Crystal Luxury Cruises Plans Celebrity Entertainment on Italy Cruise

Cruise Crystal Luxury

  
Crystal Cruises’ new “Theatre at Sea” on Crystal Serenity will feature a variety of recognizable performers during the 12-day “Italian Treasures” itinerary from Venice to Monte Carlo departing Sept. 12.

Among those scheduled to appear are Lynn Redgrave, who will perform “Nightingale,” a story about her five-generation theatrical family; Gena Rowlands, who will present her latest film, “Broken Promises”; Patricia Neal, who will perform her play, “As I Am,” chronicling her life; and Susannah York, who will present her one-woman show, “The Loves of Shakespeare’s Women.”

Also, Lucy Arnaz and Laurence Luckinbill will present songs from Arnaz’s cabaret show and scenes from Luckinbill’s plays; Florence Henderson, will present “An Evening with Florence Henderson,” a musical recounting of her career; and Lee Roy Reams, who was acclaimed for his Broadway role in “The Producers”.

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Smooth Music Cruise 2009 Expands Jazz Line-Up Celebrity Cruise Lines

 

Celebrity Solstice

 

Haven Entertainment has expanded the line-up of artists for its 2009 Smooth Music Cruise sailing Jan. 31-Feb. 5 from Miami. Trumpeter Greg Adams and saxophonist Steve Cole have joined the roster of talent. “We are thrilled at the range of performers we have on this year’s Smooth Music Cruise,” said Bob Jamieson, a former music company executive and founder of Haven Entertainment.

“There are Grammy, Tony and Emmy award winners along with legendary performers and popular new artists, all seeking to entertain as well as meet with their fans onboard the six-day cruise.”

The Smooth Music Cruise 2009 will include shows, autograph signings, interview sessions and late-night jam sessions. Grammy-nominated trumpeter Adams is perhaps best known for his work with the band Power of Tower. Cole is an American tenor saxophonist who has released numerous albums over the past decade.

Other artists joining Adams and Cole onboard include Norman Brown, Nick Colionne, Boney James, Mindi Abair, Larry Carlton, Heather Headley, Acoustic Alchemy, Marion Meadows, Michael Lington, Shilts, Steve Oliver, Chieli Minucci, Alan Hewitt and Althea Renè. Norman Brown, this year’s cruise host, made his debut into the jazz scene in 1992 as a recording artist for MoJazz. His second album, “After the Storm,” received a Soul Train Jazz Album of the Year award, and remained on the charts for over two years.

Brown also won the 2002 Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album. The five-night Smooth Music Cruise is a full-ship charter of Celebrity Cruises’ Century. The voyage visits Key West, Nassau, and Coco Cay, a private island. A Super Bowl party also is being planned. Rates start at $999 per person.

 

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05/21/08 Star Clippers Opens Bookings through March 2010

 
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Star Clippers opened the books and is taking reservations on cruises through March 2010 aboard Star Clipper, Star Flyer and its flagship, Royal Clipper. The three clipper ships offer voyages in Tahiti, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the Far East, and also offers Atlantic and Indian Ocean crossings. Star Flyer is now operating its maiden season in Tahiti. It will continue to sail seven-, 10- and 11-night cruises roundtrip from Papeete through March 2010 (and beyond). From November through March and November 2009 through March 2010, Star Clipper will cruise in the Far East. Star Clipper will sail Greece and Turkey routes during summer 2009.

Royal Clipper continues to offer Caribbean itineraries through 2010. During the summer, Royal Clipper will return to the Western Mediterranean with seven-, 10- and 11-night itineraries. The seven-night cruises sail roundtrip from Civitavecchia, the port for Rome, and highlight Italy. Star Clippers is offering ocean crossings ranging from 16 to 37 nights. Transatlantic journeys take Royal Clipper from Barbados to Malaga, Spain, and on to Rome in April 2009, and from Lisbon, Portugal, to Barbados in October 2009. The Star Clipper’s 37-night Indian Ocean crossings in March 2009 and October 2010 sail between Phuket and Athens and transit the Suez Canal, calling at ports in Greece, Egypt, India and Sri Lanka.

