Azamara Cruises
Carnival Cruises
Celebrity cruises
Costa Cruise
Crystal Cruises
Cunard Line
Holland America Line
MSC Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line
Peter Deilmann Cruises
Princess Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International/UK
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Silversea Cruises
Windstar Cruises

 

Azamara Cruises

Azamara Cruises Marks First Anniversary
Azamara is currently celebrating its first anniversary. That launch officially began when Azamara Journey set sail last year, promising a more intimate onboard experience – with a capacity of just 694 guests – and access to the less-traveled ports of call experienced travelers want to visit. Azamara expanded to a two-ship fleet just five months after the brand’s launch, when Azamara Quest entered service in October 2007. Both ships previously sailed with Madrid-based cruise and tour operator Pullmantur S.A., and were acquired when Azamara’s parent company, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., purchased the company in 2006.
Prior to both ships’ launch, the line invested nearly $40 million between the two to incorporate two specialty restaurants and 32 new suites on each ship, and entirely new bedding, decking, flooring, carpeting, art collection and design schemes, within a variety of updated, stylish lounges, including a Martini Bar, Mosaic Café, Sushi Café, Drawing Room jazz/piano bar, casino, Boutique C, AstralSpa by Elemis, Acupuncture at Sea and an Internet café.
The guest experience on both ships is decidedly more exclusive, with Azamara butler service in every stateroom and suite, as well as concierge-style amenities, including fresh-cut flowers, fresh fruit, Elemis toiletries, complimentary use of Frette cotton robes, two complimentary pairs of slippers, plasma TVs and plush European bedding.
The two specialty restaurants – the Mediterranean-influenced “Aqualina” and the steak and seafood restaurant, “Prime C,” each complimentary for guests – were created to rival some of the finest restaurants on land, and guest response indicates the line is meeting that goal, with ratings steadily rising from the brand’s launch to all-time highs that remain today. The main dining room, “Discoveries,” is open seating, as is the casual dining area, comprised of “Breeza” and “Windows Café.” There are no formal nights; instead, country-club casual apparel is welcome day and night.
Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest are currently plying the waters of the Mediterranean, on exotic itineraries such as a 16-night Western Europe cruise featuring four destinations in Spain, the Channel Islands, a cruise through Germany’s Kiel Canal, and a two-night stay in London near the Tower Bridge – a vivid illustration of Azamara cruise ships’ ability to visit locations larger ships can’t reach. Azamara Journey also sails in the Baltic this summer, with several overnight stays in captivating ports of call.
Beginning this fall, following its first European season, Azamara Journey will present two new, 16-night Panama Canal sailings, followed by a series of 12-night exotic Caribbean cruises through March 2009, when the ship will relocate to Europe.
Meanwhile, Azamara Quest will set sail in exotic Asia with a 24-night voyage from Athens (Lavrion), Greece to Singapore departing November 22, 2008, followed by an 18-night Southeast Asia voyage from Singapore to Hong Kong, China; two 14-night Southeast Asia cruises between Hong Kong and Singapore, and four 14-night Northeast Asia cruises between Hong Kong and Beijing (Tianjin), China. Seven-night escorted cruisetour packages are available for guests interested in optimizing their Asian experience, through in-depth land-based tours in Hong Kong, Beijing, Xian and Guilin, and visits to the Great Wall and Terracotta Warriors. Azamara Quest will return to Europe on April 7, 2009, from Singapore to Athens (Lavrion), Greece, for its second season in Europe. All sailings on both ships – including those in 2009 – are open for booking.
Azamara Cruises unlocks the hidden corners of the world for those who desire to immerse themselves in the rich details of every voyage. The deluxe ships – Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest – offer an intimate experience, while allowing access to exotic destinations experienced travelers long to reach. For the 694 guests on each Azamara Cruises ship, every moment at sea embodies the pinnacle of comfort, and each footstep on shore accentuates the difference between visiting a place and getting a true sense of place. This year, Azamara Cruises presents the best of enchanting Europe, elite Asia, and the most captivating Caribbean and the Panama Canal. The line also offers unique cruisetours in Europe. For more information, travel agents are encouraged to call 1-877-222-2526. Guests are invited to call 1-877-999-9553. Or, visit www.azamaracruises.com.

‘Azamara Journey’ Cruises Through A Dreamy Caribbean
When travelers sail the Caribbean on an Azamara Cruises ship, they enjoy indulgent onboard experiences, spectacular blue waters and an exotic array of islands, islets, reefs and cays. Azamara aims to offer all that and more with its lineup of itineraries in the region in late 2009 and early 2010, now on sale
Azamara Journey, the 694-guest ship that underwent a $19-million makeover before its 2007 launch, will sail through the Caribbean and Panama Canal from December 2009 through mid-April 2010, visiting 23 ports in 15 countries. The season’s highlights include:
First-time calls at Castries, St. Lucia; Willemstad, Curacao; and San Diego, California. Azamara Journey also will anchor off of the 7-mile island of Bequia, The Grenadines, a favorite port of call for yachts and small cruise ships because of its unspoiled, quaint atmosphere and attractions such as Princess Margaret Beach, the unique cliffside dwellings at Moonhole, and Oldhegg Turtle Sanctuary.
San Diego instead of Los Angeles as the turnaround port for two 16-night Panama Canal sailings, one westbound from Miami departing on December 18, 2009, and one eastbound to Miami departing on January 3, 2010. Between the two Panama Canal sailings, Azamara Journey will call at Port Antonio, Jamaica; Cartagena, Colombia; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua; Willemstad, Curacao; and Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas and Huatulco, Mexico.
A new 10-night Easter voyage sailing roundtrip out of Miami on April 1, 2010, calling at St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands; Marigot, St. Martin; Roseau, Dominica; Basseterre, St. Kitts, and Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands.
A rotation of three different 12-night Caribbean itineraries out of Miami from January through March 2010, each featuring a balance between exotic beach-intensive, shopping-intensive and nature-intensive ports. These include Bequia; Castries; Roseau, Dominica; St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands; Falmouth, Antigua; Fort de France, Martinique; Gustavia, St. Barts; Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe; and others.
In each port of call in its Caribbean/Panama Canal lineup, Azamara will offer travelers a range of immersive shore excursions, many of which are “off the beaten path.” Examples include:
-- Jewels of the Monteverde Cloud Forest in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, during which guests can gaze upon the Monteverde Cloud Forest from the suspended bridges that cross the treetop canopy.
-- Baths and Spring Bay Exploration in Virgin Gorda, BVI, which includes a visit to the unusual geologic formation known as The Baths as well as the opportunity to swim, snorkel, hike or relax.
-- Best of Dominica in Roseau, Dominica, which transports travelers to Morne Trois Pitons National Park, where they can explore stunning botanical gardens and hike to the tropical-plant-and-waterfall grotto known as the Emerald Pool.
-- Mexican Cooking Experience in Huatulco, Mexico, where guests learn to prepare Mexican classic dishes such as tortillas, enchiladas, stuffed chilies or Oaxaca chicken stew, before dining on their culinary creation.
-- Historical Plantation Ruins of St. John” in the U.S. Virgin Islands, a historical and cultural island tour of St. John led by a local expert in the country’s history.
Website: www.azamaracruises.com  for more information.

 

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Expands Alaska Shore Excursions
Alaska is one of the world’s most beautiful destinations and Carnival Cruise Lines has expanded its shore excursion offerings in the Last Frontier with ten exciting new tours that cater to adventure lovers and history buffs alike. Carnival’s summer 2008 lineup of new shore excursions includes everything from fascinating historical and cultural tours to glass-blowing demonstrations and a trip on one of the Bering Sea fishing boats from the reality program, Deadliest Catch.”
Carnival will offer more than 120 different shore excursion choices in total on its seven-day itineraries aboard the 2,124-passenger Carnival Spirit.  Voyages depart northbound from Vancouver or southbound from Whittier/Anchorage, with each itinerary introducing guests to Alaska’s stunning beauty through scenic cruising opportunities.       
Guests have the option of sailing one of three seven-day itineraries: Southbound, Northbound or Glacier Bay. Each itinerary provides incredible views with scenic cruising through the Inside Passage, Lynn Canal, Prince William Sound, College Fjord and Glacier Bay as Carnival Spirit makes its way to Alaska’s most popular port towns including Sitka, Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan.
-- In Skagway, the Gateway to the Klondike, cruisers can now take part in the new Golden Glassblowing Experience. This hands-on outing allows guests to sculpt their own work of art complete with 24-karat gold and have the finished product packed and shipped home as the ultimate souvenir. Also making a debut this season is the Takshanuk Mountain Trail by 4x4. This journey begins with a scenic cruise aboard a high-speed catamaran down North America’s longest and deepest fjord. A four-wheel drive “mule,” or heavy-duty golf cart, continues the journey, taking guests to beautiful waterfalls and crystal clear creeks before reaching sub-alpine meadows, followed by a gourmet lunch and fast-ferry return to the ship.
Skagway, located in the upper Lynn Canal, is considered the northernmost point in Southeast Alaska and features wooden sidewalks, old-fashioned saloons and horse-drawn carriages serving as reminders of the Alaska gold rush days. Those seeking a golden treasure can opt for the old Fever Adventure, which allows guests to pan for gold on an active claim.
-- Joining Ketchiikan’s array of excursions are four new experiences, including the Bear Creek Zip Line and Challenge Course. This eco-rainforest adventure begins with an all-terrain vehicle ride, suitable for beginners and experts, and features zip lines, tree platforms, a skywalk, a rainforest swing, rope-bridge and a spruce slide. Those seeking a more relaxing day can explore Revillagigedo Island, which boasts the world’s largest collection of totem poles, or opt for the Rainforest Wildlife Sanctuary, Eagles & Totems, an eco-exploration with a guided nature hike, bald eagle viewing and interaction with reindeer.
Foodies also are in for a treat with Carnival’s latest culinary offering in Ketchikan — The Alaskan Chef’s Table, A Cultural Affair. This culinary tour allows guests to see how local produce is caught and then crafted into a sumptuous Alaskan dinner party. This excursion keeps on giving once guests return home, as they receive a unique keepsake box featuring recipes for the dishes served so they, too, can re-create the fun for friends and family.
Those wanting to get a little more up-close and personal with their Alaskan fare may want to board the Aleutian Ballard for the Bering Sea Crab Fisherman experience. The Aleutian Ballard, the king crab fishing vessel made famous by the Discovery Channel’s original series Deadliest Catch, invites guests calling at Ketchikan to sail and learn how these boats operate and to hear first-hand accounts of the crews’ Bering Sea exploits.

