Live Cruise Update: Trails of the Ancients in Moorea

Note: This week I'm blogging and tweeting live from the Society Islands in French Polynesia. We're sailing aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin from Paul Gauguin Cruises and will also enjoy overnight stays at the InterContinental Resort Tahiti and Le Meridien Bora Bora.

Yesterday was another magical day in French Polynesian. We embarked on a five-hour shore excursion with guest lecturer Mark Eddowes. It was a fantastic tour that took us across the island to Cook's Bay, Belvedere, and into the rain forest to see several sacred marae sites.

Here's just a bit of what we saw. More details to come when I have a chance to write up a full report.

Our transportation during this shore excursion.

A stop at the agricultural school, where visitors can buy

vanilla beans, coffee beans, jams, and ice cream.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos © Leonard Hospidor and Andrea M. Rotondo

Live Cruise Update: Le Meridien Bora Bora

Note: This week I'm blogging and tweeting live from the Society Islands in French Polynesia. We're sailing aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin from Paul Gauguin Cruises and will also enjoy overnight stays at the InterContinental Resort Tahiti and Le Meridien Bora Bora.

On Day 1 at Bora Bora we stayed at Le Meridien to get the overwater bungalow experience. Here are a few snapshots to tied you over until I can blog more and tell you all about it.

This morning we're in Moorea and are about to attend a lecture by Mark Eddowes, who's been appointed National Geographic expert in French Polynesia. We'll also take his walking tour later today.

More details to come!

Le Meridien "base" on Bora Bora. This is where you pick up your boat shuttle to the resort, which is on a motu off the main island.

The boat shuttle to Le Meridien.

The pier flanked by rows of overwater bungalows.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos © Leonard Hospidor and Andrea M. Rotondo

Live Cruise Update: Day 1 in Bora Bora

Note: This week I'm blogging and tweeting live from the Society Islands in French Polynesia. We're sailing aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin from Paul Gauguin Cruises and will also enjoy overnight stays at the InterContinental Resort Tahiti and Le Meridien Bora Bora.

m/s Paul Gauguin in Bora Bora's Lagoon Off Vaitape

Yesterday was our first of two days in Bora Bora. We woke early and headed to the Grand Salon at 8:15 am to queue up for the Shark and Ray Watching By Glass-Bottom Boat Tour. If you're looking for a low-impact tour that's also a bit more exciting than an air-conditioned bus ride around the island, this 1.5-hour trip is for you.

About 10 of us boarded a small glass-bottom boat and boated out to the lagoon to view black-tipped reef sharks and lemon sharks. Through the glass, we did manage to find two or three lemon sharks. They stay at the bottom of the ocean so you'll only see those through the glass or while diving. Our captain also baited the water and drew the attention of about 15 black-tipped reef sharks.

Our glass-bottom boat captain piloting us toward the shark-viewing area.

The view through the glass bottom of the boat.

You can just make out the outline of a lemon shark.

Here are two of the black-tipped reef sharks that stopped by to say 'hello' and get some food!

After we had our fill of shark photo ops, we moved to a more shallow part of the lagoon where we met some stingrays. These animals are very tame here and are used to people arriving each day to feed them. Your guide will attract the stingrays and feed them while you touch their backs (very silky) and swim alongside them.

Our guide feeding a stingray.

It is easy to get out of the boat and the water is very shallow in this part of the lagoon so there is no reason not to take part. The stingrays are very gentle and it is not scary at all. This is a short excursions but well worth the while! The cost per person is about $90.

After the tour, we headed back to the Paul Gauguin to pick up our overnight bag and went to Le Meridien Bora Bora for the afternoon and evening. I need to download our photos from that stop and then I'll upload some for you to see. The resort is stunning and we loved swimming with the sea turtles in Le Meridien's lagoon. Our overwater bungalow was also stunning. More details to come...

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos © Leonard Hospidor and Andrea M. Rotondo

Live Cruise Update: Beach BBQ at Motu Mahana in Taha'a

Note: This week I'm blogging and tweeting live from the Society Islands in French Polynesia. We're sailing aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin from Paul Gauguin Cruises and will also enjoy overnight stays at the InterContinental Resort Tahiti and Le Meridien Bora Bora.