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Holland America Line Offers New Alaska Excursions – Cruise Vacation News

 

Holland America Line

 
Holland America Line is offering a new category of shore excursions called The Collections in Alaska. The 27 Collections tours are divided into four categories, each with a different focus: Medallion, Encore, World Wonders and Signature.

Medallion tours provide access to events and sights not readily available and are for small groups, including “An Alaskan Chef’s Table,” in Ketchikan.

Encore tours are designed for repeat guests with tours designed to offer what lies beyond the well-known attractions, including “Offbeat Haines,” which takes guests to less visited attractions such as the Hammer Museum. World Wonders tours visit awe-inspiring sights such as the White Pass Summit Scenic Railway in Skagway.

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Carnival Cruise Vacations Expands Alaska Shore Excursion Program

Carnival Cruise Lines

 

Carnival Cruise Lines has expanded its shore excursion offerings in Alaska with 10 new tours. The summer 2008 lineup includes historical and cultural tours, glass-blowing demonstrations and a trip on a Bering Sea fishing boat from the reality program “Deadliest Catch.”

In all, Carnival offers more than 120 shore excursions on seven-day cruises aboard the 2,124-passenger Carnival Spirit.

The ship offers three seven-day itineraries between Vancouver and Whittier/Anchorage. They include scenic cruising through the Inside Passage, Lynn Canal, Prince William Sound, College Fjord and Glacier Bay. Calls are made at ports including Sitka, Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan.

In Skagway, Carnival offers the new “Golden Glassblowing Experience.” This hands-on outing allows guests to sculpt their own work of art using 24-karat gold and have the finished product packed and shipped home.

Also making a debut this season is the “Takshanuk Mountain Trail by 4×4.” This journey begins with a cruise aboard a high-speed catamaran down North America’s longest and deepest fjord. A four-wheel drive “mule,” or heavy-duty golf cart, takes guests to waterfalls and clear creeks before reaching sub-alpine meadows, followed by a gourmet lunch and fast-ferry return to the ship.

In Ketichkan, there 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.

Also in Ketchikan, guests can select “The Alaskan Chef’s Table, A Cultural Affair.” This culinary tour allows guests to see how local produce is caught and prepared for a dinner party. Guests receive a keepsake box featuring recipes for the dishes served.

The Aleutian Ballard, the king crab fishing vessel made famous by the Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch” series, offers the “Bering Sea Crab Fisherman” experience. Guests can sail and learn how these boats operate and hear first-hand accounts of the crew’s experiences.

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Holland America Cruise Line to Host More Than 70 Culinary Experts

 

Holland America Line

 

Holland America Line’s Culinary Arts Center program has nearly doubled in size since its inception four years ago. This year the program features more than 70 culinary experts, including cookbook authors Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough on the new Eurodam. “The Culinary Arts Center is a guest favorite,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president-marketing, sales and guest programs. “We will continue to expand the program and provide our guests with the culinary experiences that have made it such a success.”

Holland America launched its culinary program in 2005 with the installation of state-of-the-art Culinary Arts Centers aboard each of its premium ships. The centers feature a test kitchen with video screens so passengers can attend culinary demonstrations, tastings and hands-on cooking classes. The line expanded the program by partnering with Food & Wine magazine. A new addition to the 2008 season is Eric Villegas, host of the Emmy Award-winning PBS series, “Fork in the Road,” who is scheduled to sail aboard the Veendam June 13-20.

The Culinary Arts Program includes cookbook authors as well as wine and spirits experts such as master mixologists Christy Pope and Chad Solomon. Other participating chefs and experts in the continuing 2008 season include Sally Bernstein, San Francisco restaurant critic and culinary educator, Zaandam June 8 -15; Chef Gustav Mauler, Prinsendam, July 3-17; Pichet Ongvasit of Copenhagen sailing on Rotterdam July 16-28; Johnny Iuzzini, executive pastry chef at Jean Georges in New York, Noordam July 26-Aug. 5; Max McCalman of Artisanal Cheese in New York, Noordam, Aug. 5-15; Weinstein and Scarbrough, authors of the “Ultimate” cookbook series, Eurodam, Aug. 14-29; Mark Frasier and Clark Gaier from Mediterranean in Venice, Zuiderdam, Sept. 17-29; James Mazzio, executive chef of Via in Denver, and Food & Wine’s Best New Chef 1999, Amsterdam, Sept. 19-Oct. 22; and Harold Dieterle, Perilla in New York and Top Chef Season 1 winner, Amsterdam, Oct. 22-Nov. 4.