-- Juneau, America’s largest capital city geographically, also presents an incredible opportunity for cruisers. Here guests can board their own private custom-built catamaran, complete with captain and naturalist, to explore the region’s ice-carved fjords and rugged coast. This Wild Coast Exploration by Private Boat accommodates up to six guests and lets them set a course for watching whales, bears and eagles, or hauling in their own catch of the day.
-- While calling at Sitka, history enthusiasts who take Sitka's Cultural & Colonial Russian Tour will gain an appreciation for the island community. Participants will delve into the region’s history at the Sheldon Jackson museum, the oldest exhibit of Indian and Eskimo artifacts in Alaska; view a former World War II PBY Aircraft Base, and visit St. Michael’s Cathedral — home to priceless religious artwork dating back to the late 15th century.
Back on board, Carnival Spirit’s activities cater to the whole family with relaxing spa experiences or dining options such as the elegant reservations-only Nouveau Supper Club, and children’s programs for three different age groups — Camp Carnival for kids, Circle C for ’tweens and Club O2 for teens. For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit www.carnival.com.

 

Celebrity Cuises

Celebrity Cruises Entices Travelers With Late-2008 Mediterranean Sale
For cruise enthusiasts who long to enjoy the vibrant colors of the Mediterranean from onboard one of the world’s top-rated cruise lines, their dream vacation is now within reach. Celebrity Cruises is offering travelers the opportunity to Fall…for Celebrity’s Mediterranean by taking advantage of a sales promotion offering discounts on select sailings in the region.
Guests who book certain Mediterranean cruises are eligible to receive a $300 per person air or cruise credit for the first two guests in a stateroom and a $100 air or cruise credit for each additional guest in that stateroom.  If guests book their airfare and cruise fare with Celebrity, the credits will apply to their airfare. If guests book only their cruise fare with Celebrity, the credits will apply to their cruise fare.
The promotion is valid for all Mediterranean cruises on Celebrity Century, Celebrity Galaxy, and Celebrity Summit with a departure date in October or November of this year, when booked between May 19 and June 1, 2008. Itineraries include ten- and 11-night eastern and western Mediterranean cruises and 14-night “Classical Mediterranean” and “Mediterranean Legacies” itineraries.
Celebrity Cruises encourages guests to visit www.celebritycruises.com  for more details.

Celebrity Cruises Locks In Record Number Of Panama Canal Itineraries
Next year, Celebrity Cruises will offer its guests more variety than ever before for sailings through the Panama Canal’s famed Gatun Locks. The line’s 2009-10 Panama Canal sailings are now open.
In its late-2009-to-early-2010 season, Celebrity Cruises will offer 18 “open-jaw,” or non-roundtrip, sailings through the Canal – more than it has offered during any previous single season. Highlights include a varied range of 13- to 16-night cruises; the first Panama Canal cruise Celebrity has offered that will depart from Seattle, Washington; and a list of five home ports from which the Canal cruises will depart (Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Florida; San Diego, California; Seattle; and Valparaiso, Chile).
-- Celebrity Infinity will sail a total of ten open-jaw Panama Canal voyages between September 2009 and April 2010. After a 16-night Eastbound Panama Canal voyage from Seattle, to Fort Lauderdale, Celebrity Infinity will sail a series of 13- and 14-night voyages between San Diego and Fort Lauderdale before a 15-night Westbound Panama Canal voyage from Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco. Celebrity Infinity also will sail a 15-night voyage from Fort Lauderdale to Valparaiso on December 5, 2009, and a 14-night voyage from Valparaiso to Fort Lauderdale on March 14, 2010; these two sailings will open for sale in a few weeks.
-- From November 2009 through May 2010, Celebrity Constellation will alternate 13- and 14-night Panama Canal sailings between Miami and San Diego with the long Caribbean sailings it announced in April of this year. Celebrity is offering a 14-night Westbound Panama Canal voyage from Fort Lauderdale to San Diego on Celebrity Mercury in April 2009. Celebrity Mercury also will sail a 14-night Eastbound Panama Canal in October 2009, from San Diego to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Celebrity Cruises’ 2009-10 Panama Canal sailings offers calls at ports in countries such as Aruba, Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico. While in port, guests can choose from a range of shore and land excursions. Examples include:
-- Best of Cartagena in Colombia, which includes a visit to the Fort of San Felipe de Barajas, one of the greatest Spanish military engineering constructions in South America.
-- Pacific Train, Boat and Bus Adventure in Costa Rica, where guests board a historical train for a scenic tour and take a boat ride through the regions wildlife-rich mangroves.
-- America’s Cup Challenge in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, which allows guests to be “part of” the racing team or sit back and relax.

Celebrity Cruises To Offer First Antarctica Sailings In 2009
When Celebrity Cruises sails its tenth consecutive season in South America next year, the line will celebrate by offering its first-ever Antarctica sailings. The 2,050-guest Celebrity Infinity will sail a total of eight South America sailings in late 2009 and early 2010, calling at 26 ports in 13 countries.
Celebrity Infinity’s South America sailings will depart from Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Valparaiso, Chile; and Buenos Aires, Argentina, the latter being the home port for both 14-night Antarctica sailings. One of these will depart on January 31, 2010, and the other will set sail on February 14. While in the region, guests aboard Celebrity Infinity will have the opportunity to gaze upon glaciers, rare wildlife and other wonders of nature during three days of leisurely cruising past Elephant Island, Paradise Bay, and Gerlache Strait. Celebrity’s Antarctica sailings also will cruise through Cape Horn and feature calls at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands; Ushuaia and Puerto Madryn, Argentina; and Montevideo, Uruguay.
Celebrity also is offering four 14-night sailings between Valparaiso and Buenos Aires, on December 20, January 3, January 17 and February 28, 2010. Each of these includes an overnight stay in Buenos Aires. The December 20 sailing also includes an overnight in Punta Del Este, Uruguay, as well as calls at Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas and Cape Horn, Chile; Ushuaia and Puerto Madryn, Argentina; and Montevideo, Uruguay. The voyage also includes a pass through the Straits of Magellan and a cruise by the Chilean fjords.
Celebrity Infinity also will sail a 15-night Panama Canal and South America voyage from Fort Lauderdale to Valparaiso on December 5, 2009, and a 14-night return voyage from Valparaiso to Fort Lauderdale on March 14, 2010. These include calls at Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; Lima, Peru; Arica, Chile and other fascinating cities. During these sailings, Celebrity offers a three-day, two-night overland tour of Peru’s Machu Picchu, between Lima, Peru and Arica, Chile. Guests depart by plane, tour the city of Cuzco and its archaeological relics and overnight in Cuzco for two nights. The second day includes a train trip to Lost City of the Incas—Machu Picchu. On day three, guests rejoin the ship in the next port of call.
Celebrity Cruises’ 2009-10 South America sailings also offer guests the opportunity to choose from a range of shore and land excursions throughout each sailing, which can greatly enhance the cruise-vacation experience. Examples include:
-- Estancia San Lorenzo, Private Penguin Reserve and Punta Norte in Puerto Madryn, Argentina, where guests can visit Punta Norte, home to the world's southern sea elephant breeding colony, before continuing to Estancia San Lorenzo for an Argentinean barbeque and a visit to the Magellan penguin rookery.
-- Traditional Peruvian Cuisine in Lima, Peru, where, accompanied by a chef, guests visit local markets to select ingredients that will be used in the preparation of two typical Peruvian dishes.  At a selected restaurant, the chef will demonstrate how to prepare ceviche and causa as well as a pisco sour, and guests will have the opportunity to taste each dish as well as a piqueo of fish and seafood and dessert made with fresh local fruits.
Juanico Winery in Montevideo, Uruguay, where guests discover Uruguay's region of Juanicó, Uruguay's leading vineyard area, by tasting the local wines. Website: www.celebrity.com

 

Costa Cruises

Select Sailings Aboard The ‘Costa Serena’ Begin At Just $649
Costa is offering value and experience in the Mediterranean to travelers this summer with fares aboard the Costa Serena beginning at just $649 per person on select sailings. Ports of call on the seven-night voyages aboard the ship, which departs every Sunday from Venice include Bari, Katakolon, Izmir, Istanbul and Dubrovnik.
The Costa Serena, the fleet’s newest ship, was inaugurated in May 2007 and boasts some of the most innovative features at sea, including the revolutionary 23,000 square-foot Samsara Spa—complete with exclusive spa cabins offering direct access to the wellness center and a private restaurant with health-conscious cuisine. The ship also features the largest enclosable pool deck on a ship and a Grand Prix race car driving simulator – the most accurate representation of Formula One driving available.
Costa offers the biggest and best selection of Mediterranean cruises with nearly 200 in the region throughout the summer, including more seven-night routes than any other cruise line. With 60 years of cruising experience in Europe, Costa knows the ports of call inside and out, giving travelers a unique glimpse into a “true European experience” both on and off the ship. North American guests are just as likely to meet new friends from Naples, Italy as they are from Naples, Florida with Costa’s international ambience, highlighted by its cosmopolitan guests from around the world.
For reservations or more information, contact a travel agent, call (800) GO-COSTA or visit www.costacruises.com.

