Vacation Planning Resource: Cruise Line YouTube Channels

If you're like me, you're taking some time off during the holidays to relax with friends and family. Part of this downtime includes planning vacations for 2012 and beyond. So far, we've booked reservations for getaways to Mexico, Fiji, Switzerland, France, and Thailand. We'll see what other adventures we settle upon for the year!


As we search for new vacation ideas, we're reviewing the YouTube channels of various luxury cruise lines and resorts. If you've got some time to view videos and plan your next trip, check out these YouTube channels:

Abercrombie & Kent

Azamara Club Cruises

Compagnie du Ponant

Four Seasons

InnerSea Discoveries

Oceania Cruises

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Seabourn

Silversea | Luxury Cruises

Windstar Cruises

There are some fantastic videos posted by these travel companies and you'll also find links to videos taken by fellow travelers. The combination of marketing videos and real-world experiences will help as you plan your next great escape.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Lindblad Adds Undersea Divers to Alaska Itineraries

Lindblad Expeditions came up with an incredibly cool addition to its 2012 Alaska voyages—an "Undersea Specialist."


Each Lindblad ship already carries three naturalists, an expedition leader, and a Lindblad-National Geographic-certified photo instructor. The Undersea Specialist will join this team to provide an additional facet to cruises in Alaska.


What will this specialist actually do on each cruise? He or she will dive 40 to 80 feet below the surface to take high-definition photos of what lies beneath the ship. The images and video will be showcased during presentations throughout the cruise.


According to Lindblad, images will range from "...the tiniest organisms on the sea floor to giant octopi, to hulking sea lions to the whales that passengers see majestically breaching the surface." This is a very cool development! I'm just glad no one's asking me to dive the chilly Alaskan waters!


Lindblad will offer 8-night (Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness) and 12-night (Alaska, British Columbia, and San Juan Islands) voyages from May–September 2012 aboard the 62-passenger ships, National Geographic Sea Bird and National Geographic Sea Lion.


Book Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness by March 31, 2012 and you'll receive free roundtrip air between Seattle and Alaska on select May and June departures. Rates for this itinerary start at $5,990 per person based on double occupancy for a Category 1 cabin, and $7,690 for the Alaska, British Columbia, and San Juan Islands cruise.


Lindblad's been sailing Alaskan waters for 30 years, so they really know what they're doing in this region. I love the addition of the Undersea Specialist to its itineraries and hope to explore with the company soon.


For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact Lindblad at 1-(800)-EXPEDITION.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

What Luxury Cruise Lines Should Say to Lure Younger Travelers

It's been five years since I first set foot on a luxury cruise ship. I was still in my thirties then and was struck by the fact that my husband and I were the youngest travelers on board the ship. We couldn't understand why.

The itinerary was fantastic—visiting unusual ports of call—and the value was clear. We enjoyed a spacious, well-designed suite, attentive service, inclusive food and wine, and a cadre of entertainment options for less than a comparable vacation at a five-star resort on land.

Since that first experience, we've been on dozens of luxury cruise ships and yachts and we're still often among the youngest cruises aboard. All the cruise lines are reaching out to a younger crowd, and here's what they need to be saying to all those professional thirty- and forty-something's who've yet to set sail...

Our itineraries fit perfectly within the structure of your vacation time. Many luxury lines are now offering more 7-, 8-, and 9-night sailings. This makes it easier for a young professional to commit without tapping out his or her allotted vacation time. SeaDream Yacht Club has excellent offers in this regard as does Azamara Club Cruises.

We go to the destinations you want to visit. From close-to-home regions, like the Caribbean and Mediterranean, to more exotic locales such as French Polynesia and Southeast Asia, luxury cruise lines program compelling itineraries all over the world. Cruises enable the traveler to sample many ports across a region in a relatively short amount of time. For the Caribbean, thirty-somethings should check out Windstar Cruises, Compagnie Du Ponant Yacht Cruises offers excellent options in the Med, Paul Gauguin Cruises is the way to go in French Poly, and Crystal Cruises is excellent for Asia.

We offer active expeditions and wildlife-centric adventures. People often joke that cruises are for the newly wed and nearly dead, but that's just not true. More and more companies are offering expeditions that offer active adventures including hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, diving, and more. American Safari Cruises, part of InnerSea Discoveries, has excellent itineraries in Alaska's Inside Passage, Mexico's Sea of Cortes, the Hawaiian Islands, and more. Australia outfit, Orion Expedition Cruises, hits far-flung destinations like Borneo, Papua New Guinea, and Micronesia. And, of course, Silversea's expedition ship, Silver Explorer, is one of the best ways to visit polar bears in the Arctic.