Holland America also showcases its own culinary stars on more than 500 annual cruises. The line’s cookbook “A Taste of Excellence,” written by Master Chef Rudi Sodamin, offers preparation techniques for Holland America dishes and libations as part of the Culinary Arts Center experience

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05/16/08 Royal Caribbean Set to Return to South America Cruising

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Royal Caribbean International is returning to South America in winter 2009-2010 with nine 11- to 15-cruises aboard Radiance of the Seas. Bookings opened Thursday. Four-night pre- or post-cruise cruise-tours give guests the opportunity to explore Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Iguazu Falls along the Argentina and Brazil border. Cruise-tours are escorted and include deluxe hotel accommodations, air and ground transfers, certain meals, and time for individual pursuits. Six cruises will go around the horn of South America and through the Straits of Magellan. These 12- to 14-night itineraries alternate departures from Valparaiso, Chile, and Buenos Aires, featuring a cruise through the glacier-filled Chilean fjords, and a call at Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world. Three sailings include a shipboard overnight in Buenos Aires at the beginning or end of the cruise. An 11-night itinerary, departing on Feb. 10, 2010, features three days in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for Carnival. The cruise is round-trip from Buenos Aires and includes an overnight on the ship. Two Pacific equatorial crossings sail from San Diego to Valparaiso on Nov. 21, 2009, and return on March 7, 2010.

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05/16/08 Regent Seven Seas to Celebrate European Music, Cuisine

 

 
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Regent Seven Seas Cruises will offer an extended celebration of the food, wine and music during a 28-night “Autumn Sojourn in The Mediterranean” voyage aboard the 700-guest Seven Seas Voyager. Sailing from Istanbul on Oct. 18, the ship will journey across the Mediterranean, across the French and Italian Rivieras and Cote d’Azur to the Greek Isles. The voyage is available as a single journey or in three individual segments. Each segment is its own special event combining classical music and gourmet cuisine, highlighted by special guests, exclusive concerts and museum tours. Guests will even have opportunities to purchase euros at a 1:1 exchange rate against the U.S. dollar. The “Executive Vice President’s Cruise” operates Oct. 18-25 from Istanbul to Piraeus. Kenneth Watson, executive vice president of marketing and sales at Regent Seven Seas, will host the Greek Isles journey that begins with an overnight in Istanbul and proceeds to Mykonos, Rhodes, Santorini and Nafplion in Greece and Kusadasi, Turkey. At Ephesus, the ancient Anatolian city that is a famous archaeological site, guests will attend a concert by the Izmir Chamber Orchestra featuring Vivaldi, Bach, Mozart and Brahms. Per-person fares start at $4,995.
The “Three Song of Flower Captains’ Cruise,” from Piraeus to Monte Carlo, Oct. 25-Nov. 5, features Regent Seven Seas Captains Dag Dvergastein, Knut Hanssen and Jarle Jensen. All three were previous masters of the Song of Flower, once part of the fleet of Regent Seven Seas predecessor Radisson Seven Seas Cruises. This voyage will call at Kusadasi and Marmaris in Turkey; Iraklion, Greece; Valletta, Malta; Ajaccio, Corsica; and Naxos, Sorrento, Civitavecchia and Livorno in Italy. The three captains will host 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 is an exclusive concert at Valletta’s Manoel Theater. Per-person rates start at $6,850.
The President’s Cruise, featuring Regent Seven Seas President Mark Conroy, will operate Nov. 5-15 from Monte Carlo to Civitavecchia. The cruise will travel to Portofino and Livorno, Italy; Marseille, 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. Another highlight is 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. Guests can also combine the 28-night voyage with the 16-night crossing from Civitavecchia to Fort Lauderdale Nov. 15-Dec. 1, which visits ports in North Africa and Spain and a mid-Atlantic stop in Madeira. The 44-night itinerary is priced from $20,295 to $66,188 per person.

