welcomed to its Maine Coast & Harbors the newest vessel to the fleet, the American Star. The American Star spent her inaugural summer season in 2007 cruising along Maine’s spectacular coast & scenic harbors taking passengers on 7-night cruises from Bangor to Bucksport, Bar Harbor, Rockland, Castine, Camden, and Belfast.
In response to the increased demand for the Maine Coast & Harbors itinerary, American Cruise Lines positioned the brand new ship in Maine, doubling the amount of berths from last year. “The enthusiasm we have received for the Maine Coast & Harbors itinerary is exciting,” says Vice President Timothy Beebe. “By putting this beautiful brand new ship in Maine will help us meet the demand.” The American Star will cruise along the Maine Coast and Harbors from June 16th thru September 29th. The 49-passenger American Glory will also join the American Star in August for three departures. While in port, guests can explore some of the most picturesque towns on the Penobscot and Blue Hill Bays, visiting forts that date back to the Revolutionary War, fishing villages, and some of Maine’s sixty-four lighthouses. Passengers will breathe in the refreshing sea air and gaze upon spectacular mountain vistas, while keeping an eye out for seals, puffins and whales.
The 100-passenger American Star is 215 feet long, and will have a similar modern design to the American Spirit. The new modern luxury ship will feature 52 oversized staterooms many with private verandahs, and all staterooms will have the large opening picture windows, a trademark of American Cruise Lines. Every room is fitted with a flat-screen satellite TV and DVD player, individual climate control, Internet access and many other modern conveniences and amenities expected by the discerning traveler. The ship’s layout will include an elevator to all four decks, wireless Internet computer for passengers, four lounges of various sizes, a spacious observation deck, a well-stocked library and a dining room with surrounding windows providing spectacular landscapes and coastal scenery as you dine.
For the complete 2007 & 2008 Maine Coast and Harbors schedule visit www.americancruiselines.com or call 1-800-814-6880.
Azamara Cruise line has smaller, more intimate ships, designed to take you to exotic, out-of-the-ordinary ports of call that will deliver memorable experiences. You’ll explore a multitude of unique destinations in South America, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean – many of which larger cruise ships can’t reach. Traveling to more than 180 destinations in 65 countries, there are many itineraries to choose from, including our masterful World Cruise.
12-Night South America on Azamara Journey. Starting From $1499* Cruise Only
10-Night Europe on Azamara Journey. Starting from $2,599** Air Inclusive
Shore Excursions - Off the Beaten Path -- As a guest aboard Azamara Journey or Azamara Quest, you can immerse yourself in unique shore excursions that are off the beaten path. Our Azamara destination specialist can help you gather insightful information about the culture and history of each port of call based on your preferences.
Onboard the experience is every bit as amazing with graceful amenities at every turn. Guests of Azamara enjoy butler service in every stateroom, upgraded amenities, two specialty restaurants serving the finest cuisine at sea, a world class Spa, more verandas than most cruise ships and so much more.
*Prices per person, double occupancy, cruise only inside stateroom on select sailings. Government taxes and fees are additional. Certain restrictions apply. All prices are quoted in U.S. dollars. All itineraries and prices are current at time of broadcast and subject to change without notice.
**Air inclusive is roundtrip air from the top 50 gateways in the United States. Prices are per person, double occupancy, on select sail dates and in U.S. dollars. All itineraries and prices are current at time of broadcast and subject to change without notice. Government taxes and fees are additional. Certain restrictions apply
For more information, contact Azamara Cruises, 1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, FL 33132; call 1-888-305-9153; check web site www.azamaracruises.com, or contact your travel agent.
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New, 10-night Easter Cruise, roundtrip from Miami. Ports of call include: St John, USVI; Marigot, St. Martin; Roseau, Dominica; Basseterre, St. Kitts; and Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands.
12-night, roundtrip from Miami. Azamara Journey will rotate three 12-night itineraries with only St. Barts & Virgin Gorda repeating on each, providing the ideal balance of "Beach", "Eco", and "Shopping" ports.
16-night, roundtrip from Miami or San Diego. Visit Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Aruba.
For more information contact Azamara, 1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, FL 33132, or go to web site www.azamaracruises.com
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Azamara Quest will visit 21 ports in 13 different countries, including three new ports: Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan; Nagasaki, Japan; and Phuket, Thailand. No other deluxe cruise brand offers more ports, nor can they match the exceptional dining, service and distinct itineraries of Azamara.
Sail Hong Kong to Singapore - or reverse on the 18-night. Includes overnight stays in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Singapore. On the 14-night sailing, dock less than 30 minutes from the city center in Bangkok. On the 18-night, sail through Ha Long Bay, famous for the thousands of limestone islands that dot its landscape.
Sail Hong Kong to Shanghai. Overnight in the cultural center of Beijing - home of the Forbidden City. In addition, see: Taipei, Taiwan; Nagasaki, Japan; Seoul, Korea; and Dalian, China.
Sail Athens to Singapore. Includes overnight stays in Dubai and Bombay. Plus, sail the Suez Canal and visit remarkable ports like Alexandria, Egypt; Cochin, India; and Phuket, Thailand.
For more information, contact Azamara Cruises, 1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, FL 33132 or check web site www.azamaracruises.com
For active travellers hoping to hit the high seas this summer, outfitters Butterfield & Robinson offer up three great choices for Mediterranean getaways. Having perfected the art of the “uncruise”, B&R trip planners design one-of-a-kind journeys aboard the small ship Callisto that feature daily onshore walks or bike rides. Summer 2008 destinations include the Dalmatian Coast, Dubrovnik to Athens, and the Black Sea with special guest and wine expert Zoltan Szabo.
“Each of these trips offers an exciting, modern twist on the classic Mediterranean cruise,” says By Sea program director Graham Lewis. “Our travellers want to really connect with a place and explore—they want to wander through spice markets in Odessa and hike to cave churches on the Bulgarian steppe.”
Indeed, no matter where in the world B&R By Sea navigates, travellers are guaranteed an active holiday that emphasizes cultural immersion, onshore discoveries and onboard luxury. Carrying a maximum of just 32 guests, the Callisto offers all the ambience and understated elegance of a floating boutique hotel.
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The Black Sea is the world’s most isolated sea, and the region bordering it harbours some of Eastern Europe’s most interesting and historical sites. On B&R’s new 9-day Black Sea By Sea, guests travel from Istanbul through the Bosphorous to explore four different countries. On foot, travellers encounter strongholds of the Byzantine, Roman and Ottoman empires, enjoy dramatic coastal walks, and visit three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. As a special summer treat, on-ship B&R guides are joined by Transylvanian-born sommelier Zoltan Szabo. A cultural interpreter and expert on Eastern European wines, Szabo hosts evening tastings highlighting the region’s budding wine industry, and provides entrée into the exclusive Varna Wine Club in Bulgaria. Seven nights aboard the Callisto are complemented by one night at the spectacular Four Seasons Istanbul. Summer departures start August 8 and August 15.
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B&R By Sea has been exploring the Dalmatian Coast for several years now, cruising the Adriatic on an 8-day journey beginning and ending in Dubrovnik. Using the Callisto to reach small ports inaccessible to regular cruise ships, B&R trip planners have crafted an adventure that allows passengers to see the ancient coast the way it was meant to be seen—by sea. Following along old trade routes and stopping to explore medieval towns, travellers journey through the region on foot and by bike. Highlights include local meals ashore, a walk on the untouched island of Vis, dinner in the mountains outside Korcula (the alleged birthplace of Marco Polo), and a stop in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Montenegro. Summer itineraries departJune 28 and July 5.
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Combining highlights from three different countries, B&R’s 9-day Dubrovnik to Athens By Sea is a biking and walking journey that offers a little something for everyone. Beginning in Dubrovnik, travellers explore the jewel in the crown of the Dalmatian Coast with an expert local guide. In the Venetian town of Kotor in Montenegro, a walk brings the UNESCO-protected site to life. Stops on the Greek islands of Corfu, Paxos and Kephalonia allow for hikes through olive groves and bike rides among the rolling hills—and a visit to the ancient site of the Oracle of Delphi. Other highlights include crossing the straits of Ithaca (mythical home of Odysseus), wandering coastal paths, and feasting on fresh seafood in out-of-the-way tavernas. This trips sets course July 12.
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B&R’s new Crete & the Peloponnese By Sea (September 26 and October 3) explores the Byzantine ruins and tiny ports of the Peloponnesian Peninsula. Benson Cowan, B&R’s CEO and president, will join the inaugural departure. Highlights include a day in Athens to explore the treasures of Ancient Greece, a Century Ride to the city-state of Sparta, walks through olive and almond groves to Mycenae and Monemvasia, and taking a subterranean boat ride through the caves of Diros. The Classic Greek Islands By Sea (September 12 and 19) spends one night at the Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens before alighting for the mythical Dodecanese and Cyclades islands. Stops include Symi, Tilos, Amorgos, Santorini, Sifnos and Paros.
Other B&R By Sea journeys include Sicily & the Aeolian Islands, the Turquoise Coast, and the Galapagos Islands (adult and With the Kids). Ship-based journeys are also popular choices for private Bespoke trips, perfect for family reunions or group getaways.
Prices aboard the Callisto start at US$8,995 per person, double occupancy.
Butterfield & Robinson offers more than 90 innovative itineraries in 60 destinations worldwide. Their motto since 1966 remains “Slow down to see the world.” Imaginative trip design, exquisite service and a tireless pursuit of the world’s most fascinating places continue to make B&R a leader in active travel. For details check web site www.butterfield.com
10/11 Night Ultimate Caribbean - roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale. 10-night sailing visits five ports from St. Thomas to St. Maarten. 11-night sails Grand Cayman to Mexico, visiting six exotic ports.
14 Night Exotic Southern Caribbean - roundtrip from Miami. Spend Christmas and New Year's at sea and visit 8 ports of call along the way, including Curacao, Aruba, and Barbados, to name a few.
In addition to the new itineraries listed above, be;pw are popular favorites:
7 Night Eastern Caribbean - roundtrip from Ft Lauderdale. Includes late night departures in San Juan and Philipsburg, giving time to experience the nightlife.
7 Night Eastern Caribbean - roundtrip from San Juan. Ports include: St. Maarten, Dominica, Grenada, Bonaire, and Aruba.
4/5 Night Western Caribbean - roundtrip from Miami. 4-night sails to Key West and Cozumel. 5-night ports are Key West, Ocho Rios, and Georgetown.
For more information, contact Celebrity Cruises Inc., 1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, FL 33132 or check web site www.celebritycruises.com
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Discover a comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experience aboard Celebrity’s enchanting new ship, Celebrity Journey. With slightly more than 700 guests, Celebrity Journey offers a traditional Celebrity cruise experience in a more intimate environment. Enjoy well-appointed accommodations, Sensory Heaven spa treatments by Elemis and our award winning gourmet cuisine made only from the freshest ingredients. Of course, Celebrity’s unparalleled service with one staff member for every two guests ensures every wish is anticipated and effortlessly granted.
