
experience.
-- Off the Beaten Path – For those who want to explore
Denali and beyond, these tours offer options to the Kenai Peninsula with stays
at Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge or Wrangell-St. Elias National Park with
stays at Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge. Passengers can even choose to
venture to the state’s far north into the Arctic Circle and Prudhoe Bay.
-- Connoisseur – These cruisetour options offer the
services of a professional tour director and additional time for passengers to
experience the Great Land. Travelers can choose from more of these extended
itineraries in 2011, with most meals and enhanced sightseeing options included
as well.
Gulf of Alaska cruises and cruisetours for 2011 are
available for reservations on May 13, 2010. Launch Fares begin at $649 for
seven-day voyages, and $948 for cruisetours.
Princess Slashes
Cruise Prices For A Limited Time
Princess is again marking down its cruise prices by up to
$1,000 per couple.
The line's recently announced “World of Savings” promotion
includes select 2010 voyages to many of the line's worldwide destinations,
including Asia and Africa; Canada and New England; the Caribbean; Europe; Hawaii
and the South Pacific; and the Panama Canal. The promotion runs through May 31.
Examples of World of Savings starting fares include 15-night
Asia and Africa cruises from $1,599 per person; seven-night Canada and New
England cruises from $549 per person; and seven-night Caribbean cruises from
$499 per person.
Sale fares for Europe cruises start at $1,099 per person for
seven nights. Ten-night Hawaii and South Pacific cruises start at $1,099 per
person.
The promotion is available to residents of the United
States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.
Canada/New England
Program Expanded To Include 2011 Summer Sailings
Princess Cruises will launch its largest Canada & New
England program ever in 2011, with a new itinerary and an expanded season,
offering nearly a 30 percent increase in capacity over the previous
season. These summer cruises will
sail between the line’s Caribbean sailings from New York, offering a selection
of summer destinations from the “Big Apple.”
The expanded
Canada & New England season begins May 17 and introduces a new nine-day
itinerary that adds calls in Sydney (Nova Scotia) and Charlottetown (Prince
Edward Island) plus features many favorite ports in the region. Caribbean Princess will offer four
sailings on this roundtrip New York route between departures on its nine-day
Bermuda & Eastern Caribbean itinerary, giving passengers the choice of
sailing north or south (or both) for their summer vacation.
In autumn, the Canada & New England program continues
with 14 sailings on two different itineraries – weeklong roundtrips from
New York on Caribbean Princess and the classic ten-day route between New York
and Quebec City aboard Crown Princess. In addition, Crown Princess will offer a 12-day Canada and Colonial
America sailing.
These sailings also feature opportunities to visit several
UNESCO World Heritage Sites, unique places that represent the planet’s cultural
and natural heritage. In Canada,
travelers can visit the town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia (from Halifax), and
Crown Princess passengers can explore the historic old city of Quebec. In Bermuda, the historic town of St.
George is designated a UNESCO site.
The 2011 Canada & New England and Summer Caribbean
program includes:
-- Canada & New England – During the summer
months, Caribbean Princess will feature four sailings of a new roundtrip New
York itinerary with calls at Sydney (Nova Scotia), Charlottetown (Prince Edward
Island), Halifax, Bar Harbor, Boston and Newport. Sailings depart May 17, June 13, June 22 and July 19. In August, the ship resumes its popular
seven-day sailings featuring Halifax, Saint John, Bar Harbor, Boston and
Newport, with eleven departures between August 6 and October 15.
-- Classic Canada & New England – Crown Princess
sails on three Classic Canada & New England ten-day cruises between New
York and Quebec City, featuring calls in Newport, Boston, Saint John, Halifax,
Sydney, Charlottetown and an overnight in Quebec. Crown Princess departs on these sailings between September
14 and October 4. The ship also
offers one 12-day Canada & Colonial America sailing from Quebec City to Ft.
Lauderdale on October 14, also featuring an overnight in Quebec and calls along
the Eastern seaboard in Halifax, Bar Harbor, Boston, Newport, New York and
Charleston.
-- Bermuda & Eastern Caribbean – Caribbean
Princess will also offer six sailings to the crystal waters of the Caribbean
with a nine-day Bermuda & Eastern Caribbean itinerary roundtrip from New
York that includes calls at Bermuda (West End), San Juan, St. Thomas, and Grand
Turk. Sailings depart on May 8,
May 26, June 4, July 1, July 10, and July 28. The ship will also feature one seven-day sailing from San
Juan to New York with calls in St. Thomas, Antigua and Bermuda, departing on
May 1.