Yesterday we had a blast at Paul Gauguin's beach BBQ on Motu Mahana, off Taha'a. This is probably the prettiest spot we've seen for an event like this. There was plenty of shade, lounge chairs, and tables and chairs. It was easy swimming and snorkeling (no waves at all) and we even swam across to another small motu.

We're in Bora Bora this morning and are about to leave for our shark and ray watching tour. After that we're heading to Le Meridien Bora Bora to spend the evening in a romantic overwater bungalow.

I'll leave you with these photos of our day at Motu Mahana and will post more details later this week.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos © Leonard Hospidor and Andrea Rotondo

Live Cruise Update: First Impressions of Paul Gauguin Cruises

Note: This week I'm blogging and tweeting live from the Society Islands in French Polynesia. We're sailing aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin from Paul Gauguin Cruises and will also enjoy overnight stays at the InterContinental Resort Tahiti and Le Meridien Bora Bora.

First things first. When I first mentioned that Leonard and I would be sailing with Paul Gauguin Cruises, a lot of travelers emailed me to say they'd be very interested in hearing how the ship was faring now under new management. Many were loyal fans of the m/s Paul Gauguin when Regent Seven Seas managed the ship and were worried that somehow things would go downhill when new management—Paul Gauguin Cruises—came into the picture.

Stop worrying! The ship is in excellent condition (lots of money was recently invested to refurb the vessel), much of the crew remains the same (Siglo and Hal Fraser are both still onboard as are Les Gauguines), the vibe is a happy one and service has been very good. Our room stewardess Marivic is excellent, the bartenders are jovial and fast, and the waitstaff hasn't missed a thing.

This is Day Three of our seven-night Tahiti-to-Tahiti itinerary. We visited Raiatea yesterday and took the Faaroa River and Island Exploration tour that included river passage on a motorized outrigger canoe as well as a 4x4 off-road expedition. Excellent tour and the two Polynesian guides we had were both very good and conducted the tour in multiple languages.

Since that was an afternoon tour we were able to do a lot on the ship beforehand. Here are a few of the events that took place:

• Port Talk with cruise director Michael Shapiro and travel concierge Paulina Salinas
• Snorkeling gear pickup at the Marina
• A cooking demonstration from celebrity chef Dean James Max
• Shell bracelet craft session with Les Gauguines
• Moonfish carving demonstration with executive chef Mark Bishop

In the evening, we dined at L'Etoile with hotel manager Ferdinand Strohmeier. Excellent conversation and a nice way to cap off a perfect day in French Polynesia.

Today we're anchored off Taha'a and will spend most of the day at Moto Mahana. It's a beach/snorkel day with a BBQ lunch.

All in all, Paul Gauguin Cruises has—so far—exceeded my expectations. Despite the 21-hour journey to get here, I would do it all over again next week! And, right now, the value can't be beat. To be honest, I think a voyage with Paul Gauguin Cruises is the best luxury value available right now. (Check out special pricing for this summer and you'll see what I mean.)

Stay tuned for more blog posts and photos and visit my Twitter page for more French Poly messages and photos.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Tweeting from Paul Gauguin Cruises

Note: This week I'm blogging and tweeting live from the Society Islands in French Polynesia. We're sailing aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin from Paul Gauguin Cruises and will also enjoy overnight stays at the InterContinental Resort Tahiti and Le Meridien Bora Bora.

Just a quick note to let you know we're having a fantastic time aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin from Paul Gauguin Cruises. I'll be blogging later today but in the meantime, check out some photos I just "tweeted". Check back later for more details on our first impressions of the PG and our first port of call—Raiatea.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Live Cruise Update: InterContinental Tahiti & Our Paul Gauguin Cruises Voyage

Note: This week I'm blogging and tweeting live from the Society Islands in French Polynesia. We're sailing aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin from Paul Gauguin Cruises and will also enjoy overnight stays at the InterContinental Resort Tahiti and Le Meridien Bora Bora.

