Sea Day Aboard the Wind Surf

Day 2 aboard Windstar Cruise's Wind Surf (Barbados Northbound).

Relaxing by the aft pool.

Today was the only sea day on this Caribbean itinerary and everyone was out in force by the pools and on deck. When the Wind Surf is fully booked (as it is on this cruise), it’s a bit tough to snag chaise lounges since many guests “claim” them early in the morning by leaving a book or beach bag on the chair. If you want a good location on deck or near the pool, you need to do this. We couldn’t get a good spot until about 4:00 p.m. Even so, we had a great day relaxing and chatting while working on our tans.

Once again, we ate dinner at Degrees. Tonight was “Indonesian” night and the crew decorated the restaurant to reflect the theme. A very nice touch!


Photos © Leonard Hospidor. Please do not use without permission.

Windstar Provides Info on Sale

Day 1 aboard Windstar Cruise's Wind Surf (Barbados Northbound).

When we boarded the Wind Surf this afternoon, we received the following letter from Windstar Cruises. It explains the sale of the line to Ambassadors International. Here's the full text:
Dear Guests,

On February 22, 2007 Holland America Line announced that it will sell Windstar Cruises to Ambassadors International, a Newport, California-based cruise, marine, travel, and event company.

Both companies are committed to making the transition seamless and positive for all of Windstar Cruises guests and staff. Ambassadors International is no stranger to the cruise industry and has a successful history of operating luxury cruise ships under its Majestic America Line brand.

Ambassadors plans to operate the Windstar Cruises brand as it exists today, including its itineraries, casually elegant atmosphere, unique culinary experience, and the famed on-board service delivered by its renowned staff. Moreover, Ambassadors will endeavor to improve the value proposition for its guests.

The sale is scheduled to close at the beginning of April. However, Holland America Line/Windstar Cruises will continue to handle reservations and operate the vessels in the near term through a transitional services agreement. Ambassadors also looks forward to welcoming the extraordinary officers, crew, and personnel of Windstar Cruises to its family, which now includes a fleet of 10 ships and approximately 2,200 passenger berths.

We know the officers and crew aboard this ship are looking forward to delivering the renowned service and experience of Windstar Cruises. Please enjoy your cruise vacation.

Sincerely,

Diane Moore, Vice President / Marketing and Sales — Windstar Cruises
David Giersdorf, President — Ambassadors Cruise Group

Boarding the Wind Surf in Barbados

Day 1 aboard Windstar Cruise's Wind Surf (Barbados Northbound).

The Wind Surf docked in Bridgetown, Barbados.

This morning we woke to a beautiful Barbados sunrise. The stress from the previous day of travel had already started to slip away and we were anxious to head to the cruise terminal and board the Windstar Wind Surf at 1:00 p.m.

We walked the beach from our home base at the Coconut Court Beach Resort to the Hilton. The waves at the beach fronting the Hilton are definitely rougher than at CCBR, but there are a few break walls that help slow things down a bit. There is also a surf spot close to the Hilton.

Rough waves near the Hilton, Barbados.

We did not walk in the opposite direction toward the Accra Beach Hotel, but we did see the entrance when we drove to our hotel last night.

After some beach time and a walk-round for snapping pictures, we checked out of Coconut Court and hopped in a cab bound for the Barbados cruise terminal. Since it’s Sunday, all of the shops (save one ceramic boutique) were closed. A Wind Surf crew person checked us in and took our luggage and we only had to wait about 15 minutes for a shuttle bus to transfer us to the ship. (It was close enough to walk but with all of the truck and bus traffic, Windstar required all passengers to transfer via shuttle.)

This was our first trip aboard the Wind Surf and our first impression was, “Wow!” She really is a gorgeous ship — inside and out. We could’t wait to see the sails unfurl!

Check-in was a bit more comprehensive than on other ships we’ve sailed, but it still only took about 20 minutes from start to finish. Upon boarding the Wind Surf, we were ushered to The Lounge on the Main Deck and were handed a rum punch (thank you!). A tray of tea sandwiches was also available.

To check in, we visited three tables: At the first table, we surrendered our passports and showed our boarding passes and immigration cards. A crewman at the next table swiped our credit card and took our photos for security purposes. We then picked up our room keys at the final table and were escorted to our cabin on Deck One. We booked the first cabin on the hallway — all the way forward — near the elevator. We like this location since it’s easy to get to everything on the ship from here. The one downside is being able to clearly hear the ship’s horn (really only an issue in the evening when you're trying to sleep).

I was worried that the cabin — with just two small portholes — would seem cramped, but Windstar really put some thought into the layout of this room. It actually felt spacious due to the strategic use of mirrors and the dual portholes. (More on the cabin categories in my cruise review that I’ll post to LuxuryCruiseBible.com after returning from vacation.)

The ports of call for this cruise include:
Bridgetown, Barbados
Basseterre, St. Kitts
Charlestown, Nevis
Marigot, St. Martin
Gustavia, St. Barthelemy
Basse Terre, Guadeloupe
Iles des Saintes, Guadeloupe
Pigeon Island, St. Lucia
Bridgetown, Barbados



Since our luggage was in our room when we arrived, we went ahead and unpacked and freshened up before heading up to the Compass Rose to enjoy a glass of wine and afternoon tea.

Later that evening, we dined at Degrees. You do need to make reservations for this open-seating dining room, but there is no additional surcharge and the food is excellent! I enjoyed a grilled shrimp cocktail, delicious olive foccacia (all of the bread baked on the Wind Surf is excellent), a champagne sorbet palate cleanser, and bacon-wrapped filet mignon with creamed spinach and shoestring French fries. I topped it off with a piece of flourless chocolate cake, accented with pistachio brittle (luscious!).

Our night out at Degrees was fantastic and set our expectations for the rest of the cruise. We can’t wait for breakfast tomorrow! The Wind Surf sails for St. Kitts this evening around midnight. We'll have a full sea day tomorrow. Stay tuned for more information about our Caribbean escape with Windstar.

Photos © Leonard Hospidor. Please do not use without permission.

Finally Arrived in Barbados Despite the NYC Snow!

It’s been one of those days. A blast of snow, sleet, and ice hit New Jersey on Friday. My husband was out snowplowing the driveway and walkways at 5:00 a.m. (Sorry to all our neighbors for the excessive morning noise!) The storm had been so bad, our dead end street wasn’t yet plowed by the designated pickup time for our car to the airport. Yes, we had to hump our luggage down the street – across heaps of snow and ice – to get to the main road where our taxi was waiting. Phew! Nice start to the day, but at least we were heading to the Caribbean!

Prior to leaving for the airport, I called American Airlines several times to confirm that our flight would depart from JFK to Barbados. They indicated that not only was the flight leaving, it was on schedule. Terrific! Well, the 1-(800) operators don’t always have the most recent information from the field. We arrived at JFK and waited in the check-in line for 105 minutes. This left us only 20 minutes before takeoff! With no time to stop to grab breakfast, we raced through the terminal and boarded the airplane.

Just as we finished stowing our carry-on items, the flight attendant announced that due to yesterday’s weather, numerous planes were in front of us for de-icing and we wouldn’t take off for at least an hour and a half. Oh boy. Ground crew did escort a few of us off the plane so we could stock up on food. That was a wise move since we eventually sat on the tarmac for FOUR more hours! We didn’t take off until 2:30 p.m. (We should have landed in Barbados by that time!) It was not a fun day, but we made it and we’re now here in beautiful Barbados!

View from our oceanfront room at the Coconut Court Beach Hotel.

Since we booked this cruise at the last minute, the Accra Beach Hotel — Windstar’s preferred resort — was completely booked. Instead, we took a room at the nearby Coconut Court Beach Hotel. The hotel consists of 77 rooms and offers a small pool and Jacuzzi, a restaurant/bar, beach volleyball, table tennis, and pool tables. There are also several activities scheduled throughout the day.