Michael's Club
Soak up the sounds of a grand piano as you share an intimate nightcap in this locale. The rich tones and deep, welcoming chairs of Michael's Club make it the ideal place to savor a single-malt scotch or late-evening cordial.
Martini Bar
The sophisticated Martini Bar offers 20 variations of this famous libation. Gather with friends to warm up the evening before dinner or celebrate all in this trendy hot spot before heading over to the disco.
Online@Celebrity
You will probably want to share your cruise experience with your friends and family - before you return home. Visit the ship's onboard Internet stations and send an email.
Aquaspa®
Relax in the impressive AquaSpa and be transported to a whole new world with treatments inspired by rituals from exotic cultures. Discover a state of complete tranquility as you experience the most luxurious spa afloat.
Engage in one of Celebrity's cruise vacations and experience an incredible journey. Whether you enjoy hiking among ancient ruins, venturing to remote corners of the globe, or sipping cappuccino in a quaint sidewalk café, Celebrity takes you there with an unparalleled cruise experience.
Destinations include:
Alaska -- Alaska's sprawling glaciers, native heritage and vast wildlife will combine to take your breath away.
Australia/New Zealand -- Let Celebrity turn your winter into a lushly indulgent summer.
Bahamas -- A distinct blend of warm trade-winds, tropical ease and inviting locals make these islands famous for unwinding.
Bermuda -- Equal parts island charm and British pageantry, Bermuda offers an abundance of shopping, golf and colorful sights
Canada / New England -- Serene villages, brilliant autumn leaves and rich nautical history unite on the picturesque coast of North America.
Caribbean -- A kaleidoscope of vibrant colors, inviting people and fascinating cultures make up the Caribbean islands.
Europe -- Prepare for a history lesson as you encounter the vast, enchanting lands of Europe.
Galapagos -- Wonder at flora and fauna found nowhere else on earth when you sail the fabled waters of these isolated islands.
Hawaii -- The allure and mystique of Hawaii are hard to resist. Let the magic of these islands stir your every sense.
Pacific Northwest -- A feast for the soul, the Pacific Northwest boasts splendid scenery, towering timber and a mix of the eclectic and pristine.
Panama Canal -- Marvel at man-made engineering as you pass through the locks of the "Eighth Wonder of the World".
South America -- From cosmopolitan cities to wild, untamed rainforests and tundra, South America is a study in contrasts.
For more information, contact Celebrity Cruises Inc., 1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, FL 33132; 1-800-647-2251, or visit web site www.celebritycruises.com
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Indulge in a unique culinary experience at sea with the fourth annual Savor the Caribbean cruise series. For those who love gourmet cuisine, fine wine and new experiences, the Savor program provides the perfect way to enjoy a 7-night Celebrity cruise to the Eastern Caribbean.
Meet and learn from internationally-acclaimed guest chefs at cooking demonstrations, where they prepare signature dishes and share their culinary perspectives. Taste expertly-prepared dishes, ask questions, take home recipes and have cookbooks signed.Take part in exclusive hands-on cooking classes* with guest chefs. Become a Mojito mixologist in Bacardi's fun-filled Mojito-making class,* including souvenir muddler and glass. Enjoy wine tastings* and wine-pairing seminars* with Celebrity's master sommeliers. Tour unique island restaurants where you'll enjoy specially-prepared meals and intimate encounters with award-winning local chefs*
Join the fun aboard the magnificent Millennium, on any of the six 2007 Savor the Caribbean sailings out of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and bring your appetite for the finer things in life.
*Not included in cruise price
Note: The Savor the Caribbean program may vary by sailing and is subject to change without notice.
Choose a sailing date and book a Savor the Caribbean cruise online; call a Certified Vacation Planner at 1-888-305-9153 ext 80837; call your travel professional.
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A Celebrity Alaska cruise is more than a vacation; it’s an adventure. Departing from the spectacular city of Vancouver, you’ll step aboard some of the World’s Best Large Ships, as voted by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler. With the finest cuisine and our careful attention to detail, you’ll discover why sailing with Celebrity is a journey unmatched.
The seven night itineraries include such ports of call like Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, sailing the Inside Passage or Hubbard Glacier. Celebrity gives you more reasons than ever to explore the Land of the Midnight Sun.
Voted “Best City in the Americas” three years in a row by Condé Nast Traveler, Vancouver ranks high in culture, fine dining and shopping. You may want to extend your stay in Vancouver with a pre or post package, and with cruises departing from Canada Place, you’re just minutes away from Stanley Park, Robson Street, and Gas Town, the second largest Chinatown in North America. View Itineraries.
With over 158 Shore Excursions to choose from, some of the newest ones include:
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Traveling by floatplane to watch – and photograph – bears feeding on spawning salmon. Or fish for them yourself from a private skiff.
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Board an 1890s-style Parlor Car to the Yukon’s White Pass Summit in British Columbia.
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Experience a Bering Sea Crab Fisherman's Tour where you'll set sail on the same vessel seen on the Discovery™ Channel's popular Deadliest Catch™ program.
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Visit a real Tlingit village with the hospitable Hoonah Tlingit people as your hosts. And that’s just for starters.
*Prices per person, double occupancy, cruise only inside stateroom on select sailings. Government taxes and fees are additional. Certain restrictions apply. All prices are quoted in U.S. dollars. All itineraries and prices are current at time of broadcast and subject to change without notice.
For more information, contact Celebrity Cruises Inc., 1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, FL 33132 or check web site www.celebritycruises.com
Cruise West, a leading small-ship cruise line with worldwide journeys, will offer seven distinct SCUBA excursions on its three 2009 South Pacific itineraries. The January through March cruises sail on Cruise West’s flagship, the 120-guest Spirit of Oceanus, through the untouched beauty, remote villages and tiny atolls of the South Pacific islands. All three itineraries offer numerous additional activities and excursions with focus on the culture, history and marine biology of these spectacular islands. Guests who book any of the three 2009 South Pacific cruises by June 13, 2008, will save $600 per person and an additional $200 per person if paid in full by June 13, 2008.
~2009 South Pacific Itineraries with SCUBA Excursion Options~
Pearls of Polynesia
SCUBA divers can explore Beqa Lagoon/Carpet Cove or Taveuni/Rainbow Reef on the Pearls of Polynesia itinerary, a 12-night trip that sails to Polynesia and Melanesia.
Beqa Lagoon is renowned for its spectacular soft coral and abundant sealife; Carpet Cove houses a fishing shipwreck, sunk in 1996 and now host to a vibrant array of sealife, including the rare juvenile Blue Ribbon eel. Cost per two-tank dive: $185
The second dive option is in two parts: first is Taveuni, called the “Soft Coral Capital of the World” for its vibrant corals; the second is Rainbow Reef, where divers can expect 60-70 feet of visibility. Cost per one-tank dive: $139
The 12-night Pearls of Polynesia sails between Fiji and Papeete and visits Beqa, Fiji, to watch a traditional firewalking ceremony; the Cook Islands including Atiu, “The Land of the Birds,” which is not visited by many other tourists; and Tonga to meet with local villagers, participate in a kava ceremony and snorkel in the pristine waters. Pearls of Polynesia travels on January 12 and February 13, 2009, and starts at $5,399 per person with maximum early booking savings.
Island Sanctuaries
The 11-night Island Sanctuaries itinerary visits the remote oasis of French Polynesia, where SCUBA divers can choose from two adventures.
The first dive at Bora Bora/Tapu is located on the outside of a lagoon down a mooring line in 30 feet of water filled with dozens of black-tip reef sharks, moray eels, rainbow jackfish, triggerfish and large schools of butterflyfish. Cost per one-tank dive: $135l The second dive will investigate the calm waters of Fakarava’s lagoon, the second largest in Polynesia, and bring divers face to face to dolphins, manta rays, barracudas, blue fin tunas, sharks, angel fish and parrot fish. Cost per one-tank dive: $130
On this round-trip journey from Papeete, guests will visit a local pearl farm in Takapoto and travel through the Marquesas Islands to meet with villagers and explore the plush terrain. This itinerary sails on January 23 and February 2, 2009, and starts at $4,099 per person with maximum early booking savings.
Legends of the Pacific
The 16-night Legends of the Pacific journey explores Micronesian islands, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, traveling between Guam and Fiji. SCUBA divers can choose from three separate excursions.
· The Honiara/Guadalcanal trip explores the Western Battlefields of World War II at the beach of Ruanui, where divers will investigate a Japanese transport ship teeming with coral and pelagic fish life; the second dive will search another Japanese transport ship with anti aircraft guns on the wreck. Cost per two-tank dive: $120
· The Chuuk dive explores “Operation Hailstorm,” a battle that sank more than 60 ships more than 60 years ago. Schools of jacks patrol the outside of the ships while stunning soft corals are attached to the ribs and beams. Cost per two-tank dive: $199
· The third SCUBA excursion, at Pohnpei’s largest surrounding lagoon, offers a choice of three world-class dive sites: Palaikir Pass, home to a “shark city” of 100 grey reef sharks; Mwand Pass, with branching green tubstreas, gorgonian fans, and schools of colorful small reef creatures; and Manta Road, an underwater channel located between two reefs where manta rays are spotted nearly every day of the year. Cost per two-tank dive: $185
The Legends of the Pacific brings guests to areas seldom visited by other travelers, on an insider’s expedition of native villages, World War II sites and tiny islands. The itinerary sails on December 28, 2008, and February 26, 2009, and starts at $6,449 per person with the maximum early booking savings.
For additional information on the South Pacific itineraries visit www.cruisewest.com/destinations/south_pacific or call 1-800-296-8307.
~ Up-Close, Casual and Personal Cruising ~
Cruise West offers the opportunity to explore remote and distinctive destinations throughout North and Central America, Asia and the South Pacific. Small-ship cruising allows for personalized experiences not offered by larger cruise lines. Guest capacities aboard Cruise West’s nine ships range from 78-138. Guests may expect personal enrichment through onboard narrative and presentations by local experts. The ships’ forward lounges and ample outdoor deck space provide outstanding viewing opportunities, and inflatable boats allow for up-close exploration and shore landings. For more information visit www.cruisewest.com.
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~Save Up to 75% for Kids on 3- or 4-Night Cruises ~
Cruise West, the leader in small-ship cruising, offers multi-generational groups and families the opportunity to connect while exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site and natural wonderland of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Special pricing for kids ages 18 and under is available on all 2008 Glacier Bay Highlights departures, with savings of up to 75 percent off adult fare in a AAA cabin or 50 percent off the adult fare in a category A or AA cabin. Fares start at $1,799 per adult and $900 for one child sharing an A cabin.
“One comment we feel that needs to be made is in respect of children Ñü our two boys, ages 11 and 13 have been on two Cruise West Alaska cruises with us, and they have had the most amazing experience each time,” said Joanna Finn and Murray Tonks, guests of a Glacier Bay Highlights cruise in 2007. “There does not need to be any special attraction for children onboard as the wildlife and scenery, the company of like-minded adults, and the attention of the fantastic crew and Exploration Leaders are all that is needed. So if anybody asks, would this interest my child, yes is most definitely the answer.”