Day 1 in Papeete, Tahiti

When I was just a little girl, my family and I made a pilgrimage each November to the Polynesian Village in Florida. This complex, one of Walt Disney World's original resorts, was a series of longhouses—each named after a far-flung Polynesian island. My sister, brother, and I agreed that it was basically paradise: exotic Polynesian girls manning the check-in desk, tropical/kitsch decor in the rooms, a location right on a lovely lagoon, and walking paths carved out of a lush garden, lit at night by flaming tiki torches. And in true 1970s spirit, there was even a game room decked out with the hottest video games like Ms. PacMan! Heaven on earth!

I don't think it ever occurred to me all those years ago that someday, when I was all grown up, I'd be privileged enough to actually visit some real Polynesian islands! But, here I am. After a super-long trip from the East Coast, we landed in Papeete, Tahiti at approximately 11pm last night.

The long-haul trip in economy wasn't nearly as tough as I'd imagined. Our Continental flight was on-time and uneventful—all you can hope for these days! We started off a bit bumpy with Air Tahiti Nui when my husband and I initially weren't seated next to each other on the Los Angeles to Papeete leg of the trip. The staff at the check-in desk went above and beyond and got the problem fixed so we could travel together (which is important since if you know Leonard and I well, you know that despite our world travels one of us is not such a fan of flying...and that's putting it mildly).

Once on the ground in Papeete, we spent about 30 minutes in line to get through Customs. Then it was a very short taxi ride (maybe 5 minutes) from the airport to the InterContinental Resort Tahiti, where we're staying for just one evening.

The hotel seemed busy but check-in took only minutes and we sipped fruit drinks while we waited. We were upgraded to the Lotus overwater bungalows due to our status as InterContinental Ambassadors.









It was very spacious with a sitting room that had a sofa/pull-out bed, coffee table, and desk; bedroom area; spectacular bathroom with a large whirlpool tub and open-concept shower; and a large deck from which we could get right in the water. I'd definitely stay in this room again.

Our plan for the day was not ambitious. We lounged by the pool and acclimated to the time change. In the late afternoon we headed to the cruise dock at Place Vaiete in downtown Papeete on the waterfront. We've only been onboard for a few hours but so far so good. The crew is friendly, the ship is in wonderful condition, and we set sail this evening to explore the Society Islands. In an upcoming post, I'll give you our first blush impressions of m/s Paul Gauguin.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos © Andrea M. Rotondo

The 21-Hour Trek to Tahiti & Paul Gauguin Cruises

We are finally on our way to Tahiti and the Society Islands! It's going to be a long trip—about 21 hours from our door to our hotel in Papeete—but it will be well worth it. By this evening we'll be tucked in bed at the InterContinental Tahiti and on Saturday afternoon we'll board the m/s Paul Gauguin from Paul Gauguin Cruises.

There's no chance of an upgrade on the way to Los Angeles (too many Elites running that route from Newark), but our game plan is to sleep on that flight and then try to stay awake on the eight-hour Air Tahiti Nui flight. That way, we'll hopefully be able to sleep through the night once we arrive in Tahiti. Fingers crossed that our plan works!

Stay tuned to this blog for daily posts from the South Pacific. We promise to share all the details of the trip with you, along with tons of photos (Internet willing)! And, if there's anything you want to know about Paul Gauguin Cruises, the InterContinental Tahiti, Le Meridien Bora Bora, or the islands in general, please let us know!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of InterContinental Tahiti/Danee Hazama

Pre-Cruise Craziness—Looking Forward to Paul Gauguin Cruises

No matter how prepared I am in most aspects of my life, I always seem to race to finish a zillion tiny tasks the day before embarking on a cruise.

My bag has been packed for days, but I've got a list of minor details to tend to today before we can leave for our Paul Gauguin Cruises vacation...

• Download some new eBooks to my Kindle; I know I'll purchase Richard Clarke's new Cyber War: The Next Threat to National Security and What to Do About It and I'll have to pick a few others. I'd love to get a new Lisa Unger novel, but her next book (Fragile) isn't out until August. Darn!
  
  
• Get my hair done; I love the 24-hour beauty parlor in the Gramercy neighborhood of Manhattan. It's right near my office and I'll be in and out before 8am!
  