Coconut Court's beach and pool area (see far right).

The room we booked is air-conditioned, clean, and spacious with an oceanfront view. French doors lead to a small balcony overlooking the gorgeous beach. Internet access is included in the room rate (about $180 U.S./night). It's so nice to be able to check e-mail and post to our blog from our room.

We just had a lovely late dinner at The Deck Restaurant (open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.). The food was quite good (grilled king fish) and the service was excellent.

Overall, the hotel is nice for the price, but I wouldn’t stay here for a week. (No room service or in-room minibar and a way too-firm bed led me to this decision.) But, if you’re coming in to Barbados and need a room for the day or one night, this is a solid choice. Coconut Court has a prime beach location – a nice calm stretch of it – and you can easily walk to the Hilton from here.

Tomorrow we board the Windstar Wind Surf!

Photos © Leonard Hospidor. Please do not use without permission.

Silversea Announces New Ship Plans

Wow! This is exciting news! Silversea just announced its plans for a new ship! More news to come. The official press release is below...

Miami — March 13, 2007) Ultra-luxury operator Silversea Cruises has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for one 36,000-GRT, 540-guest, ultra-luxury vessel from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri with delivery scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2009. The line has also signed an option for a sister ship with Fincantieri.

The agreement with Fincantieri is conditional to final contract and financing. However, an irrevocable banking commitment, fully underwritten, has already been obtained and is only subject to the final loan agreement.

"This is a very exciting time for our company as we are now poised to further develop our unique style of luxury travel with a new generation of ship design," said Manfredi Lefebvre, Silversea's chairman. "Fincantieri is the ideal shipbuilder to craft our new luxury vessel that will carry on our tradition of being an innovator and trendsetter in ultra-luxury cruising."

Added Amerigo Perasso, Silversea's president, "This newbuild order shows great confidence in the luxury segment's potential for greater demand. Silversea will be well positioned to fully meet this future demand in North America and our international markets."

Giuseppe Bono, Fincantieri's chief executive officer stated, "The agreement with Silversea, the major player in the ultra-luxury segment, marks a further important step in our strategy to consolidate our position as a leading shipbuilder for the upscale cruise and mega-yacht markets."

The newbuild order is the first one for Silversea since 1998 when contracts for Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper were signed. The award-winning vessels entered into service in 2000 and 2001, respectively.

With the newbuild, Silversea's overall fleet capacity grows from 1,356 berths to 1,896 berths, representing a 40% increase.

The purchase price and design details about the new vessel will be forthcoming over the next few weeks.

Silversea Cruises is recognized as an innovator in the luxury segment, offering guests large-ship amenities aboard four intimate vessels, Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, and Silver Whisper, all designed to offer an atmosphere of conviviality and casual elegance. For the ninth year, Silversea was named "Number One" small-ship line in the 2005 "Readers' Choice" survey conducted by Condé Nast Traveler magazine. For the sixth time, Silversea was selected "World's Best" small-ship line in the 2004 Travel + Leisure readers' poll.

Windstar Cruise Docs Arrive!

Our cruise documents arrived first thing this morning via DHL. Quite impressive considering we only booked the cruise at the end of last week! Windstar’s customer service has been excellent thus far and we are counting the days until we set sail.

The standard documents arrived in a navy blue canvas pouch with the Windstar logo emblazoned in gold on the front. Basic itinerary information was included, along with four disposable luggage tags.

We only have a few days to research island excursion options, but we’ll probably opt to tour independently at most ports of call.

T minus seven days and the countdown begins!

Last-Minute Windstar Voyage Booked!

It's been a rough winter here on the East Coast so my husband and I decided to book a last-minute Caribbean cruise. As you know, booking a luxury cruise at the spur of the moment can be difficult since most suites were reserved long ago. We just crossed our fingers and hoped for the best.

For this voyage, we want to go somewhere warm and sunny. Our agenda is to sit by the pool and on the beach, and we want to do some snorkeling and island hiking. In short, we want to recharge our batteries.

Windstar's Wind Surf Barbardos Northbound itinerary matched our needs perfectly. And since Windstar offers a more relaxed shipboard environment, we won't have to pack clothes and shoes for any formal nights...a definite plus when you want to travel super light!

Most of Wind Surf's sailings were, in fact, sold out. However, we were able to snag a category B stateroom on her March 18th departure from Bridgetown, Barbados. Here's the itinerary:

Sunday: Barbados
Monday: At Sea
Tuesday: St. Kitts
Tuesday: Charlestown, Nevis
Wednesday: Marigot, St. Martin
Thursday: Gustavia, St. Barthelemy
Friday: Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe
Friday: Isle Des Sainte, Guadeloupe
Saturday: Pigeon Island, St. Lucia
Sunday: Bridgetown, Barbados

We booked this cruise a few days ago and should receive our documents at the beginning of next week! We'll be blogging each day of our cruise (as long as Internet access is available). If you've got any questions about Windstar, let me know and I'll try to find the answers while onboard the Wind Surf. I'm anxious to talk with the crew and find out more about the change of ownership from Holland America Line (Carnival) to Ambassadors International. I'm hoping the crew will be kept in-tact and that the only changes for Windstar will be positive ones. For more on the recent sale of Windstar, click here.

Have you cruised the Caribbean lately? If you've got any advice regarding any of the ports listed above, please let me know!

Regent's New Arts Endowment Program

You've got to hand it to Regent Seven Seas Cruises for finding a way for its passengers to support the arts while vacationing in style. Regent's new Art Experience and Endowment Program donates money to specific art museums when cruisers book directly through the museum. The first such partnership is with Miami's Bass Museum of Art. Travelers can book one of 10 European cruises this year and Regent will donate $400 per booking to the museum. Guests will also receive a $200 per suite shipboard credit.

According to Sophie Vlessing, vice president of guest strategy and marketing for the cruise line, "Regent's partnership with the Bass Museum illustrates the beginning of the brand's pioneering commitment to the Regent Art Experience and Endowment Program and its goal to support the arts. The program also gives us the opportunity to offer guest meaningful, often once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to gain private access to art experts, artists, and exhibits through many of our voyages."

Bass Museum executive director and chief curator Diane Camber will lead Art, Design, and Cultures Circles of Interest programs during the following cruises:
July 19, 2007: Barcelona to Monte Carlo
August 11, 2007: Civitavecchia (for Rome) to Monte Carlo
August 18, 2007: Civitavecchio to Venice

Ms. Camber will accompany guests to ancient Roman ruins, to survey Michelangelo's masterpieces throughout Florence, and view the private collection of Billionaire collector Francois Pinault at the Palazzo Grassi in Venice. Onboard, Camber will discuss the works of Gaudi, Miro, Picasso, and Caravaggio.

Seven additional voyages are part of the Regent-Bass initiative and can be booked directly through the Bass Museum of Art, including four Baltic sailings with Russian art and literature expert Vadim Palchun.
July 28, 2007: Stockholm to Copenhagen
August 4, 2007: Copenhagen to Stockholm
August 11, 2007: Stockholm to Copenhagen
August 18, 2007: Copenhagen to Stockholm

Other cruises in this series:
May 14, 2007: Barcelona to Civitavecchia
May 19, 2007: Monte Carlo to Piraeus (for Athens)

For more information and reservations, contact Julia Gerstman at the Bass Museum at (305) 673-7530 Ext. 1015 or via e-mail at jgerstman@bassmuseum.org.

Silversea's 2007 Culinary & Wine Voyages

I admit it: I love great food. My husband and I consider ourselves to be "discerning" (okay, maybe picky) when it comes to dining out. We enjoy trying new things and we cook at home quite a bit. To that end, it's always a learning experience when we can speak with a chef to pick up a few new tips and techniques. With Silversea's culinary and wine voyages, there are plenty of opportunities to meet well-known guest chefs in 2007.