Glacier Bay is a living classroom with massive tidewater glaciers, lush forests and a large concentration of whales, bears, seals, sea otters, mountain goats and wolves Ñü an ideal environment for a family to share spectacular, memory-building moments. Cruise West’s three- and four-night Glacier Bay Highlights cruises are onboard the newly named and new to Alaskan waters, 102-guest Spirit of Glacier Bay, offering up-close and personal encounters that large ships just can’t offer.
Each day, presentations or casual conversation with the onboard Explorations Leaders, National Park Service Ranger and local Tlingit Cultural Interpreter lead to understandings and perspectives on the history, geology and wildlife of this Glacier Region. There are no formal kids’ programs, but special onboard family activities may take place on an ad hoc basis including a photo wildlife scavenger hunt and movie and burger night.
Both the three- and four-night cruises spend two days in Glacier Bay and the four-night makes a port call at the historic town of Haines. Cruising roundtrip Juneau from May to September, special pricing for children ages two to 18 is available in multiple categories of travel, from one adult and one child sharing a cabin to two children ages 13 to 18 sharing a double cabin. Pricing is all-inclusive except alcohol and any optional excursions in Haines.
Contact a travel agent or Cruise West at (800) 296-8307 for details regarding additional special pricing for children.
~ Up-Close, Casual and Personal Cruising ~
Cruise West offers the opportunity to explore remote and distinctive destinations throughout North and Central America, Asia and the South Pacific. Small-ship cruising allows for personalized experiences not offered by larger cruise lines. Guest capacities aboard Cruise West’s nine ships range from 78-138. Guests may expect personal enrichment through onboard narrative and presentations by local experts. The ships’ forward lounges and ample outdoor deck space provide outstanding viewing opportunities, and inflatable boats allow for up-close exploration and shore landings.
For more information visit www.cruisewest.com.
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Cruise West, America’s leading small-ship cruise line, has announced its inaugural Taste of the Pacific Northwest itinerary, which will highlight for the first time in the company’s history the rich culinary traditions and distinctive wines of Oregon and Washington. The Taste of the Pacific Northwest, the third epicurean-inspired voyage for Cruise West, will join the popular Culture of the Vine and Vintner’s Choice cruises in 2008, both featuring the California wine region.
The 2008 Taste of Pacific Northwest cruise, with departures on September 28, October 5, 12 and 19, 2008, will sail on the 84-guest Spirit of Discovery. The 8-day/7-night itinerary will explore the Columbia River through Washington's Wine Country round trip from Portland, OR. Ports of call will include: The Columbia River Gorge; Walla Walla, WA; Hanford Reach National Monument; Horse Heaven Hills & Red Mountain; Hood River; Astoria; and Portland, OR. Prices begin at $3,149 per person, round trip.
Each day offers guests varied adventures, from culinary to oenophilic to scenic: visits to family-owned wineries and vineyards set amidst stunning rivers and mountains; floating the route pioneers used for barges loaded with covered wagons; intimate tastings and meals with owners and growers; and strolls along cobbled walkways and tours through winery cave systems.
Other activities include: a tractor tour through the Hood River Valley’s renowned family-run Fruit Company, plucking pears and apples along the route; approaching the spillway of the Bonneville Dam and passing through the intricate locks structure; private motorcoach tour with a local farmer through the Hanford Reach National Monument’s towering bluffs and expansive vistas; and participation in a cooking demonstration at the Seafood Consumer Center in the historic maritime town of Astoria, OR.
The California Wine Country Cruises (Culture of the Vine and Vintner’s Choice) are designed for both wine novices and connoisseurs who seek a personalized wine country experience that will include learning about "hand riddling" and other secrets of making fine champagne, sipping sparkling wine on the terrace of a French-inspired chateau, and touring a mountainside vineyard by a tractor-pulled tram. Guests will admire dramatic scenery, including San Francisco’s dazzling evening lights, Alcatraz and Angel Island, and will indulge in frequent tastings and interactive discussions onboard and off. Visits ashore will explore areas of distinctive estates in Napa Valley, Sonoma and Carneros that are typically off-limits to the casual drop-in visitor. Participants will soak in the wide variety of architectural styles of the estates, including French chateaux, mission-style, and Victorian, and will benefit from guest speakers including winemakers and hospitality directors.
The 5-day/4-night Vintner’s Choice cruise departs on the 138-guest Spirit of Yorktown from San Francisco in September and October 2008 and begins at $2,049 per person, round trip. The 4-day/3-night Culture of the Vine itinerary, also on the Spirit of Yorktown, departs September and October 2008 and begins at $1,349 per person, round trip.
~ Up-Close, Casual and Personal Cruising ~
Cruise West offers the opportunity to explore remote and distinctive destinations throughout North and Central America, Asia and the South Pacific. Small-ship cruising allows for personalized experiences not offered by larger cruise lines. Guest capacities aboard Cruise West’s nine ships range from 78-138. Guests may expect personal enrichment through onboard narrative and presentations by local experts. The ships’ forward lounges and ample outdoor deck space provide outstanding viewing opportunities, and inflatable boats allow for up-close exploration and shore landings.
For more information, call 1-800-296-8307 or visit www.cruisewest.com.
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In a move designed to help meet demand for its 85 optional Alaska shore excursions, Cruise West is making all these excursions available for booking on its website www.cruisewest.com.
These excursions are in addition to those included shore excursions that are offered in every port on every Cruise West itinerary. Previously guests had to call to book at least 21 days before departure or wait until they began their cruise to book the optional excursions. The new online booking option is designed to provide a better opportunity for guests to ensure they receive their first choices.
“We’re trying to make it easier for guests to further personalize their Alaska experience by choosing additional activities that are suited to individual interests,” stated Jeff Krida, president and CEO. “Now on our Website they will be able to book in advance everything from historical tours to world-class fishing, heli-hiking and kayaking, with a wide range of activity levels from easy to moderate to strenuous.”
Optional excursions operated by Cruise West are specially designed and operated to match the up-close, personal, and casual style found onboard the vessels. Cruise West Land Guides are trained by instructors from the National Association of Interpretation, so guests know they have the best experience available when they book a Cruise West operated tour.
Among the excursions recommended by Cruise West staff include scenic options such as the LeConte Glacier Flight with Kupreanof Air in Petersburg and the peaceful Chilkat River Float in Haines. For a more thrill-oriented excursion, Cruise West offers a Canopy Adventures & Wildlife Expedition in Ketchikan, complete with seven zip lines and 4,500 feet of high-tension cables and three aerial bridges. Another popular option is a Glacier Landing by ski-plane in Denali National Park and Preserve, where guests land in the Sheldon Amphitheater and actually hear seven echoes.
To book, go to www.cruisewest.com/excursions and follow the online prompts. All a guest needs to pre-book is the specific cruise itinerary name, departure date and a credit card. All bookings must be made at least 21 days in advance of departure date.
Cruise West offers eight Alaska itineraries, eight ships and 167 departures in 2008, and has more permits than any other line to enter Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Tours to Denali National Park and Preserve may be added onto all cruise itineraries – guests also have the option to stay at a rustic Wilderness Lodge in the heart of the Denali.
For additional information or to book a Cruise West cruise, call 1-800-296-8307 or visit www.cruisewest.com.
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Cruise West, the leading small-ship cruise line, will offer more departures, an upgraded ship, early booking savings, and the debut of the Spirit of Glacier Bay for its signature Alaska cruises in 2008.
A total of 160 Alaska departures will be offered by Cruise West in 2008, up from 146 in 2007. The Spirit of Yorktown will be upgraded this fall with a new cabin category that offers private balconies, a new Alaskan art collection, and a refurbished lounge. The Spirit of Glacier Bay, formerly known as the Spirit of Nantucket, will make its Alaska debut in 2008 sailing Glacier Bay Highlights cruises, and increasing the number of Cruise West ships sailing in Alaska to eight.
Land tours of the Denali National Park and Preserve, home of towering Mt. McKinley, North America’s tallest peak, can be added to any Cruise West Alaska itinerary, allowing guests to experience Alaska’s pristine interior.
Traverse the Inside Passage
Cruise West offers three distinct itineraries that allow guests to get up-close and personal with the wonders of Southeast Alaska – abundant wildlife, charming ports, jagged peaks, and immense glaciers. Alaska’s Inside Passage sails from Ketchikan to Juneau, or reverse, from May thru August. The nine-day cruise takes guests through Misty Fiords National Monument, Frederick Sound, and Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Visits to Metlakatla, Alaska’s only Tsimshian community, and the fishing village of Petersburg, where the Leikarring Dancers will perform in the Sons of Norway Hall, are also included. Alaska’s Inside Passage will be offered on the Spirit of ’98, the Spirit of Endeavour, and the enhanced Spirit of Yorktown, and starts at $4,449 per person, double occupancy.
Alaska’s Whales & Wilderness is round trip from Juneau, and gives guests the opportunity to see the splendor of Alaska’s wildlife, including humpback whales, sea lions, orcas, harbor seals and porpoise. Guests will visit Sitka, explore the tiny Inian Islands by inflatable craft and visit one of a handful of small Alaskan villages to see what life is like in a wilderness community. The itinerary is nine days, offered May – August on the Spirit of Alaska and the Spirit of Discovery. Rates start at $3,599 per person, double occupancy.
Gold Rush Inside Passage traces the path of the original stampeders from the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush. From Seattle to Juneau, or reverse, guests will see the beautiful San Juan Islands, Strait of Georgia, and the coast of British Columbia. Ketchikan, the “Salmon Capital of Alaska,” and Haines, renowned for its local artists, are among the ports of call. Gold Rush Inside Passage is 11 days, offered in May, August and September starting at $3,599 per person, double occupancy.
Alaska Getaways
Guests can see the best of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve or Prince William Sound on four- or five-day getaways in 2008. Glacier Bay Highlights are four or five day cruises that give guests the chance to see this World Heritage Site and Biosphere Preserve. Optional activities in Juneau include flightseeing the Juneau Icefield, zipline adventure or hiking. Glacier Bay Highlights run round trip from Juneau, May – September, on the Spirit of Glacier Bay. Rates begin at $1,799 each person, double occupancy.
Glaciers of Prince William Sound, round trip voyages from Whittier/Anchorage, are also four or five days. Guests will see the fjords, islands, passages, and glaciers of Prince William Sound and the Kenai Peninsula. The five-day includes a stop at the tiny fishing village of Cordova, famous for its Copper River salmon. Glaciers of Prince William Sound is available May – August on the Spirit of Columbia starting at $1,049 per person, double occupancy.
Grand Voyages
Extended journeys from Vancouver to Nome and points in between provide guests with an unparalleled experience of culture and nature. Guests will enjoy Cruise West’s flagship Spirit of Oceanus, with picture windows or nautical portholes in every suite. Guests who book a Grand Voyage prior to December 7, 2007 will receive $400 - $1,100 off the price of their cabin, and those who book before February 29, 2008 can save $200 - $550.