  
• Send out Mother's Day care packages. My favorite gifts to send include Belgium chocolates from Leonidas or cute "honeybee" bon bons from L.A. Burdick; clothes or fashion jewelry from Coldwater Creek; or pies from the Little Pie Company.
  
  
• Pick up some gourmet snacks for the plane. It's not smart to rely on the airlines to provide satisfying meals in the air so I'll be packing a picnic basket for the trip. For this, I head to Garden of Eden on 14th Street in Manhattan.

I'm sure I'll get it all done; I always do. But I can't wait until I can sink into my seat on the flight to Los Angeles and get some sleep! Now that you know my pre-cruise to-do list, share your last-minute travel traditions.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of LA Burdick

Packing for a Cruise: The Great Luggage Challenge

Leonard and I just finished packing for our South Pacific odyssey, which begins this Friday with our Air Tahiti Nui flight from Los Angeles to Papeete. We'll board the m/s Paul Gauguin on Saturday!

For this trip, we challenged each other to pack only what we need. I have to say, I think we were successful. We have one large suitcase, a small carry-on, my backpack/purse, and Leonard's camera bag. Not too shabby!

Of course, it's easiest to pack for a warm-weather cruise. After all, we're not going to need any cable-knit sweaters on Bora Bora! Instead, here's what we each packed:

• two swimsuits (two-piece separates for me and the bottoms do double-duty as shorts)
• three pairs of shorts
• two pairs of long pants
• four mix-and-match casual tops
• three country-club casual tops for evenings (plus a light wrap for me and a jacket for Leonard)
• shoes: one pair each of dress sandals, sneakers (to wear on the plane), and reef slippers
  
• one hat each

We generally send our laundry out once during a cruise, so this should get us through the seven-night itinerary with no problems and I'm sure we'll both pick up a T-shirt or two on the islands.

The toiletry bag was tougher to cull since we'll need copious amounts of insect repellent (I'm a mosquito magnet) and sunscreen (which can be expensive in Tahiti).

I have friends that can't believe we can make it all the way to Tahiti with just one suitcase and a small Vera Bradley rollerboard! (I'll have to handle that bag since the pattern is a bit too girl-y to expect Leonard to carry around; it's the carry-on bag I usually use during overnight business trips.)

It will be interesting to see how I feel about our luggage selection once we return. But, I'll say this, there have been plenty of times that I've come back from a cruise with outfits in my suitcase that never saw the light of day. I've never returned wishing I had brought more clothing.

I like the fact that we won't be bogged down by suitcases, since our camera gear is heavy enough as it is!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

3 Things I Didn't Know About Silversea's Silver Spirit

Guess what? We've just booked passage on the June 5th sailing of Silversea's new Silver Spirit from Venice, Italy to Athens, Greece. This is a ship we've been itching to try, but the itineraries just weren't meshing with our schedules. But, when we saw a small window in which we'd be available, we investigated the options and Silver Spirit's itinerary fit the bill nicely.

That being said, I now need to learn everything I can about the ship—quickly! I'm just scratching the surface, but here are some things I've discovered that surprised me:

3 Things I Didn't Know About Silver Spirit

1. Silversea Loves Fine Chocolate as Much as I Do!
   Finally, a luxury cruise line that leaves artisan chocolates on your pillow during evening turn-down service. I love chocolate far more than I should (I know, it's an addiction that I really should seek help to overcome) and Silver Spirit will cater to my sweet tooth. They purvey handmade chocolates from Pierre Marcolini of Brussels. These treats will eventually make their way to Silversea's other ships during select itineraries this summer in Europe.
   
   
2. Silver Spirit's Been on TV
   Plum TV reporter Alex Miranda filmed a short segment aboard Silver Spirit. Check out this Silver Spirit clip, which includes an interview with Silversea's VP of Sales, Stephen Tucker.
   
   
3. How the In-Room Mirror TVs Work
   I knew that this ship had installed unique mirrors that double as a TV. What I didn't know is how they work. Check out this video for the details.
   
   
   
   I'm excited to learn more about this beautiful new ship and I'm curious to match up what I've heard and read with my own personal experience. Just 39 days until we board Silver Spirit!
   