Six culinary sailings are currently slated for the year. On each sailing, a guest chef will be on hand for a series of cooking demonstrations. In addition, these Culinary Arts enrichment voyages included a five-course “grand” gourmet dinner, regional specialties throughout the cruise, special food and wine pairings, and an escorted trip to local markets. During your cruise, the guest chef and Silversea’s own executive chef will be available for informal question and answer sessions.

For travelers who are more interested in wine than food, consider the Wine Series. You’ll visit renown wineries and sample some of the finest vintages available. Special lectures by guest speakers are scheduled, as are a variety of wine tastings.

These special voyages are listed below:

CULINARY ARTS

Silver Whisper's 9-day Famous Fortresses cruise from Nice to Athens, May 28 - June 6, 2007 (Voyage 4718). Guest Chef: Anne Desjardins, L'Eau à La Bouche, Ste-Adèle, Quebec. Silver Sailing fares start at $4,557 per person.

Silver Whisper's 6-day Bon Vivant Collection voyage from Barcelona to Rome, June 30 - July 6, 2007 (Voyage 4722). Guest Chef: Cal Stamenov, Marinus at Bernardus Lodge, Carmel Valley, California. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $4,330 per person.

Silver Cloud's special 7-day Privileged Passage from Athens to Istanbul, July 13 - 20, 2007 (Voyage 1718). Guest Chef: Paisarn Cheewinsiriwat, Chiva-Som luxury health resort, Thailand. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $5,350 per person.

Silver Whisper's 7-day Realms of Myth and Legend cruise from Athens to Venice, August 3 - 10, 2007 (Voyage 4727). Guest Chef: Gale Gand, Tru, Chicago, Illinois. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $5,036 per person.

Silver Whisper's 7-day Timeless Treasures cruise from Venice to Rome, August 10 - 17, 2007 (Voyage 4728). Guest Chef: Renato Piccolotto, Hotel Cipriani, Venice, Italy. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $5,036 per person.

Silver Shadow's 7-day Realm of the Romanovs IV cruise from Copenhagen to Stockholm, August 11 - 18, 2007 (Voyage 3720). Guest Chef: Jean-Paul Bondoux, La Bourgogne, Punta del Este, Uruguay and Restaurant Jean-Paul Bondoux, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $5,485 per person.


WINE SERIES

Silver Whisper's 9-day Mediterranean Collection voyage from Athens to Monte Carlo, May 2 - 11, 2007 (Voyage 4713). Hosted by David Elswood, International Head for Christie's Wine Department. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $6,115 per person.

Silver Cloud's 10-day Landscapes and Legacies cruise from Venice to Nice, July 30 - August 9, 2007 (Voyage 1720). Hosted by Bellavista Winery of Franciacorta (Lombardy), Italy. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $7,036 per person.

Silver Whisper's 7-day Prestige and Traditions cruise from Barcelona to Monte Carlo, September 14 - 21, 2007 (Voyage 4733). Hosted by Virginie Coutou, General Manager of Diva Wines, Madrid, Spain. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $4,925 per person.

Silver Wind's 8-day South American Sojourn from Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires, November 27 - December 5, 2007 (Voyage 2732). Hosted by Eduardo Pulenta, Jr., Export Manager of Pulenta Estate, Mendoza, Argentina. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $4,670 per person.

Silver Cloud's 11-day African Odyssey from Port Louis to Cape Town, December 11 - 22, 2007 (Voyage 1734). Hosted by Duimpie Bayley, South African wine expert. Silver Sailing fares start at $4,286 per person.

For more information, visit Silversea's website.

Regent's New Art Circles of Interest

If you’re cruising with Regent Seven Seas Cruises this summer and you have an interest in the arts, you may wish to consider booking one of the cruise line’s new Circles of Interest packages. Here are the just-released details, direct from Regent:

Regent has unveiled five new Art, Design and Cultures Circles of Interest for Mediterranean and Baltic cruises this summer aboard the Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Navigator. Circles of Interest offer guests the opportunity to discover a destination through a lens of particular interest, with the insights of an expert guest host and the camaraderie of a smaller community of guests who share similar interests.

Masterpieces of the Mediterranean
As part of the recently launched Regent Art Experience and Endowment Program, a partnership with the Bass Museum of Art on Miami Beach brings executive director and chief curator Diane Camber to Regent, leading guests on four Circles of Interest aboard three Mediterranean sailings this summer. Each of the four Circle of Interest programs includes a private welcome cocktail party, dinner, onboard lecture, and an exclusive shore experience with unique and private access. Participation is limited to only 30 guests. In addition to planned onboard and on shore activities, Ms. Camber will help facilitate smaller community events where possible.

The July 19 and August 11 Mediterranean sailings aboard Seven Seas Navigator both feature two Circle of Interest programs. During the first Circle, "Power, Passion & Glory - Diane Camber's Florence," Circle of Interest guests will join Ms. Camber for visits to the Museum of San Marco; the Medici Chapels and six tombs of the Medici Grand Dukes, adorned with some of Michelangelo's most famous sculptures; the Piazza del Duomo, Baptistery and Cathedral; Brancacci Chapel and a drive through the Piazzale Michelangelo. Guests will also explore the role of the Medici in religion and enjoy a lunch of local flavor. ($315 per guest)

The second Circle of Interest on those sailings is "Les Artistes de la Côte d'Azur," where Ms. Camber will use her curator's eye and personal connections at the Musée Matisse and Musée Nationale Marc Chagall to share her knowledge of the works and provide insights into the lives and times of these two modern French masters. Guests will also witness first-hand the artistic beauty of the French Riviera through a private drive. ($175 per guest)

On board ship, the July 19 voyage's Circle of Interest programs will include a private discussion on Napoleon and art – depictions of him as well as how his conquests enriched what is now considered French artistic patrimony. The August 11 voyage includes a private discussion on Modernity: Gaudí, Miró and Picasso.

The August 18 sailing of Seven Seas Navigator also features two Circles of Interest. The first, "Passione per l'arte – A Personal View with Diane Camber," includes a shore experience where guests will travel by private water taxi to the Palazzo Grassi in Venice , which holds the largest private contemporary art collection and is owned by Francois Pinault, one of the world's richest men. Later, a short ride brings guests to another bastion of contemporary art: the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, housed in her personal villa. ($255 per guest)

The second Circle of Interest on that sailing is "Stabbiano di Castelammare – Dig for History, Art and Local Flavor." A private coach will drive along the Bay of Naples to offer guests a unique look at the lives of the ancient rich and famous, including an opportunity to witness an excavation of the Roman villas of ancient Stabiae. These sea-side homes comprise the largest group of villas built by the rich and powerful Romans in the first centuries BC and AD – a building boom halted by the cataclysmic eruption of Mount Vesuvius . En route back to Sorrento , guests will stop at a typical farm house to learn how mozzarella is made and enjoy a light lunch of local specialties. ($175 per guest)

On board the August 18 voyage, the Circle of Interest programs will include an exclusive talk on the culture, art and architecture of the Adriatic . Camber will also discuss Caravaggio – the man, his art, and his significance as an innovator and iconoclast.

St. Petersburg's Jewel, The Hermitage Museum
Born and raised in the City of Light, special host and expert on Russian art and literature, Vadim Palchun will lead guests on a discovery of Russia’s famed Hermitage Museum, "From Restoration Rooms to Gallery Walls – The Hermitage from a Personal Perspective." On board Seven Seas Voyager, guests will participate in a welcome cocktail party, an informative talk on the history of The Hermitage art collection, and a private dinner with other Circle of Interest guests. On shore, guests will enjoy exclusive access to one of the museum's Restorations Rooms. These rooms consist of the following: painting workshop; workshop of monumental paintings and sculptures; fabric workshops; and workshops of applied art and porcelain. The day will then continue with a tour of the collection and a visit to Palchun's personal highlights contained in this vast museum. In addition to planned onboard and on shore activities, Mr. Palchun will help facilitate smaller community events where possible.