No matter what your age, consider sailing with a luxury cruise line in 2012. It's one of the best vacation values available these days.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Photo © Leonard Hospidor

Luxury Cruise Bible’s Gift Guide for Cruise Travelers

This time of year, every blogger posts his or her own “gift guide” for the holidays. Here’s my take on fun—and useful—gifts for cruise travelers…


Must-Have Memberships

Global Entry
My best investment of the year was enrolling in Global Entry. This is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program that allows members to speed through Customs when returning to the United States from overseas. Simply apply, pay a $100 fee (which will be refunded if you use your American Express Platinum card), and attend a short interview at your local airport. After that you’ll spend far less time in line when returning from a cruise. In fact, on our last trip from Singapore, we spent a mere 45 seconds at the U.S. Customs kiosk when we returned to Newark Liberty Airport!

MedjetAssist
I’ve renewed my annual MedjetAssist membership every year for the past five years. Access to competent global travel assistance and medical evacuation gives me peace of mind at a very affordable price. (I had to medevac my father from Jacksonville to Boston last year and it cost $16,000. How I wish I had gifted him a MedjetAssist membership before he went on that trip.) Annual MedjetAssist memberships start at $250 and short-term memberships start at $95. This is the perfect gift for a loved one who travels.

InterContinental Ambassador Membership
We find this annual membership quite useful since we often stay at InterContinental hotels pre- and post-cruise. Benefits include guaranteed room upgrades (no matter what rate code you book), fresh fruit and mineral water upon arrival, one complimentary weekend night (buy one, get one), 4pm late check-out, complimentary pay TV film per stay, instant check-out, and a bonus points “accelerator” (earn 20,000 bonus points for every 15 qualifying nights). Ambassador membership costs $200 per year (or 32,000 Priority Club points).




Just for Fun

Scratch-Off Map of the World
I’ve already ordered a bunch of these from Uncommon Goods for my friends with wanderlust. This 32-by-22-inch world map has a “scratch off” component so you can scratch off the areas you’ve visited in order to “color in” the globe. I've never seen this particular item in stores before so I thought it would make for an unusual stocking-stuffer. $24

Vintage Cruise Ship Posters
Art.com has a nice selection of vintage-style cruise ship posters. I’ve got several of these in my office and they look fantastic.

Cruise Ship Ornament from Kyle Design
This is a nice-looking two-sided, engravable holiday ornament with a cruise-ship motif. This would be a great way to invite a loved-one on a Christmas cruise! $19.95




Cruise-Inspired Jewelry

Sextant Pendant from Dolphin Designs
This sextant pendant with an 18-inch box chain can be made with a variety of semi-precious stones, including lapis lazuli (shown), amethyst, turquoise, amazonite, malachite, aventurine, rose quartz, mother of pearl, onyx, and jade. $113.99

Propeller Cuff Links from Cuff Daddy
These three-blade propeller cuff links come in a variety of finishes, including sterling silver and gold. $28.99–$119.00

Have you stumbled upon any cool gifts for cruise travelers? Let me know! I've got many of them on my holiday shopping list this year!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Pandaw River Cruises Pulls Out of Borneo

The latest newsletter from Pandaw River Cruises announces that its ship, Orient Pandaw, will leave Borneo as of March 2012. This is sad news. Borneo is a rich vacation destination with the key draw being the island's orangutan population. Traveling the rivers, as Leonard and I did last month with Orion Expedition Cruises, is an excellent way to see how the Indonesians and Malaysians live and to get as close as possible to the animals, which include the red ape, proboscis monkey, macaques, Borneo bearded pigs, crocodiles, kingfishers, and more.


Here's what Pandaw had to say about its departure from Borneo:

It is with immense sadness that we are pulling out of this fascinating destination. The logistical and operational difficulties of working in so tough an environment have made the project commercially unsuccessful. Despite these challenges the Pandaw Borneo team have a well-run operation and levels of comfort and service on board up to top Pandaw standards. The river and jungle really are amazing and a must for keen river explorers.

There is still some space left between now and March and we highly recommend a stop off in Kuching and even a trip to the Mulu Caves. Visit Pandaw.com for further details.

Despite the challenges of the region (shallow rivers making travel by boat difficult during low tide, the heat and humidity, and availability of Western-style amenities on land), I highly urge you to get to Borneo soon. The people are endearing and the opportunity for animal sightings is amazing!


I'm sorry to see Pandaw leave the region, but hope Orion Expedition Cruises makes a go of it from this point forward.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

$1,000 SeaDream Credit for Just $500

Sniqueaway, a flash sale site, is currently offering a $1,000 SeaDream credit for just $500.