   
   —Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com
   
   
   Photo courtesy of Silversea
   

"Dining with the Captain" Story in My Cruise Magazine from Thomas Cook

If you're not from the United Kingdom, you may not be familiar with a terrific travel magazine called My Cruise (formerly Cruise). The tagline says it all: "The magazine for people who see the world by sea." The publication is sponsored by Thomas Cook, a well-regarded travel company that sells vacation packages and publishes its own series of guidebooks.

There's a very interesting feature package in the February/March 2010 issue called "The Ultimate Guide to Cruising." Cruise experts, like yours truly, shared their expertise on a variety of subjects.

Here are the pieces you can read at the My Cruise website:

• How to Get on the Captain's Table by Andrea M. Rotondo (my article!)
  
  
• How to Meet People on Board by Jennie Bond
  
  
• How to Pack for a Cruise by Esther Rantzen
  
  
• How to Celebrate Onboard by James Dunn, assistant cruise director, Carnival Dream
  
  
• How to Pick the Best Shore Excursions by Ann Elsten, shore excursion manager, Grand Princess
  
  
• Five Ports to See Before You Die by Carolyn Spencer Brown (Cruise Critic)
  
  
• Five Must-Have Cruise Apps by Anisha Patel
  
  
• Five Onboard Options That Aren't Publicized by Fran Golden
  
  
• How to Pick the Best Cabin by Jane Archer
  
  
• How to Get an Upgrade by Anisha Patel
  
  

There are a ton of other good reads in the magazine as well, including a hefty feature about Silversea's new Silver Spirit. That story was particularly timely for me since I'm booked to sail Silver Spirit this summer.

Check out My Cruise magazine and bookmark its website. The magazine is definitely worth reading.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of My Cruise magazine

T-Minus 10 to French Polynesia and the m/s Paul Gauguin

I know the economy is recovering because I haven't been this busy in nearly three years. I'm working on nonfiction book projects, guidebook updates, magazine and website articles, and even an iPhone app! Every minute of the day seems to be spoken for so I am quite literally counting down the minutes until our French Polynesian vacation. Paul Gauguin Cruises, here we come! I can't imagine a better place to unwind.

Next week we'll make the long trip from New York to Tahiti. We've got a one-night pre-cruise stay at the InterContinental Resort Tahiti. We're IC Ambassador members so I'm hoping for an upgrade from a panoramic room to an overwater motu bungalow. To be honest, the upgrade probably won't matter much. We'll roll into Papeete a little before midnight and will be very, very tired! Our plan for the next day is to sit by the pool and relax until it's time to head to the m/s Paul Gauguin.

The seven nights aboard the the ship will be heaven. We're also looking forward to shore excursions, like the Dolphin Watching Expedition in Moorea lead by marine biologist Dr. Michael Poole and Shark and Ray Watching by Glass-Bottomed Boat in Bora Bora.

Leonard will also spend plenty of time at the aft Watersports Marina, where he'll kayak, windsurf, and maybe even try water-skiing.

The only bag we've got packed so far is Len's camera gear. He's carrying the new Canon EOS 5D Mark II these days so we'll be posting tons of photos and high-definition video while we're away and upon our return.

If there's anything you want to know about the new Paul Gauguin Cruises, please let us know!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

New Alaskan Wilderness Adventures for Summer 2011 from InnerSea Discoveries

Does this sound like you?

• I dream of cruising Southeast Alaska, but I cringe at the thought of sailing aboard a huge cruise ship that can't get up close to the wildlife.
  
  
• I'd consider doing Alaska on my own, but I have no idea where to seek out the best spots to view whales, sea lions, seals, bears, and other animals.
  
  
• I prefer to travel with small groups of like-minded individuals.
  
  
• I want to be pampered on my Alaska cruise, but I could care less about formal night and the casino.
  
  
• I want to actually experience Alaska. I plan to hike, kayak, fish, swim, snorkel, and maybe even camp onshore.
  
  
• I'm an adventure seeker!

If that's you, visit InnerSea Discoveries' website and book an Alaska wilderness adventure. This cruise line is a new venture from the American Safari Cruises team and it focuses less on luxury and more on active, small-group adventures.