This program will be offered aboard the following Seven Seas Voyager sailings this summer, each seven nights in length and featuring calls in Stockholm, Copenhagen, Tallinn, Helsinki, Visby (Sweden), and overnights in St. Petersburg: July 14, July 21, July 28, Aug. 4, Aug. 11, Aug. 18, and Aug. 25. Participation is limited to only 30 guests. ($255 per guest)

Cool Regent Feature: iJourneys for your iPod

Regent just launched a new service called iJourneys that caught my attention. It’s such a terrific idea for the active and independent traveler. An iJourney is a personal iPod walking tour hosted by Elyse Weiner, Emmy-award winning television producer.

The downloadable tours are compatible with Apple iPod or MP3 players and are available on all Mediterranean voyages starting this spring. Additional tours are under development for select ports worldwide.

"As we see more and more Regent guests traveling with digital audio players such as iPods, it seemed only fitting to harness this technology to create a personalized and fun new way to explore individual ports of call," said Darius Mehta, Regent director of land programs.

iJourneys walking tours will be available for Regent guests to purchase onboard for a variety of Mediterranean ports of call including Venice, Florence, Rome, Pompeii, and Barcelona. Each one and a half hour tour comes with a map and features insightful commentary, historical context, a touch of humor, and exclusive tips such as back entrances and shorter lines at popular attractions. For example, through a downloadable walking tour of ancient Rome, "The Imperial City in the Age of the Caesars," guests can stand at the spot where Marc Antony delivered his eulogy for Julius Caesar, enter the Coliseum through a secret ticket booth with no lines, see the ingenious Roman water system in action and sample sweet water still running from ancient springs.

Each iJourney tour is produced and narrated by Elyse Weiner, a seasoned foreign news producer who in the past has worked with such television programs as Tom Brokaw's NBC Nightly News and Peter Jennings' ABC World News Tonight.

Silversea at the America's Cup in June

This just in from Silversea regarding the America's Cup regatta...

Silversea has announced details of the itinerary and special activities planned for the Silver Whisper's presence at the 32nd America's Cup regatta. The prestigious yachting tournament is scheduled to be held this summer in Valencia, Spain, marking the first time Europe will host the race for the oldest trophy in sport. Switzerland's Team Alinghi, the defenders of the title, swept the last competition in five straight wins, and Silversea guests will have the best seats in the house from June 23 to 29 for what is shaping up to be another amazing contest.

"The prime positioning of Silver Whisper for this spectacular event will give our guests a terrific opportunity to view the races from a grandstand position in absolute comfort without all the problems associated with getting to and from vantage points around the course," said David Morris, Silversea's executive vice president of worldwide sales and marketing. "The combination of one of the world's most revered sporting events with the award-winning luxury of Silversea will provide a truly exciting and memorable occasion."

Silver Whisper's guests will board the ship in Barcelona on June 22 and sail south to Valencia. On June 23 and 24, the intimate, all-suite ship will be positioned in Valencia Bay directly alongside the race course, giving guests a front-row seat to experience all the drama and excitement of this most celebrated global event. Witnessing the graceful yachts as they slice through the whitecaps and into view will be a rare privilege for those on board, as the race cannot be fully viewed from the port or shoreline.

June 25, a rest day for cup competitors, provides the chance for Silver Whisper's 382 guests to take in new sights and go exploring as the ship journeys to Algiers, North Africa. Optional escorted shore excursions will reveal the culture and history of this fascinating destination before guests return to Valencia to enjoy the next exciting race days of the America's Cup competition (June 26 and 27).

On June 28, the second scheduled rest day for race competitors, guests will have ample time to explore Valencia, one of the most historic cities in Spain. This charming city, with its centuries-old Moorish flair, famous cuisine and exciting nightlife, offers the perfect opportunity for an enriching cultural experience.

Silver Whisper guests will celebrate the fifth scheduled race day in grand style on June 29 with an elaborate poolside barbecue to commemorate Team Alinghi's stunning five-race sweep in 2003 and offer a toast to this year's winner, who could well repeat the feat and be crowned the holder of the America's Cup, in full view of Silver Whisper's guests, on the same day of the fifth race in this best-of-nine series of match racing. Silver Whisper then sets sail for Barcelona and guests will disembark in the Catalan capital on June 30.

Throughout this extraordinary 8-day voyage there will be top sailing officials and experts on board Silver Whisper providing guests with background knowledge on the America's Cup history and rules, professional insights on the teams taking part, and full commentary on every race as it happens live in front of the ship. Noted guest speakers Gary Jobson, the Emmy-winning ESPN sailing commentator who won the 1977 America's Cup as tactician for Ted Turner, and John Rousmaniere, a lifelong sailor, writer and America's Cup historian, will be happy to share personal anecdotes and give guests an insight into the mindset and activities of the crew of the racing yachts as the races unfold. There will also be "surprise" competitors and officials from the 2007 race coming on board to meet with guests and join them for dinner in the evenings.

Other advantages exclusive to Silversea guests for this America's Cup voyage will be Silver Whisper's close proximity, when docked in port, to the America's Cup Village. Guests will be entitled to free entry and complimentary shuttle bus transfers from the ship to the America's Cup Village, which will take just 10 minutes.

This comprehensive package offers guests the ultimate America's Cup experience. All-inclusive, cruise-only fares start from $6,915 per person, including all port charges, government fees, taxes and special event fees, and a 10% Early Booking Incentive discount.

For more information, visit Silversea's website.

Carnival to Sell Windstar Cruises

Here’s some interesting news from Carnival. They have announced an agreement to sell their Windstar Cruises brand for $100 million to Ambassadors International, Inc. If all goes well, the deal should close at the end of the second quarter of 2007. The three-vessel Windstar brand is a wholly owned subsidiary of Holland America Line, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc.

According to Micky Arison, Carnival CEO, "Windstar is an outstanding and unique cruise product and has garnered an extremely loyal following, however, Carnival Corporation & plc's growth strategy is focused on expanding our core growth brands and opening new markets. We made the decision to exit from the niche cruise business some time ago and the sale of Windstar is in line with that strategy. Last year, we made a decision to cease operation of UK's Swan Hellenic and transfer its one ship to the Princess Cruises brand. Both of these are excellent products, but simply do not fit into our future growth plans."

Windstar loyalists are already getting a bit anxious about the transition but Holland America Line president and CEO Stein Kruse is trying to quell those fears. "We are pleased to have a committed buyer like Ambassadors International to take over Windstar. The transaction has been structured to ensure a smooth transition for all parties. Holland America Line will continue to operate the company through a transitional services agreement in the short term which includes vessel, reservations and other operational functions."

Some travelers fear that Ambassadors International will place more emphasis on meeting and incentive travel, thus eliminating cruise inventory for leisure travelers. Only time will tell, but this will be the cruise line to watch for the next few months.

Regent Voyager Named #1 Medium-Size Ship

If you're a fan of Regent Seven Seas' fleet of ships, you'll no doubt be pleased to hear that the Voyager was recently named the #1 medium-size ship in the Conde Nast Traveler 2007 Cruise Poll. The crew and Regent's guests are sure to be celebrating aboard Voyager right now as she sails the second segment of her 2007 World Cruise, somewhere between Cape Town and Mombasa on the way to Singapore.

What's so special about Voyager?
Historically speaking, Regent (formerly Radisson Seven Seas) was the first cruise line to launch an all-suite, all-balcony ship with the Seven Seas Mariner in 2001. The Voyager – making its debut two years later in 2003– was the line's second all-balcony ship. Now, cruisers fall into two camps: those who can't go back to cruising without a private veranda and those who are somehow able to make due without one. (I prefer balcony access and feel it adds so much to the cruise experience. There's nothing like enjoying a glass of wine on your private veranda as your ship departs a port of call!)