Coastal Odyssey gives guests 13 days of cruising from Vancouver, B.C. to Anchorage, or reverse. Ports of call include Metlakatla, Skagway and Sitka. The Spirit of Oceanus will troll the waters of the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia and Alaska Inside Passage, the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound. The itinerary is available May – September starting at $7,599 per person, double occupancy.
Voyage to the Bering Sea is 14 days, and takes guests from Anchorage, around the Alaska Peninsula, and north to the Russian Chukotka Peninsula. The cruise continues to the edge of the Arctic Circle before culminating in Nome, where guests pan for gold on the beach before returning to Anchorage by plane. The itinerary is available July 7 and 19, 2008, starting at $9,749 per person, double occupancy.
In Harriman’s Wake provides an extraordinary, 25-day journey from Vancouver to Anchorage along the path of railroad magnate Edward Harriman’s 1899 scientific expedition. The In Harriman’s Wake itinerary combines the Coastal Odyssey and Voyage to the Bering Sea itineraries for a cruise that is beyond comparison. It sails on June 27 or July 19, 2008, starting at $17,149 per person, double occupancy.
For additional information or to book a Cruise West cruise, call 1-800-296-8307 or visit www.cruisewest.com.
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Early booking savings are available through the leading small-ship cruise line Cruise West as it offers five specialty cruises in the Sea of Cortés January 2008 onboard the 138-guest Spirit of Yorktown.
The special itineraries allow guests to explore in the company of expert scholars, hone photography skills, or celebrate the holidays Mexican-style on either the Christmas or New Year’s sailings. The itineraries are designed to allow guests to become intimately acquainted with Mexico’s family-friendly culture through enrichment-oriented interaction with local residents. Onboard kayaks help provide an up-close experience with the region’s prolific sea and bird life.
For additional information or to book a Cruise West cruise, call 1-800-296-8307 or visit www.cruisewest.com.
Cruise West offers the opportunity to explore remote and distinctive destinations throughout North and Central America, Asia and the South Pacific. Small-ship cruising allows for personalized experiences not offered by larger cruise lines. Guest capacities aboard Cruise West’s nine ships range from 78-138. Guests may expect personal enrichment through onboard narrative and presentations by local experts. The ships’ forward lounges and ample outdoor deck space provide outstanding viewing opportunities, and inflatable boats allow for up-close exploration and shore landings.
Captain’s Choice has partnered with Australia’s leading expedition cruise operator, Orion Cruises, to offer four luxurious, privately chartered cruises to fascinating and normally unreachable destinations within Australia, Antarctica and Papua New Guinea.
Book any of these exceptional vacations with APT/Captain’s Choice and add, at no charge, a very special 4 day stopover in Cairns or Sydney!
Choose from:
o Kimberley Coast Cruising from June 28 to July 9, 2008 (12 days) – a cruise from Broome to Darwin visiting one of the most inaccessible destinations in Australia. This remote wilderness offers incredible landscapes, brilliant red sunsets, ancient Aboriginal art and bountiful native marine and land life. Landings will take you ashore to places few humans have ever touched. From US$8,495 twin share.
The Captain’s Choice Tour’s reputation for all-inclusive luxury travel to remote and exotic destinations is enhanced further by these Orion Expedition Cruises. Orion is a sophisticated and luxurious vessel ideal for those who love discovering unknown and hard-to-reach destinations with more than a touch of luxury and comfort to come back to after each exciting day of exploration. On board experts provide insights into the regions visited and accompany shore excursions while the crew of 75 provide pampering care for just 92 guests. Dining features signature cuisine featuring culinary traditions and fresh, local produce. Five star facilities include Jacuzzi, sauna, boutique, gym, hairdressing salon and computer center.
Orion’s staterooms and suites are airy and spacious with quality fittings and appointments, entertainment facilities and ocean views.
APT’s North American President, Bronwyn Wilson, says “These wonderful expedition cruises offer those with a spirit for adventure and a desire for luxury an intimate opportunity to reach some of the most remote areas of the world.”
Prices start at $7,895 per person, twin share (excluding airfares) and are all-inclusive of cruising; accommodation in luxury staterooms or suites; fine dining and wines; shore excursions accompanied by expert lecturers; tipping, taxes and personalised attention from Tour Escort and ship’s crew.
For further information about The Captain’s Choice Tour Orion Cruises contact Ward Reid, US Sales Manager; Tel: 1 888 299 1428
Once again, Cunard's Queen Mary 2 played consummate host to the performing arts - this time, Martha's Vineyard acclaimed organization, The Yard, joined with members of the Jose Limon Dance Group and performed a unique presentation of Shakespeare's Othello in the ship's Royal Court Theatre on Saturday, May 10 while docked in Brooklyn. In an unusual twist on this famed production, selected sections of the play were enacted via a combination of ballet, opera and recitation, comprising the 30-minute program performed for special guests including donors and their Board of Directors.
Following the performance, guests dined in the two-storey Britannia Restaurant and then toured the grandest ocean liner in the world.
About Cunard Line
Cunard Line, operator of the luxury ocean liners Queen Mary 2, QE2 and Queen Victoria has long been synonymous with the quest for new discoveries and the epitome of British refinement since the company's first paddle-wheeled steamer, Britannia, crossed the Atlantic in 1840. Cunard voyages bring together like-minded travelers who relish the Cunard hallmarks of impeccable White Star ServiceTM, fine dining, sophisticated adventure, the legacy of historic voyages and transatlantic travel.
Cunard Line is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. The exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Together they offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.
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The Boston Symphony Chamber Players, one of the world's most distinguished chamber music ensembles, will perform on Queen Mary 2's eastbound Transatlantic Crossing departing New York on September 4. Cunard Line, the Official Cruise Line of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, will welcome these players and the Boston Symphony Orchestra's esteemed Artistic Administrator, Anthony Fogg, for special performances and lectures held throughout the voyage.
"There is no better way to celebrate the partnership between the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Cunard Line than for the Boston Symphony Chamber Players to perform their extraordinary music aboard the magnificent Queen Mary 2," said Mark Volpe, managing director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. "The Boston Symphony Chamber Players have performed to critical acclaim in the great concert halls around the globe and we are excited to add performances on the world's grandest ocean liner to our list of accomplishments."
The Boston Symphony Chamber Players' engagement is a highlight this season of many illuminating performances and appearances that comprise Cunard InsightsTM, the Line's award-winning enrichment programme, which is now available on all three of its celebrated ocean liners. "Live classical music remains a Cunard hallmark to this day and showcasing a world class chamber orchestra of this notoriety will be a truly memorable event for our guests," said Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line.
The Boston Symphony Chamber Players were founded in 1964 to ensure the BSO could share the unique qualities of the full chamber repertoire with concertgoers. Cunard Line is entering its second season as sponsor of the Boston Pops at Tanglewood Series and the Tanglewood Jazz Festival.
To learn more about the upcoming schedule of speakers for Cunard Insights, visit www.cunard.com and search for a specific voyage itinerary.
To book passage aboard Queen Mary 2's September 4 Transatlantic Crossing, or for general information and reservations for Cunard, contact your travel professional, call 1-800-7-CUNARD or go to www.cunard.com.
About Cunard Line
Cunard Line, operator of the luxury ocean liners Queen Mary 2, QE2 and Queen Victoria has long been synonymous with the quest for new discoveries and the epitome of British refinement since the company's first paddle-wheeled steamer, Britannia, crossed the Atlantic in 1840. Cunard voyages bring together like-minded travelers who relish the Cunard hallmarks of impeccable White Star ServiceTM, fine dining, sophisticated adventure, the legacy of historic voyages and transatlantic travel.
About the Boston Symphony Chamber Players
One of the world's most distinguished chamber ensembles sponsored by a major symphony orchestra and made up of that orchestra's principal players, the Boston Symphony Chamber Players have received worldwide acclaim. In addition to their regular series of concerts in Boston and appearances at Tanglewood, they tour both nationally and internationally on a regular basis. The group has toured to Japan, South America, and the former Soviet Union, and most recently returned to Europe for the first time in nearly a decade in 2002. The Chamber Players have a number of distinguished recordings to their credit, including a critically acclaimed disc of the Mozart and Brahms clarinet quintets with the late BSO principal clarinet Harold Wright on Philips. In December 2006, the Boston Symphony Orchestra released "Mozart: Chamber Music for Winds and Strings," an all-Mozart recording by the Boston Symphony Chamber Players. Released on the BSO's own label, BSO Classics, this marked the first new recording by the Boston Symphony Chamber Players since 1998, and is the first disc to feature the BSO's current principal wind players.
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Nothing quite says "bon voyage" for an ocean-going adventure like a glass of bubbly so it's most appropriate that Cunard Line and Veuve Clicquot raise their glasses (figuratively) to say "cheers" and toast the announcement that they are continuing their brand alliance with the debut of the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar onboard Queen Victoria. On December 10, Cunard's Queen Victoria will be officially named by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall in the presence of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales in Southampton, England and will christen the ship with a magnum of the renowned champagne house's Yellow Label.
"The tastes of our discerning guests are appropriately matched with the enjoyment of drinking Veuve Clicquot Champagne and we are delighted to, once again, feature a Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar aboard our new Cunard liner," said Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line, referencing the two companies' successful partnership that was started with the same venue onboard Queen Mary 2.
Located on Deck 2 of the triple-height Grand Lobby, the 1920's Art Deco-style champagne bar will serve Veuve Clicquot Champagne exclusively. Appropriately, the Champagnes are paired with fresh delicacies during the pre-dinner and post-dinner hours, a further demonstration of Cunard's appreciation for the finest culinary traditions.
An elegant space featuring marbleized glass elements, the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar is sure to become a popular gathering place offering vintage champagnes from the Champagne-Ardenne region of northern France. Accommodating 34 guests, the Bar's design elements form a subtle backdrop for curved glass "showcase" panels with inset boxes featuring a variety of the brands premium Champagnes.
Queen Victoria will enter service on December 11, embarking on a 10-day maiden Christmas Markets Voyage to the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany and Belgium.
For more information about Cunard Line and Queen Victoria, contact your travel professional, call 1-800-7-CUNARD or go to www.cunard.com .
About Queen Victoria
The 90,000-ton Queen Victoria will offer the very best of the heritage and traditions of Cunard Line, along with all modern day luxuries including some exciting innovations. These will include the first traditional West End-style private boxes at sea in the Royal Court Theatre, the first Cunardia museum exhibit at sea, housing Cunard artifacts and memorabilia along with the first two-storey library at sea featuring an elegant spiral staircase. The ship will also feature the line's celebrated Queens Grill and Princess Grill accommodations and dining, further enhanced on Queen Victoria with an exclusive deck terrace and an al fresco dining option.
From the outside, her distinctive black and red livery will hint at the sophistication that differentiates a Cunard liner. This will be most evident in the ship's adherence to liner traditions of the past, with elegant public rooms, many on a grand scale, featuring rich wood paneling, intricate mosaics and gleaming chandeliers. There will also be a grand, colonial-style conservatory complete with a retractable glass roof.
As well as being the second largest Cunarder ever built, Queen Victoria's arrival is particularly noteworthy as it will mark the first time that three Cunard Queens have been in service together in the company's 168-year history (she joins the world's grandest liner, Queen Mary 2 and the world's most famous and best-loved liner, QE2).
About Cunard Line
Cunard Line, operator of the luxury ocean liners Queen Mary 2 and QE2, has long been synonymous with the quest for new discoveries and the epitome of British refinement since the company's first paddle-wheeled steamer, Britannia, crossed the Atlantic in 1840. Cunard voyages bring together like-minded travelers who relish the Cunard hallmarks of impeccable White Star ServiceTM, fine dining, sophisticated adventure, the legacy of historic voyages and transatlantic travel. Queen Victoria joins the fleet in December 2007.
Cunard Line is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. The exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Together they offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.
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In a move that underscores Cunard's tradition of British heritage and ongoing attention to historical detail, the Line will introduce the sport of fencing - a favorite pastime of Prince Albert, husband and consort of Her Majesty Queen Victoria - aboard its newest ocean liner, Queen Victoria. To craft the programme, which is another cruise industry first, Cunard turned to Leon Paul Fencing Equipment, the British company whose name has been synonymous with fencing for nearly a century. Run by and for competitive fencers, members of the Leon Paul family have competed in 20 Olympic Games and 30 World Championships, winning 25 national titles.
"Much like the award-winning enrichment programmes aboard our ships, the sports and recreation programme is designed to provide unique and stimulating guest experiences. The addition of fencing, which relies on keen strategic thinking, does just that," said Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line.
"Fencing is often described as physical chess," said Ben Paul, the forth-generation president of Leon Paul. "It's tactically challenging while also providing great exercise. We are delighted to use our knowledge of the sport to provide Queen Victoria guests with an authentic fencing experience using the same state-of-the-art equipment selected by competitive fencers."
Cunard guests will have an opportunity to learn fencing basics or fine-tune their fencing skills with a fully certified instructor using equipment identical to that used by world champions. The fencing programme can accommodate up to 10 aspiring or accomplished fencers at a time for foil fencing, the preferred method for elementary fencing classes due to the flexible and lightweight blade and blunted tip. Fencing instruction for guests aged 16 and up will be provided daily by a fully certified fencing instructor.
Other recreational activities include paddle tennis, shuffle board, chess, deck quoits (the maritime version of horse shoes), ping pong and golf in two golf nets.
For more information about Cunard Line and Queen Victoria, contact your travel professional, call 1-800-7-CUNARD or go to www.cunard.com .
About Cunard Line
Cunard Line, operator of the luxury ocean liners Queen Mary 2 and QE2, has long been synonymous with the quest for new discoveries and the epitome of British refinement since the company's first paddle-wheeled steamer, Britannia, crossed the Atlantic in 1840. Cunard voyages bring together like-minded travelers who relish the Cunard hallmarks of impeccable White Star ServiceTM, fine dining, sophisticated adventure, the legacy of historic voyages and transatlantic travel. Queen Victoria joins the fleet in December 2007.
Cunard Line is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. The exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Together they offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.
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Confirming Cunard Line's dominance in the world cruising category, the well-traveled readers of Porthole Cruise magazine have named Cunard operator of the "Best World Cruise Itineraries" for the fifth consecutive year. The Line was also awarded "Best Onboard Educational Programs" in the magazine's annual Readers' Choice Survey, which appears in the December 2007 issue.
"Few awards are as gratifying as those that come from seasoned travellers," said Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line. "To be recognized as offering the best world cruise itineraries and most meaningful educational programmes confirms that we are delivering compelling experiences that exceed the expectations of our guests while upholding a cherished Cunard legacy."
"Cunard Line exudes elegance and style," said Bill Panoff, publisher and editor-in-chief of Porthole Cruise Magazine. "Our sophisticated readers have applauded the Line by voting it 'best' in two Readers' Choice Awards categories, and I couldn't agree more."
World cruising is an 85-year-old tradition at Cunard, dating back to Laconia, which made the first passenger circumnavigation of the globe in 1922. In 2008, two Cunard ocean liners will offer World Cruises:
Queen Victoria will embark on Pathway to the Explorers, her maiden 105-day World Cruise, and Queen Elizabeth 2 will embark on her 26th and final World Cruise, the 90-day South America, Pacific & Far East Odyssey.
For more information about Cunard Line, contact a travel professional, call 1-800-7-CUNARD or go to www.cunard.com .
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Heart-felt anecdotes and historic artifacts related to Cunard Line's three 20th century Queens are captured in Cunardia, the museum exhibit that is poised to become one of Queen Victoria's most captivating features. Queen Victoria is the first Cunard ship to carry a fully curated exhibit of Cunard memorabilia, artifacts and vintage souvenirs including Queen Mary's log book and her historic Zig Zag clock - the vital timekeeping device that prevented World War II U-Boat attacks against the famed liner.
Masterfully created by the Open Agency, the same team of researchers and designers responsible for several other popular Cunard exhibits and publications, Cunardia tells the story of Queen Mary (1936), Queen Elizabeth (1940) and Queen Elizabeth 2 (1969). Through five engaging storylines, the exhibit explores:
Creating a Queen, showcasing the histories of the iconic ocean liners
A Queen's Day, tracing a "typical day" at sea from the perspective of both passenger and crew member
Queens at War, featuring the role of the Queens as troop carriers during World War II and the Falklands War in 1982
Queens Do Not Race, an in-depth history of the Atlantic Blue Riband highlighted by a life-size replica of the famed Hales Trophy
Inspired by a Queen, detailing the Queens' far-reaching impact on many aspects of creativity
Harnessing Cunard's rich image archive and the latest audio-visual technology and contemporary display design, the exhibit immerses guests in the Line's unparalleled history.
In addition, retired Commodore Ronald Warwick, former Master of Queen Mary 2 and QE2, will serve as Honorary Curator of the Cunard Queens exhibit. Warwick, an avid Cunard historian, was a natural choice, not only due to his own place in the Cunard family, but also because his father, Captain William E. Warwick, captained Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and QE2. Interestingly, Commodore Warwick has traced the history of all Cunard captains and he and his father are the only father-and-son captains in the Line's 168-year history.
"I am delighted to accept the invitation to become Cunardia's first Honorary Curator, particularly as the exhibit focuses on Cunard's Queens. I look forward to sharing the illustrious history of these renowned ocean liners with Cunard enthusiasts sailing aboard Queen Victoria," said Warwick.
"The excitement surrounding this exhibit is unprecedented," says Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line. "Anecdotes, artifacts and memorabilia continue to pour in - a stirring testament to Cunard's singular place in the hearts of maritime enthusiasts around the world." To tap this interest, the Open Agency conducted extensive research within Cunard's own archives and issued public appeals to past guests, crew and renowned Cunard collectors in both the United States and Great Britain. According to Martyn Routledge of the Open Agency, "the timing is ideal as most guests and crew of Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth are now in their 80's or older and are extremely proud of their Cunard experience and eager to share their memories."
Among the most significant pieces to be exhibited are:
A copy of the Hales Trophy awarded to the winner of the Atlantic Blue Riband. Although Queen Mary broke the speed record in 1936 and held it unchallenged from 1938-1952, Cunard Line refused to accept the award on the grounds that the Line still followed Samuel Cunard's mandate to his captains in 1840 to put safety before speed at all times.
A zig-zag clock from Queen Mary during her wartime service. The clock was kept on the Bridge to alert navigators as to when to change direction during the operation known as zig-zagging. Regularly changing course was a tactic designed to confuse U-boats. Hitler had put a price on the ship as a target and as a trophy of war.
Other exhibits include a section of Queen Mary's deck rail carved with the initials of some GIs who contributed to her unbroken record of carrying the largest number of people on a ship; the first log book of Queen Mary (handwritten by Sir Edgar Britten, Captain during her maiden voyage); collections of never-before-published images illustrating the celebrity hey-day of Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth; detailed ship models and souvenirs; artifacts and stories related to the "Cunard Yanks," the young crew who brought back the latest New York fashions in clothing and music to post-war Britain.
While focusing on Cunard's 20th century history, Cunardia also gives a nod to the present with exhibit references to Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, including the cork from the bottle of prosecco that was broken over Queen Victoria's bow by Maureen Ryan as the ship met open water for the first time. With its typical flair for tradition and ceremony, Cunard chose Ryan, the only known person to have served on four Queens, to serve as the ship's godmother during Queen Victoria's float-out celebration. Similarly, in December, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall will perform the naming of the ship, joining a long line of royals who have launched a Cunard liner.
About Queen Victoria
The 90,000-ton Queen Victoria will offer the very best of the heritage and traditions of Cunard Line, along with all modern day luxuries including some exciting innovations. These will include the first traditional West End-style private boxes at sea in the Royal Court Theatre, the first Cunardia museum exhibit at sea, housing Cunard artifacts and memorabilia along with the first two-storey library at sea featuring an elegant spiral staircase. The ship will also feature the Line's celebrated Queens Grill and Princess Grill accommodations and dining, further enhanced on Queen Victoria with an exclusive deck terrace and an al fresco dining option.
From the outside, her distinctive black and red livery will hint at the sophistication that differentiates a Cunard liner. This will be most evident in the ship's adherence to liner traditions of the past, with elegant public rooms, many on a grand scale, featuring rich wood paneling, intricate mosaics and gleaming chandeliers. There will also be a grand, colonial-style conservatory complete with a retractable glass roof.
As well as being the second largest Cunarder ever built, Queen Victoria's arrival is particularly noteworthy as it will mark the first time that three Cunard Queens have been in service together in the company's 168-year history (she joins the world's grandest liner, Queen Mary 2 and the world's most famous and best-loved liner, QE2).
For more information about Cunard or Queen Victoria, contact your travel professional, call 1-800-7-CUNARD or go to www.cunard.com .
Eleven ships sail the spectacular fjord-filled west coast of Norway from Bergen to Kirkenes and back with 34 ports of call. For over 100 years, this popular journey has been offering travelers a unique combination of history, culture and incredible vistas. The line’s newer series of Expedition Cruises caters to soft-adventure travelers, visiting Antarctica and the Chilean Fjords, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, the unspoiled nature and wildlife of Spitsbergen, and Greenland.
The company also offers Escorted and Independent Vacations combining the voyage with extensive land programs.
For more information check web site www.hurtigruten.us
Pearl Seas Cruises announced today that its first ship built for world service would be a larger design with a passenger capacity of 210 and 330 feet in length. The ship is currently under construction and is proceeding quickly and on schedule.