 

Crystal Cruises

Jewish Heritage Focus Set For New European Crystal Adventures
For summer 2008, Crystal Cruises has expanded its Jewish Heritage programs in Northern Europe.  The luxury line has set five excursions, including a new tour in Berlin that transports guests on a heartrending excursion to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Orianenburg, which served as a prototype for all the camps that followed.  These thought-provoking and eye-opening excursions - which will prove fascinating to Jews and non-Jews alike - are also available in Dublin, St. Petersburg and Stockholm aboard virtually all of Crystal Symphony's Northern Europe itineraries from June through August.
The tours, which feature in-depth visits to Jewish Old Towns, museums, synagogues and Jewish families, include:
-- Berlin (from the port of Warnemunde)
New Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp & Berlin Highlights - Visit Sachsenhausen, the camp that housed political prisoners and dissidents beginning in the 1930s, where thousands of prisoners perished from starvation.
Echoes of the Past: Berlin's Jewish History - Explore Berlin's Jewish heritage, visiting the Jewish Old Quarter and the New Synagogue, whose stone was laid in 1988, exactly 50 years after the "Night of Broken Glass."
-- St. Petersburg
The Jewish Highlights of St. Petersburg - Travel to the Great Choral Synagogue, the second largest in Europe, listening to a concert performed by the synagogue's cantor, and visit a local family active in the Jewish community.

-- Stockholm
Jewish Stockholm - Pass through the walls of the 19th-century, 1,000-seat Great Synagogue, with a memorial wall to 8,500 victims of Jewish relatives residing in Sweden, continuing on to one of the few the Jewish museums in Scandinavia.
-- Dublin
Historic Jewish Dublin - Browse through the Irish Jewish Museum, formerly an old synagogue, officially opened by President Chaim Herzog of Israel, who was raised in Dublin, and travel on to President Herzog's former home and site of the first Jewish Day School.
The Jewish Heritage Crystal Adventures are priced from $75 per person to $421 per person and are available aboard Crystal Symphony's seven Northern Europe itineraries, with fares starting at $3,395.
For additional information and Crystal reservations, please contact a travel agent or call 888-799-4625 or visit www.crystalcruises.com.

Mind, Body & Spirit Voyages Take Holistic Approach To Wellness
Crystal Cruises is introducing two Mind, Body & Spirit cruises this December.  Holistic, comprehensive programming incorporates lectures, classes and workshops given by leading experts and instructors from The Cleveland Clinic, Tai Chi Cultural Institute and the line's exclusive Walk on Water program. The Mind, Body & Spirit focus is set for Crystal Symphony's December 7 South America voyage from Los Angeles to Valparaiso, Chile and Crystal Serenity's December 12 Panama Canal cruise from Caldera, Costa Rica to Miami.
The guest experts will cover topics from medical treatment and prevention, to spiritual healing and growth through tai chi and yoga, to the physical and mental fulfillment of strenuous exercise.  They include:
-- Crystal Symphony - South American Sojourn
* Donald Malone, M.D. - The Cleveland Clinic instructor and staff psychiatrist will speak about wellness in relation to mind, body and spirit;
* John McMichan, M.D. - Mayo Clinic staff physician specializing in Critical Care Medicine, Anesthesiology and Medical Education;
* Dr. Martin Lee and Emily Lee - Dr. Lee, a Stanford University physicist and his wife founded the Tai Chi Cultural Center in 1974, utilizing a pioneering approach to understand Tai Chi, health and the self;
* Debbie Rocker - Founder of Crystal's exclusive Walk on Water program featuring the WALKVEST(r) Training System, revolutionizing walking by adding weight resistance;
* Richard Deutsch, - Author of One Best Hike: Yosemite's Half Dome, Deutsch has inhabited every continent, hiking his way through some of the most challenging areas of the world; and
* Cathy L. Greenberg, PhD - Dr. Greenberg delivers time-tested "happiness tips" and is the author What Happy Women Know, What Happy Companies Know; What Happy Parents Know and What Happy Leaders Know.
-- Crystal Serenity - Caribbean Jewels

 

* Jim Karras, - Author of the bestseller The Business Plan for the Body Karras is also a fitness contributor on ABC's Good Morning America;
* Leslie Cho, M.D. - Director of The Cleveland Clinic's Women's cardiovascular center, Cho specializes in heart disease in women;
* Sandra Shaner - Certified by the Yoga Institute and a Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance, Shaner has been teaching yoga for more than 10 years;
* Mollie Epstein - Epstein oversees Crystal's exclusive Walk on Water program featuring The WALKVEST(r) Training System; and
* Jeff Corbett - Corbett, a member of the Tai Chi Cultural Center will conduct workshops utilizing Dr. Lee and Emily Lee's unique approach to the art.
Shoreside, Crystal is offering several opportunities for guests to expand their healthful horizons with Crystal Adventures shore excursions catering to its wellness-minded guests.  A kayaking Eco-Adventure in Cabo San Lucas, a hike through Caldera's tropical rainforest and "power" snorkeling in Grand Turk all challenge the body and mind, while a day's retreat to a tranquil resort and spa in St. Barts soothes the soul.
The Crystal Spa is the first floating spa to implement the principles of Feng Shui (in accordance with another of SpaFinder's top trends, Feng Shui'd gyms).  The luxury line also recently launched "Tour de Spin," a complimentary indoor cycling program that mirrors stages of the Tour de France.  Crystal ships boast 360-degree promenade decks, ideal for walking and jogging, as well as paddle tennis courts.  Guests can choose from a bounty of fresh fruit and fish, creative and healthful salads, low-calorie and low-carb meals and trans fat-free dining experiences.  Even the cocktail menus include only the freshest fruit purees and juices.
Cruise fares for Crystal Symphony's 15-day South America itinerary begin at $3,450; Crystal Serenity's 12-day Panama Canal voyage begins at $3,550, per person, double occupancy. Website: www.crystalcruises.com

 

Cunard Line

Cunard InsightsTM to Welcome British Screenwriting Duo Aboard ‘Queen Mary 2’
Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, Britain's award-winning screenwriting team and writers of the recent thriller The Bank Job, are set to add a dose of humor and hilarity to Queen Mary 2's June 8 Transatlantic crossing.  Best known for their work on some of the UK's best-loved comedies, the duo will be participants in the Cunard Insights enrichment program.  Clement and La Frenaishave enjoyed a creative partnership that spans more than four decades, working with many of Britain's most notable actors, including Peter Sellers, Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Tracy Ullman and Daniel Craig.
Clement and La Frenais will draw on nearly a half-century of plot- and character-building to give Cunard guests an inside look at the world of successful screenwriting and production.  The pair, who are known for their signature combination of naturalistic dialogue paired with finely constructed plots and memorable but believable characters, will lecture and hold Q&A sessions onboard.
BAFTA-award-winners, Clement and La Frenais have most recently adapted The Rotters' Club and Archangel for the BBC and completed four films in diverse genres, including The Bank Job,  an action-packed adventure; Goal! The Dream Begins, a sports film; Flushed Away, an animated movie; and Across the Universe, a Golden Globe-nominated musical set to an all-Beatles soundtrack.
For more information about Cunard, call 1-800-7-CUNARD or go to www.cunard.com.

 

Holland America Line

Exclusive Alaska: The Collections of Holland America Offer Specialty Tours
Alaska-bound travelers desiring even more personal, offbeat or inspiring experiences will find a wider range of choices through The Collections of Holland America Line, a new category of shore excursions. Twenty-seven tours are part of The Collections in Alaska. 
Beyond the already robust selection of excursions available in Alaska, The Collections of Holland America Line offer distinctly different experiences. The tours are divided into four categories, each with a different focus: Medallion, Encore, World Wonders and Signature.
-- The Medallion Collection tours provide access to events and sights not readily available.  These are elite activities for small groups. Examples of Medallion tours include An Alaskan Chef’s Table in Ketchikan where guests enjoy a five-course tasting menu in a private club room, and the Fly-Out Fly Fishing Adventure in Juneau where guests take a classic float plane to a remote wilderness setting for eco-conscious catch and release fishing.
-- The Encore Collection is designed for repeat guests with tours designed to offer what lies beyond the well-known attractions.  Offbeat Haines, an Encore tour, takes guests to less visited attractions such as the Hammer Museum, Extreme Dreams Art Studio and Dalton City, created for the filming of White Fang.
-- The World Wonders Collection groups together tours to awe inspiring sights around the world. The White Pass Summit Scenic Railway in Skagway is designated as part of the World Wonders Collection.  Guests travel in a comfortable, restored or replica car to the summit of the White Pass, through two tunnels, over sky-high trestles, and remote valleys. This narrow-gauge railroad is an international historic civil engineering landmark. It was built through some of the North's most ruggedly beautiful terrain and 100 years later is still in operation.