This credit may be used on one of two cruises:

SeaDream I: 6-Night Caribbean Cruise | Departs December 11, 2011

St. John’s, Antigua -> Gustavia, St. Barts -> Marigot, St. Martin -> Sandy Ground, Anguilla -> Soper’s Hole, Tortola -> Great Harbour, Peter Island -> Jost Van Dyke -> San Juan, Puerto Rico

SeaDream II: 7-Night Caribbean Cruise | Departs December 16, 2011

San Juan, Puerto Rico -> Culebrita Island -> Esperanza, Vieques Island -> Sandy Ground, Anguilla -> Gustavia, St. Barts -> Norman Island -> Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda -> Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

Each person can purchase one voucher and a total of two vouchers can be used per stateroom (based on double occupancy). This is an excellent deal if you have time for a quick getaway before the holidays! Act fast because this deal expires in three days.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! I wish you and your family the best of everything as we kick off this holiday season! Have a fantastic day, whether you're at sea or on land!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Seabourn Sale with Per Diems from $182 to $442 Ends 10/31

Seabourn runs some pretty decent sales on a regular basis and they've currently extended their "one week" sale, which now expires on Halloween (October 31). Per diem fares for cruises between November 2011 and May 2012 range from $182 to $442 and even includes Quest's World Cruise segments.


Take a look at the chart below, which lists all of the sale fares. Per diems under $250 per night are highlighted in green.


I just got back from Indonesia, a destination that Leonard and I first fell in love with during a visit in 2010. If we had the time, I'd book Seabourn Legend's Borobudur, Bali & Orchid Isles voyage in January or February 2012. Alas, time isn't on my side and if we book a Seabourn cruise it will have to be a 7- to 10-day itinerary...tops.

See Seabourn's complete list of sale fares. For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact Seabourn.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Photo courtesy of Seabourn

Orion II Cancels Two Sailings

We're back from our fantastic Borneo voyage with Orion Expedition Cruises. I'll post more photos and info about our final few days at sea once I'm over my jet-lag. 

Our time in Bali, across Indonesian and Malaysian Borneo, and Singapore was jam-packed and we feel we did as much as we could in a short ten days. If you love wildlife, especially orangutans and proboscis monkeys, this cruise should be on your must-do list.

For now, however, I need to share the news that Orion II has cancelled two sailings. Here's information from Orion...

Due to a number of latent defects that are adversely affecting our guests' comfort (including air conditioning) and limited availability of suitable technicians and specialists, it has become necessary to cancel the Orion II 10 October and 17 October 2011 sailings. While cancelling a cruise is always the last resort, we do believe that these works are necessary to be able to provide our passengers with the level of product that they have come to expect from Orion Expedition Cruises.

Recognising the last minute inconvenience of these cancellations, we are reimbursing all substantiated non-refundable travel expenses not covered by travel insurance. There is also the opportunity to transfer to a similar 7 night itinerary on a future date.

15th December 2011—Thailand, Temples and the Mekong

22nd December 2011—Gulf of Siam Explorer

27th February 2012—Gulf of Siam Explorer

5th March 2012—Thailand, Temples and the Mekong

  

While we were on board there were problems with some air-conditioning systems, a transformer blew between two cabins, the elevator broke down, and one of the ship's industrial washing machines needed repairs. The crew masked these issues well and most did not cause any concern or alarm among guests.

I feel badly for those who've had to put their holiday plans on hold. I hope everyone is able to reschedule their vacations.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Photo © Leonard Hospidor

(Tom, the orangutan, at Camp Leakey)

Two Island Hideaways: Pulau Senua and Pulau Bawah

Since our original itinerary shifted once we got on board Orion II, our last two days in Borneo were spent as beach bunnies on the Indonesian islands of Pulau Senua, in the Riau Islands Province, and Pulau Bawah, at the southern tip of the Anambas Islands (approximately 150 nautical miles northeast of Singapore).

Orion II operated in “expedition mode” on both days, which means Zodiacs ran continuously from the ship to the island where guests enjoyed swimming, snorkeling, and a BBQ on Pulau Bawah. We even got to release some baby turtles into the sea!

Disembarking in Singapore

It’s safe to say that Orion’s “Camp Leakey: Faces in the Forest” itinerary gifted us with experiences that we never expected to have. I knew we’d get close to orangutans, but I had no idea I’d be able to cradle a little baby in my arms or roughhouse with a juvenile! 