The first ship is scheduled to begin cruise service in August 2008. The 109 staterooms and suites will have a size range of 240 to 460 square feet and all 109 stateroom suites will have private verandas. Pearl Seas Cruises is creating the optimum ship, small enough to sail intriguing places unavailable to most of the larger vessels while also providing a smooth, comfortable ride in deep-water cruising. In addition, these ships will offer the intimacy and service expected on a small deluxe cruise ship while also affording all of the modern amenities of a larger cruise ship. The first ship will begin with international cruises in the Canadian Maritimes, St. Lawrence Seaway, Great Lakes, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and New England, and followed later in the year with itineraries in the Caribbean and Mexico Riviera.
The ships have been designed with the most innovative advanced designs including state of the art technologies and modern amenities: including a spa, elevators to all six decks, Internet access throughout the ship, and oversized suites all with private verandas and large opening picture windows offering spectacular views. Every stateroom is fitted with many modern conveniences and amenities expected by the discerning traveler. The ship is fully stabilized, and meets the newest and most stringent safety and environmental standards. The atmosphere is relaxing and inviting, much like that of a fine private club, offering “Luxury Adventure™” with every cruise experience.
For more information on Pearl Seas Cruises’ 2008 and 2009 schedule call 1-800-983-7462 or visit www.pearlseascruises.com .
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Pearl Seas Cruises recently announced that they have joined the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the official trade organization of the cruise industry.
Pearl Seas Cruises offers discerning travelers a luxurious cruising experience aboard a brand new fleet of small cruise ships for world service. These new ships will carry 166 and 214 passengers enabling our crew to provide the highest level of service. The first ship is scheduled to begin cruise service in July 2008 with international cruises in the Canadian Maritimes, Newfoundland, New England and the Caribbean. Pearl Seas Cruises’ new ships have innovative modern designs including state of the art technologies and luxury amenities. The ships will be fully stabilized, and meet the new more stringent safety standards, and will include private balconies, a spacious dining salon to seat all passengers at one time with surrounding windows for panoramic views, a spa, several lounges, and a well-stocked library. The ships’ design will also include an elevator to all decks, and three spacious observations decks. The new ships will also be “green ships” employing the latest features in environmental technologies and safeguards.
The oversized suites (over 240 to 490 square feet) with 94% featuring private balconies will have large opening picture windows or sliding glass doors to their private balconies offering spectacular views. Every stateroom will be fitted with flat-screen satellite TV and DVD player, individual climate control, Internet access and many other modern conveniences and amenities expected by the discerning traveler. By teaming up with CLIA, travel agents worldwide will become educated, trained, and able to explain to their clients the value of cruising with Pearl Seas Cruises.
To learn more about Pearl Seas Cruises and their affiliation with CLIA, or for the new 2008-2009 Pearl Seas Cruises schedule call 800-983-7462, or check web site www.pearlseascruises.com.
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 10-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.
"The Caribbean and Mexican Riviera both offer the delightful sense of fun and make for a wonderful warm weather escape," said Jan Swartz, Princess senior vice president. "And passengers will also be able to enjoy an array of fantastic ships on these routes, including Caribbean Princess and Star Princess with brand new piazza-style atriums and a number of new features."
Princess' Caribbean and Mexican Riviera itineraries for 2009-10 include:
Caribbean
Emerald Princess - 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 - 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 - 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 - Ruby Princess offers a set of alternating 10-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 10 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - Star Princess will a offer a longer, 10-day roundrip 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.
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's web site at www.princess.com.
Loyal Princess passengers who book early to reserve their favorite destination and accommodations can now receive extra savings with the line's new Princess Captain's Circle Launch Savings benefit. This new discount offers Circle Members up to $300 off when they make their cruise reservations shortly after new cruise schedules are announced. The program offers one of the industry's best past passenger values, as it can be combined with other promotional fares.
Debuting with summer 2009 itineraries, the savings vary by destination and apply to all cabin categories. The program is offered to Circle Members at all membership levels - Gold, Platinum and Elite. For 2009-2010 departures, Europe and Alaska cruises must be booked by September 30, 2008 and all other destinations must be booked by December 31, 2008.
"We have many loyal past passengers who routinely book their sailings soon after we announce our new schedules," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of customer service and sales. "So we created this new discount to offer them extra rewards for their loyalty and for booking their cruises early. And unlike many other cruise industry discounts, these savings apply even if the passenger qualifies for other offers - whether a special group rate or subsequent fare specials."
Once booked, Launch Savings remain in effect, and can be applied to most other subsequent promotions, allowing past passengers to always have the best fares for which they qualify. The savings can be combined with Escape Fares, group rates, regional promotions, and other past passenger discounts.
The Princess Captain's Circle has received acclaim for offering some of the richest loyalty benefits in the cruise industry. Among the many perks available to the most loyal past Princess cruisers are a free mini-bar set up, free Internet packages, free laundry services, priority tender embarkation, complimentary wine tasting, a boutiques discount, and preferred embarkation and disembarkation.
For more information about the Princess Captain's Circle, visit the Circle Center at https://book.princess.com/captaincircle/jsp/captainCircleHome.jsp, and click on "Member Benefits."
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's web site at www.princess.com.
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Prompted by enthusiastic response from its passengers, Princess Cruises' ground-breaking "pocket of tranquility" - The Sanctuary - has become such a popular haven for passengers looking to escape to a serene hideaway, that it will be added to the entire fleet of Princess ships.
Beginning this summer, the line's trademark retreat will be added to Island Princess, followed by Grand Princess and Star Princess by the end of the year. Additional ships will have The Sanctuary added through 2010.
The Sanctuary, which debuted in 2006 aboard Crown Princess, was an instant success as it gave passengers the perfect place to take a break and indulge in a private getaway with a plush, outdoor spa-inspired setting, complete with massage cabanas, signature beverages, light meals, attentive service and relaxing personal entertainment. The exclusive adults-only retreat enjoyed continued popularity on sister ship Emerald Princess, and will also be available on Ruby Princess, debuting in November.
"The Sanctuary has come to personify Princess' essential philosophy of escape coupled with personal service," said Jan Swartz, Princess senior vice president. "Passengers have told us they love this opportunity to completely relax in such a peaceful and pampering environment, so we're delighted to introduce this special Princess feature on all our vessels."
Depending on the ship, The Sanctuaries will be created in different areas onboard, such as the sports courts atop the "Grand-class" vessels, which will be relocated.
Sanctuary guests lounge amidst lush greenery, with the presence of gentle breezes, ocean waves, and softly piped-in spa music combining to further insulate the area with relaxation sounds. Guests can relax on plush outdoor furniture including double loungers for couples, as well as deluxe chaise lounges and chairs. Passengers also enjoy the personal attention of Serenity Stewards in The Sanctuary, who are on hand to provide everything from a chilled face towel and Evian water atomizers, to a menu of healthy beverages and fare. Serenity Stewards also have personal MP3 players with noise canceling headphones available loaded with themed playlists focused on relaxation for those who want to escape with music.
In addition, The Sanctuary features two outdoor private cabanas where guests can also take advantage of the exclusive Lotus Spa Services at The Sanctuary, including sybaritic favorites such as a Deep Tissue Muscle Massage, a relaxing Swedish Massage or a Full Body Lotus Massage especially for couples.
Guests can also refresh with a variety of special drinks and snacks created exclusively for The Sanctuary. Each day Serenity Stewards will be on hand to offer guests an array of drinks and snacks. Signature Sanctuary beverages include healthy smoothies, energy drinks, iced flavored waters and freshly made lemonade. A menu featuring a selection of light bites such as refreshing fruit skewers, lettuce wrapped spring rolls, and spicy tuna pâté with baked pita wedges will also be available through the Serenity Stewards.
Half-day passes for The Sanctuary are available for $10 per person, for 8 am to 12:30 pm or 1 pm to 5 pm. Passengers choosing to indulge with an outdoor massage may also enjoy an hour's use of The Sanctuary area after their treatment.
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's web site at www.princess.com.
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Continuing its long tradition of bringing passengers to some of the world's most intriguing places, Princess Cruises has released its 2009-10 schedule of exotic itineraries which include long-time passenger favorites along with some new, emerging destinations. With the new program, passengers will be able to explore the splendors of Asia, the spectacular scenery of South America and Antarctica, the popular "Down Under" attractions of Australia & New Zealand, the South Pacific idylls of Hawaii and Tahiti, fall foliage journeys to Canada & New England, and a new world cruise adventure.
The new lineup of global cruises includes more than 110 sailings on 10 ships to all seven continents with six new itineraries and calls at more than 180 destinations including 11 new ports. Destinations include Africa, Asia, Australia & New Zealand, Hawaii, Tahiti, India, South America, Canada & New England, and a world cruise.
New for this season, the line has increased capacity in Asia with two ships and three new 14- to 16-day itineraries offered on the newly named Ocean Princess (formerly Tahitian Princess), which will also venture into India and Africa. Other new itineraries include a 31-day West Africa Adventure and a special 13-day holiday sailing in Australia/New Zealand on Diamond Princess. In addition, Pacific Princess will set off on an extensive 107-day world cruise visiting 40 destinations. The 2010 worldwide sailing will feature maiden calls to a number of fascinating new ports, including Topolobampo for Mexico's Copper Canyon, Vietnam's "City of Peace" Halong Bay, and Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt.
The program's 10 ships offer a full range in size from the line's three intimate, 680-passenger small ships to the largest 3,100-passenger amenity-filled vessels. Ocean Princess will sail on a variety of new sailings in Asia, India and Africa. Pacific Princess will take over the line's popular Tahiti & Polynesia sailings before setting out on a new world cruise itinerary. Golden Princess will return to the lush Hawaiian Islands, now with Sunday departures from Los Angeles. Royal Princess will once again venture up the world's largest river - the mighty Amazon, while Star Princess returns to cruising around South America's Cape Horn and Antarctica, plus offering two South Pacific crossings between the West Coast and Sydney. Diamond Princess will again cruise through Asia and "Down Under" to Australia & New Zealand. The line will also continue to offer year-round cruising from Australia aboard Sun Princess, which is joined by Dawn Princess for Aussie-style voyages to New Zealand, Asia and the South Pacific, departing from Sydney or Melbourne. And in fall, Crown Princess joins Caribbean Princess to sail the Eastern seaboard to Canada & New England.
Eleven new ports debut - Muscat, the capital of Oman; Yangon in Myanmar; Qingdao, a beautiful seaside city in China; Fukuoka, western Japan's major cultural center; Phillip Island in southern Australia, where visitors can watch the local penguins on their daily parade; Newcastle, Australia; the Caribbean island of Nevis; and on the world cruise Topolobampo, the gateway to the majestic Copper Canyon in Mexico; Picton, New Zealand at the head of the South Island's lovely Queen Charlotte Sound; Halong Bay/Hanoi (Cai Lan) in Vietnam; and Sharm el-Sheik, a resort city on Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.
"We know our passengers are explorers who revel in the opportunity to see some of the world's exotic locales," said Jan Swartz, Princess senior vice president. "So we've designed a full slate of itineraries to take them to all seven continents in the comfort of our wonderful ships."