The intimate size of Voyager– 354 suites –and impressive space-per-guest ratio is part of what makes this ship so endearing to Regent die-hards. You never feel crowded on any of Regent's ships, but Voyager's logical layout emphasizes personal space for each cruiser.

Even entry-level suites (Category H) are larger – at 356 square feet, including balcony – than similar staterooms on all other cruise lines. The amenities are comparable to any five-star hotel on land. Personally, I find the European king-size beds on the Regent line – with down comforters and Egyptian cotton linens – to be incredibly comfortable! The bathrooms are accented with marble and a walk-in closet is roomy enough to store your luggage – even if you're prone to overpacking! The entire Regent fleet is being refurbished and part of the initiative includes flat-screen TVs with a CD/DVD system added to each suite. The 88 butler suites also include an iPod/Bose music system.

In 2007, Regent went "all-inclusive." This means the per person price of the cruise includes all shipboard gratuities; beverages, including select wines and spirits served throughout the ship; 24-hour room service; in-suite bar setup in butler suites; and refridgerator stocked with soft drinks, beer and bottled water (replenished daily).

Dining aboard Voyager is a treat, with four unique open-seating restaurants that feature varied cuisine. Open-seating dining gives Regent guests the flexibility they require: You can dine any time, at any restaurant, with anyone. Of course, you do have to make advance reservations for Signatures and Latitudes, the ship's two "specialty" restaurants.

The menu at Signatures is inspired by the French chefs of the famed Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris. Le Cordon Bleu manages this dinner-only establishment and they also offer a special cooking workshop on many of Regent's itineraries aboard the Voyager and her sister ship, Mariner. A meal at Signatures may start with a poached lobster salad. You then move on to creamy mushroom soup with candied garlic before being served a sorbet palate cleanser. It's tough to select your main dish with options often including sauteed salmon filet, roast duck breast with an orange reduction, or roast venison. Dessert is a no-brainer: creme brulee!

Latitudes, the second reservations-only dining room, offers "Indochine" cuisine and presents a sampler menu with some tableside presentations. Think appetizers like spring rolls, shrimp toast, and beef satay followed by a marinated cucumber salad. Main courses – of which you'll be served a little of each offering on the menu – may be something like lobster with lime leaves, garlic-marinated chicken thighs, and rack of lamb.

However, some cruisers prefer Voyager's main dining room Compass Rose for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This lovely room – highlighted in pastel hues of peach, yellow, and green – offers upscale Continental cuisine. At dinner, you can select a la carte menu items or go for the chef's menu degustation (tasting menu). There's also a "Light & Healthy" menu, vegetarian options, and no added salt selections. Popular meals here include Dover sole, filet mignon, and Coq au Vin.

For a more casual dining experience, visit La Veranda with its indoor and outdoor seating. Breakfast and lunch are treated as buffets at this location. At dinner, it's transformed into an Italian trattoria with an antipasto and dessert buffet. You order your soup, pasta, salad and entree in an a la carte fashion. Don't miss the polenta or ossobuco!

Where Does She Sail?
No matter where you wish to vacation, Voyager probably ventures there once or twice a year. In the spring, summer and fall, you'll find her in the Baltic and Mediterranean. If you've got your heart set on a Caribbean cruise, the Voyager will take you there in late fall/early winter. (In December 2007, she'll also visit the Panama Canal.) And, at the beginning of January 2008, she'll depart for her 115-night World Cruise that wraps up on April 30.

What do you love about Regent's Voyager?
If you've sailed Voyager, tell us what you love about her. Just click on "Comments" link at the bottom of this post. Anyone can post...you don't need to be a member of Blogger.

For more information about Regent Seven Seas Cruises, call your travel agent, visit Regent's website or request a brochure from them at (866) 284-4079.

Photo courtesy of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Best Medium Ships Poll

Conde Nast Traveler just released the results of its 2007 Cruise Poll. In the medium ship category – ships carrying 500 to 1,000 passengers – Regent’s Seven Seas Voyager came in first place.

1. Seven Seas Voyager, Regent Seven Seas, 94.6

2. Crystal Serenity, Crystal, 93.9

3. Crystal Symphony, Crystal, 92.9

4. Seven Seas Mariner, Regent Seven Seas, 90.5

5. Insignia, Oceania, 87.1

6. Regatta, Oceania, 84.8

7. Veendam, Holland America, 83.6

8. Nautica, Oceania, 83.2

9. Tahitian Princess, Princess, 82.4

10. Prinsendam, Holland America, 81.2

11. Zaandam, Holland America, 80.8

12. Amsterdam, Holland America, 79.8

12. Rotterdam, Holland America, 79.8

14. Volendam, Holland America, 79.5

15. Maasdam, Holland America, 79.0

16. Ryndam, Holland America, 78.9

17. Statendam, Holland America, 76.7

18. Pacific Princess, Princess, 76.6

Best Small Ships Poll

According to the 2007 Cruise Poll from Conde Nast Traveler, ships with fewer than 500 passengers traditionally garner the highest scores, especially for itineraries and service. Here’s how the poll panned out this year.

1. SeaDream II, SeaDream Yacht Club, 95.2

2. River Aria, Grand Circle, 94.8

3. Silver Shadow, Silversea, 92.5

4. River Adagio, Grand Circle, 92.4

5. Silver Cloud, Silversea, 92.0

6. Seven Seas Navigator, Regent Seven Sea, 91.9

7. Seabourn Spirit, Seabourn, 91.7

8. Empress of the North, Majestic America Line, 91.5

9. River Melody, Grand Circle, 91.4

10. Paul Gauguin, Regent Seven Seas, 90.9

11. SeaDream I, SeaDream Yacht Club, 90.7

12. Seabourn Legend, Seabourn, 90.2

13. Silver Whisper, Silversea, 89.1

14. Seabourn Pride, Seabourn, 89.0

14. Viking Sky, Viking River Cruises, 89.0

16. Wind Spirit, Windstar, 88.2

17. Polaris, Lindblad Expeditions, 85.7

18. River Anuket, Grand Circle, 85.2

18. Viking Century Sky, Viking River Cruises, 85.2

20. Clipper Odyssey, Clipper, 85.1

21. Viking Europe, Viking River Cruises, 84.0

21. Viking Spirit, Viking River Cruises, 84.0

23. Silver Wind, Silversea, 83.9

24. Wind Star, Windstar, 82.4

25. Endeavour, Lindblad Expeditions, 81.8

26. Celebrity Xpedition, Celebrity, 81.3

27. Wind Surf, Windstar, 80.6

28. Mozart, Peter Deilmann, 79.9

29. Sea Lion, Lindblad Expeditions, 79.4

30. Spirit of Yorktown (formerly the Yorktown Clipper), Cruise West, 78.8

31. River Countess, Uniworld, 77.1

32. Spirit of Endeavour, Cruise West, 77.0

33. River Princess, Uniworld, 76.9

34. Viking Burgundy, Viking River Cruises, 75.9

35. Royal Clipper, Star Clippers, 75.5

36. Mandalay, Windjammer, 75.0

Where Are You Cruising In 2007?

All the cruise lines have some terrific itineraries coming up. Where are you cruising to this year? We're hoping to get to the Mediterranean in 2007. Some of the itineraries that look really fantastic include:

Crystal Cruises' Serenity porting in Istanbul and Kusadasi/Turkey, Alexandria/Egypt, and Rhodes, Santorini and Athens, Greece.

and

Silversea's Silver Whisper sailing Barcelona and Palma De Mallorca in Spain, St. Tropez/France, Monte Carlo/Monaco and Portofino and Civitavecchia in Italy.