 
 

 

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05/15/08 Cunard’s QM2 to Welcome British Screenwriting Duo

 

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Cunard announced that Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, who wrote the recent thriller “The Bank Job,” are set to sail on the Queen Mary 2’s June 8 transatlantic crossing. The two will participate in the Cunard Insights enrichment program. Clement and La Frenais have had a creative partnership for more than four decades, working with many of British actors, including Peter Sellers, Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Tracy Ullman and Daniel Craig. They will give Cunard guests an inside look at the world of successful screenwriting and production. The pair will lecture and hold Q&A sessions onboard. The duo has won BAFTA awards, and recently completed four films, including “The Bank Job,” “Goal! The Dream Begins,” “Flushed Away” and “Across the Universe.” Their previous work includes four years as writers and supervising producers with Tracy Ullman on the HBO series “Tracy Takes On.” They also logged hours with Sean Connery on “The Rock” and teamed with Jerry Bruckheimer as script doctors on films such as “Pearl Harbor” and “Coyote Ugly.” Other screenwriting credits include “The Commitments,” “Still Crazy,” “The Prisoner of Zenda,” “Never Say Never Again” and “To Russia with Elton.

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MSC Cruises Adds Second Big Band Cruise This Winter – Cruise Vacation News

 

MSC Cruises is hosting a second Big Band theme cruise this winter in the Caribbean, and is offering special ocean-view stateroom rates. The company said it added a second Big Band cruise because interest was so high for the first one. The second Big Band theme cruise is scheduled for the MSC Lirica’s 10-night Caribbean voyage sailing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 22. This is in addition to the Big Band cruise already scheduled on MSC Lirica’s 10-night Dec. 3 cruise to the Deep Caribbean.

Both of these sailings will feature the 15-piece Les DeMerle Big Band, with vocalist Bonnie Eisele. Drummer Les DeMerle has toured and recorded with the Harry James Big Band and Wayne Newton; the band has also accompanied many singers, including Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., The Manhattan Transfer, Mel Torme and Al Jarreau.
The Les DeMerle Big Band will perform music by Ellington, Basie, James and Miller, plus Broadway hits, rock ‘n’ roll classics, Latin songs and tunes from the ’40s through today. In addition to their performances, the band will present a Big Band Jazz Concert and conduct a lecture on the Big Band Era. The Dec. 3 sailing calls at San Juan, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Antigua, Tortola, and Cayo Levantado, Dominican Republic; there are three days at sea. Cruise-only rates begin at $699 per person, double occupancy; special ocean-view rates begin at $879 per person.
The Feb. 22 itinerary includes calls at Costa Maya, Mexico; Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; Cristobal, Panama; Cartagena, Colombia; and Cayo Levantado. Cruise-only rates begin at $899 per person, with ocean-view rates beginning at $1,079 per person. On all MSC Cruises’ sailings, kids 17 or younger sail free when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults. Government fees and taxes for all guests are additional, as is a fuel surcharge for the first and second guests in a stateroom.

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Silversea Cruise Line Announces New Guest Lecturer Series

 
 

Silversea Cruises has tapped two guest lecturers, Jon Vidar Sigurdsson and Jon Bowermaster, to each host two of four expeditions during the inaugural season of its newest ship, the Prince Albert II. Sigurdsson was born in Reykjavik, Iceland, and holds a degree in geology. Since first visiting Greenland in 1982, he has led 20 summer and winter expeditions and field tours to this Arctic nation. He has also organized an open-university course about the island for the University of Iceland. A mountain-climber, he has reached the peaks of 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 (No. 7809). Silver Sailing fares start at $8,336. He will also host the “Greenland Exploration,” which departs Reykjavik July 30 on a 16-day journey to St. John’s, Newfoundland (No. 7810). Silver Sailing fares start at $7,020.

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 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 Oct. 12 on a 22-day expedition from Acapulco to Santiago (No. 7819). Silver Sailing fares start at $7,436. He will also host the sold-out “Chilean Fjords Highlights” voyage, which sails Nov. 3 from Santiago to Ushuaia.