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New Tahitian/Ocean Princess Sailings to Asia, India and Africa - Tahitian Princess will sail on one last Africa, India and Southeast Asia itinerary from Cape Town to Singapore before being transformed into the new Ocean Princess. The newly renamed ship will then set off on a series of cruises through Asia, including new itineraries such as the Treasures of Southeast Asia between Singapore and Shanghai, South China Sea Explorer between Shanghai and Bangkok, and China & Japan Explorer between Shanghai and Tokyo. The ship will end the season with an Africa, India and Southeast Asia voyage from Singapore to Cape Town and a West Africa Adventure from Cape Town to London (Dover). Sailings depart between September 17, 2009 and May 7, 2010.
Golden Princess to Hawaii - Golden Princess returns to Princess' popular Hawaii route, offering convenient 14-day roundtrip sailings from the port of Los Angeles. The itinerary features visits to the Big Island (Hilo), Honolulu, Kauai (Nawiliwili), and Maui (Lahaina). Golden Princess will sail on 16 Sunday departures between September 27, 2009 and April 25, 2010.
Diamond Princess in Asia and Australia/New Zealand - Diamond Princess returns to the Far East with a series of voyages throughout Southeast Asia and China as well as Australia & New Zealand sailings. Choices include six cruises on a 16-day Beijing/Bangkok itinerary, five sailings on the favorite 12-day run between Sydney and Auckland, plus a new 13-day Australia/New Zealand holiday sailing that adds the new port of Phillip Island. Other itinerary options are an 18-day Eastern Australia and Asia cruise from Bangkok to Sydney, and a 20-day Western Australia and Asia sailing from Sydney back to Bangkok. Two Alaska & the Far East cruises begin and end the season, which runs from September 12, 2009 through April 30, 2010.
Royal Princess through the Amazon - Royal Princess will sail on nine sailings of an enhanced 14-day Amazon River adventure between Ft. Lauderdale and Manaus, Brazil. The 710-passenger ship will visit St. Barthelemy (or the new port of Nevis on two sailings), St. Lucia, Trinidad, Devil's Island, and the Amazon ports of Santarém, Boca da Valéria, and Parintins plus an overnight visit to Manaus. Royal Princess sails between December 19, 2009 and April 10, 2010.
Star Princess - South Pacific, South America and Antarctica - Star Princess will start the season with two South Pacific crossings, sailing between San Francisco or Los Angeles and Sydney. The ship then heads down to South America for sailings around Cape Horn (between Santiago and Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires) and two Antarctic adventures. The ship also will begin and end the South America season with an Andes & South America route between Santiago and Los Angeles or San Francisco. Star Princess' season runs from September 23, 2009 through March 30, 2010.
Pacific Princess to Tahiti and Hawaii - Pacific Princess takes over the popular 10-day Tahiti & Polynesia cruises, sailing roundtrip from Papeete and calling at Huahine, Rangiroa, Raiatea (overnight), Tahaa Scenic Cruising, Bora Bora (overnight), and Moorea. The ship offers seven departures between October 9 and December 8, 2009. In addition, the ship will sail on one Hawaiian Islands cruise from Vancouver to Honolulu, a Hawaii & Tahiti sailing, and a 26-day South Pacific & Andes Explorer adventure from Tahiti (Papeete) to Ft. Lauderdale which features an optional overland tour to Machu Picchu as well as a full transit of the Panama Canal.
Sun Princess and Dawn Princess Australia Departures - Both Sun Princess and Dawn Princess will offer a selection of sailings departing from Sydney and Melbourne, featuring Australian-style cruising. Itineraries include voyages to New Zealand, Tasmania, New Caledonia & Vanuatu, and Round Australia sailings that circumnavigate the continent. Sun Princess will also sail on a journey to China & Japan roundtrip from Sydney and Dawn Princess offers a Hawaii, Tahiti and South Pacific voyage. The season's sailings depart between October 17, 2009 and April 3, 2010.
World Cruise - Pacific Princess - Pacific Princess spans the globe with a 107-day journey of a lifetime from Ft. Lauderdale to Rome, visiting some of the most dramatic locations on the globe, including Aruba, San Blas Islands, Panama Canal transit, Costa Rica (Puntarenas), Guatemala (Puerto Quetzal), Acapulco, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Topolobampo (for Copper Canyon), Los Angeles, Honolulu, Fiji (Suva), Vanuatu (Vila), New Caledonia (Nouméa), Bay of Islands, Auckland, Picton (for Marlborough Sounds), Sydney (overnight), Cairns (for the Great Barrier Reef), Rabaul (Papau New Guniea), Micronesia (Chuuk), Guam (Northern Mariana Islands), Nagasaki, Pusan (South Korea), Beijing (Xingang - overnight), Hong Kong, Halong Bay/Hanoi (Cai Lam), Kota Kinabalu, Brunei (Muara), Singapore, Phuket, Maldives Islands (Male), Mumbai, Dubai, Muscat (Mina Qaboos), Safaga (for Luxor/Karnak), Sharm el-Sheik, Aqaba (for Petra), Suez Canal transit, Athens (Piraeus), and Sorrento/Capri. This world cruise departs on January 27, 2010 with segments ranging from 18 to 89 days available for explorers who'd like a shorter voyage.
Caribbean Princess and Crown Princess to Canada & New England - Along with the previously announced 7-day Caribbean Princess Canada & New England program, Crown Princess will sail on Princess' classic 10-day route between New York and Québec City. Ports of call include Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, Saint John (New Brunswick), Halifax, Sydney (Nova Scotia) and Ville Saguenay (Québec), plus an overnight stay in charming Québec City. The ship will offer three departures on this route between September 23 and October 13, 2009. In addition, Crown Princess will sail on a 15-day Canada & Colonial America itinerary from Québec City to Ft. Lauderdale on October 23, with an overnight in Québec City and calls at Corner Brook (Newfoundland), Sydney (Nova Scotia), Halifax, Saint John (New Brunswick), Bar Harbor, Boston, Newport, New York City, Norfolk, and Charleston. Caribbean Princess seven-day itineraries sail roundtrip from New York from August 22 to October 17, 2009 visiting Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, Saint John (New Brunswick) and Halifax.
A variety of cruisetour packages are available in Australia, Asia, South America and Canada/New England, offering cruise passengers the opportunity to add to their vacation with such wonders as the Angkor Wat, Ayers Rock, and Machu Picchu.
Exotic cruises are available for booking on April 23, 2008. Escape Fares for 10-day sailings start at $1,395 per person, based on double occupancy. Past Princess passengers are eligible for up to $100 in Captain's Circle Launch Savings on bookings made by December 31, 2008 (excluding the world cruise). Past passengers booking the full world cruise by this date are also eligible for special offers, including air-inclusive travel or a $300 Captain's Circle Launch Savings discount (depending on cabin category booked).
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's web site at www.princess.com.
About Princess Cruises:
One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is a global cruise and tour company operating a fleet of 16 modern ships renowned for their innovative design and wide array of choices in dining, entertainment and amenities, all provided in an environment of exceptional customer service. A recognized leader in worldwide cruising, Princess offers its passengers the opportunity to escape to the top destinations around the globe, with sailings to all seven continents, ranging in length from seven to 107 days. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE:CCL; NYSE:CUK).
Princess Cruises is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, our member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Together we offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.
Tahitian Princess, one of the small ships in the Princess fleet, will be renamed in 2009, becoming Ocean Princess. The new name is intended to reflect the ship's new deployment on worldwide itineraries. The renaming will take place while the ship is out of service during a routine maintenance period in Singapore in November 2009.
During next year's fall season, Pacific Princess, another of the line's small vessels, will provide cruises from Papeete, Tahiti, where the Tahitian Princess has been based.
"Tahitian Princess, along with our other two small ships, has developed a loyal following of passengers who enjoy a more intimate cruise experience, and also the opportunity to visit some off-the-beaten-path destinations," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of customer service and sales. "As this ship is now sailing on itineraries around the world, we felt its name should reflect a more global theme."
Tahitian Princess joined the Princess fleet in 2002, and has been primarily deployed on sailings in the South Pacific, particularly French Polynesia and Hawaii. Beginning this summer, the ship sets off on new worldwide deployments, featuring a Connoisseur's cruise in Alaska, a world cruise in early 2009 and a season of unique Northern Europe sailings next summer. Following the 2009 renaming, Ocean Princess will sail on a series of Asia voyages to be announced separately.
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's web site at www.princess.com.
The new Ruby Princess will be delivered earlier than previously expected, announced Princess Cruises. The line's next new ship will now debut one week prior on November 8, 2008, creating a new inaugural voyage, a seven-day Western Caribbean sailing taking passengers to Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Princess Cays.
Passengers booked on the ship's previously scheduled inaugural cruise on November 15 will have the opportunity to change their booking to the new November 8 sailing if they wish. Duplicate bookings have been made for all passengers booked on the original cruise, guaranteeing the same cabin on the new voyage. Those who wish to change sailings can call their travel agent or Princess by March 31, 2008. Passengers who wish to remain on the November 15 voyage need not take any action, as their duplicate reservation will expire at the end of the month.
"Of course we're delighted that the construction schedule for Ruby Princess has been advanced by a week," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of customer service and sales. "The early delivery provides a wonderful opportunity to offer even more passengers the chance to experience our beautiful new ship."
Ruby Princess, a sister ship to Emerald Princess and Crown Princess, will feature a dramatic piazza-style atrium featuring small-bite eateries and an ever-changing array of performing street entertainers, Princess' signature adults-only retreat called The Sanctuary, an Italian trattoria, a seafood and steak house, a "Movies Under the Stars" giant outdoor movie screen and 900 cabins with private balconies.
The 113,000-ton vessel will feature an inaugural season of Western Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, followed by a program of Mediterranean voyages in summer 2009. Fares for the maiden Ruby Princess season begin at $699.
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's web site at www.princess.com.
About Princess Cruises:
One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is a global cruise and tour company operating a fleet of 16 modern ships renowned for their innovative design and wide array of choices in dining, entertainment and amenities, all provided in an environment of exceptional customer service. A recognized leader in worldwide cruising, Princess offers its passengers the opportunity to escape to the top destinations around the globe, with sailings to all seven continents, ranging in length from seven to 107 days. The company is part of Carnival Corporation (NYSE/LSE:CCL; NYSE:CUK).
Princess Cruises is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, the member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets.
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has announced that Caribbean Princess will return to New York in Summer 2009 for a second season of the line's popular roundtrip sailings to Bermuda and the Caribbean. The ship will then change directions in late summer to head north for a season of roundtrip Canada & New England sailings.
In total the ship will offer 20 sailings on two primary routes from New York - including a nine-day journey heading to the pink sands of Bermuda and the resort atmosphere of Grand Turk, and a week-long voyage to the rich history and colorful scenery of New England and Canada's eastern provinces. The ship also offers a special seven-day cruise from San Juan to New York.