 

-- The Signature Collection is an exclusive touring option for independent minded travelers to customize and maximize their time ashore by booking private vehicles, classic floatplanes or boats for a private, guided tour of their choice. Examples of Signature Collection tours include Wild Coast Exploration by Private Boat in Juneau and Private Alaskan Touring in a DeHavilland Beaver floatplane in Ketchikan.
To learn more about Holland America Line’s entire shore excursions program, visit www.hollandamerica.com and click the “book shore excursions” button.  Booked guests who already have a six-digit booking number may pre-book excursions specific to their cruise or CruiseTour itinerary prior to leaving home. Since many excursions are limited, guests are encouraged to book early to avoid disappointment.

 

 

Gray Line of Alaska’s Denali Tour Provides Good Value For Park Exploration
Alaska-bound travelers looking for a package tour to Denali will find an enticing offer through Gray Line of Alaska, a division of Holland America, with prices up to 40 percent off regular rates.  A four-day, three-night tour starts at $459 on select dates in May and September. “Whether they want to add a trip to Denali onto their cruise or are looking for a land tour, our package tour to Denali combines just the right elements at an unbeatable price,” said Mark Mumm, director of sales and marketing.  “We’ve been leading tours in Alaska for sixty years and have perfected the trip to Denali, a must-see park for most people.”
Denali National Park contains more than six million acres of wilderness including Mt. McKinley, North America’s highest mountain.  Wildlife viewing is a favorite activity with opportunities to see bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep and wolves.
A four-day, three-night tour includes a night in Anchorage on both ends, travel to the Park on the fully domed McKinley Explorer rail cars, one night hotel near the Park entrance and all transfers. The tour includes time for optional sightseeing activities such as a self-drive Jeep adventure, flightseeing, river rafting or hiking, all bookable with Gray Line of Alaska.
Website: www.graylineofalaska.com .

New Québec Ports on 2009 Canada/New England Cruises
Holland America Line will debut three new ports in Québec on its 13-, 14- and 15-day cruises to Canada and New England between May and October 2009. The longer cruises of the Signature-class ms Eurodam and popular ms Maasdam will call at Gaspé, Baie-Comeau and/or Sept-îles, creating new opportunities for guests to enjoy extraordinary scenic, cultural and wildlife watching experiences in Québec.
Together, the five-star Eurodam and Maasdam will offer 21 Canada and New England cruises ranging from seven to 15 days in 2009. Guests will have the choice of sailing from five convenient home ports – Boston, Montréal, Québec City, New York and Fort Lauderdale. 
From Gaspé, guests can experience dramatic sea cliffs of Forillon National Park, Bonaventure Island with North America’s largest colony of gannets, and Percé Rock National Park, known for excellent opportunities to see blue, humpback, fin and rorqual whales. Baie-Comeau features the Borealis Center, a maritime adventure park with spectacular landscapes and activities such as hiking, sea kayaking and interpretive cruises.

 

Sept-îles introduces guests to a native Innu community, providing a unique cultural experience through its historic trading post and Innu museum. The Rail and River Tour takes guests by train along the majestic Moisie River, known for its salmon and unforgettable scenery, to an Innu summer camp where guests enjoy reenactments of tribal customs and a salmon bake. 
‘Maasdam’ Offers 15 Seven-Day Sailings for Easy Family Cruises
The Maasdam kicks off the 2009 season May 8 with a 15-day cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Montréal. The 1,258-guest ship calls at Charleston, S.C; Newport, R.I; Bar Harbor, Maine; Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia; and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island before spending a day each at new ports Gaspé and Sept-îles. The Maasdam then cruises the scenic Saguenay Fjord, calls at Port Saguenay and visits Québec City for two full days before reaching Montréal.
In the fall, the Maasdam departs October 10 on a similar 13-day cruise from Montréal to Ft. Lauderdale that features Gaspé and Baie-Comeau. Most ports of call are the same with the addition of Saint John (Bay of Fundy), New Brunswick and several days at sea from Bar Harbor to Ft. Lauderdale.
From May 23 to Oct. 3, the Maasdam sails 14 seven-day cruises between Montréal and Boston, featuring scenic cruising of the St. Lawrence River and calling at Québec City, Charlottetown, Sydney, Halifax and Bar Harbor.  Guests can opt for excursions such as touring Acadia National Park near Bar Harbor by bike, exploring the Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse Route near Halifax and joining the popular Anne of Green Gables tour in Charlottetown.
The ship also offers a seven-day, roundtrip cruise from Boston August 29 that calls at Portland, Maine, Saint John, Halifax, Sydney and Bar Harbor.
Eurodam Offers Ten-Day Cruises, plus 14-day Sailing Featuring Gaspé
Signature-class Eurodam features three ten-day cruises between New York and Québec City departing August 27, September 6 and 16. The 2,104-guest ship calls at Newport, Rhode Island, Boston, Bar Harbor, Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown and Québec City for a full day and overnight stay.  
On September 26, the Eurodam sails a special 14-day cruise from Québec City to Ft. Lauderdale that features the new port of Gaspé during the peak of fall color. The ship continues to Corner Brook, Newfoundland, cruises the scenic Bay of Islands and calls at Charlottetown, Saint John, Portland, Boston, Newport and New York before sailing for Ft. Lauderdale.  
On all of Holland America Line’s Canada and New England cruises, a wide variety of shore excursions offer hundreds of optional tours ranging from soft adventure to culinary experiences. Medallion excursions provide unparalleled access to events and sights not otherwise available.  For example, guests can experience a day in the life of a British redcoat at the Halifax Citadel, sail Nova Scotia’s Bras d’Or Lake or enjoy a private luncheon at one of Bar Harbor’s most elegant Victorian summer homes.
Holland America Line offers pre- and post-cruise hotel reservations in Boston, New York, Montréal, Québec City and Fort Lauderdale. It also features a three-night Montreal/Montebello/Ottawa package.

 

Canada/New England cruise fares start at $1,099 per person, double occupancy.  Taxes and fuel supplement are additional.  For more information, consult a travel agent, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com.

 

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises Adds Second Big Band Theme Cruise In Caribbean In 2009
The line will host a second Big Band theme cruise on its ten-night Caribbean featuring Panama sailing of MSC Lirica, sailing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale on February 22, 2009. This is in addition to the Big Band theme cruise already scheduled on MSC Lirica’s ten-night December 3, 2008 cruise to the Deep Caribbean. 
 Both of these special themed sailings will feature the 15-piece Les DeMerle Big Band, with vocalist Bonnie Eisele. Dynamic drummer Les DeMerle has toured and recorded with the Harry James Big Band and Wayne Newton; the band has also accompanied many top singers, including Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., The Manhattan Transfer, Mel Torme and Al Jarreau.
-- The December 3 sailing calls at San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Port Castries, St. Lucia; St. John’s, Antigua; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and Cayo Levantado, Dominican Republic, as well as three days at sea. Cruise-only rates begin at $699 per person; special oceanview rates begin at $879 per person.
-- The February 22 itinerary includes calls at Costa Maya, Mexico; Puerto Limon, Costa Rico; Cristobal, Panama; Cartagena, Colombia; and Cayo Levantado, Dominican Republic, plus three sea days. Cruise-only rates begin at $899 per person, with special oceanview rates beginning at $1,079 per person.
A highlight of both itineraries is a call at Cayo Levantado, the line’s private paradise experience in the Dominican Republic.
On all MSC Cruises’ sailings, kids 17 or younger sail free when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults. All prices are cruise only, per person, double occupancy. Government fees and taxes for all guests are additional, as well as a fuel surcharge for the first and second guests in a stateroom. Prices are subject to availability; certain restrictions apply. Website: www.msccruises.com

 

Norwegian Cruise Line

NCL Welcomes Return Of ‘Norwegian Sky’ To Miami
NCL Corporation (NCL) will reflag and rename Pride of Aloha and launch the ship as Norwegian Sky, offering three and four-day Bahamas cruises from Miami commencing this summer. The 2,002-passenger ship, built in 1999, will return to the NCL international fleet, and will be outfitted with NCL’s Freestyle 2.0 enhancements.  It will be the youngest and highest quality ship sailing three and four-day Bahamas cruises from Miami beginning July 14, 2008.  The new itineraries are on sale with fares from $229 per person for an inside stateroom and from $329 per person for a balcony stateroom.

To welcome the ship to Miami, NCL is offering a Kids Sail Free Summer Vacation promotion for reservations on Norwegian Sky made from May 6, 2008 to May 31, 2008 for sailings taking place July 14, 2008 to September 26, 2008.  Children ages six months to 17 are eligible to sail free (government taxes and fees and fuel supplement apply).
Norwegian Sky will depart Miami on Mondays sailing four-day Bahamas cruises with full-day stops in Grand Bahama Island, Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private island in the Bahamas.  On Fridays, the ship will sail a weekend getaway three-day Bahamas itinerary, departing Miami at 5 p.m. with all-day stops in Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, returning to Miami at 7 a.m. on Monday mornings.  These sailings are scheduled through April 17, 2009.
Originally launched in 1999, Norwegian Sky has more than 240 balcony staterooms, a choice of six different restaurants, 10 bars and lounges, multiple entertainment venues, two pools, extensive children’s facilities, a sports deck and a variety of spacious public rooms.  Norwegian Sky had been reflagged and renamed Pride of Aloha in 2004 and sailed Hawaii inter-island cruises until May 2008.
For more information or to book a sailing on Norwegian Sky, call your travel professional, go to www.ncl.com  or contact NCL at 866-234-0292.