Where are you cruising this year and with what line? Click on "comments" below and let us know. And, if you have a cruise blog or website devoted to your last cruise, let us know that too!

Happy cruising in 2007!

Photo of the Serenity courtesy of Crystal Cruises

Beating Norovirus

Tony Shalhoub's hysterical character, the dectective-turned-germophobe Adrian Monk, in the USA Network series Monk is right on the money each time he asks his trusty assistant to hand him a hand sanitizer wipe. If you spend a lot of time in public buildings (schools, daycare centers, offices, nursing homes) or aboard a cruise ship, you'd be wise to pick up Monk's habit as well. Killing bacteria and other germs – and making sure not to spread them – is a big step in stopping a norovirus outbreak before it even starts.

There have been quite a few reports of norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships in the media this year. However, it's important to note that you can catch this bug on land too. In fact, it's the second most prevalent illness in the U.S. after the common cold.

Norovirus is basically a stomach bug that can come on fast with symptoms of stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. It doesn't last long; 24 hours to two days, but that can feel like lifetime when you're in the middle of your long-awaited cruise getaway.

The virus, which according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) affects fewer than one percent of all cruise ship passengers each year, is spread mainly by person-to-person contact. You can also pick up the bug indirectly, say, by pushing the button for the elevator or holding the handrail as you walk down the stairs.

The CDC offers some solid tips for staying healthy on a cruise. Click on the following links for their practical advice and information.

Cruising Tips

Recommended Handwashing Techniques on Cruise Ships

Cruise Ship Inspection Scores

San Fran to Host Cunard's Queen Mary 2

If you'll be in San Francisco on February 4 or 5, you can be a witness to history as Cunard's Queen Mary 2 makes its maiden call on the City by the Bay. This is QM2's only visit to the West Coast this year and Cunard plans to celebrate in style.

At 3:30 pm on Sunday, February 4, the QM2 will sail beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. According to Cunard, the best viewing locations including:

• The Golden Gate Bridge (from both the north and south sides)
• Pier 45 and Pier 39
• Fort Mason
• Aquatic Park
• Crissy Field

Thousands of people are expected to turn out to welcome the QM2 to San Francisco. In addition, she will be escorted into the harbor by dozens of ships, yachts and San Francisco's fire boats. This army of vessels will circle the harbor before the Queen Mary 2 docks at Pier 27 at 8:00 pm.

This stop in San Fran is part of the ship's "Around the World in 80 Days" world cruise. She'll continue on to the South Seas, Australia, China, India, Egypt and the Mediterranean.

If any of you out there are able to attend this event and have photos you'd like to share, please e-mail me at andrea edit at yahoo dot com (delete the spaces). Thanks! —Andrea

Photo courtesy of Cunard.

2007 Amex Perks on Regent Seven Seas

If you have an American Express Platinum or Centurion card, don't miss the extra perks offered when sailing with Regent Seven Seas. Just make sure the credit card Regent has on file is your Amex and you'll receive additional benefits.

For a recap of the perks themselves, visit Brown & Keene Travel's terrific message board, LuxuryCruiseTalk.com. Thanks, Ngaire!

Storm Chaser Max Mayfield Aboard Regent's Mariner

For those with a special interest in hurricanes and meteorology in general, don't miss Regent Seven Seas' upcoming March 13, 2007 Caribbean voyage with special guest Max Mayfield.

Mayfield has been a TV fixture in his role as the former director of the Tropical Prediction Center of the National Hurricane Center. He'll present three lectures on the topics of hurricane behavior and meteorology. In 2006, Mayfield was honored with the Neil Frank Award from the 2006 National Hurricane Conference for "efforts to significantly improve the accuracy of hurricane forecasting," a factor which has "undoubtedly saved countless lives and property." In 2005, Mr. Mayfield was named ABC Television Network's "Person of the Week" following Hurricane Katrina.

Mayfield will be aboard the Mariner's March 13, 2007 10-night Caribbean voyage with the following itinerary out of Fort Lauderdale:

Princess Cays, Bahamas
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Gustavia, St. Barts
Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
Cayo Levantado, Dominican Republic
Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands

Regent Seven Seas is pleased to welcome Mayfield to its growing fold of guest lecturers. "We strive to offer onboard enrichment programs and lecturers who provide unique insights and expertise to our guests," noted Sophie Vlessing, vice president of guest strategy and marketing for the cruise line.

Kids under 17 sail free on this particular cruise.

Photo courtesy of Regent Seven Seas

Follow OK Couple on Cunard's QE2 World Cruise

Oklahoma's Edmond Sun newspaper is writing a series of articles following local couple Sid and Thadda Groom's 81-day world cruise aboard Cunard's Queen Elizabeth 2. The Groom's plan to write about 20 ports of call during their adventure and report back to the newspaper on a regular basis.

Click here to read the first article in the Edmond Sun's series.

Map courtesy of Cunard

Top Physicians Aboard Crystal in 2007

What traveler isn't interested in staying healthy while on vacation? Crystal Cruises wants to keep its passengers fit and, with the help of Cleveland Clinic, has added important health-related travel tips to its website under the "Before You Sail" heading.

Also, as part of Crystal's renown Creative Learning Institute enrichment program, Cleveland Clinic health and wellness specialists will be aboard select 2007 sailings to present a series of interactive classes and workshops. Top physicians from one of the U.S.'s top medical centers will explain how to effectively manage headaches and arthritis, offer tips for a healthier golf game, demystify preventive medicine cardiovascular issues, and much more.

According to Kristin Turner, Crystal's manager of entertainment who oversees the program, "Crystal's guests are educated and informed and they want to enrich themselves on vacation. They also want to know that they are learning from credible professionals who will share cutting edge research. The Cleveland Clinic is one of the most respected hospitals in the world. It's no surprise that the feedback on these programs has been exceptional."

Doctors from Cleveland Clinic will be aboard the following sailings:

Jan. 31 - Feb. 11 Panama Canal voyage from Costa Rica to Miami
Featuring: Dr. Michael Modic, M.D., Division Chairman of the Neurological Institute Office
Topics: Healthcare screenings, cardiovascular disease and brain imaging diagnostics

Feb. 25 - Mar. 4 Mexican Riviera sailing round-trip from Los Angeles
Featuring: Dr. Michael O'Donnell, Ph.D., Director of the Department of Health and Wellness
Topics: Health, wellness and prevention

Jun. 10 - 20 Baltic cruise from London to Stockholm (including St. Petersburg)
Featuring: Dr. A. David Rothner, M.D., Department of Neurology and Director of Patient Education and Health Information for the Clinic's Department of Education
Topics: Neurology and headaches

Jun. 27 - Jul. 11 North Cape cruise from Copenhagen to Stockholm
Featuring: Dr. Gary Hoffman, M.D., Department Chairman of the Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Disease
Topics: Rheumatology issues

Aug. 31 - Sep. 14, port-intensive Trans-Atlantic crossing from London to New York
Featuring: Dr. A.J. Cianflocco, M.D., from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Topics: Management of osteoarthritis of the knee, the mature athlete, exercise prescription, and healthier golf

Nov. 4 - 14 Panama Canal/Caribbean voyage from Miami to Costa Rica
Featuring: Dr. Mark Froimson, M.D., from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Topics: Orthopaedics

Nov. 9 - 19 Trans-Atlantic crossing from Lisbon to Miami, including Bermuda
Featuring: Dr. Michael Rocco, M.D., from the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine
Topics: Heart disease issues

Nov. 19 - 30 Panama Canal/Caribbean Thanksgiving cruise
Featuring: Dr. Michael Rabovsky, M.D., Medical Director of the Department of Family Medicine at the Clinic's Beachwood Family Health and Surgery Center
Topics: Prevention and family medicine

Authors at Sea

There was an interesting article in yesterday's New York Times about book publishers sending authors on cruises to meet fans, read from their books, and present seminars. The article by Amy Cortese is titled At Sea with a Book to Read, and the Author of It, Too. (You may need to login to the New York Times website in order to read this article.)