"This will be our fourth summer sailing from New York to the Caribbean," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of customer service and sales. "Both the route and the ship have become passenger favorites, and this year we're pleased to feature Bermuda on every Caribbean voyage. Plus, we'll sail to Canada and New England in August, so passengers can enjoy the summer weather in these great ports."
Bermuda & Eastern Caribbean from New York -- Caribbean Princess' summer season from New York will feature 10 departures between May 24 and August 13, 2009. The nine-day voyages sail roundtrip on an itinerary that includes Bermuda (West End), San Juan, St. Thomas and Grand Turk. Caribbean Princess will also offer one seven-day Bermuda & Eastern Caribbean sailing from San Juan to New York, departing May 17, calling at St. Thomas, Antigua and Bermuda.
Roundtrip Canada & New England - Starting in August, the itinerary moves north for an early season of cruises to the best of the northeast, with a roundtrip route offering New York departures with visits to Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, Saint John, and Halifax. Caribbean Princess will offer nine sailings between August 22 and October 17.
Caribbean Princess features the many hallmark amenities that define the Princess experience, including the dramatic Movies Under the Stars outdoor movie screen; multiple dining venues including specialty restaurants; Personal Choice Dining featuring traditional or Anytime seating; Lotus Spa with fitness center; an extensive children and teen's center; a wedding chapel and nearly 900 staterooms with private balconies.
Escape Fares for nine-day Caribbean Princess summer Bermuda & Eastern Caribbean cruises begin at $1,099 per person, and Canada & New England sailings begin at $945, based on double occupancy. A $50 per person Captain's Circle Launch Savings discount is available to Princess past passengers on bookings made by December 31, 2008. Sailings open for booking on March 21, 2008.
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's website at www.princess.com.
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Princess Cruises will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Alaska's statehood in 2009 with a full season of cruisetour and cruise itineraries showcasing the best of the state, including the incomparable Denali National Park and Glacier Bay National Park. The schedule features complete land and sea vacations featuring the line's own wilderness lodges and Direct to the Wilderness rail travel combined with sailings through the state's dramatic glacier rimmed Gulf Coast. Cruises through the scenic Inside Passage as well as an extended two-week Connoisseur voyage will also be offered aboard the company's eight-ship Alaska fleet.
The program features four cruisetour categories, all featuring the state's top attractions - including at least two nights among the wilderness of the Denali area. In addition, Princess will again take more passengers to the ice-filled wonder of Glacier Bay than any other line, with 81 visits (all Gulf and Connoisseur voyages).
Throughout the May 9 to September 14 season, the Princess fleet will offer a total of 130 Alaska sailings, with Diamond Princess, Sapphire Princess, Coral Princess, and Island Princess traveling on the line's signature Gulf of Alaska sailings, Golden Princess, Star Princess and Sea Princess sailing the Inside Passage routes from Seattle and San Francisco, while Pacific Princess takes over the line's small ship experience on 14-day Connoisseur voyages to some of the state's less-visited ports.
"We remain committed to delivering a range of programs which cover Alaska's most popular attractions - Denali and Glacier Bay National Parks," said Charlie Ball, president of Princess Tours. "We also offer programs that go beyond the Heart of Alaska to an array of destinations from above the Arctic Circle to the Emerald Isle of Kodiak."
Alaska Cruisetours
Princess cruisetour packages, featuring a Voyage of the Glaciers cruise and a selection of three- to nine-night land tour options, offer a complete land/sea exploration of "The Great Land." Travelers can choose the way they want to experience the wilderness with Direct to the Wilderness, Classic Alaska, Explorer and Alaska Escorted cruisetour options. All Princess Alaska cruisetour options offer at least two nights at either Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge or Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, or a combination of both, ensuring that travelers enjoy more time among the Denali-area wilderness and wildlife they came to see.
Direct to the Wilderness tours feature trains conveniently waiting right at the Whittier cruise ship dock to offer passengers the only same-day luxury rail service between the ship and Denali Park -- the only experience of its kind. Classic Alaska packages combine two nights in the park area with overnights in Anchorage and Fairbanks, and include Princess' famed rail service. Explorer tours include visits to Denali and other areas in the state, with stays at Princess' Copper River or Kenai wilderness lodges or adventures in the north into the Arctic Circle. Alaska Escorted tours offer three itineraries featuring the services of a professional guide and including most meals.
Princess' Alaska cruisetours include accommodation at the line's five exclusive wilderness lodges, with scenic riverside settings in some of the state's most desirable locations. Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge and Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge house visitors to the Denali area, while the company's Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge and Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge are set, respectively, among the dramatic beauty of the Kenai Peninsula and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. The Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge also offers quality accommodations in the heart of Alaska's interior, set on the Chena River.
Voyage of the Glaciers
The 2,670-passenger Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess will sail on the line's famed Gulf of Alaska route between Vancouver and Whittier on 36 week-long voyages departing on Saturdays -- featuring calls at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway with daylight cruising of Glacier Bay and the 16 glaciers of College Fjord. In addition, the 1,970-passenger Coral Princess and Island Princess will offer 36 Monday departures of the same itinerary.
Alaska Connoisseur Voyages
Princess' small ship cruising experience returns to Alaska for the second year as the intimate 670-passenger Pacific Princess takes over this extended 14-day voyage which now departs from Seattle, featuring the less visited ports of Kodiak, Valdez, Icy Strait Point and Seward. In addition the ship will also visit Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria, B.C., with daylight cruising of Glacier Bay. Pacific Princess will sail on nine voyages departing Seattle on Thursdays.
Golden Princess and Star Princess From Seattle
The 2,600-passenger Golden Princess and Star Princess both return to sail on seven-day roundtrip itineraries from Seattle with ports of call in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria, plus treat passengers to dramatic glacier viewing in Tracy Arm and its twin Sawyer Glaciers. Golden Princess sails on 19 voyages departing on Saturdays while Star Princess offers 19 Sunday departures.
Sea Princess from San Francisco
Sea Princess takes over the line's San Francisco departures, offering 11 sailings from "The City by the Bay" for her 1,990 passengers. The 10-day roundtrip cruises sail on varying itineraries that include calls at Victoria, Juneau, Ketchikan, and either Skagway, Haines or Icy Strait Point, plus the premiere glacier viewing of Tracy Arm.
Gulf of Alaska cruises and cruisetours for 2009 are available for reservations on April 9, 2008. Escape Fares begin at $599 for seven-day voyages, and $1,299 for cruisetours. A Captain's Circle Launch Savings Discount of up to $300 is available to Princess past passengers who book by September 30, 2008.
Additional information about Princess' Alaska cruises and cruisetours is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting www.princess.com.
Launching A New Travel Trend
the company “launching” the $750 million dollar Magellan – the ultimate residential cruise ship, is now making the dream of private ownership on the luxury liner a reality by offering fractional ownership opportunities.
Designed exclusively for buyers who only want to “own” specific months each year, fractional ownership provides a unique opportunity to purchase a unit on the ship in 1-month increments. Attractive financing makes the Magellan a premier vacation ownership experience like no other.
“Unlike Destination Clubs and time share programs, fractional ownership means you actually own your residence for the month or months purchased," says Randall Jackson, CEO of Residential Cruise Line, Ltd. “Buyers receive a stock certificate for each month purchased."
The impeccably designed residences offer unparalleled views of the sea and all of the creature comforts that can be found in land-based multi-million dollar homes. Custom wood cabinetry, luxurious stone surfaces, gourmet-quality appliances, lavish baths and luxurious living quarters complemented with the latest technological advancements makes the Magellan the ultimate residence on sea or land.
Whether you’re a full time or seasonal resident, you will enjoy all the amenities and services of the world’s finest resorts. An on-call housekeeping staff, a world-class spa and marketplace, a 24-hour concierge staff, indoor and outdoor pools, four world-class restaurants, a 450-seat theatre featuring Broadway-quality entertainment, a casino worthy of Monte Carlo and a Starbucks café are just a few of the conveniences that make living aboard the Magellan a unique, first-class experience.
With a full-service retractable marina, on-call private Bell 429 helicopters and 300 ports of call, residents have anytime access to their home on the ocean.
Full ownership residences on the Magellan range in price from $1.875 million to $8 million. For more information about full or fractional ownership opportunities, call 480-497-8833 or visit the web site at www.ResidentialCruiseLine.com.
About Randell Jackson, Chief Executive Officer
As the son of German immigrants, Randall Jackson is living the epitome of the American dream. From humble beginnings, his father was an auto-mechanic and his mother a beautician, hard work and diligence were instilled in Jackson at n early age. As chief executive officer of Residential Cruise Line, LTD, his life has come full-circle as he has pursued his “passions” turning many of them into successful companies.
Understanding that an education is the foundation for any career, Jackson earned a Mechanics Air Frame and Power Plant License along with his commercial and instrument pilots rating from the University of Illinois in 1976. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology with an Aviation Flight Maintenance Major from Illinois State University. After relocating from Illinois to Pensacola, Florida, Jackson entered the Aviation Reserve Officer Candidate Program and was soon after commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. It was during his Navy tour-of-duty that he completed his primary, intermediate and advanced jet training ultimately receiving his Naval Aviator Wings. His eight year career with U.S. Navy included a tour-of-duty at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as a member of the A-4 Squadron and as a U.S. Navy Pilot Recruiter in Orlando, Florida.
His passion for flying segued into a passion for sailing. After meeting his wife Melodie at Cal Poly State, they bought and lived on 40-foot Sea Wolf sailboat in Marina Del Rey, CA. Soon after Jackson retired from the U.S. Navy and relocated to Mesa, Arizona after his wife, who worked for Hughes Aircraft, was transferred to Mesa, Arizona.
While working for Continental Airlines as a flight engineer, Jackson opened his Arizona-based real estate company in 1985. Now in business for 20 years, Jackson is a semi-custom home builder, master-planned community developer and yacht builder.
Although living in the desert, the love of the ocean and boating never left Jackson. He has built and imported boats, owned Ocean Alexander motor yachts and Shelter Cove Yachts in San Diego on Shelter Island. It was during one of the many cruises with his wife Melodie and their two daughters that Jackson realized the need for the Magellan Residential Cruise Ship.
Cramped quarters on cruise ships, 20 years in the real estate industry and hours spent on the flight deck is the vital combination of expertise needed to build and launch Magellan Residential Cruise Ship by Residential Cruise Line, LTD.
Only Randall Jackson, with his diverse and knowledgeable background, can ensure the success of the ultimate residential experience the $750 million residential cruise ship - the Magellan.
The Luxurious Magellan Residential Cruise Ship Offers New Vacation Club Program
The Magellan, one of the most luxurious and exclusive residential cruise ships ever conceived, is now offering a new way to experience the vacation of a lifetime. The Magellan Club allows club membership owners to experience a truly personalized two-week vacation to any of the ship’s destinations for twenty years. Valued at $750,000,000, the Magellan boasts 300 ports-of-call and travel to 150 countries. Circumnavigating the globe every two years, Magellan Club membership owners have the unique opportunity to travel the world from the comfort of their residence.