 

Peter Deilmann Cruises

Deilmann Introduces Seven- And 12-Night Spring 2009 Mediterranean Cruises
Peter Deilmann Cruises is debuting two new 2009 Mediterranean itineraries aboard its luxury flagship, MS Deutschland, with calls at such perennial favorite destinations as Rome and Venice as well as lesser-known medieval cities and towns boasting Roman and Greek ruins that span the millennia. The seven-night Venice-to-Rome cruise, March 29, 2009, calls at ports in Croatia, Montenegro, Greece and Italy with fares from $3,950 to $9,150 per person, double.
 The 12-night itinerary, roundtrip from Rome on April 5, explores destinations in Spain, Tunisia, Malta, Greece and Italy, prices from $5,100 to $13,970.  Peter Deilmann continues to offer its $99 air and shore excursion package that provides roundtrip air from 73 North American gateways, a package of pre-arranged shore excursions and free transfers to the ship, representing a value of up to $600.  Groups of five couples or more save an additional 10 percent off the published cruise fares.
-- The seven-night itinerary spotlights one of the Mediterranean’s most sought-after destinations, the Dalmatian Coast, with visits to the medieval cities of Kotor, Montenegro, a World Heritage Site set amid a magnificent fjord; and Zadar, Croatia, encircled by a mountainous park and home to the 9th-century St. Donat Church and the 14th-century St. Anastasia Cathedral.  The Greek ports of Katakolon and Corfu also bring the past alive for travelers, with the former city offering easy access to the ancient site of the original Olympic Games that debuted in 776 BC; and the latter featuring a Venetian Old Town and 19th-century Achillion Palace.  In Italy, Naples is the jumping off point for excursions to the ruins of ancient Pompeii and the breathtaking island of Capri.  Venice brings guests some of the most famous landmarks in the world, including the Piazza San Marco and the two-mile Grand Canal, while Rome offers a seemingly endless array of attractions that include the Coliseum, St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel.
-- A taste of Italy is on the 12-night itinerary’s menu, with an overnight in the Eternal City and calls at Sicily’s Lipari, home to a reconstructed Norman-era church; and Messina, whose museum features works by famed Italian artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.  Travelers trace the footsteps of the Roman Empire in Tunis’ La Goulette with visits to the city’s ancient baths, cisterns and basilicas, and Spain’s Palma de Mallorca, a beautiful port city founded by the Romans in 123 BC, and known for its rich history, varied culture and active nightlife.  Malta also boasts its share of breathtaking historic treasures including Megalithic temples, catacombs and fortresses, legacies of The Knights of St. John, Phoenicians, Romans, Carthaginians and Arabs.  Ancient Greece comes alive in Patras, where history spans four millennia with attractions such as the Holy Church of Agios Andreas, the Byzantine Church of Pantokrator and Castle of Rio, circa 1499.
With a guest to crew ratio of two-to-one, MS Deutschland offers its guests a choice of three gourmet restaurants, an outdoor dining terrace plus seven diverse bars and cafes, each featuring its own distinct ambience.  There are a variety of accommodations, all with fine moldings and artwork, classic furnishings, picture windows, ample closet space and marble-tiled bathrooms with full-size showers; suites are also equipped with bathtubs.  The nine-deck ship offers a spacious library lounge; outdoor and indoor pools; three sun decks; open-air promenade deck; grand ballroom for nightly entertainment and dancing; and fitness and spa facilities.  Smoking is not permitted onboard except in open deck areas and in the Old Fritz Pub.
For those travelers arranging their own air, an allowance of $750 per person is deductible from the cruise fare.  Deilmann Cruises also offers Business Class fares for an additional supplement on selected itineraries.  For details on the cruises, optional tours and other amenities, contact a travel agent or Peter Deilmann Cruises at 1-800-348-8287 or by E-mail at pdcmail@deilmann-cruises.com.  Cruises itineraries, deck plans and ship photos are online at www.deilmann-cruises.com. 

 

Princess Cruises

Princess Expands Canal Experience in 2009-10 with Extra Day in Panama
To give travelers more time in Panama, Princess Cruises is introducing a new Two-Day Canal Experience on all 2009-10 Canal transits of 15 days or longer, featuring a second day in port so passengers can enjoy both the engineering wonder of the Canal and further discover the country.
This new double dose of Panama will be offered on 23 sailings on four ships. In addition, Princess will also offer two other favorite itineraries, with a shorter ten-day full-transit option and the convenient ten-day roundtrip voyage from Ft. Lauderdale featuring a partial transit to Gatun Lake - giving passengers three distinct options for visiting the Panama Canal.  In total, the season will feature 44 Canal sailings, with calls at 20 ports in ten countries.

The Two-day Canal Experience will feature the full Canal transit plus a day with the ship at anchor at Fuerte Amador, on the Canal's Pacific side. Passengers can take advantage of this day to enjoy a variety of shore excursion options including the Panama Canal Railway, Panama City, Soberania National Park Rainforest or a visit to an authentic Embera Indian Village. The intimate Royal Princess' 20-day sailing will also introduce a new port for Princess, Puerto Chiapas in Mexico, the gateway to the rich culture of the Mayan region featuring opportunities to explore coffee plantations and architectural landmarks.
-- Panama Canal Two-Day Experience - Coral Princess and Island Princess will feature 15 sailings on this 15-day Los Angeles/Ft. Lauderdale route, with the two-day Canal experience plus calls at Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, Huatulco, Costa Rica (Puntarenas), Cartagena, and Aruba. In addition, Island Princess and Sea Princess will offer three similar sailings between San Francisco and Ft. Lauderdale.  Royal Princess will offer one 20-day itinerary from Ft. Lauderdale to Seattle, offering the two-day Canal experience, plus calls at Aruba, Costa Rica (Puntarenas), new port Puerto Chiapas, Huatulco, Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas, and San Francisco.
--Coral Princess and Island Princess also offer longer 17-, 18- and 19-day options, sailing to and from Vancouver.  Coral Princess sailings depart between September 21, 2009 and April 21, 2010.   Island Princess sailings depart on September 14, 2009 and April 29, 2010; and Sea Princess sailings depart September 25, 2009 and May 7, 2010.  Royal Princess sails on April 30, 2010.
-- Full Transit Sailings - The ten-day Panama Canal Adventurer route between Ft. Lauderdale and Acapulco offers a full Canal transit plus a focus on Central America with visits to Costa Rica (Puntarenas), Nicaragua (San Juan del Sur) and Guatemala (Puerto Quetzal), as well as Ocho Rios and Huatulco.  Island Princess offers eight sailings on this route, with departures between December 10, 2009 and March 20, 2010.
-- Roundtrip Panama Canal - Island Princess will sail on this classic ten-day itinerary from Ft. Lauderdale, which offers a partial Panama Canal transit to Gatun Lake followed by a call in Cristobal, plus calls in the Caribbean ports of Aruba, Cartagena, Limon (Costa Rica), and Ocho Rios. The ship offers 13 departures between October 1, 2009 and April 19, 2010.
Panama Canal cruises are available for booking on May 22, 2008.  Escape Fares for ten-day sailings start at $1,199 per person, based on double occupancy.  Past Princess passengers are eligible for up to $50 in Captain's Circle Launch Savings on bookings made by December 31, 2008.
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting www.princess.com.

Princess 2009/10 West Coast Sailings Offer Choices For Short Getaways
Each year Princess offers passengers the opportunity to sample the line's product with short coastal sailings. These West Coast cruises range from overnight to a week in length, offering a great way for travelers to explore North America's Pacific coastline while enjoying a taste of Princess' amenity-filled vessels and renowned service.
For the 2009-2010 season, passengers can choose from short escapes of one to four nights in the spring and fall, plus three longer sailings.  These special cruises include a weeklong Coastal Wine Region sailing with special wine-related tours, programs and special guests; a seven-day British Columbia and West Coast cruise showcasing a variety of ports along the coast; and a five-day West Coast Escape.
Princess Coastal Sailings for 2009-10 include:
-- Wine Country Coastal - A seven-day opportunity for passengers to steep themselves in the California wine regions of Santa Barbara and the San Francisco area as well as the microbreweries of Astoria, Oregon.  Passengers can explore the world of food and wine with themed excursions as well as special onboard presentations from a guest wine expert and guest chef who will offer demonstrations, wine tastings and special meals.  The cruise aboard Sapphire Princess departs from Los Angeles on May 8, 2010, sailing to Vancouver with calls at Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Astoria, Seattle and Victoria.
-- British Columbia and West Coast Coastal - This weeklong voyage explores the west coast from the fall foliage of British Columbia to the shores of Southern California. The Vancouver to Los Angeles cruise calls at Nanaimo, Victoria, San Francisco, Catalina Island and San Diego.  Golden Princess sets sail on September 20, 2009.
-- West Coast Escape - A five-day escape from Los Angeles to Vancouver, this Golden Princess sailing offers the opportunity to visit Catalina Island, San Francisco and Victoria.  Golden Princess sets sail on May 9, 2010.
-- San Francisco/Vancouver - These two-day journeys sail between the City by the Bay and British Columbia's largest city. Offered on Star Princess on September 21, 2009 and May 6, 2010, as well as on Island Princess on September 14, 2009.
-- Los Angeles/Vancouver - A choice of three-night getaways between Los Angeles and Vancouver, are offered on Coral Princess on September 21, 2009 and Island Princess on May 14, 2010.   Coral Princess also offers a four-day voyage on May 6, 2010 offering a call in Victoria.
-- Seattle/Vancouver - These overnight escapes between Seattle and Vancouver give passengers a taste of life aboard, with departures on Golden Princess on September 19, 2009 and May 14, 2010; Star Princess on September 20, 2009 and May 8, 2010; and Pacific Princess on September 17, 2009.
Coastal sailings are available for booking on May 22, 2008.  Escape Fares for overnight sailings start at $99 per person, based on double occupancy. Past Princess passengers are eligible for $10 to $50 in Captain's Circle Launch Savings on bookings made by December 31, 2008.
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or at www.princess.com .