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Crystal Luxury Cruises Plans Two December Wellness Cruises

Cruise Crystal Luxury

 

Crystal Cruises is introducing two “Mind, Body & Spirit” cruises this December. 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 Dec. 7 South America voyage from Los Angeles to Valparaiso, Chile, and Crystal Serenity’s Dec. 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.

The Crystal Symphony’s “South American Sojourn” will feature the following experts: Dr. Donald Malone, a Cleveland Clinic instructor and staff psychiatrist who will speak about wellness in relation to mind, body and spirit; Dr. John McMichan, Mayo Clinic staff physician specializing in critical care medicine, anesthesiology and medical education.

Dr. Martin Lee, a Sanford University physicist who with his wife, Emily Lee, founded the Tai Chi Cultural Center in 1974; Debbie Rocker, founder of Crystal’s exclusive Walk on Water program featuring the Walkvest Training System, revolutionizing walking by adding weight resistance; Richard Deutsch, author of “One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome; Cathy L. Greenberg, PhD, author of “What Happy Women Know,” “What Happy Companies Know,” “What Happy Parents Know” and “What Happy Leaders Know.”

The Crystal Serenity’s “Caribbean Jewels” cruise features the following speakers: Jim Karras, author of “The Business Plan for the Body” and a fitness contributor on ABC’s “Good Morning America”; Dr. Leslie Cho, director of The Cleveland Clinic’s Women’s cardiovascular center; Sandra Shaner, a teacher certified by the Yoga Institute and a Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance; Mollie Epstein, who oversees the Walk on Water program for Crystal; and Jeff Corbett of the Tai Chi Cultural Center.

Crystal is offering several shore excursions catering to its wellness-minded guests, such as a kayaking eco-adventure in Cabo San Lucas, a hike through Caldera’s tropical rainforest and power snorkeling in Grand Turk and a day’s retreat to a resort and spa in St. Barts. Crystal recently launched “Tour de Spin,” a complimentary indoor cycling program that mirrors stages of the Tour de France. Cruise fares for Crystal Symphony’s 15-day wellness voyage.

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05/14/08 Celebrity Cruises Set to Offer First Antarctica Sailings

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Celebrity Cruises, which will sail its 10th consecutive season in South America next year, is offering its first Antarctica sailings in early 2010. The 2,050-guest Celebrity Infinity will sail eight South America sailings in late 2009 and early 2010, calling at 26 ports in 13 countries. Sales for these cruises opened Tuesday. Celebrity Infinity’s South America sailings will depart from Fort Lauderdale; Valparaiso, Chile; and Buenos Aires, Argentina, the latter being the homeport for both 14-night Antarctica sailings. Departures are scheduled for Jan. 31 and Feb. 14, 2010. The Antarctica sailings will cruise through Cape Horn and call at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands; Ushuaia and Puerto Madryn, Argentina; and Montevideo, Uruguay. The cruises also include three days of cruising past Elephant Island, Paradise Bay and Gerlache Strait. Celebrity also is offering four 14-night sailings between Valparaiso and Buenos Aires, departing on Dec. 20, Jan. 3, Jan. 17 and Feb. 28, 2010. These voyages include an overnight stay in Buenos Aires. The Dec. 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 cruises through the Straits of Magellan and the Chilean fjords.

The Infinity also will sail a 15-night Panama Canal and South America voyage from Fort Lauderdale to Valparaiso on Dec. 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 more. During these sailings, Celebrity offers a two-night overland tour of Peru’s Machu Picchu, between Lima and Arica. Guests depart by plane and overnight in Cuzco for two nights. Also included is a train trip to Machu Picchu. On day three, guests rejoin the ship in the next port of call

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05/13/08 Belize to Focus on Balancing Cruise Tourism, Conservation

 

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Members of Belize’s cruise tourism industry signed an agreement that commits them to create sustainable cruise tourism practices, such as protecting coral reefs. The commitment is the second such environmental agreement developed for Caribbean passenger cruise destinations by Conservation International’s Mesoamerican Reef Tourism Initiative (MARTI). It is also the first to address considerations by an established nature tourism destination and will likely serve as a model for cruise line travel destinations around the world. The Belize Declaration of Commitment was signed by key industry stakeholders, including government, private sector, civil society (NGOs) and cruise lines.