Choose from two small expedition ships: the 170-foot, 49-guest Wilderness Discoverer and the 157-foot, 49-foot Wilderness Adventurer. While the ships are small, the list of activities is long. Passengers can challenge themselves physically or simply relax. Options include hiking, paddle boarding, beachcombing, shore boat excursions, kayaking, swimming, snorkeling, whale and bird watching, glacier viewing, yoga sessions, fishing, and more. There are even cave exploration excursions and overnight camping options on shore.

There are two seven-night itineraries available from Ketchikan to Juneau. One direction explores the western region and the reverse itinerary explores the eastern region. There's no duplication on the two itineraries, so you can create a 14-night round-trip back-to-back.

InnerSea Discoveries calls their trips the "un-cruise" and they are ideally suited for anyone who eschews traditional big ship cruising. Seven-night expeditions start at $1,795 per person, double occupancy.

The inaugural season of InnerSea Discoveries begins May 21, 2011 and lasts through September 3, 2011. Learn more from your travel agent or contact InnerSea Discoveries at 1-(877) 901-1009.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of InnerSea Discoveries

New Cruiseflicks.com Archives Cruise/Shore Excursion Videos

Cruiseflicks.com is a new website devoted to archiving cruise and shore excursion videos. While the site is just getting up and running, it could become a wonderful research tool if enough luxury cruise travelers submit video clips of their voyages.

To sweeten the pot, Cruiseflicks.com is running a cruise giveaway. Details are sketchy at the site right now, but I'll be checking back to see how things develop.

I couldn't find any luxury cruise clips just yet, but there are some nice videos taken on various shore excursions.

It's worth bookmarking the site—http://www.cruiseflicks.com—and checking back in the future to see how the site grows.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

New Port for Crystal Cruises: Ashdod, Israel

This fall Crystal Serenity will depart Athens, Greece on October 19 for its 12-night "Ruins and Relics" Mediterranean voyage. This is the perfect itinerary for anyone who's fascinated by the ancient—and not so ancient—histories of Greece, Israel, Egypt, Malta, and Italy.

Travelers on this voyage will be the first Crystal passengers to overnight in Ashdod, Israel. With two full days to explore this Israeli port city, there will be an opportunity to visit sites of importance for Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Shore excursions visit the Western (Wailing) Wall and Temple Mount, among other locations.

This will be an action-packed cruise since you'll visit so many different historic sites, including the Great Pyramid of Giza, King Herod's tomb, Pompeii, Mount Etna, the Acropolis, and so much more.

The "Ruins and Relics" Full Itinerary Includes…

Piraeus/Athens, Greece

Ashdod, Israel (overnight)

Alexandria/Cairo, Egypt (overnight)

Valletta, Malta

Sicily/Catania, Italy

Naples, Italy

Civitavecchia/Rome, Italy

A special guest speaker will also be onboard this voyage: former White House press secretary and expert in world affairs, Marlin Fitzwater.

Crystal is currently offering two-for-one fares for this itinerary, starting at $5,940, double occupancy plus free air transportation from more than 20 North American gateways (free Business Class Air for penthouse guests), and $1,000 per person ‘All Inclusive – As You Wish’ shipboard credits.

For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact Crystal Cruises at 1-(888) 799-4625.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo from iStockPhotography.com

Paul Gauguin Cruises to Offer 2-for-1 Fares and Free Airfare on All 2011 Voyages

Paul Gauguin Cruises has announced its 2011 schedule for the m/s Paul Gauguin in French Polynesian. There are 40 voyages to choose from and all are on offer as 2-for-1 cruise fares with complimentary airfare from Los Angeles.

Take a look at the 2011 Paul Gauguin Cruises Preview Catalog and dream about which cruise you'd like to take.

Leonard and I are lucky enough to be sailing with Paul Gauguin Cruises at the end of the month and we can't wait! Our voyage is the 7-night roundtrip out of Papeete, Tahiti with ports of call Raiatea, Taha'a, Bora Bora, and Moorea. Longer voyages are also available throughout the Society Islands, Cook Islands, the Marquesas, and Tuamotus.

Our cruise documents just arrived and we look forward to pouring over them tonight! We'll report back tomorrow with more details.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of Paul Gauguin Cruises

Seabourn's One-Week Fare Sale is Almost Over

If you've been following cruise pricing over the last year, you know Seabourn often runs one-week "specials". We're in the middle of one of those promotions. Here are the details in case you didn't hear about it from your travel agent:

• Sale Dates:  Monday, April 5–Monday, April 12, 2010
• Promotion:  two-for-one cruise fares, including roundtrip air or cruise-only fares up to 65% off the rack rate
• Itineraries:  27 voyages between June and August 2010 are included in this sale

Seven-day Mediterranean cruises aboard Seabourn Spirit, Seabourn Legend, and Seabourn Odyssey begin from $2,499 per person for cruise-only, or $3,550 with inclusive air. Nine- to 12-day voyages on the brand new Seabourn Sojourn in Northern Europe start from $4,999 cruise-only or $6,400 with inclusive air. Cruises of 10 to 14 days in Asia aboard Seabourn Pride start from $3,499 cruise-only and $5,400 with air. Inclusive air is available from 40 North American gateways. All fares are per person, based on double occupancy.

For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact Seabourn 1-(800) 929-9391.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Dunham Cellars Team with Windstar on Mediterranean Cruise

The past few years have seen Windstar Cruises augmenting its on board education series and guest lecturers have often included celebrity chefs and winemakers. This summer aboard the 312-passenger Wind Surf as part of Windstar's Signature Collection Host Series, guests will meet winemaker Eric Dunham of Dunham Cellars on the July 25, sailing from Rome to Venice. The itinerary also includes Capri and Taormina, Italy; Kotor, Montenegro; and Dubrovnik and Hvar, Croatia.

Mr. Dunham is passionate about fine wine and will share his knowledge with travelers about the wine-making process in the form of lectures, Q&A sessions, and wine tastings. He'll also lead an exclusive seven-and-a-half-hour shore excursion to the wineries of Croatia. The day will begin with a drive along the Adriatic Coast to Komaji to visit winemaker Andro Crvik. Afterward, guests will move along to Orasac for a food tasting and a visit to Milos Winery in Ponikve Village. Then, the tour will visit the "oyster capital" of Croatia—Mali Ston—for a lunch of fresh-caught seafood and fine local wines.

Eric Dunham began his career at Hogue Cellars before being named assistant winemaker at L'Ecole No. 41 winery, where he studied under the famous Marty Clubb. From there, he began crafting premium cabernet sauvignon for his own brand, Dunham Cellars.

For more information about this cruise, talk with your travel agent or contact Windstar Cruises at 1-(800) 258-7245.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of Dunham Cellars

Crystal Cruises to Launch Open Dining By Reservation in 2011

Crystal Cruises has brainstormed a way to keep current guests happy with its traditional Classic Main and Late Seating dining times in the Crystal Dining Room while rolling out new "Perfect Choice Dining." I applaud the cruise line for developing an option for more flexible dining by reservation! In my opinion, this change makes Crystal Cruises much more appealing.

Starting on July 1, 2010, guests booked on itineraries in January 2011 and beyond will utilize an online Priority Check-In and Planning Center (PCPC) to make advance reservations for the main dining room as well as Crystal's specialty restaurants. You must select "Open Dining by Reservation" at the time of reserving your cruise in order to participate in this program and your cruise must be fully paid before you can make reservations via the PCPC.

Open Dining by Reservation tables are available from 6:15–9:15pm, subject to availability. Classic Main Seating is at 6:15pm and Late Seating begins at 8:30pm. Tables for two, four, six, and eight are available.

The cruise line has prepared a comprehensive FAQ about Crystal's new Open Dining by Reservation.

For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact Crystal Cruises at 1-(888) 799-4625.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of Crystal Cruises

Video: Celebrity Cruises Floats Out Celebrity Eclipse

Last summer we sailed aboard Celebrity Equinox, the second in Celebrity Cruises' $3.7 billion Solstice Class fleet. Last Thursday the cruise line floated out the next ship in the series: Celebrity Eclipse.

Take a look at this video from Celebrity Cruises and learn a bit more about this terrific new ship that starts sailing this April:

Celebrity Eclipse will sail round-trip itineraries out of Southampton, England between April and the end of October, when she'll cross the Atlantic and begin her winter season in the Caribbean.