Princess Announces 2009-10 Cruises to Caribbean and Mexican Riviera
Princess Cruises has announced a new season of cruises to the sun swept Caribbean and Mexican Riviera. These relaxing, seven- to 14-day voyages offer passengers the opportunity to experience these colorful ports filled with dramatic scenery, diverse cultures, white-sand beaches and ancient ruins, while enjoying the youngest fleet in the Caribbean and some of the largest and most amenity-filled vessels sailing the Mexican Riviera.
In the Caribbean, Princess will sail six ships on 13 itineraries with 129 departures visiting more than 25 ports in these fabled islands.  Ruby Princess will take over the line's ten-day Eastern and Southern Caribbean itineraries, offering some of the less-visited ports in the region. Emerald Princess sails on the line's Eastern Caribbean itinerary and Crown Princess will feature the Western Caribbean with an enhanced itinerary now featuring the lovely island of Roatan, Honduras.  Caribbean Princess continues to sail on alternating seven-day Southern Caribbean sailings from San Juan.  Grand Princess returns with an extensive 14-day Caribbean Collection route and Sea Princess will again sail on 14-day voyages from Barbados.
On the Pacific side, Princess again returns to its south-of-the- border cruising roots with two ships - Sapphire Princess sailing on the classic seven-day Mexican Riviera route from Los Angeles and Star Princess cruising on 10-day voyages from San Francisco.
Princess' Caribbean and Mexican Riviera itineraries for 2009-10 include:
Caribbean
-- Emerald Princess sails to the Eastern Caribbean, with roundtrip cruises from Ft. Lauderdale on Sundays.  The itinerary features calls in line's own Princess Cays, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Grand Turk.  Emerald Princess offers 28 sailings between October 11, 2009 and May 2, 2010.
-- Crown Princess takes over the line's roundtrip seven-day sailings to the Western Caribbean from Ft. Lauderdale with an enhanced itinerary that now offers calls in Roatan.  The ship will sail on 27 Saturday departures with stops at Grand Cayman, Roatan, Cozumel and Princess Cays.  Crown Princess' season will run from November 7, 2009 through May 8, 2010.
-- Caribbean Princess sails from San Juan on two alternating seven-day itineraries. The Classic Southern Caribbean route features 14 sailings to the ports of St. Thomas, Tortola, Antigua, Barbados and St. Lucia, while 14 Southern Caribbean Explorer sailings travel to St. Thomas, Dominica, Grenada, Bonaire and Aruba.  Cruises depart between November 1, 2009 and May 9, 2010.  Caribbean Princess will also offer one eight-day Bermuda & Eastern Caribbean sailing from New York to San Juan calling at Bermuda, St. Kitts, Antigua and St. Thomas, departing October 24, 2009.
-- Ruby Princess offers a set of alternating ten-day sailings roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale - one to the Southern Caribbean and the other to the Eastern Caribbean. The Southern Caribbean Medley itinerary, offered on ten sailings, includes calls at Princess Cays, St. Thomas, Dominica, Grenada, Bonaire and Aruba. The Eastern Caribbean Voyager itinerary, featured on nine sailings, offers calls at Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Thomas and Princess Cays.  Emerald Princess' Caribbean season runs between October 25, 2009 and April 29, 2010.
-- Grand Princess offers more time to explore the islands with a 14-day Caribbean Collection itinerary roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale.  The ship sails to Grand Turk, La Romana, St. Thomas, St. Kitts, St. Vincent, Barbados, Trinidad, Curaçao and Aruba.  Grand Princess offers nine departures between December 21, 2009 and April 23, 2010.  The ship also offers a new 11-day Grand Southern Caribbean sailing on January 4, 2010, calling at Princess Cays, St. Thomas, Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Bonaire and Aruba.
-- Sea Princess will offer a series of alternating 14-day Caribbean voyages from Barbados.  Seven sailings of the Grand Caribbean Islander route feature calls at St. Lucia, Trinidad, Grenada, Bonaire, Curaçao, Montego Bay, Samaná, Tortola, St. Maarten, Antigua and Dominica.  The ship will also offer seven sailings on a Grand Caribbean Adventurer itinerary that features stops at St. Vincent, Grenada, Bonaire, Aruba, Grand Cayman, Montego Bay, Samaná, Tortola, St. Kitts, Antigua and Dominica.  To begin her season, Sea Princess offers a seven-day Southern Caribbean sailing from Ft. Lauderdale to Barbados featuring calls at Princess Cays, Tortola, St. Maarten, Antigua and St. Lucia.  In spring the ship sails back to Ft. Lauderdale from Barbados with a six-day sailing to Grenada, Bonaire and Aruba.  Sea Princess sails between October 10, 2009 and May 1, 2010.
Mexican Riviera
-- Sapphire Princess will again set sail from the Port of Los Angeles on 32 departures to the sunny Mexican Riviera.  This favorite seven-day roundtrip route takes in the prime ports of call of Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas.  Sapphire Princess will depart on Saturdays between September 26, 2009 and May 1, 2010.
-- Star Princess will a offer a longer, ten-day roundtrip Mexican Riviera voyage from San Francisco featuring calls at Acapulco, Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas.  The ship will sail on two cruises on April 16 and 26, 2010. 
Caribbean and Mexican Riviera cruises are available for booking on June 5, 2008.  Escape Fares for seven-day sailings start at $599 per person, based on double occupancy.  Past Princess passengers are eligible for up to $50 in Captain's Circle Launch Savings on bookings made by December 31, 2008. Website: www.princess.com .

 

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Fall Grand Mediterranean Voyage Celebrates European Music And Cuisine
Regent Seven Seas Cruises will offer its guests an extended celebration of the food, wine and music that have made the Mediterranean one of the world’s most sought-after travel destinations during a 28-night Autumn Sojourn in The Mediterranean voyage slated to depart this fall aboard the 700-guest Seven Seas Voyager®.
Sailing from Istanbul on October 18, 2008, guests will enjoy the utmost in cruise luxury as Seven Seas Voyager journeys across the entire Mediterranean, across the French and Italian Rivieras and Cote d’Azur to the cobalt blue waters of the Greek Isles
The 28-night voyage is available as a single journey or in three individual segments. Each segment is its own special event, offering a compelling combination of classical music and gourmet cuisine, highlighted by special guests and exclusive concerts and museum tours ashore. Guests will even have opportunities to purchase Euros at a 1:1 exchange rate against the US dollar, and experience complimentary events on board and ashore.
The individual segments are as follows:
-- Executive Vice President’s Cruise, Istanbul to Piraeus (October 18 to 25) – Kenneth Watson, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Regent Seven Seas, hosts a luxurious seven-night Greek Isles journey beginning with an overnight stay in exotic Istanbul and proceeding to Mykonos, Rhodes, Santorini and Nafplio in Greece and Kusadasi, Turkey. At Ephesus, the ancient Anatolian city that is today one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites, guests will enjoy a concert by the Izmir Chamber Orchestra featuring Vivaldi, Bach, Mozart and Brahms. Per-person fares start at $4,995.
-- Three Song of Flower Captains’ Cruise, Piraeus to Monte Carlo (October 25 to November 5) – In addition to being Regent Seven Seas captains, Dag Dvergastein, Knut Hanssen and Jarle Jensen have another thing in common – all three were previously masters of the iconic luxury ship Song of Flower, once part of the fleet of Regent Seven Seas predecessor Radisson Seven Seas Cruises. Sailing across the Mediterranean from the Greek Isles to the French and Italian Rivieras, the voyage will call at Kusadasi and Marmaris in Turkey;  Iraklio, Greece; Valletta, Malta; Ajaccio, Corsica;  and Naxos, Sorrento, Civitavecchia and Livorno in Italy before concluding in Monte Carlo. The three captains will host a series of special events for guests and will be joined by former Song of Flower staff members including cruise director J.J., shore excursion manager Helen Harrison and maitre d’hotel Patrick Lescoute. Another highlight of the voyage is an exclusive concert at Valletta’s Manoel Theater. Per-person rates start at $6,850. 
-- President’s Cruise, Monte Carlo to Civitavecchia (November 5 to 15) – Mark Conroy, president of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, will host this ten-night voyage into antiquity, accompanying guests as they travel from Monte Carlo to Portofino and Livorno, Italy; Marseilles, France; Barcelona, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca and Menorca, Spain; and Ajaccio, Corsica. Guests are invited to an after-hours private tour of the Picasso Museum in Barcelona. Other highlights include a complimentary organ concert at Palma de Mallorca’s Cathedral. Per-person rates start at $5,995.
Guests who purchase individual segments will enjoy one complimentary special event and benefits including free Economy or Business Class air (or $1,000/$3,000 cruise credit, respectively), depending on suite category purchased, plus the option to purchase up to 200 Euros per suite at a 1:1 exchange rate.
Guests who opt for the full 28-night voyage receive two-for-one pricing, free Business Class air (or $3,000 cruise credit), special shipboard events, and a commemorative gift. These guests will also have the option to purchase up to 800 Euros per suite from Regent Seven Seas at a 1:1 exchange rate.  Per-person prices for the 28-night voyage range from $14,495 to $44,543.
Those guests wishing to extend their 28-night voyage even further may do so by remaining aboard Seven Seas Voyager for the 16-night Grand Crossing from Civitavecchia to Fort Lauderdale (November 15 to December 1), visiting select ports in North Africa and Spain and a mid-Atlantic stop in Madeira.  The 44-night itinerary is available from $20,295 to $66,188 per person.
Full details of all 2008 and 2009 Europe and Mediterranean programs, including special offers on select departures, can be found at www.RSSC.com.