Sailing the rivers of Borneo also put so much into perspective with regard to how the Indonesians and Malays live and how conservation can fit into their framework for the future. Many of us talk about planning a “trip of a lifetime” or putting a destination on our “bucket list.” If you haven’t yet researched Borneo, do it now. Orion makes it possible for average travelers to easily access this enchanting region of Borneo in style and comfort. This cruise is your chance to make close contact with the great red ape!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Bako National Park in Sarawak

Orion II called upon Bako National Park on Friday, October 7. This park is one of the oldest in Sarawak, as it was established in 1957. To that end, the animals are very used to people and it's easy to get great photos here.


The approach by sea is breathtaking as Bako's coastline is one of steep cliffs and sandstone outcroppings.

The morning began with a walk on nearby Pulau Lakei. Leonard did this hike while I stayed aboard to catch up on blogging.


In the afternoon, three walks were offered directly at Bako. Two of them were very intensive and not for the faint-of-heart or the out-of-shape (one was a three-hour hike that included steep inclines). We ended up doing the easiest of the three walks...a stroll along the mangrove boardwalk.

Here we saw proboscis monkeys, long-tailed macaques, Borneo bearded pigs (and piglets), silvered langurs, and a few birds.

The Zodiac ride back to Orion II was beautiful with the setting sun lighting up the water.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Photos © Leonard Hospidor

A Visit to Kuching, Semengoh, and Sarawak Cultural Village

Thursday was a whirlwind as Orion II docked at Kuching, a Malaysian city on Borneo. Guests spent the morning on their own exploring the city. In the early afternoon we all came together at the Riverside Majestic Hotel to catch our bus to Semengoh Rehabilitation Centre for the 3pm orangutan feeding.


I am so glad we had the chance to visit Semengoh. This national park has a very different approach to conservation than Camp Leakey, which we visited earlier in the week. At Semengoh, you can't get as close to the wild orangutans but the setup of the feeding platforms still make it easy to get excellent photographs. 

We saw a large cheekpadder male named Ritchie as well as "Hot Mama" and her baby and another mother and daughter. These orangutans looked different than the ones at Camp Leakey...these seemed to be brighter orange and hairier. Their faces also looked more ape-like.


We lucked out and enjoyed amazing sightings before taking part in a ceremony at which Orion announced their long-term adoption of Ritchie.

After this we loaded back onto the bus and headed to the Sarawak Cultural Village. The guide on our bus was fantastic and told us about the various cultures in the area as we drove to the cultural village where we'd enjoy a show and a Malaysian Banquet.

We arrived just about sunset so we didn't get to explore much of the village, but we all donned sarongs and then settled in for the dinner show. Lots of traditional songs and dances and we sat on pillows on the floor.


It was hot and steamy but once the show got started, everyone forgot about that. Orion II's waitstaff was on hand and made sure everyone had plenty of wine, beer, soda, and juice. The meal was buffet-style and consisted of regional favorites.

This was a long day but it was so much fun. I only wish we had spent another half day or day in Kuching. There was so much we left unexplored.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Photos © Leonard Hospidor

Pontianak: The Capital of West Kalimantan at the Equator

Sometimes when you're considering an itinerary, there's a port or two that you're ambivalent about. That's how I felt about Orion II's visit to Pontianak, which is at the Equator. I didn't know exactly what to expect and, therefore, wasn't expecting much. It turned out to be a fantastic day!

Orion II is the first ship of its kind to call upon Pontianak. While the Indonesians here have encountered Westerns before, it's usually just a few backpackers on their way to treks within West Kalimantan. This was the first time so many Westerners descended on the city and the first time so many arrived by boat.

It seemed like every local official was on hand at the port, as were the local media. This was a big event! A landing party consisting of the captain and some guests went ashore and took part in a ceremony.

Afterward, everyone boarded modern, air-conditioned buses for a half-day tour of the area. Here's what we saw…

• State Museum
• Mujahidin Grand Mosque
• Equator Monument

The State Museum was interesting and we were treated to Chinese dragon dances. This was a lot of fun and it was made all the more special because a school field trip was also at the museum at the time. It was great fun taking photos with the kids and watching them enjoy the Chinese dragons!

Next to the museum was a lovely craft shop and we were able to browse as a local musician played and a beautiful Indonesian woman danced. Handicrafts included clothing, wood carvings, beaded jewelry, woven bags, and more.

Many of us also stopped into a local candy shop. I purchased several items to try, including fried basil leaves, aloe vera tea, durian candy, and other assorted crunchy and sweet snacks.

We ended up at the mosque during midday prayer so we could only walk around the building but dozens of children came out to greet us. They were so interested in  meeting us and having their photos taken. Boys and girls mixed freely and the mosque seemed totally integrated. I'm so glad we made this stop.

Finally, we visited the Equator Monument, where you can stand on the line that divides the northern and southern hemispheres… a great photo op!