Fares for seven-day Canada & New England sailings begin
at $799 per person, and nine-day Caribbean sailings begin at $999 per
person. Sailings open for booking
May 6, 2010.
Regent Seven Seas
Cruises
Website: www.rssc.com
RSSC Offering Summer
Europe Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises offer Europe’s most inclusive
luxury cruise experience for summer 2010. Limited space remains on an array of
alluring voyages to the Mediterranean, Greek Isles, Black Sea, Holy Land,
Scandinavia and Russia.
Rates for seven-day cruises start at $5,550 per person.
Guests who book by June 30 will receive bonus savings of up to $1,000 per person. Fares include free round-trip
air from 22 cities, free unlimited shore excursions, open bars throughout the
ships, and open-seating, gourmet dining with no surcharges. Staff gratuities,
airline fees and government taxes are also included in the fare. Business Class
Air Upgrades are available from $999 per person.
A handful of suites remain on the following cruises:
-- Eastern Mediterranean – Six cruises showcase the
best of the Aegean and Adriatic, including idyllic Greek Isles and the
Dalmatian Coast resorts:
June 28: 12 nights Istanbul to Rome – Mediterranean
Mosaic
July 10: 11 nights from Rome to Venice – Vintage
Mediterranean
July 21: 10 nights from Venice to Barcelona –
Mediterranean Passage
August 7: 12 nights from Rome to Venice –
Mediterranean Odyssey
August 19: 7 nights from Venice to Athens – Adriatic
& Aegean Adventure
October 17: 10 nights from Venice to Athens –
Mediterranean Rivieras
-- Western Mediterranean – Four voyages to jet-set
yacht harbors and storied ports:
September 22: 10 nights from Istanbul to Monte Carlo –
Mediterranean Sojourn
October 2: 7 nights from Monte Carlo to Rome – Riviera
Rendezvous
October 9: 12 nights from Rome to Istanbul –
Mediterranean Medleys
October 27: 12 nights from Athens to Barcelona – Gems
of the Mediterranean
-- Scandinavia and Russia – Four voyages to choose
from: Arctic Adventure, 15 nights round-trip from Copenhagen, departing June
19: Russia & the Baltic, seven nights from Stockholm to Copenhagen,
departing July 28; operates in reverse August 4 and 21
-- Black Sea and Holy Land – Cruise the Black Sea, ten
nights from Istanbul to Athens, departing June 11 (operates in reverse Aug 26)
or discover Aegean Wonders & Israel; ten nights from Istanbul to Athens,
departing September 5
The all-suite, all-balcony vessels are fresh from a
multi-million-dollar makeover; rich fabrics and furnishings highlight their
sophisticated new décor.
Royal Caribbean
Cruises
Website: www.royalcaribbeancruises.com
New 2011-12
Deployment For Mariner Of The Seas
Royal Caribbean International announced the redeployment of
Mariner of the Seas, which will take effect in January 2011. Mariner of the Seas will offer a short
South America season before debuting in the Mediterranean as Royal Caribbean
International’s record-setting 11th ship in the region for summer 2011.
Mariner of the Seas will homeport at Rome (Civitavecchia)
from March until October 2011, replacing Splendour of the Seas, which will now
homeport in Venice, offering 10- and 11-night Greek Isles and Turkey
itineraries for the season. Mariner of the Seas will then return to North America for the 2011-12
winter season, offering seven-night Western Caribbean itineraries from
Galveston, Texas, replacing Voyager of the Seas. As a result, Voyager of the Seas will mark Royal Caribbean’s
return to New Orleans in winter 2011-12, offering holidaymakers another Gulf
Coast port to embark on a memorable seven-night Western Caribbean cruise.
Mariner of the Seas will sail its final round-trip Mexican
Riviera itinerary from Los Angeles on 9 January 2011.
Guests
currently booked on Mariner of the Seas’ Mexican Riviera sailings from 16
January 2011, and onward will be contacted with the following offer. Until 6
May 2010, affected guests can opt for a full refund of any fares paid, or enjoy
$200 onboard credit per stateroom ($400 per suite category stateroom) when they
rebook their holiday, at the same fare or lower prevailing fare, on a Mariner
of the Seas sailing before 16 January 2011, or on the same 2011 departure date
aboard Voyager of the Seas, sailing from Galveston. Travel agents also will receive a $50 bonus commission for
rebooking affected clients, whose names and deposits have been submitted, to
these Mariner of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas sailings. More information is available at www.RoyalCaribbean.com/MarinerOfTheSeasRedeployment.
On 16 January 2011, Mariner of the Seas will reposition from
Los Angeles on a 16-night itinerary to Valparaiso, Chile, followed by a
14-night sailing that cruises the Straits of Magellan and Cape Horn at the
southern tip of South America to Sao Paulo (Santos), Brazil. The ship will then offer a short
Brazilian cruise season, before crossing the Atlantic to debut in Europe at its
new seasonal homeport of Rome (Civitavecchia), where Mariner of the Seas will sail
seven-night Western Mediterranean and 12-night Mediterranean Holy Land and
Mediterranean Egypt itineraries. In November 2011, Mariner of the Seas will debut at Galveston to offer
Texas holidaymakers two roundtrip seven-night Western Caribbean itineraries
until April 2012. Mariner of the
Seas’ new 2011 Europe and South America, and 2011-12 Western Caribbean
itineraries, Splendour of the Seas’ new 2011 Europe itineraries, and Voyager of
the Seas’ new 2011-12 Western Caribbean itineraries will be opened for booking
in the near future.
Guests aboard
Mariner of the Seas’ new 2011 Holy Land itineraries can choose a variety of
shore excursion options, at an additional charge, that visit some of the most
sacred sites in Israel, including Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Wailing Wall, the
Church of the Holy Sepulcher and many others. “Grand Overland” takes guests on the most comprehensive
overview of this fascinating region with an overnight stay in Jerusalem. On the Egypt cruises, “Grand Egypt
Tour” offer guests a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit the awe-inspiring
Pyramids and mysterious Sphinx at Cairo, and the Valley of the Kings in
Luxor. Guests also should not miss
the largest collection of Roman ruins in the eastern Mediterranean and the
iconic Library of Celsius on Best of Ephesus.
Voyager-class Mariner of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas
are two of the world’s ten largest and most innovative cruise ships at
sea. Both ships feature the cruise
line’s iconic rock-climbing wall, the Studio B ice-skating rink, nine-hole
mini-golf course, an in-line skating track, a full-size basketball court, the
Royal Promenade, a boulevard of boutiques, restaurants and lounges and
bars. Voyager of the Seas features
the cruise line’s signature Portofino Italian restaurant, while Mariner of the
Seas offers a second specialty restaurant option, Chops Grille steakhouse.
Royal Caribbean
Unveils 2011 Alaska Cruise And Cruisetour Season
Whether it’s mushing dog sleds across glaciers or
flightseeing over the Arctic Circle, Royal Caribbean International’s 2011
Alaska cruise and cruisetours will offer guests an unrivaled adventure
vacation. The cruise line has
scheduled 34 voyages for Royal Caribbean’s 22nd consecutive season in the Great
Land, comprising six unique itineraries aboard Radiance of the Seas and
Rhapsody of the Seas. Vacationers can choose a seven-night northbound or
southbound itinerary between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska, via the Inside
Passage, or a seven-night roundtrip Alaska itinerary from Seattle.
Additionally, vacationers can select a Royal Caribbean cruise tour land
package, which combines a cruise aboard Radiance of the Seas with one of 21
escorted land tour itineraries traveling into Alaska’s majestic and wild
interior. Bookings for Royal Caribbean International’s 2011 Alaska cruises and
cruisetours open today.
A grand Alaska adventure awaits guests on a 2011 Royal
Caribbean cruise tour land package, 11- to 14-night vacations that combine a
seven-night cruise aboard Radiance of the Seas with a pre- or post-cruise tour
into Alaska’s interior. A dedicated Tour Director escorts each group of guests
as they explore the Alaskan frontier aboard Royal Caribbean’s signature deluxe
motorcoaches and the Wilderness Express, the cruise line’s exclusive
glass-domed train cars, which offer breathtaking views of the untamed
landscape. The packages feature overnights in Denali with included activities
into the National Park for the chance to spot grizzly bear, caribou, wolf,
moose and dall sheep – known as the “Big Five” – and include
overnights at the charming and rustic Talkeetna Lodge. Other highlights include
a tramway excursion 2,300 above the valley of Alyeska and learning about
Alaska’s indigenous people at the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage. Optional sightseeing tours include
flightseeing across the Arctic Circle, white-water rafting; and jet boating on
Alaska’s glacial waters.
Guests also can explore Alaska up-close on a wide variety of
optional shore excursions available for purchase, such as mushing across a
snow-covered glacier on a dog sled in Juneau on Dog Sledding on the Mendenhall
Glacier via Helicopter, and cheering on lumberjack teams in Ketchikan as they
compete in events such as axe throwing and log rolling at the Great Alaskan
Lumberjack Show. In Skagway, guests can choose a hike through a rainforest and
experience Alaska’s rugged beauty on the Sawtooth Mountain Nature Hike, and
then voyage from Icy Strait Point to Point Adolphus, the region’s premier whale
watching destination, on Whale & Marine Mammals Cruise.
Royal Caribbean’s 2011 Alaska season begins on May 13 with a
seven-night itinerary to Sawyer Glacier via the Inside Passage aboard Rhapsody
of the Seas, departing Vancouver and calling at Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan.
The season continues with 15 sailings from Seattle that follow a similar
seven-night itinerary, 14 of which are roundtrip and replace Ketchikan with a
call at Victoria, British Columbia.
Radiance of the Seas will begin the Alaska season with a
special 12-night Ultimate Alaska itinerary departing from San Diego on May 15.
The itinerary will cruise Hubbard Glacier, calling at San Francisco, Alaska’s
Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and Sitka, and Nanaimo, British Columbia. Radiance
of the Seas will then alternate north- and southbound seven-night itineraries
on 16 sailings between Vancouver and Seward via the Inside Passage and
featuring a visit to Hubbard Glacier.
Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas are both
appointed with multi-deck, dazzling glass windows, affording guests sweeping
vistas of Alaska’s landscape as it unfolds. Guests can race to the top of the
ships’ iconic rock-climbing walls for an even more thrilling view from the
ship’s highest point or enjoy a variety of rejuvenating spa treatments in the
Day Spa. Younger guests will be entertained and enlightened in the cruise
line’s award-winning Adventure Ocean and teen programs, with scheduled
activities led by a college-graduate counselor beginning from 9 to 2 a.m. In
the evenings, guests can enjoy the Royal Caribbean Productions’ award-winning
Broadway-style musical revues, and recount the day’s experiences in multiple
onboard bars and lounges over cocktails. Throughout, all guests enjoy the Royal
treatment delivered by Royal Caribbean’s friendly and engaging staff and crew.
2011-12 Southern
Caribbean And South America Cruises And Cruisetours
Royal Caribbean International today announced the cruise
line’s 2011-12 Southern Caribbean deployment and Mariner of the Seas’ South
America circumnavigation cruises. Serenade of the Seas will sail its eighth
consecutive season in the Southern Caribbean from San Juan, Puerto Rico, where
Adventure of the Seas also will return for winter 2011-12. Vacationers also can
choose from two sailings in January 2011 aboard Mariner of the Seas, which
combined, circumnavigates the South American continent, or the Royal Caribbean
Machu Picchu Adventure Cruisetour, which combines a sailing aboard Mariner of
the Seas with a five-night escorted land tour itinerary. In total, the three ships will offer 73
sailings on 19 distinct itineraries that include 25 unique ports of call.
Bookings for these 2011-12 sailings are open today.
Royal Caribbean’s Machu Picchu Adventure Cruisetour will
offer guests a most memorable South America land and sea vacation. Adventurers can choose the January 16,
2010, sailing aboard Mariner of the Seas followed with the five-night land tour
itinerary from Valparaiso, Chile, to cultural centers and major Incan
archeological sites of Chile and Peru. The highlight of the land tour features
a full day to explore Machu Picchu. Vacationers also can choose the pre-cruise
land tour itinerary, followed by a grand South America odyssey to Brazil aboard
Mariner of the Seas, sailing February 1. All Royal Caribbean cruisetours are escorted by a Tour Director who
specializes in the region and includes guests’ transportation, hotel
accommodations, certain activities and some meals for an exciting, stress-free
vacation, where Royal Caribbean takes care of all the planning and
reservations.