 

 

Royal Caribbean International

RCI Announces Return To South America
Dust off those tango shoes, and head to the South American summer in winter 2009-10. Royal Caribbean International has announced nine South America cruises, ranging from 11- to 15-night itineraries, aboard Radiance of the Seas for the ship’s second consecutive winter season in the region. As one of the Royal Caribbean ships that offer the highest percentage of oceanview staterooms, Radiance features glass elevators in a ten-story-high glass atrium for spectacular vistas of the unfolding South American coastline. Bookings for these cruises are now open.
Four-night pre- or post-cruise cruisetour programs give guests the opportunity to explore the metropolitan charms of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the awe-inspiring Iguazu Falls along the Argentina and Brazil border. Cruisetour guests enjoy fully escorted itineraries, which include deluxe hotel accommodations, air and ground transfers, certain meals, and time for individual pursuits.
For the 2009-10 winter season, vacationers can choose among six cruises which round the Horn of alternate departures from Valparaiso, Chile, and Buenos Aires, featuring a cruise through the glacier-filled Chilean fjordlands, and a call at Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world. On three particular sailings, guests enjoy an in-port overnight stay aboard Radiance in Buenos Aires at the beginning or end of the cruise.
A very special 11-night itinerary, sailing on February 10, 2010, features three days in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which coincides with the city’s annual Carnival festivities. Guests sail round-trip from Buenos Aires, enjoying an in-port overnight stay aboard Radiance to kick off the cruise.
Cruisers also can select from among two Pacific equatorial crossings aboard Radiance, sailing from San Diego to Valparaiso on November 21, 2009, and returning on March 7, 2010.

Slime Time on the High Seas On The Nickelodeon Family Cruise
Nickelodeon has assembled seven days of non-stop fun and activities for its first-ever Nickelodeon Family Cruise with Royal Caribbean, which sets sail August 10 to 17, on Freedom of the Seas. Vacationers will be able to participate in a variety of activities, including: a kick-off sail away party; evening shows, a Nick Live Poolside! interactive game show; special screenings of The Naked Brothers Band and SpongeBob SquarePants; Nick Karaoke; and character meet-and-greets with Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob, among others. Additionally, guests will have the opportunity to attend autograph signings and meet-and-greets with Nick celebrities including SpongeBob SquarePant's Tom Kenny and iCarly stars Jennette McCurdy and Nathan Kress.
The Nickelodeon cruise will offer family-friendly amenities and a packed schedule of fun-filled branded activities such as Nickelodeon character breakfasts with the likes of SpongeBob Square Pants, and Dora the Explorer to same a few.
Then there’s Slime Time Live! When both kids and parents can experience Nickelodeon's trademark green slime at Studio Nick during this interactive game show with the ultimate goal of getting slimed. And lots of Nick screenings of children’s favorite shows.
Throughout the week, cruisers will have the opportunity to interact with Nickelodeon personalities. Tom Kenny will host a screening of a brand new SpongeBob SquarePants episode as well as a voiceover workshop to teach kids how to sound just like their favorite porous pal: SpongeBob. McCurdy and Kress will host a special screening of a never-before-seen episode of iCarly and will serve as judges for an iCarly-themed Nick Karaoke contest.
The Nickelodeon Family Cruise on Freedom of the Seas also includes a full range of onboard activities and amenities appealing to adults and children of all ages. During the day, guests can rejuvenate with a session in the Freedom Day Spa and state-of-the-art fitness center, and relax in the cantilevered whirlpools in the adults-only Solarium. In the evenings, guests can enjoy live music and entertainment in several bars and lounges, a Broadway-style performance in the Arcadia Theater, or try their luck in the Casino Royale. In addition, Freedom of the Seas provides its award-winning Adventure Ocean kids programming to entertain toddlers to teens while parents enjoy the on-board activities.
Vacationers on the Nickelodeon Family Cruise will visit four tropical Western Caribbean destinations including: Cozumel; Mexico; George Town; Grand Cayman; Ocho Rios; Jamaica; and a special stop at Royal Caribbean's private beach destination, Labadee. Vacation packages for the cruise are currently on-sale. Visit www.nickfamilycruise.com  for more information.

2009-10 Mexico Cruises From Los Angeles & San Diego
Royal Caribbean International has announced its 2009-10 Mexican Riviera cruise season. Vacationers can choose from 55 departures, ranging from four- to seven-night Mexico cruises, from the homeports of Los Angeles and San Diego. Guests will sail aboard the Voyager-class Mariner of the Seas, the largest cruise ship to be homeported in the Pacific Ocean, and Radiance of the Seas, the newest and largest ship to offer short cruises on the West Coast. In addition, vacationers can choose from four Panama Canal crossings aboard Serenade of the Seas. Bookings for 2009-10 Mexican Riviera and Panama Canal. 
For the 2009 autumn season, Radiance of the Seas will feature a four-night itinerary with a call at Cabo San Lucas, and a five-night itinerary which also calls at Ensenada. Radiance is one of Royal Caribbean’s Radiance family of ships, which features the highest percentage of oceanview staterooms in the line’s fleet, and a 10-story atrium with glass elevators offering spectacular vistas of the sea.
Vacationers also can choose four distinct Panama Canal crossing itineraries, ranging from 13 to 15 nights, with departures from Miami, San Diego and San Juan, Puerto Rico aboard Serenade of the Seas, another Radiance-class ship.
For additional information or to make reservations, call your travel agent, visit www.royalcaribbean.com  or call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN. For travel professionals, go to www.cruisingpower.com  or call (800) 327-2056.

 

Royal Caribbean International/UK

Indiana Jones Action-Inspired Cruise Offer From Royal Caribbean
With the upcoming release of the new adventure movie; Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull'let your inner explorer loose and head to the rugged wilderness of Alaska onboard Royal Caribbean International’s Serenade of the Seas.
Try glacier trekking, mountain biking, ocean kayaking and alpine hiking during a nine-night Alaska Hubbard Glacier fly/cruise onboard Serenade of the Seas. Price starts from only £1,520 pp (based on two sharing an inside cabin) and includes return flights from London Heathrow, transfers, one night’s hotel accommodation, seven-night cruise departing Vancouver (British Columbia) and calling at Icy Strait Point (Alaska), cruising the Hubbard Glacier, Skagway (Alaska) and Juneau (Alaska) before retuning to Vancouver (British Columbia); meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on  June 5, 2008 departure. 
For more information or to book see www.royalcaribbean.co.uk , call 0845 165 8330 or talk to your travel agent.

 

Silversea Cruises

John Lithgow To Perform Aboard ‘Silver Whisper’
Silversea Cruises' Silver Whisper will welcome award-winning actor John Lithgow as a celebrity guest speaker aboard its July 5 voyage from Athens to Venice. Guests sailing on the ultra-luxury ship will be treated to a portion of Lithgow's new one-man show, Stories by Heart, now playing a limited engagement at Lincoln Center's Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater in New York.  The show is a comic meditation on the art and essence of storytelling.  Invoking memories of his grandmother and father before him, Lithgow traces his own history as an actor and storyteller, a history spanning three generations.
A theater actor at heart, Lithgow won the first of two Tony Awards three weeks after his Broadway debut, in David Storey's The Changing Room.  He went on to make a major mark in films with Oscar nominations for his performances in The World According to Garp and Terms of Endearment.  Lithgow has been nominated for ten Emmy Awards for his work in television.  The multi-talented performer is also a New York Times best-selling author of children's books and has sung in concerts for children with the Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Baltimore and San Diego symphony orchestras and at Carnegie Hall with the Orchestra of St. Luke's.  Lithgow has released three albums for kids, including the Grammy-nominated The Sunny Side of the Street.
The July 5 cruise aboard the all-suite, 382-guest Silver Whisper departs from Athens for Kalamata, Argostoli, Kotor, Dubrovnik, and Split, with an overnight stay in Venice.  Early Booking Incentive fares for this 7-day voyage start at $5,520 per person, based on double occupancy.
For more information on Silversea Cruises, please contact a travel agent or visit www.silversea.com.

