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CRUISE
NEWS
Luxury cruising ...
is not as far out of reach as you might have
imagined. The Yachts of Seabourn has put money-saving temptations in
your lap for summer cruising. Guests on Seaboun Spirit, Seabourn
Odyssey (pictured), Seabourn Legend and the newest Seabourn Sojourn
that debuted in June, will enjoy two-for-one or special air-inclusive
rates
for a limited time. Fares start at $3,799 p/person on these
well-appointed vessels.
www.seabourn.com
AMAWATERWAYS TO ADD
NEW
SHIP FOR RUSSIAN CRUISING
Next May, this award-winning river cruise line will
launch the newest addition to
its fleet, MS Amakatarina, set to sail fourteen 11-night
voyages for the
2011 season. The completely renovated vessel will be the largest and
most
luxurious sailing the Volga-Baltic waters. Out of 106 cabins, 76 will
feature
balconies, and four suites categories are among the 10 available to
passengers.
Public areas feature a restaurant, panorama lounge, conference hall,
sauna,
bar/nightclub and solarium.
The itinerary from Moscow to St. Petersburg will be filled with the
line’s trademark exclusive features and culturally enriching tours.
Highlights
include two nights on board, docked in Moscow, followed by a 6-night
cruise along Russia’s colorful and historic
rivers. After visiting the enchanting Golden Ring cities of Uglich and Yaroslavl, the ship crosses two of Europe’s largest lakes, Onega and
Ladoga, on to a 3-night stay in St. Petersburg. Often called “Venice of the North,” this grand
city is spread over 101 islands and 66 canals. It is the home of the Summer Palace, the Hermitage and many
other cultural and architectural treasures.
Due to the overwhelming
success of the company’s “Vietnam, Cambodia and the Riches of the Mekong” cruises introduced in 2009,
AMAWATERWAYS is constructing a new vessel to be launched on the Mekong in fall, 2011. The river
cruise company also offers
destination
cruises on MS Amadouro to the breathtaking Douro River Valley in Portugal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and a
Provencal
sojourn on the romantic Rhone River in France aboard the MS Swiss Pearl. www.amawaterways.com
UPGRADE
TO EXECUTIVE SUITE
ON YANGTZE SAILINGS
Ritz Tours recently unveiled this latest
promotion
on select itineraries sailing the Yangtze River in China with Victoria Cruises. A
lavish Executive
Suite upgrade…featuring concierge service, spacious accommodations with
private
balcony, an exclusive VIP lounge area and a private a la carte
restaurant…is
yours on the Victoria Anna, Victoria
Katarina or the line’s newest five-star ship Victoria
Jenna.
Ritz Tours packages with this feature include 10-night Yangtze River
Treasures,
13-night Golden Yangtze Discovery, 14-night Mystical Yangtze &
China, and
14-night Scenic Yangtze Discovery. Each program includes stays at
luxury
five-star hotels and expertly guided sightseeing by knowledgeable
English-speaking tour guides.
Pricing
begins at $3,129 per person double from Los Angeles or San Francisco, or $3,229 per person double
from JFK in New York. Airfare is available from
other major
gateways, adding from $100 to $350 per person.
The largest fleet
of five-star vessels on China’s Yangtze River grew larger
when Victoria Cruises introduced Victoria
Jenna last fall. The line’s most luxurious
vessel to date, Victoria Jenna
carries 378 passengers. It has 35 junior suites, three deluxe suites
and two elegant
Shangri-La suites, and is the most spacious, most technologically
advanced
river
cruise ship in the world.
Victoria Cruises ships make daily departures
in each
direction on the Yangtze
River.
In addition to onboard activities such as Tai Chi lessons,
a highlight of the cruise is a visit to the huge dam in Sandouping that
has literally
‘reconstructed’ the
river and life along its shores. www.victoriacruises.com
SAIL
THE NORWEGIAN GEM
Norwegian
Cruise Lines’ 2,394-passenger Norwegian
Gem is worth a trip, especially at the discounted rates available
from
eCruises.  The Gem lives up to its name with
the option of dining at 12
restaurants serving everything from sushi to tapas. Pick your
socializing spot
from 11 bars; dance or listen to live music; or get your exercise at
the
four-lane bowling alley. Accommodations include exclusive Courtyard
Villas and
Garden Villas, plus several inter-connecting staterooms that appeal to
families or groups.
Seven-night cruises from New York
stop in Port Canaveral, Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau, with rates starting at $449 per person,
double
occupancy. Looking for a longer vacation? The ten-night itinerary
visits San
Juan, St. Thomas, St. John’s, St. Maarten and Tortola. Rates start at $699 per person double. www.eCruises.com
Click
on the following for more
Cruise News:
...celebrity
...bangkokrivercruise
...cunardqueens
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CRUISING IN QUEBEC
The Port
of Québec recently
welcomed its 500,000th cruise passenger to disembark in Quebec
City since the cruise ship terminal opened in
2002! Over 125 000 cruise passengers and
crew members passed
through Québec City
this Fall alone, to immerse in a French experience, do a little leaf
peeping
and enjoy the region's many attractions.
The port has become so popular
with
cruisers, it has now been chosen by two Italian cruise lines, Costa
Cruises and
MSC Cruises, as a stop for their floating giants on 2010 schedules.
Both Costa Atlantica (2,680 passengers) and MSC Poesia (3,013
passengers) stand out due to their unique itineraries,
Mediterranean
style, and Italian cuisine. Add the French touch while in port at Quebec
City, and the cruise takes on a distinct
International
flavor. www.portquebec.ca
EXPLORE EGYPT
WITH VARIETY CRUISES
See Egypt on Variety
Cruises’ 7-night sailings.
Red Sea
Wonders
makes an extraordinary journey through Egypt’s historical Red Sea and its diverse natural and cultural
beauty. The very modern HARMONY
V departs from Hurghada, visiting the Sinai Mountains and St. Catherine's monastery in Sharm El
Sheikh, the
cities of Aqaba and Petra in Jordan, and many more exciting sites. And of
course,
travelers have the option to plunge into the famous Red Sea underwater world, one of the globe’s most
amazing dive spots. www.varietycruises.com
GONE
CRUISIN'
Find Your
Cruise Niche.
Whether it’s
cruising on a river, four-masted
schooner, barge or paddle wheel, you’ll find your dream trip at www.nichecruise.com.
Click on
Specialty
Cruise Line tab for a brief description of several companies, and
find the one catering to your
special vision.
Shore
Excursions. To
avoid the
herd aspect of
cruise passenger sightseeing, contact www.autoventure.com. A private
car and
an English-speaking driver/guide will meet your ship and show you
around in
comfort…from the U.S.
and Canada to Europe
and the South Pacific. Auto Venture also does airport transfers, long
distance
tours and custom itineraries.
Latest Cruise
Trend. Free Yoga for Kids classes recently
debuted on Princess Cruises, open to children as young as three years
old. Kids have
their own area, but not in the
fitness center where adult yoga takes place. Parents can join in for
the 30-minute to one-hour sessions.
Royal Caribbean devotes an entire spa to kids
on its newest Oasis of the Seas,
launched in late 2009.
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