Ms. Cortese talked about a recent Royal Caribbean voyage known as "Book It to Bermuda." About 150 book lovers signed up for the events which ranged from readings to seminars to knitting lessons.

You may also have heard of Authors at Sea. This group puts together sailings that bring together literary fans and authors. Their last voyage to the Mexican Riviera was in April 2006 aboard the Carnival Pride. Jackie Collins and Dean Koontz presided over the bon voyage party and authors on the bill throughout the cruise included Mary Higgins Clark, Paul Levine, Authur Frommer, and many others.

The next Authors at Sea cruise is scheduled for 2008. See their website for additional details.

Windstar's Wind Surf "Degrees of Difference"

If you've sailed aboard Windstar's Wind Surf and found you loved it but wished you could have booked a larger stateroom – ideal for entertaining – your wish has been granted. The ship spent five weeks undergoing several million-dollars worth of renovations and upgrades to accomplish the companies "Degrees of Difference" agenda.

What's new? Two 500-square-feet Bridge Suites, aptly located (where else?) on the bridge deck. The layout consists of a living and dining area, separate bedroom with walk-in closet and a marble bathroom decked out with a whirlpool tub and separate shower. Upgraded services – like an unpacking service, laundry and pressing, evening appetizers, complimentary bottled water, chilled champagne upon arrival, and additional L'Occitane bath supplies – are included. Bridge Suite guests also snag an invitation to dine with the Captain.

Even if you don't book a Bridge Suite on the Wind Surf, you'll benefit from the recent work: all staterooms and bathrooms have been refurbished. You'll find new fixtures, granite countertops, porcelain sinks, glass shelves, a magnifying mirror, Egyptian cotton towels and L'Occitane bath goodies.

The library is another major area of the ship that was overhauled in a major fashion. It's been replaced with the Yacht Club, the hub for socializing with other guests. It's got a comfortable coffeehouse vibe and offers plenty of seating, an espresso bar, eight computers with Internet access (you can also use your own laptop via wireless access). There's a large flatscreen TV, plus a library outfitted with the latest books, CDs and DVDs... all available for checkout.

Restaurants also got a bit of a facelift. The Bistro has been renamed Degrees. It's menu rotates between a steak house and cuisine from Northern Italy, France and Indonesia. The Veranda, were you'll head for breakfast and lunch, has benefited from a new awning, allowing for additional covered seating.

Two other points of interest: Balinese sun beds are to be installed on the Star deck and cooling mist sprays will be added to both pool areas. Can't wait!

Broder, McFarlane & Schieffer on Seabourn

Three Washington insiders will cruise with Seabourn in 2007 as part of the Dress Circle enrichment program. They'll speak with guests and provide firsthand insights into the inner workings of public policy in Washington, as well as the news media.

David S. Broder is a Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent for the Washington Post; a syndicated columnist whose insights are carried in over 300 newspapers nationwide, the author of half a dozen books on U.S. politics and a regular commentator on NBC’s Meet the Press; PBS’s Washington Week in Review and CNN’s Inside Politics. He will sail aboard Seabourn Pride’s 13-day cruise of “Rio & the Amazon” departing Rio de Janeiro on February 18, 2007.

Robert C. McFarlane is intimately familiar with the corridors of power, having served as national security advisor to President Reagan and in key White House posts in the Ford and Nixon administrations. As founder of Global Energy Systems and a director of the Washington Institute for Near East Studies, he is uniquely suited to join Seabourn Spirit’s 16-day voyage to “Arabia, India & Orchid Isles” departing Dubai on November 20, 2007.

Bob Schieffer was the popular anchor of the CBS Evening News in 2005 and 2006, but his exemplary career as a broadcast journalist includes 20 years as anchor of the Saturday CBS Evening News, 15 years as moderator of the network’s Sunday staple Face the Nation, and much more. As CBS chief Washington correspondent, he has covered presidential campaigns since 1972. He will be on board Seabourn Spirit’s 14-day cruise of “Asian Capitals & Vietnam” departing Singapore on December 6, 2007.

For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact Seabourn at (800) 929-9391 or Seabourn.com.

Photo courtesy of Seabourn Cruise Line.

Libya a No-Go for Seabourn

Seabourn Cruise Line announced today that it has cancelled its calls in Libya scheduled for two cruises in 2007:

May 7, 2007 – Seabourn Spirit from Alexandria, Egypt to Rome, Italy
Instead of two days at Tripoli and one day at Derna, Libya, calls will be made at Kusadasi, Turkey (for Ephesus), Mykonos, Greece and Itea, Greece (near the Delphi ruins).

October 27, 2007 – Seabourn Legend from Rome, Italy to Lisbon, Portugal
Two days in Tripoli will be replaced with Naples (Italy), Palermo (Sicily) and Valletta (Malta).

Seabourn's president Pamela C. Conover said, "We regret the need to change any itinerary, but we have repeatedly petitioned the Libyan authorities to allow all of our guests into their country and they have shown no indication that they will do so. Fortunately, there are very attractive alternatives available, and we have added several."

For more information, discuss the itinerary change with your travel agent or contact Seabourn at (800) 929-9391 or Seabourn.com.

Photo of Seabourn Spirit courtesy of Seabourn Cruise Line.

More Scuba Options in the Caribbean from Windstar

If you love scuba diving, you'll be happy to hear that Windstar's Wind Surf has expanded its diving options in the Caribbean with double-tank dive sites in Dominica, Grenada and St. Martin.

Many cruisers have long thought that the Wind Surf, Windstar's 312-guest motor sailing yacht, offers some of the best diving adventures in the Caribbean.

According to Diane Moore, Windstar's vice president of marketing and sales, "Sailing on the Wind Surf is an ideal opportunity to combine the adventure of diving with relaxation on a luxury ship. If one-half of a couple isn't interested in diving, there is plenty to entertain them while their partner enjoys the diving excursions."

The shores of Dominica are well-known for excellent diving and the ship's stop in Roseau allows for two dives in the Scottshead Marine Reserve. The first dive at L'Abym takes divers to a vertical wall dropping to more than 800-feet in some places and teems with schooling reef fish. The second dive site, called Champagne, is located in a freshwater hot spring offering a unique experience diving with geo-thermal vents pumping up air bubbles and hot water.

In Grenada, two dives in Flamingo Bay center around impressive rocks covered in rock fans, gorgonian bushes, barrel sponges, and coral fingers ending in a sandy white bottom. Divers may see a great variety of marine life here including sergeant majors, yellow stripe grunts, goatfish, lobster, eels and small octopus.

At the Wind Surf's stop in St. Martin, divers will transfer over to the Dutch side of the island where a local dive operator will choose two dive sites. Divers will descend down a mooring line onto the top of the reef. Diving in this area is known for close encounters with reef sharks, nurse sharks, hawksbill turtles, stingrays and possibly dolphins.

Scuba diving enthusiasts can take advantage of Windstar's "Dive the Five" package offered at $350 for five one-tank dives. A Discover Scuba Diving program, as well as a PADI Advanced Open Water Course and Adventures in Diving program are also offered.

The Wind Surf's southbound itinerary roundtrip from Bridgetown, Barbados visits Bequia, Grenadines; Roseau, Dominica; Pigeon Island, St. Lucia; Mayreau, Grenadines; St. Georges, Grenada; and Tobago. The northbound itinerary roundtrip from Barbados visits Charlestown, Nevis; St. Martin; St. Barthelemy; Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe; Iles des Saintes; and Pigeon Island, St. Lucia. The two itineraries are ideal for combining into a two-week cruising vacation.