While we only spent a short while in Pontianak, it was well worth the visit. This was a challenging call to make due to the river depths (1 meter of clearance and at one point Orion II did touch the muddy bottom of the river). We can't thank Orion enough for scouting such a unique port and finding a way to bring us here.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Photos © Leonard Hospidor

A Visit to the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine with Orion II

Orion's Faces in the Forest expedition doesn't leave a lot of time for blogging. We're up early and fall into bed fairly late. I've got a bit of time today though (I'm not doing the three-hour trek on Palau Lakei this morning) so I thought I'd catch up on explaining what else we've done on this Borneo expedition.

On Monday my group (half the ship) visited the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine, which was established in 1998 by Orangutan Foundation International (Dr. Galdikas is the founder). The facility itself was built for a few hundred orangutans but its resources are being stretched due to the number of animals that are in need of rescue and rehabilitation. The staff is currently caring for 330 orangutans as well as a few sun bears, macaques, and some other animals. Each of these animals will be eventually released back to the wild to live a normal life.

How does an orangutan end up living at the care center? Some have been confiscated from individuals who kept them as pets (that's illegal in Indonesia), others are sick or injured and are being nursed back to health.

The center is located in the village of Pasir Panjang, near the town of Pangkalan Bun in Central Kalimatan. Orion arranged for air-conditioned buses to take us from Kumai to the center. We even had a police escort! (Everyone we go, the local people are happy to see us—the welcome has been wonderful.)

Dr. Galdikas gave us a tour of the 80 hectare facility, which includes an operating room, X-ray room, lab, library, and living quarters for the veterinary staff. There is also a quarantine area for animals suffering from various maladies.

The complex is located within a peat forest, which acts as a "halfway house." Orangutans are released during the day to learn how to forage and build nests and there are even a few wooden structures scattered throughout the forest so the apes and their caregivers can sleep in the forest.

Our tour included some time at the play area for juveniles between the ages of 4 and 7, the training area for older orangutans, and a stop at the nursery.

The Orangutan Care Center is not generally open to the public and so our visit was incredibly special. There is a no camera policy at OCCQ so I unfortunately can't share photographs. The photos accompanying this post are, instead, of the orangs at Camp Leakey in Tanjung National Park.

This was an incredible opportunity o get close to these animals who seem to have close relationships with their human caretakers. In the play area, a young female walked right to me, took my hand, and started to lead me to the forest! I think she wanted some time in the trees! Another orang climbed right into my arms. One bad boy did pull my hair and untie my shoes, but I do believe he was just playing.

I will caution that these are still wild animals and extreme care must be taken. A few people in the group did get bites and scratches… none were bad. The animals are babies and juveniles and, just as a human toddler might bite, so will an orangutan. Most everyone did their best to follow instructions and the experience was well worth it.

Traveling through Borneo and seeing these red apes brings up so many questions. Conservation is an incredibly tough business and a multi-prong approach is necessary in order to save the orangutan from extinction. Please visit the website for Dr. Galdikas' organization, Orangutan Foundation International, for more information on how you can help protect orangutans.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Photo © Leonard Hospidor

Orion II Quick Tip: Room Service Menu

Orion Expedition Cruises offers a single seating for dinner with one dining options each evening (The Restaurant on Deck 2 or outdoor dining on Deck 5 aft, weather permitting).

Orion offers a very limited room service menu, but we've sampled a few things already. We were dead tired upon our return from Camp Leakey one night so we ordered up a few sandwiches. Here's what you can expect from in-room dining.

Orion II Room Service Menu

Breakfast

• Juice (orange, apple, grapefruit, pineapple, tomato, V8)
• Fruit Platter
• Cereal (Cornflakes, Weet-Bix, Sultana Bran, Museli, All Brain)
• Yoghurt (plain or fruit)
• Fresh from the Bakery (danish pastry, croissants, toast: wholemeal, rye, white)
• Preserves and Butter (strawberry, orange, apricot, honey, Vegemite, butter, margarine)

Available Noon–9pm

• Grilled Fish of the Day with Green Salad
• Grilled Rib Eye Steak with Vegetables
• Sandwich of the Day with French Fries
• Garden Greens with Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Caesar Salad with Crispy Croutons and Parmesan

Available 24 Hours

• Ham, Cheese, Smoked Salmon or Turkey Sandwich with Potato Chips
• International Cheese Plate with Crackers
• Fruit Platter
• Plated of Cookies

During breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you may also order selections from the daily Restaurant menu.

I'd love to see Orion add a few things to the room service menu, especially grilled chicken, pasta, hamburger, and hotdog entrees.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible