With almost a dozen dining choices on each ship, Crystal Cruises’ most popular daytime gathering spot, The Bistro, is expanding to evening hours.  Reflecting the space’s European-style sidewalk café ambiance, the complimentary menu will offer “small bites,” desserts, and “midnight” snacks, along with premium wines and flavored coffees.  The new nightly café debuts in April on Crystal Symphony and June on Crystal Serenity, shortly after the ships go all-inclusive.

The Bistro has long been a meeting place for cruisers due to its central location and quick, easy access to continental breakfast, fresh fruits, afternoon snacks, and wide selection of teas and coffee drinks, from morning to late afternoon.  Signature Guy Buffet china and Six-Star service remains at night, but gastronomic offerings greatly expand:

· 6-8 pm: Charcuterie of cured meats, prosciuttos, and pâtés, plus international cheeses paired with premium wines and champagne.

· 8-11 pm: Artisanal cheeses, with complementary accompaniments such as truffle honey and fig chutney, plus an assortment of fresh fruits and desserts, including a chocolate fountain and petit fours handmade by onboard pastry chefs, with fine wines, digestifs, and hot drinks.

· 11 pm-12 am: Late-night munchies such as mini-sandwiches, freshly-baked pizzas, quiche, tandoori chicken, and trendy beef “sliders.”

“In traditional Crystal luxury fashion, our evening Bistro brings aboard the elegance and international panache of a European café experience—a central place to meet, people-watch, and enjoy a glass of wine or espresso and a snack,” says Vice President Food and Beverage Operations Toni Neumeister.  “In addition, this expansion really enhances the culinary and social options for guests who spend a full day sightseeing and/or like to mix up their evening dining.”

Casual dining on deck is also offered most evenings with a new Chinese “Comfort Food” menu augmenting choices on Crystal Serenity.

Extraordinary culinary experiences are a hallmark of every Crystal vacation.  The ultra-luxury line’s extensive, innovative choices for gourmandizing include coveted cheese and wine cellars, overseen by on-board, certified cheese and wine sommeliers (Court of Master Sommeliers-certified); fresh, chef-like cocktails served by certified mixologists; gourmet dining options at every meal, whether in the Crystal Dining Room, at afternoon tea, or in Nobu Matsuhisa and Piero Selvaggio’s specialty restaurants; and, starting this spring, all-inclusive premium spirits, fine wines, and champagnes throughout the ship.

 

Copyright 2012 By Punchin International. All Rights Reserved.

Disclosure

Until February 28, couples can receive $1,000 to $4,000 in “Book Now” Savings on 48 remaining 2012 worldwide itineraries, including 25 seven- to 15-day voyages visiting the Mediterranean from March through December.

For more information and Crystal reservations, contact a travel agent, call 888-799-4625, visit www.crystalcruises.com.


Filed under: cruise, Food, Restaurants, Travel Tagged: cruise, Food, Restaurants, Travel

Europa_gross
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises to Offer Guests Established Talent and Young Stars During the Ocean Sun and Stella Maris Classical Music Festivals at Sea 

The highest ranked cruise ship in the world, according to the 2012 Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships[1] Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ MS EUROPA is offering guests two world-class music festivals in 2012. The “Ocean Sun Festival,” the only classical music festival on the High Seas, will feature internationally acclaimed classical music stars performing on board, as well as exclusive concerts at historical sites ashore. Additionally, the “Stella Maris“ International Vocal Competition will bring together up-and-coming young singers from the most renowned opera houses in the world to perform and compete on board a Middle East and Africa itinerary. These two music cruises are the highlights of a total of nine music cruises aboard the EUROPA in 2012.

Now in its sixth year, the “Ocean Sun Festival” has been compared to the prestigious Festival del Sole in Napa Valley, California and the Tuscan Sun Festival in Italy. For an added dimension to this musical experience, international music critics will offer lectures along the route. On board, “Ocean Sun Festival” guests will experience the breathtaking violinist Janine Jansen, the aspiring pianist Igor Levit and renowned soprano vocalist Marlis Petersen. This musical voyage continues ashore with the soloists joining the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra in Bergen, Norway. While the classical music concerts are the highlights of this itinerary, the EUROPA will glide through the picturesque Norway fjords, with stops in the charming and multifaceted cities of Bergen and Oslo. This 12-day itinerary from August 12-24, 2012, starts at $6,670 per person/based on double occupancy for a suite.

In cooperation with the prestigious international opera houses, the EUROPA will also be hosting their fourth annual classical music competition at sea, “Stella Maris.”
Under the direction of Canadian tenor Michael Schade, a jury of famous personalities in the classical music field will judge the top talent represented by international opera houses. The distinguishing feature of “Stella Maris” is that the audience determines the winner of the cash prize worth €15,000. This prize, generous compared to others in the world of classical music, is provided by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. The jury will decide on the recipients of the additional prizes, which include: a guest engagement at an international opera house, a concert, and a test recording with Deutsche Grammophon. The competition will occur on board an 18-day Middle Eastern and Africa cruise through the Indian Ocean from November 7-25, 2012, making stops in Dubai, Oman, the Seychelles and Madagascar this November. The itinerary starts at $9,150 per person/based on double occupancy for a suite.

For information on these itineraries visit www.hl-cruises.com or call one of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ sales agencies below.

 Disclosure

In the USA and Canada:
Air Travel Marketing Services, Inc. 1-800-888-0200
Euro Lloyd Travel Group, Inc. 1-800-782-3924
Kartagener Associates, Inc. 1-877-445-7447

About the EUROPA:
The EUROPA is the first “all-suites” cruise ship, with staterooms that are never less than 290 square feet, 80% of them having their own veranda, assuring privacy and relaxation. The EUROPA offers guests the largest space per passenger, as well as one of the highest staff passenger ratios, with 280 staff members for max. 408 guests. New to the EUROPA, Dieter Mueller became the first award-winning chef to open his own gourmet restaurant onboard. He’s personally on board 70 days a year. Also recently launched, the EUROPA’s “Baby Welcome Package” offering baby care products and baby food for passengers traveling with infants. The EUROPA will be visiting over 20 countries in 2012, as part of her international (German/English) itineraries.
[1] According to the 2012 Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships

Copyright 2012 By Punchin International. All Rights Reserved.


Filed under: cruise, Entertainment, Music, Restaurants, Travel Tagged: cruise, Entertainment, Music, Restaurants, Travel
www.seabourn.com
Request a Brochure

Sail with Seabourn and experience the world-class service that guests have come to expect from the World’s Best Small-Ship Cruise Line.
Spacious, all-suite accommodations with sweeping ocean
views – many with verandas
Open bars throughout the ship and fine wines poured
at lunch and dinner
All dining venues are complimentary – dine where, when
and with whom you wish
Complimentary welcome champagne and in-suite bar
stocked with your preferences
Tipping is neither required nor expected – service simply to
delight you
Save up to 50%. Fares from $2,199.*

 

Seabourn

Call Seabourn at 1.877.303.9419
or contact your travel professional.

Mediterranean

Mediterranean
Sail along the countless islands and inlets of the Mediterranean.
Fares from $2,199.*

Copyright 2011 By Punch In International. All Rights Reserved

Disclosure


 

South & Central America

South & Central America
Travel the untouched wilderness of South & Central America.
Fares from $3,999.*

Arabia & India

Arabia & India
Crisscross the continents and centuries of Arabia & India.
Fares from $4,299.*
Call Seabourn at 1.877.303.9419
or contact your travel professional.
*Fares are in U.S. dollars, cruise-only, for new bookings only, per guest, double occupancy and subject to availability. Some suite categories may not be available. Fares are not combinable with any other offer, may vary by sailing date, are capacity controlled, subject to change without notice, and are only available to residents of the Americas. Government fees and taxes of $51.61 to $505.60 per person are additional. Certain restrictions apply. Call for details. Information herein is accurate at time of publication. Seabourn reserves the right to correct errors. Seabourn reserves the right to charge a fuel supplement for all guests, without prior notice, if the NYMEX oil price exceeds $70.00USD per barrel, and may collect such a supplement even if the cruise fare has been paid in full. Ships’ registry: Bahamas. ©2011 Seabourn.