-- Mariner of the Seas’ guests also have a wide array of
shore excursion options, at an additional charge, to take in the color and
culture of South America’s most vibrant centers. In Peru, guests also can
rediscover the mysterious Lost City of the Incas on Cuzco & Machu Picchu
Adventure. In Ushuaia, Argentina, guests can cruise Lapataia Bay and the Beagle
Channel in the Tierra del Fuego National Park by catamaran to view a colony of
Magellanic penguins on Penguin Rookery Navigation. On one of the two days in
Montevideo, Uruguay, guests can chose a visit to a Uruguayan gaucho ranch and
enjoy a barbeque lunch on "Day at the Estancia."
Guests have a variety of exciting Royal Caribbean shore
excursion options to enhance their Southern Caribbean cruise, such as relaxing
on the 150-acre, eco-friendly Carambola Resort at St. Croix on Carambola Beach
Break, or enjoying Aruba's countryside from a four-seat SUV as guests make
their way to De Palm Island for lunch, swimming and snorkeling on Jeep Off-Road
Adventure. To get the blood pumping, guests can take on "Antigua Canopy
& Challenge," a unique eco-tour with 21 unforgettable journey-elements
through the island’s lush rainforest.
-- Serenade of the Seas will offer a third consecutive year
of seven-night roundtrip cruises to the Southern Caribbean from San Juan,
beginning in April 2011. Serenade of the Seas will depart weekly on Sundays in
the summer 2011 season and on Saturdays during the winter season. The two
alternating summer itineraries will offer guests no repeating ports when
booking two consecutive sailings, whereas the two alternating winter
itineraries have St. Kitts in common. Vacationers also have the choice of a
one-time eight-night and a six-night itinerary that will sail on May 7 and
November 13, 2011, respectively.
-- Adventure of the Seas will begin its winter 2011-12
season in November, alternating two distinct seven-night itineraries that also
will offer guests, booked on two consecutive sailings, no repeat calls at any
port for a more comprehensive Southern Caribbean adventure. Two special holiday
itineraries, an eight-night and a seven-night cruise, departing on December 18
and December 26, 2011, respectively, will feature onboard holiday celebrations
and a shipwide New Year’s countdown party. Vacationers also can choose a one-time, six-night Southern
Caribbean itinerary, sailing on January 2, 2012.
-- For its part, Mariner of the Seas will depart Los Angeles
on January 16, 2011, on a 16-night repositioning itinerary to Valparaiso,
Chile, followed by a 14-night itinerary to Sao Paulo (Santos), Brazil, via Cape
Horn and the southern tip of South America. The 14-night sailing features an
overnight in the embarkation port of Valparaiso and then at Montevideo,
Uruguay, before arriving in Santos, Brazil on February 15.
Seabourn
Website: www.seabourn.com
Seabourn Sojourn’s Maiden
Season
Following two
days of inaugural festivities in London, Seabourn Sojourn will depart June 6,
2010, on a 14-day maiden voyage, visiting Scotland, the Faroe Islands, Iceland,
the Norwegian Fjords, and Amsterdam. The maiden season will also include 12- to
14-day voyages in Northern Europe, including Norway, Scotland, the Baltic Sea
and Russia.
After the Europe season, Sojourn will sail on a
transatlantic cruise from Lisbon, Portugal, to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where she
will operate a series of Caribbean voyages. On January 5, 2011, Sojourn will
embark on a 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. Rates begin at $49,995 per person for the full 111-day
World Cruise.
For a limited time, Seabourn is offering two-for-one cruise
fares with included round-trip air, or cruise-only fares featuring savings up
to 65 percent. The promotion is valid for Seabourn voyages in Europe departing
between June and November 2010. Nine-to-12-day voyages on the new Seabourn
Sojourn in Northern Europe start from $4,999 cruise-only or $6,400 with
inclusive air. Inclusive air is available from 40 North American gateways.
Certain other restrictions apply.
Seabourn Sweetens
Onboard Credit For 2011 Full World Cruise
The Yachts of Seabourn has raised the bonus onboard credit
amount that will be given to guests booking the full maiden World Cruise aboard
Seabourn Sojourn in 2011. Guests booking either 111 days or 99 days by June 30
will be provided a credit of $2,500 per person to spend on shore excursions,
spa treatments and beauty salon services, gift shop purchases, laundry and dry
cleaning, internet and telephone service or any other onboard pleasures that
guests may wish to enjoy.