Among the actions agreed to: enhance marine and coastal resource use management; improve tourism planning, basic tourism infrastructure and management of services/facilities for cruise ship visitors; foster adequate site monitoring and compliance with existing regulations; and promote conservation awareness among cruise ship visitors about Belize’s natural heritage. As part of the agreement, cruise industry leaders have formed a Destination Stewardship Working Group through which they will collaborate to implement the commitments in the conservation agreement. Over the next six months, this Working Group will raise funds locally and implement several basic conservation projects that will demonstrate tangible improvements in the short-term, including the mooring buoy project that seeks to address anchor damage to coral at highly visited marine recreation sites around Belize City, and creating a conservation awareness video for cruise ship passengers that will help reduce the visitor footprint in threatened ecosystems by showcasing Belize’s rich biodiversity. The video will also invite cruise ship visitors to help Belizeans in their conservation efforts by adhering to good practices when they interact with the environment

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Holland America Line to Feature New Quebec Ports

 

Holland America Line

 Holland America Line will debut three new ports in Quebec on its 13-, 14- and 15-day cruises to Canada and New England between May and October 2009. The longer cruises of the Eurodam and Maasdam will call at Gaspe, Baie-Comeau and/or Sept-iles. The two ships will offer 21 Canada and New England cruises ranging from seven to 15 days in 2009.

The cruises will depart from five homeports — Boston, Montreal, Quebec City, New York and Fort Lauderdale. The Maasdam kicks off the 2009 season May 8 with a 15-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Montreal. The 1,258-guest ship calls at Charleston, South Carolina; Newport, Rhode Island; Bar Harbor, Maine; Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia; and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island before spending a day each at new ports Gaspe and Sept-iles.

The Maasdam then cruises the Saguenay Fjord, calls at Port Saguenay and visits Quebec City for two full days before reaching Montreal. In the fall 2009, the Maasdam departs Oct. 10 on a similar 13-day cruise from Montreal to Fort Lauderdale that features Gaspe 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 May 23 to Oct. 3, the Maasdam sails 14 seven-day cruises between Montreal and Boston. The ship also offers a seven-day roundtrip from Boston Aug. 29 that calls at Portland, Saint John, Sydney and Bar Harbor. Eurodam features three 10-day cruises between New York and Quebec City departing Aug. 27, Sept. 6 and Sept. 16, 2009. The 2,104-guest ship calls at Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown and Quebec City for a full day and overnight stay.

On Sept. 26, the Eurodam sails a 14-day cruise from Quebec City to Fort Lauderdale. Holland America Line offers pre- and post-cruise hotel reservations in Boston, New York, Montreal, Quebec City and Fort Lauderdale. It also features a three-night package to Montreal, Montebello and Ottawa. Canada/New England cruise fares start at $1,099 per person, double occupancy. Taxes and fuel supplement are additional.

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Stockholm Greets 2008 Cruise Season with New Cruise Ship Terminal

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Stockholm is kicking off its 2008 cruise season with the opening of the new Cruise Center Frihamnen. The state-of-the-art cruise terminal will play a pivotal role as Stockholm prepares to receive a record-setting 265 ships in 2008, a 5 percent increase over 2007.

The fifth-largest cruise destination in Northern Europe, according to Cruise Europe, the Scandinavian capital is expected to receive 30 turnarounds and upwards of 300,000 passengers during the season, which runs through Sept. 24.

“The added capacity has not only helped serve the demand for Baltic cruising, but has also prompted new business and growth for Stockholm,” said Josefin Haraldsson, marketing manager-cruises for Stockholm Visitors Board. “Fourteen new ships will be calling this season and an increase can already be seen for the 2009 season.”

The 32,291-square-foot former cargo terminal underwent a complete interior and exterior renovation and now includes cafés, Internet access, waiting areas and baggage handling. The exterior has created a new city landmark with its brightly lit colors and original design.

The terminal’s first call was scheduled to be Royal Caribbean International’s Jewel of the Seas on May 11, which begins a series of mini-cruises with Stockholm as homeport for the line. Stockholm expects to increase the number of turnarounds to grow by 11 percent increase over 2007.