Filed under: cruise, Travel

cruise

Adventure cruise specialist Cruceros Australis announces the unveiling of its new ship, the Stella Australis. Set to launch in December 2010, the Stella was commissioned in celebration of Cruceros Australis’ 20th anniversary.

The Stella will have a capacity of 210 passengers luxuriating in 100 cabins, each 177 square feet. Guests can choose between cabins with a large double bed or two twin beds. For those seeking roomier accommodations and larger beds, superior cabins are available. Cabin highlights include picture windows, independent climate controls, private bathrooms and a satellite phone.

Travelers will enjoy five decks featuring three lounges, an exercise room and a dining room, as well as a spacious deck allowing for unobstructed views of the spectacular scenery.

The Patagonia Deck, the first deck, includes a galley and the Patagonia Dining Room, which has a number of tables that can accommodate groups of four, six and eight people.

The Magallanes Deck, the second deck, includes a reception area and a gift shop where guests can purchase a variety of equipment for expeditions. The cabins on this deck feature large picture windows that are more than three feet wide and four feet tall.

The Tierra del Fuego Deck, third deck, includes the Yamana Lounge that will have a bar and a game room. The cabins on this deck feature slightly larger picture windows that are nearly five feet wide and five feet tall.

The Cabo de Hornos Deck, fourth deck, includes the Sky Lounge. The cabins on this deck feature even larger picture windows that are more than five feet wide and nearly six feet tall.

The Darwin Deck, fifth deck, includes the Darwin Lounge, bar and fully-equipped gym. The gym has glass panels so that guests can enjoy incredible views while working up a sweat. The three lounges- the Sky Lounge, the Darwin Lounge and the Yamana Lounge- are equipped with modern audiovisual equipment for educational presentations throughout the voyage.

Cruceros Australis additionally employs the Via Australis and the Mare Australis. Both the Via, built in 2005, and the Mare, built in 2002, have 64 cabins, each with panoramic windows. The five decks of both ships include two lounges and a dining room.

Travelers with Cruceros Australis take a trip to the end of the world to explore the southernmost regions of South America including Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn, one of the few unspoiled destinations on the planet. Additional highlights include Ainsworth Bay and Glacier Alley, as well as a number of small group excursions including a trip to Magdalena Island to visit the Magellanic Penguins. Expedition leaders prepare and present daily lectures in both English and Spanish to complement the educational component of the expeditions. The talks take place both on the ship (with audio-visual support) and on land during excursions.

While the average temperature in Tierra del Fuego is 50°F, adventurers traveling with Cruceros Australis should be prepared for two to three hour walks in changeable weather. Suggested equipment includes a cap, sunglasses, sunblock, waterproof parka, sweater, waterproof gloves, waterproof pants and trekking boots.

From September to May of each year, Australis offers four-night itineraries from Punta Arenas, Chile, to Ushuaia, Argentina, with rates starting at $1,120 per person, and three-night itineraries from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Punta Arenas, Chile, with rates starting at $840 per person.

A cruise with Cruceros Australis is an all-inclusive experience including breakfast, lunch and dinner, and open bar for wine, beer, liquor and other beverages. The menu combines international cuisine and local recipes to highlight the delicious and varied regional fare. Passengers will also enjoy local Chilean and Argentinean wines.


Filed under: cruise, Travel
CELEBRATE SUMMER ON STATUE CRUISES’ SUNSET COCKTAIL CRUISE

Guests can savor the long, bright evenings of summer on New York Harbor, when Statue Cruises launches its summer Sunset Cocktail Cruises.

The excursions set out each Thursday evening from June 3-August 26, 2010. Guests are treated to a complimentary glass of wine and assorted cheeses aboard the 125-foot John James Audubon, with additional food and beverages available for purchase. Other highlights include background music, fresh breezes and spectacular views of the sun setting behind the Statue of Liberty.

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday

The Sunset Cocktail Cruise takes place on New York Harbor each Thursday from June 3-August 26, 2010. Guests board at 6:15 p.m. at Liberty Landing Marina or at 6:45 p.m. at Battery Park; cruising follows from 7-9 p.m.

Tickets cost $36 per adult, (ages 21 and over are welcome). Guest parking at Liberty Landing Marina is $7 per vehicle. For more details, or to order tickets, visit www.statuecruises.com or call 877-523-9849.

###

Statue Cruises is the concessioner authorized by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, to serve the public at the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island. Over 3.5 million annual visitors from around the world visit these two icons of freedom and hope. In addition to providing daily ferry service, Statue Cruises also operates special event cruises, private charters and the narrated Liberty Harbor Cruise – a 75-minute tour of the New York Harbor. For more information visit: www.statuecruises.com/pressroom.

Cruise travelers with affinities for history and antiquities, art, archaeology and adventure travel can now opt for unique cultural destination experiences through CruiseCompete.com’s addition of Voyages to Antiquity cruises.

CruiseCompete.com, where travel agents compete to offer consumers the best deals on cruises, caters to savvy vacation travelers and is pleased to announce this additional offering.

Voyages to Antiquity, the new cruise line introduced by Orient Lines’ founder Gerry Herrod, provides innovative destination experiences at incomparable value. The inaugural season begins May 2010 and features itineraries focused entirely on the Mediterranean, Adriatic and Aegean Seas, as well as North Africa and the Red Sea.

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titanic

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100th Titanic Anniversary to be Remembered with Historic Titanic Memorial Cruise Onboard Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

The 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic is to be marked in April 2012 with a once-in-a-lifetime cruise experience following the ship’s original route in 1912.

Passengers will enjoy an entirely Titanic-themed cruise including a memorial service in the early hours of the morning of April 15, 2012 above the original Titanic vessel that lies in the Atlantic, exactly 100 years after the ship sank that horrific day.

The Balmoral, a liner operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines – whose parent company Harland and Wolff built the Titanic – will leave Southampton, England on April 8, 2012 and begin its journey to Cobh, Ireland, where the Titanic made its final port of call on April 11, 1912. Passengers can enjoy a Titanic heritage shore excursion in Cobh.

The cruise will continue following the route of the RMS Titanic and arrive over the spot where the Titanic sank on April 14. A special memorial ceremony will be held between 11:40 pm when the ship hit the iceberg and 2:20 am on April 15.

After the service, the cruise continues to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where passengers can visit Fairview Lawn Cemetery where 121 Titanic victims are buried, along with Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery and Hirsch Jewish Cemetery, which also have graves of Titanic victims. The cruise’s final destination – as was planned for the original voyage – is New York City.

Managing Director Miles Morgan of Miles Morgan Travel, who has chartered the Fred. Olsen liner for the historic voyage said, “The Titanic still grips the imagination of people throughout the world and this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of a unique cruise packed with interest for those with a fascination for the Titanic story.

“The whole voyage will be steeped in Titanic history. The food served will match the sumptuous menus on the original voyage; the entertainment will include music and dancing in the style featured in those glorious times, and there will be a chance to hear first-hand from historians who have studied the Titanic story – it promises to be a truly memorable cruise,” said Mr. Morgan.