The increased onboard credit adds to a menu of other
full-world-cruise perks that includes free roundtrip first class airfare,
door-to-door private car transfers, a series of exclusive gala events ashore
just for full world cruise guests and complimentary Personal Valet luggage
shipping service.
The incentive applies to guests sailing from Los Angeles on
January 5, 2011 to either Rome on April 15 or London on April 27. They will
also enjoy a complimentary overnight stay for a gala Bon Voyage party in Los
Angeles on January 4.
Seabourn Sojourn, which will debut June 6, 2010 at London,
carries a maximum of 450 guests exclusively in ocean-view suites, 90 percent of
which have private verandas. Its 2011 world cruise will call at 49 ports on six
continents, including overnight stays in some of the world’s great cities.
First class air-inclusive fares for Seabourn Sojourn’s full world cruise start
from $48,060 per person, based on double occupancy, for the 99-day voyage from
Los Angeles to Rome.
Silversea Cruises
Website: www.silversea.com
New Land Programs For
Northern Europe And The Mediterranean
Silversea Cruises is introducing ten new optional land
extensions to complement its collection of Northern Europe and Mediterranean
voyages this spring, summer and fall.
For those who seek authentic and immersive travel
experiences, Silversea's destination experts have designed a new collection of
multiple-day, pre- and post-cruise Silver Shore Land Adventures. From the
natural wonders of Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in
Iceland, to the cultural heritage and monuments of Perugia, to the artistic
treasures of Bilbao's landmark Guggenheim Museum, these carefully planned tours
showcase some of the world's most remarkable destinations.
And with free roundtrip air available on many voyages, savvy
travelers can use their air travel savings to spend an extra three or four
nights enjoying an in-depth, leisurely exploration -- making Silversea cruise
and land vacation packages some of the best values in travel today.
The new options join an already expansive array of land
programs, including mid-voyage land adventures, single- or multiple-day inland
tours offered during the cruise; Silver Shore Simply Hotel, single-night
programs that feature a four- or five-star hotel stay before or after the
cruise; and Silver Shore Grande Hotel, two-night programs that enable guests to
extend their vacation at landmark hotels or boutique properties. Plus, guests
can call upon the Silver Shore Concierge to plan personalized pre- and
post-cruise land adventures.
Except as otherwise indicated, the following all new Silver
Shore Land Adventures feature deluxe accommodations, all transportation,
transfers, guided sightseeing and some meals. Prices are per person, based on
double occupancy.
Mediterranean
-- Perugia & Assisi -- Umbria Soggiorno: Each of the
Etruscan, Roman, Middle Ages and Renaissance periods has left its mark on
Umbria in the form of timeless masterpieces. Discover the heritage and many
monuments of Perugia, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Assisi, and Orvieto --
a spectacular town of Etruscan origin. This pre- or post-cruise option departs
from Rome. Three nights from $3,099.
-- Marqués de Riscal & The Guggenheim: Frank O. Gehry
has designed two outstanding buildings in Spain and this land adventure
features both. Visit Bilbao's landmark Guggenheim Museum on your overnight in
the city, then head to the heart of Spain's Rioja wine region and the
spectacular Marqués de Riscal hotel designed by Gehry and overlooking
picturesque vineyards. Lunch at Posada Mayor de Migueloa, dinner at the famous
El Portal de Echaurren, and a visit to San Sebastian complete your enriching
experience. This pre- or post-cruise option departs from Barcelona. Three
nights from $3,379.
-- Minarets & Medinas -- Fez to Marrakech: Experience
vibrant, modern Casablanca, then travel inland to the imperial cities of Fez
and Marrakech. In Fez visit the impressive Dar el Makhzen, Royal Palace, the
ancient Fes Medina and Mellah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Travel next to
Marrakech, the "Pink City," to explore enchanting gardens, souks and
squares. Guests on this pre- or post-cruise, four- or six-night option depart
or join ship in Barcelona. Prices start at $3,219.
-- Florentine Soggiorno: The award-winning Four Seasons
Hotel Firenze is an enchanted sanctuary in the midst of Florence. Its
Renaissance palazzo is filled with original frescoes and sculptured reliefs.