Silversea Reveals The Rich Diversity Of Northern Europe
This summer ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises is offering 19 diverse itineraries of six to 15 days, designed to reveal the quaint harbor towns, romantic countryside and grand historic ports of Northern Europe and the Baltic in the up-close, personal style only small ships can provide. Accommodating just 296 guests, the all-suite, intimate Silver Cloud and Silver Wind are specifically designed to navigate narrow waterways and channels, offering an irresistible Northern Europe program that includes the possibility to journey up the Gironde River to uncork the fine wines of Bordeaux; sail under the Tower Bridge into the heart of London; travel up the Neva River to call in the center of St. Petersburg; or cruise into Norway's narrowest nooks.
Silversea's Northern Europe voyages showcase nearly 60 different destinations with more than 245 optional shore excursions designed to appeal to a variety of interests. Following is a sampling of new optional tours:

-- From St. Petersburg, journey to Star City (outside of Moscow) to be a "Cosmonaut for a Day" at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.  Get hands-on training with the rendezvous and docking simulator for the Soyuz-TM space vehicle.  View a reconstructed copy of the Russian Mir Space Station and the fully functional hydro-laboratory at the space center still used for the training of future cosmonauts.  Witness the massive space centrifuge, incorporated into daily cosmonaut exercises.  (A more leisurely tour is also available that omits simulator training.)
-- From Helsingborg, learn how to cook the Swedish way with celebrity television chef Tina Nordström on location at Nordström's studio kitchen.  Her name is a household word in Sweden thanks to her popular TV series Mat (Food).  And she is well known to a U.S. audience through her program New Scandinavian Cooking on PBS.  Enjoy a lecture and hands-on cooking class followed by a delicious lunch featuring your own culinary creations -- and the chance to chat and sip wine with the chef.
-- From London, enjoy exclusive, after-hours access to two rare and unusual exhibitions at the Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace:  Amazing Rare Things, a collection of scientific drawings and watercolors of nature from the Age of Discovery co-curated by distinguished naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, and Treasures from the Royal Collection, shaped by the personal tastes of kings and queens over more than 500 years. Guests will have a chance to view works by such masters as Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Canaletto, and Winterhalter, among others.
These voyages will also showcase a diverse enrichment program of noted scholars, writers, and other experts selected from a variety of fields to share their passion, knowledge and insider views for the entertainment and edification of Silversea's guests.  A small sampling includes:
-- Silver Wind departs May 22 on a 10-day voyage (#2816) from London to Stockholm with calls in Honfleur, Antwerp, Copenhagen, Rostock and Ronne.  Enrichment Host:  Richard Tallboys, former British ambassador twice decorated by Queen Elizabeth.  His planned lectures will explore the creation of a single Europe, Scandinavia's place in history, and Russia's relationship with western Europe.  Silver Sailing cruise fares start at $5,277 per person.
-- Silver Wind departs July 2 on a 12-day, roundtrip voyage (#2819) from Stockholm with calls in Ornskoldsvik, Lulea, Kokkola, Vaasa, Copenhagen (overnight), Helsingborg, Rostock, Ronne, Gdansk and Visby.  Enrichment Host:  Dr. Lawrence Herson, an Ohio State University professor emeritus and former election analyst for CBS.  In 1995 Mikhail Gorbachev invited him to deliver a series of lectures in Russia on the American democratic experience.  For Silver Wind's guests, his presentations will cover Scandinavian history and culture, touching on the role of the Vikings as well as traders, crusaders and war in the Baltic lands.  Silver Sailing cruise fares start at $6,777 per person.
-- Silver Wind departs July 21 on a 15-day, roundtrip voyage (#2821) from Copenhagen with calls in Alesund, Gravdal, Honningsvag, Longyearbyen, Tromso, Geiranger and Bergen.  Enrichment Hosts:  Former US Ambassador Andrew L. Steigman, now associate dean at the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University.  He will present in-depth lectures on the history and culture of Norway and the Vikings.  Also on hand will be Corey Sandler, author of Henry Hudson:  Dreams and Obsession, to share insights on Hudson's adventurous travels.  And offering guests an authentic taste of Norway will be Relais & Châteaux guest chef Eyvind Hellstrøm, owner and chef of Bagatelle, Oslo's famous Michelin two-star restaurant.  Silver Sailing cruise fares start at $9,796 per person.  
-- Silver Cloud departs August 5 on a 15-day, roundtrip voyage (#1823) from Copenhagen visiting Kirkwall, Lerwick, Thorshavn, Reykjavick, Isafjordur, Akureyri, Alesund, and Bergen, plus an inaugural call to Sylt.  Enrichment Hosts:  Dr. Peter Crimes, former University of Liverpool paleontologist, will illustrate the culture and history of these northernmost regions with his original photography.  Additionally, Dr. Louis René Beres, professor of political science at Purdue University, will delve into world affairs and the perspectives of artists and writers from Denmark, Norway and Germany.  And for culinary enthusiasts, the Viking Cooking School will be hosted by Kathleen Bruno, curriculum development manager for Viking Cooking Schools.  Early Booking Incentive cruise fares start at $11,196 per person.  
-- Silver Wind departs August 19 on a 10-day, Copenhagen-to-London cruise (#2824), featuring a 3-day, 2-night stopover in historic St. Petersburg and calls in Helsinki and Tallinn.  Enrichment Hosts:  Alastair Bruce, a direct descendant of Robert the Bruce, will be on hand to discuss modern monarchies from Russia to Britain.  And slated to host a special musical enrichment program is Michael Law, musical director of London's Piccadilly Dance Orchestra.  His engaging musical lectures, combining stories, piano and song, will explore the works of Noel Coward, Cole Porter and others.  Early Booking Incentive cruise fares start at $7,985 per person.
-- Silver Wind departs August 29 on a 12-day roundtrip voyage (#2825) from London visiting Guernsey, Cork, Dublin, Belfast, Stornoway, Kirkwall, Invergordon and Edinburgh.  Enrichment Hosts:  Brian Hoey, royal biographer and television commentator, will present an illustrated history of the Royal Yacht Britannia, provide an overview of Buckingham Palace and discuss the legacy of Princess Diana. And for epicures, Gordon Bell, brand ambassador and master of Scotch whisky, will share his insights on the art of blending malt whiskies.  Early Booking Incentive cruise fares start at $9,600 per person.
Detailed information and complete itineraries are available at www.silversea.com.  A colorful self-mailer describing the Northern Europe voyage collection is available to travel agents and can be ordered online at www.silversea.com.

Silversea Announces Guest Lecturers To Highlight Prince Albert II Expeditions
Recognizing an expedition cruise to the world's most remote and fascinating realms is as much a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience as it is an adventure, Silversea has tapped two special guest lecturers, Jon Vidar Sigurdsson and Jon Bowermaster, to each host two of four extraordinary expeditions during the inaugural season of its newest ship, the Prince Albert II.
-- Jon Vidar Sigurdsson was born in Reykjavik, Iceland, and holds a degree in geology.  Since first visiting Greenland, the world's largest island, in 1982, he has led 20 summer and winter expeditions and field tours to this fascinating Arctic nation.  He has also organized an open-university course about the island for the University of Iceland.  An enthusiastic photographer, in 2000, Sigurdsson's Greenland photo collection was featured in a solo exhibition at the Nordic House Gallery in Reykjavik. His zeal for the outdoors also fuels his mountain climbing hobby.  He has reached the highest peaks on two continents including Russia's Mt. Elbrus and Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
Sigurdsson will headline the enrichment program aboard the Svalbard and Iceland expedition, departing July 12 for 18 days from Tromso to Reykjavik (#7809).  Silver Sailing fares start at $8,336.  He will also host the "Greenland Exploration," departing Reykjavik July 30 on a 16-day journey to St. John's, Newfoundland (#7810).  Silver Sailing fares start at $7,020.
-- Adventurer extraordinaire, author and filmmaker, Jon Bowermaster seems to find the most remote and exotic areas to descend upon, many in South America. An ardent kayaker, Bowermaster has spent more than 20 years exploring, researching and documenting regions all over the world.  His Oceans 8 project, designed to explore the world by kayak, has taken him to the Aleutian Islands, Vietnam, French Polynesia, South America's Altiplano, the Antarctic Peninsula and the wild coasts of Gabon, Croatia and Tasmania.  He has written of his adventures for a variety of publications, ranging from National Geographic to The New York Times.
Bowermaster is slated to host Prince Albert II's Journey to South America, departing October 12 on a 22-day expedition from Acapulco to Santiago (#7819).  Silver Sailing fares start at $7,436. He will also host the already-sold-out "Chilean Fjords Highlights" voyage, sailing November 3 from Santiago to Ushuaia (#7820).
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

 

Windstar Cruises

Windstar Invites Guests To Spend Summer In Europe With Exceptional Savings
Windstar Cruises, which operates a three-ship fleet of luxury yachts that explore hidden harbors and secluded coves of the world's most treasured destinations, offers guests the best of Europe's captivating shores with its summer 2008 schedule.
Travelers planning to visit Europe this summer will find impressive benefits when traveling with Windstar Cruises. A strong euro makes cruising a significantly better value than land-based vacations. European cruises start at $2,399 per person for seven days aboard all three Windstar vessels from July through November. Greek Isles cruises start at $2,599 per person for 7 days aboard Wind Star and Wind Spirit from July through October.
Cruises through the shores of Europe offer guests the chance to experience the legends and romance of some of the most sought after settings in the world. Golden beaches, towering castles, breathtaking art and legendary riches are available to guests on seven-day cruises aboard all of Windstar's luxury yachts. European itineraries include: Lisbon, Cadiz, Tangier, Cartagena, Motril, Malaga, Gibraltar, Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, Tarragona, Barcelona, Port-Vendres, Mahon, Oran, Palamos, Sete, Monte Carlo, Portofino, Livorno, Rome, Portimao, Valencia, Alghero, Amalfi, Sorrento, Capri, Porquerolles, Ajaccio, Portoferraio, Nice, St. Tropez, Cannes, St. Florent, Monte Carlo, Marseille, Portovenere, Porto Vecchio, Porto Cervo, Taormina, Dubrovnik, Hvar, Venice, Koper, Pula, Rijeka, Zadar, Split, Korcula, Kotor, Ploce, Sibenik, Rab, Trieste, Corfu, Messina and Almeria.
The Greek Isles are renowned for brilliant blue water, dazzling white beaches and the romance of ancient gods. With its seven-day cruises on Wind Spirit and Wind Star, Windstar offers the most extensive season of Greek Isles itineraries in the cruise industry. Ports in Greek Isles itineraries include; Athens, Gythion, Navplion, Ermoupolis, Rome, Messina, Capri, Sorrento, Katakolon, Mykonos, Rhodes, Bodrum, Kusadasi, Monemvasia, Corfu, Sarande, Cephalonia and Kythira.
For more information including brochures, rates and itineraries contact a professional travel agent or call Windstar at 1-800-258-7245. Website: http://www.windstarcruises.com