Windstar's scuba diving program is also offered on the msy Wind Star in Costa Rica and the msy Wind Spirit sailing out of St. Thomas in the Caribbean.

As part of the line's Degrees of Difference initiative, another multi-million dollar investment will be made in all three ships from 2006 and 2007. For the Caribbean season, the Wind Surf will be fresh from a five-week work period in the fall with remodeled bathrooms in all staterooms, two new deluxe suites and the Yacht Club, the new hub of the ship with computers, Internet, espresso bar, books and movies, flatscreen TV and comfortable seating.

Photos courtesy of Windstar Cruises

Pamela Conover Takes Helm of Seabourn

After the sad and untimely death of Seabourn Cruise Line's past president Deborah L. Natansohn (who suffered a fatal heart attack on October 22), the line knew it needed to find an extraordinary replacement. Natansohn had a long-term vision for Seabourn and aggressive plans, including the addition of two new ships.

Micky Arison, chairman of Carnival Corporation selected cruise industry veteran Pamela C. Conover to fill Natansohn's shoes as president and CEO of Seabourn. Conover has a history with the brand and was promoted from her post as vice president of shared services at Carnival. She has served as president for three cruise lines: Orient Line, Cunard and Seabourn (from 2001-2004).

A sketch of the newly commissioned Seabourn yachts.

Conover is looking forward to this new challenge. "I am extremely gratified to be offered the helm at Seabourn at this exciting juncture," Conover noted. "Seabourn's two new, state-of-the-art ships will represent the next evolution of the ultra luxury segment, and except for the tragic circumstances I couldn't be happier about returning."

Photos courtesy of Seabourn Cruise Line

Windstar Changes Its Tipping Policy

Windstar fans who've booked a cruise for this winter/spring have been receiving word from the cruise line regarding a change to their tipping policy. Here is an e-mail that Windstar has been circulating:

"We are changing our policy. Our crew works very hard to make sure that every aspect of your cruise meets the highest standards. This includes those crewmembers who serve you directly, such as wait staff, beverage servers and the stewards who service your stateroom each day. There are also many others who support their efforts whom you may never meet, such as galley and laundry staff. To ensure that the efforts of all of our crewmembers are recognized and rewarded, a Hotel Service Charge of $11 per passenger is automatically added to each guest’s shipboard account on a daily basis. If our service exceeds or fails to meet your expectations, you are free to adjust this amount at the end of the cruise. In addition, a 15% Beverage Service Charge is automatically added to bar charges and dining room wine purchases. These charges are paid entirely to Windstar crewmembers, and represent an important part of their compensation.

In terminals, airports, ports of call and on shore excursions, we suggest that you extend gratuities consistent with customary local practices.

Implementation of this policy takes place on the Wind Spirit and Wind Star December 9, 2006 and the Wind Surf December 16, 2006."

Crystal Syphony's $23 Million Dry Dock Refurb

Ah, to be a fly on the wall aboard Crystal Cruises Symphony during her nine-day, $23 million dry dock refurbishment at BAE Systems Norfolk Shop Repair on the Elizabeth River in Virginia!

In less than two weeks, a team of 1,295 people (750 contractors and 545 Crystal crew from 40 different countries) will renovate 411 staterooms, create an entirely new nightclub and casino, redesign the shopping boutiques, update the Bistro Cafe, and install new computers and wireless Internet access in the ship's Computer University@Sea. It's a whopper of a job, and that's not even taking into account all of the technical tweaks being made to the ship's hull, rudders and propellers.

These upgrades are part of Crystal's long-term plan to keep the Symphony an exciting and relevant option for cruisers. Remember, the line spent nearly $35 million refurbishing the Symphony over the past few years. Now add another $23 million and you've got one stunning ship!

The last round of upgrades two years ago included the creation of a Feng Shui-styled spa, the Vintage Room, an expansion of the ship's Computer University@Sea, redesign of the specialty restaurants and a complete refurbishment of all penthouse staterooms and suites.

Symphony's November 2006 dry dock tackles the following improvements:

• Refurbishment of 411 staterooms with new Murano glass bedside lamps, Rubelli fabrics, leather headboards, LED reading lights, new 20-inch flat-screen TVs, and newly designed bathrooms with contemporary oval glass sinks and granite countertops. It takes workers about two days to reinvigorate each stateroom and every day the crew should complete about 40 cabins.

• Complete overhaul and redesign of the Tiffany Deck (deck 6), the main entertainment area on the Symphony. You'll find new color schemes and lighting that will help guests shift moods as the day moves to night.

The Tiffany Deck includes...

• the new Starlite Club with an open environment, Swarovski crystal-studded walls and panoramic sea views.

• the new black and silver motif Crystal Casino with black jack, roulette, baccarat, Texas Hold-em and slots.

• Luxe, a sophisticated nightclub with polished aluminum Phillipe Stark bar stools and glass Bizzaza mosaics.

• new boutiques and shops.

• the recreated Bistro Cafe with new decorative tiles, wall finishings and upholstery in warm earth tones.

• new computers and wireless Internet service in Symphony's Computer University@Sea.


Crystal Cruises vice president of marine operations, Knut Aune, oversaw the complex dry dock operations. "The whole thing here is planning, planning, planning," Aune told The Virginian-Pilot. "To prepare for this has been months." And, indeed, Crystal Cruises jump-started the Symphony's makeover on October 20 when contracted workers boarded the ship in New York to begin work on stateroom upgrades on Deck 7. The Symphony's New England cruise for that week was purposely undersold so work could begin without impacting guests in a negative way.

Waiting in Virginia were 140 shipping containers packed with the materials for the changeover, including lamps and mirrors, carpet, and more.

It's truly amazing what will be accomplished aboard the Symphony in a mere nine days! I look forward to sailing her soon to see the improvements in person!

Photo courtesy of Crystal Cruises

Seabourn's President Deborah L. Natansohn - RIP

Shocking and sad news for the luxury cruise industry today. Deborah L. Natansohn, president of Seabourn Cruise Line, passed away after suffering a heart attack on Sunday, October 22. She was only 53.

For those who follow the cruise business, you already know what an extraordinary person Deborah was. She was the first female appointed president of any cruise line when she earned that post at Orient Lines in 1998. Over the years, she also resided as president at Cunard and was instrumental in launching the Queen Mary 2. She became president of Seabourn in 2004.

Deborah had refined Seabourn's operation and found great success... so much so that the company just signed letters of intent for two new ultra luxury ships to debut in 2009 and 2010.

She was from New York and earned her BA in English Literature and Journalism at the State University of New York, Albany. She also attended Harvard Business School. She entered the workforce as an editor at Travel Trade magazine and then segued into travel marketing.

Deborah always gave back to the community and was a member of several mentor programs. She had so many plans and it's heartbreaking that she won't see them to fruition.

My thoughts are with Deborah's family, friends and colleagues.

Mark Your Calendar: Two New Ships from Seabourn

If you're a fan of cruising with Seabourn, mark your calendar for spring 2009 and 2010. That's when the line's two new ultra-luxury ships will join the existing fleet. Italian shipbuilder T. Mariotti S.p.A. of Genoa was tapped to build the ships at a cost of $250 million each.

The move will double Seabourn's current fleet capacity of 624 staterooms, since each new vessel will house 225 suites, 90 percent with balconies.

"Our brand has been experiencing more demand in the marketplace than we could fulfill for quite some time now," said Deborah L. Natansohn, president of Seabourn. " The new ships will allow us to bring the unique Seabourn experience to a larger number of people, particularly the highly affluent and active baby boomer generation just now heading towards the more leisurely years of their lives."

According to Natansohn, the vessels "will be spacious, with the sleek lines and relaxed, personal feel of an oversized yacht. We've essentially taken the signature elements of our existing yachts and added some exciting new features that the larger hulls will allow."

I'm sure we'll be hearing more about these ships in the months to come.