With the additional turnarounds, including the addition of Princess Cruises, more than 30,000 passengers will have additional time to explore Stockholm before or after their cruise. Highlights throughout the summer include the Archipelago Raid, an extreme sailing competition set for June 13-18, the Red Bull Air Race July 4-7 and Popaganda music festival Aug. 29-30.

Turnaround guests also can take a ferry through the archipelago of 24,000 islands, stroll through Gamla Stan, or Old Town, or visit one of Stockholm’s many museums.

The Stockholm Cruise Network was created to enhance awareness of Stockholm as a cruise port and tourist destination among U.S. travel agents, consumers and cruise lines.

Members include the Stockholm Visitors Board, Ports of Stockholm and an extensive local network that includes Scandinavian Airlines System, Stockholm Arlanda International Airport and numerous port agents, ground operators, local transportation companies, hotels and shops.

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05/09/08 New Seabourn Catalogue Features 2009-10 Yachting Collection

 

 
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The Yachts of Seabourn has published a 140-page catalogue of luxury voyages aboard its yachts throughout 2009 and the first quarter of 2010. Titled “The Yachting Collection,” the lavishly illustrated catalogue includes complete details of 143 voyages that will visit over 220 ports in 66 countries on five continents during the 15-month period. “2009 will be a landmark year for The Yachts of Seabourn,” said President and CEO Pamela Conover. “Seabourn Odyssey’s debut in June will expand the ultra-luxury segment of the cruise industry for the first time in six years, and it will do so in a way that underscores Seabourn’s commitment to continuing to provide the highly personalized, relaxed and sociable style of travel that has built our reputation, and that is only possible on our yachts.”
Ports that are new or have not visited in several years include St. Raphael, Bandol and Antibes on the French Riviera; Opatija and Split in Croatia; Brindisi, Bari, and Trieste, Italy; and Lundy Island and the Isles of Scilly in the U.K. Seabourn Odyssey’s World Cruise in early 2010 will add areas in the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand that have been missing from Seabourn’s itineraries in recent years. Among them are returns to Bali, Borneo and a maiden visit to Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Late-night stays and overnights have been added to 30 key ports including Marseille, Amsterdam, Trieste, Mykonos, St. Tropez, St. Barts, Portofino and Rhodes.
Seabourn said it conducted an intensive program of research, on-site inspections and detailed planning to ensure that the yachts would call at the most desirable places in their peak seasons. The destinations of Seabourn Pride, Spirit, Legend and Odyssey include Europe, the Far East, South and Central America and the Caribbean. Seabourn Journeys, which are pre- and post-cruise land extensions, are also highlighted for each section. Another section outlines Grand Voyages, which are combinations of between 18 and 74 days that are offered at substantial savings, as well as Seabourn Odyssey’s 108-day Inaugural World Cruise in 2010.
`Among the improvements that make the catalogue more user-friendly are improved, three-dimensional renderings of the suite layouts, with detailed illustrations of the furnishings and amenities for all categories of accommodation, which are located at the back of the book along with the deck plans for easy accessibility. Complimentary fine wines and spirits and fine dining in an open-seating restaurant are also included. Myriad extras are offered, such as free Massage Moments on deck and a complimentary Exclusively Seabourn shoreside experience on most voyages. Early-booking savings of up to 50 percent off brochure fares apply for those who book in advance, plus additional savings for combining two or more consecutive cruises.
In 2009, Seabourn is increasing the number and variety of its Sail & Stay packages that combine a cruise with pre- and/or post-cruise stays at luxury hotels in Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Rome, Athens, Istanbul, Venice, Copenhagen, Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Fort Lauderdale and San Jose, Costa Rica. Club Signature Value Savings of up to 50 percent off are available to past guests of Seabourn or any of the World’s Leading Cruise Lines, including Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess Cruises and P&O.