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CRUISE WEST ANNOUNCES SIX CAPTIVATING VOYAGES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA THAT FOLLOW THE ADVENTURES OF ODYSSEUS

Smithsonian Journeys Guest Speakers, Extraordinary Included Excursions, Air Credit or Free Venice Land Tour and up to 21 Percent Early Booking Savings

Six distinct Mediterranean voyages, from Alexandria, Egypt to Honfleur, France, mark the second chapter of small-ship exploration line Cruise West’s epic world adventure, Voyages of the Great Explorers. Delving deep into the heart of the Mediterranean — rich in myth and mystery — guests will journey to many fabled destinations in Greece and Turkey, and savor the cultural richness and sensory pleasures of Tunisia, Algeria, Italy, Sicily, Malta, Spain, Portugal and France. Guests can enjoy savings up to 21 percent savings if voyage is booked and paid in full by October 15, 2009.

There is incredible value with every voyage. In addition to an included excursion at every port, each of the six voyages will be enhanced by an extraordinary ‘Ultimate Explorers Experiences’ (UEE) excursion, designed to bring guests into direct personal contact with fascinating peoples, cultures and natural wonders. Engaging presentations by Smithsonian Journeys experts and local acclaimed authorities on the region’s culture, history and current events will bring each region to life.

Smithsonian Journeys experts illustrate Mediterranean history
Smithsonian Journeys guest speaker and author Jodi Magnes, Ph.D. in Classical Archaeology injects color into the classics throughout Voyage 5: Alexandria to Istanbul. Magnes will provide rich insights to the region as guests explore Paphos, birthplace of Aphrodite; Hadrian’s Gate, constructed by the second century Roman emperor Hadrian; and ancient Troy. A stop at the island of Lesvos offers a tantalizing glimpse of traditional Greek life before the voyage concludes at the gate of the Western world, historic and exotic Istanbul. Voyage highlights include an exclusive evening concert and reception amongst the ancient Roman ruins on Ephesus (UEE).

The 14-night voyage departs May 4, 2010; prices start at $10,395 per person before savings. Add-on: post-cruise 3-night Land Tour of Cappadocia.

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roadtomandalayAfter an absence of more than 12 months, Orient-Express’ Road To Mandalay river cruiser will once again take to Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady River on August 26, 2009, plying the scenic waters between Bagan and Mandalay.

The re-launch follows a complete remodeling and refurbishment, led by French-born and Laos-based architect Francois Greck and carried out by teams of local craftsman, after damage suffered in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis. The "new" ship now f

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eatures larger cabins and a capacity of just 82 passengers, down from 108, making for an even more indulgent and roomy onboard experience.

As before, the Road To Mandalay will offer a range of itineraries

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CRUISE WEST OFFERS TEMPTING 2009/2010 HOLIDAY VOYAGES

~Mexico, Panama & Costa Rica, Vietnam and Australia~


Cruise West (www.cruisewest.com), one of the world’s leading providers of small-ship explorations will offer four holiday itineraries in 2009 and 2010. Sailing into the firecracker lavish spectacle of Sydney’s Harbor on New Year’s Eve; bidding farewell to 2009 in the wilds of Costa Rica; savoring a traditional Nochebuena Christmas Eve feast in Mexico’s Sea of Cortes; or satisfying all the senses in Vietnam on Thanksgiving.

Exotic, culturally fascinating and stunning scenery describes the 11-night Vietnam voyage that commences in Hanoi aboard the all-suite Spirit of Oceanus on November 21, 2009, and ends in Ho Chi Minh City. Spend the Thanksgiving holiday discovering Hue, the Imperial City on the Perfume River including the Forbidden Purple City and the Imperial Citadel, followed by a traditional thanksgiving feast prepared by the onboard chef. The

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itinerary will give travelers the chance to explore Vietnam’s architecture, art, and ancient shrines in Hoi An; bustling Hanoi; the Gulf of Tonkin; the temples and picturesque fishing boats of Nha Trang; the Cham Museum and a special private performance of traditional martial arts in Qui Nhon; and UNESCO World Heritage Site Ha Long Bay. Prices start at $5,649 on this last chance to explore Vietnam aboard the Oceanus before it departs on the Voyages of the Great Explorers in March 2010.

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