Majestic trees shade a centuries-old private park. The wonders of Uffizi and
the Duomo are a stroll away. Tuscan hill towns beckon. This pre- or post-cruise
option departs from Venice. Three nights from $2,559.
-- UNESCO Sites of Greece: Discover the archaeological and
cultural treasures of Northern Greece. From Athens and Thessaloniki to Vergina
and the Royal Tombs, the final resting place of King Phillip II, father of
Alexander the Great. Explore charming Kalambaka and the Meteora monasteries.
This pre- or post-cruise option departs from Athens. Three nights from $3,119.
-- Chateaux of the Loire Valley: Explore the great beauty
and history of the Loire Valley from the luxurious Relais & Châteaux hotel
Les Hautes Roches. This refined and romantic property is a combination of
chateau and cave, and an idyllic retreat during your travels through the French
countryside to visit Chateau d'Villandry, Chateau D'Azay-le-Rideau and Chateau
d'Angers, housing the remarkable Apocalypse Tapestries. This pre- or
post-cruise option departs from Nice or Monte Carlo. Four nights from $4,699.
-- Castello Banfi -- Tuscan Soggiorno: Castello Banfi is a
family-owned vineyard estate and winery recognized the world over for its
dedication to excellence in the art of Italian winemaking. During your stay,
learn the secrets to preparing authentic Italian cuisine, sample wines produced
on the estate and take in the scenic beauty of Montalcino. This pre- or
post-cruise option departs from Rome. Two nights from $2,149.
Northern Europe
-- Iceland's Golden Circle & Blue Lagoon: Explore the
UNESCO World Heritage Site of Thingvellir National Park, the majestic Gullfoss
waterfall and the geothermal phenomena at Geysir. Relax in the famed Blue
Lagoon -- a natural geothermal spa located in the middle of a beautiful lava
field. This pre- or post-cruise option departs from Reykjavik. Three nights
from $1,459.
-- Exploring Lapland: Travel north of the Arctic Circle to
Jukkasjärvi, Kiruna and Riksgränsen in Swedish Lapland, where the last
wilderness in Europe exists. Here under the midnight sun you’ll find majestic
mountains, glaciers, rushing rivers and forests. Visit the Ice Hotel Art Center
and experience river rafting on the Torne River. This pre- or post-cruise,
three- or four-night option departs from Stockholm. Prices start at $4,589.
-- Cliveden Stately Home of England: One of the world's
finest luxury hotels, Cliveden is an Italianate mansion set in the heart of the
Berkshire countryside with a palpable sense of history. For over three
centuries, it has been home to some of the most famous names in English and
American history including three dukes, a Prince of Wales and the Astors. This
pre- or post-cruise option departs from London and Southampton. Two nights from
$989.
Silversea Unveils
2011 Voyages Brochure
Silversea Cruises has just published its new 2011 Voyages
brochure. The comprehensive 190-page booklet details nearly 200 itineraries
visiting seven continents, over 80 countries, and more than 400 destinations.
The new brochure opens with an easy-to-read, voyage-by-voyage summary followed
by a section revealing the hallmarks of Silversea's unique luxury lifestyle.
The balance of the brochure provides detailed worldwide cruise itineraries by
region, including highlights of shore excursions, descriptions of land
programs, deck plans, savings programs and general information.
2011 Highlights include:
-- World Cruise 2011
Silver Spirit's magnificent, 119-day Inaugural World Cruise
2011 visits the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia, then sails the seas
of Southeast Asia, Arabia and the Mediterranean. And for guests who book the
full voyage by June 30, 2010, Silversea just doubled the onboard credit offer
to $4,000 per suite! Click on Rewards tab at Inaugural World Cruise 2011 for
complete details.
-- New Cape-to-Cape Adventure
Experience majestic South Georgia landscapes and the world's
most remote inhabited archipelago on a new and thrilling Silversea expedition.
Environmental expert Dr. David E. Guggenheim will be the special guest lecturer
aboard Prince Albert II 's Voyage 7106, a 22-day exploration from Ushuaia to
Cape Town, departing March 3, 2011.
-- New 2011 Land Adventures
Guests can extend their cruise with a Silver Shore pre- and
post-cruise land adventure. New for 2011: Harvest of Catalonia (from
Barcelona), Serengeti & Ngorongoro (from Cape Town), Chengdu Pandas &
Buddhas (from Hong Kong) and Healing Waters (from Tokyo).
.