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05/09/08 MSC Cruises Introduces Prepaid Cards for Teens

 
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MSC Cruises has introduced “My Teen Card” onboard all its ships. Targeted to 12- to 17-year-olds, the prepaid card can be used by the holder for onboard purchases (such as sodas, gift shop items) and as a stateroom key. Two levels are available. In the Caribbean, prepayment of $30 nets a $5 bonus for a total value of $35 on the card. A $50 payment nets a $10 bonus for a $60 card. The same bonuses apply in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, only in euros: €30 plus a €5 bonus equals a €35 card and €50 gets a €10 bonus. “We are a family-owned and family-oriented cruise line and My Teen Card acknowledges the fact that teens desire a certain level of independence when it comes to onboard purchases,” said Richard Sasso, president and CEO of MSC Cruises USA. “With their My Teen Card, they will not have to go to Mom and Dad every time they want to make a purchase.”

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Holland America’s Eurodam Offers Private Cabanas

 

Holland America Line

 

Holland America Line’s new Eurodam will have private cabanas on the Observation and Lido decks of the company’s first Signature-class ship. The airy, tented cabanas are located on Observation Deck in an area called the Retreat and around the mid-ship pool on Lido Deck.

Furnished with woven chaises, ottomans and upholstered settees, the cabanas come stocked with bathrobes and plush towels, handheld fans, an Evian spray mister and iPods preloaded with music. Chilled waters are available as are iced fruit skewers in mid-morning and frozen grapes, chocolate-covered strawberries and champagne in the afternoon.

The 14 cabanas in the Retreat offer guests a spa-like private area. Fresh fruit, salads, wraps and juices are available at the Retreat, with light breakfast options offered as well. Eight cabanas around the Lido pool offer a private respite in a lively area of the ship.

Lunch at the Lido cabanas will be served upon request from menus from the Terrace Grill or Lido Restaurant. Discounted select services from the Greenhouse Spa and Salon are available on port days to guests who book the cabanas. The cabanas may be rented for the day or for an entire cruise.

 The Retreat cabanas are $45 on port days and $75 on sea days, while the Lido cabanas are $30 and $50 respectively. The 2,104-guest Eurodam debuts this summer with inaugural festivities, including a July 1 naming ceremony in Rotterdam with Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, followed by a maiden voyage in the Baltic region.

The ship will offer its first transatlantic cruise and sail Canada/New England in the fall, followed by Caribbean itineraries the remainder of 2008.

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Celebrity Cruise Lines Locks In More Panama Canal Itineraries

Celebrity Cruise Lines

 
 
Celebrity Cruises will offer more variety for sailings through the Panama Canal’s Gatun Locks. The line’s 2009-10 Panama Canal sailings are open for sale. In its late 2009, early 2010 season, Celebrity will offer 18 open-jaw sailings through the canal, more than it has offered during any previous single season. Highlights include a range of 13- to 16-night cruises, a Panama Canal cruise from Seattle, and five homeports from which the canal cruises will depart — Fort Lauderdale, Miami, San Diego, Seattle and Valparaiso, Chile. Celebrity Infinity will sail 10 open-jaw Panama Canal voyages between September 2009 and April 2010. After a 16-night eastbound canal voyage from Seattle to Fort Lauderdale, it will sail a series of 13- and 14-night voyages between San Diego and Fort Lauderdale before a 15-night canal voyage from Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco.

Celebrity Infinity also will operate a 15-night voyage from Fort Lauderdale to Valparaiso on Dec. 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. Celebrity is offering a 14-night 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. Celebrity Cruises’ 2009-10 Panama Canal sailings calls at ports in countries such as Aruba, Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico

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Nickelodeon Sets Schedule for Royal Caribbean Freedom of Seas Family Cruise

 

Royal Caribbean Newset Ship Oasis of the Seas

 

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Nickelodeon announced activities for the first-ever Nickelodeon Family Cruise with Royal Caribbean International, which sets sail Aug. 10-17 on Freedom of the Seas.

The schedule features activities such as a kick-off sail away party, evening shows, a Nick Live Poolside! interactive game show, 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 can 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 activities such as Nickelodeon character breakfasts with SpongeBob, Dora, The Backyardigans, Jimmy Neutron and Diego.

“Slime Time Live!” will allow kids and parents to experience Nickelodeon’s trademark green slime at Studio Nick during this interactive game show, At the pool each day there will be a Nick-themed interactive game show. On the sixth day of the cruise, families can disembark on the private island of Labadee for freestyle beach games with a Nickelodeon twist. The cruise will visit Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios and Labadee.

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