For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact Celebrity Cruises.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

New Luxury Cruise Vacations for 2011–2012 from Yachts of Seabourn

It's no secret that I'm a fan of Yachts of Seabourn. Today the luxury line released its itineraries for 2011 and 2012. There are some fantastic routes so it's time to start planning! And, if any 2011 European or Asian cruise piques you're interest, you'll be pleased to learn more about Seabourn's special promotion that includes two-for-one pricing on some itineraries starting at $3,250 per person. Value air add-ons are also on special from $699 per person in economy and from $2,299 in business class.

So, where will Seabourn take you in 2011 and 2012? Just about anywhere says cruise line president and CEO Pamela Conover:

"With the launch of Seabourn Quest in June 2011, our six intimate yachts will enable us to provide the unique, Seabourn yachting lifestyle to travelers anywhere they wish to explore, from the beaches of St. Tropez to the jungles of Borneo. From Iceland to Queensland and Beijing to Barcelona, you can travel the world, and travel it well, on a Seabourn yacht."

New Itineraries

• Canada and New England aboard Seabourn Sojourn
  
  
• "Patagonian Passage"—Chilean fjords, Cape Horn, and Falkland Islands aboard Seabourn Sojourn
  
  
• Singapore to Bali with stops in Borneo, Sulawesi, and Java aboard Seabourn Pride
  
  
• "Indian Oceans Delight" series of cruises aboard Seabourn Legend
  
  
• 60-Day "Stars of the Southern Cross" from Los Angeles to French Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia, and Hawaii aboard Seabourn Odyssey
  
  
• 7-Night St. Petersburg & the Baltics aboard Seabourn Sojourn
  
  
• and more!

There are a lot of new itineraries mixed in with old favorites. It's worth your while to study the new PDF Cruise Calendar. I've had some time to study the options and here's one cruise that I know will be fantastic!

Andrea's Dream Cruise for 2011
Spice Islands Discoveries
12-Night Embarking June 29, 2011 Aboard Seabourn Pride
Benoa, Bali; Waikelo, Sumba; Palopo, Sulawesi; Makassar, Sulawesi;
Sandakan, Boreno; Kota Kinabalu, Borneo; Muara; Singapore

For more information about the Yachts of Seabourn, talk with your travel agent or call the cruise line at 1-(800) 929-9391.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of the Yachts of Seabourn

Countdown to French Polynesia Vacation with Paul Gauguin Cruises

There's no better cure for the winter blues than planning a luxury cruise vacation to some exotic destination like French Polynesia. For that very reason, I'm so thankful that I've got an upcoming voyage aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin from Paul Gauguin Cruises.

March is the probably my least favorite month. It's the busiest time of year for my work (writing and editing for book publishers, magazines, and websites) and it's generally when I reach the end of my rope regarding winter weather. I just want the snow to melt and the days to get longer and sunnier!

In the meantime, plans for my South Pacific cruise will just have to sustain me. Last week I attended a webinar hosted by Paul Gauguin Cruises. My husband and I fired up the computer and took notes as the PGC team spent an hour explaining just what was in store for travelers cruising with them.

After the webinar I downloaded the shore excursions for our seven-night itinerary and now it's time to make some tough choices. On Moorea, for example, do we want to book the "Capture Moorea Photo Adventure" tour hosted by photographer Renaud Fayada or the "Dolphin Watching Expedition" with local biologist Michael Poole? Maybe we can do both since we'll anchor off Moorea for two days. These are good decisions to have to make.

Our cruise is still two months away but the webinar has inspired me to get organized and research the cruise and the islands we'll be visiting. To that end, here are a few videos I found on YouTube. If you're planning to visit French Polynesia, these may be of interest to you as well. Enjoy!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Paul Gauguin Cruises Video

Diving in Tahiti Video

Cruise Ship Dress Code Uproar & the Yachts of Seabourn

Every luxury cruise line and cruise ship is grappling with the "great dress code debate" these days. What exactly is the debate all about? Many longtime cruisers love dressing up for formal night and look forward to one or more upscale events per cruise. Other guests, however, are asking cruise lines to loosen up on the rules of formality.

The Yachts of Seabourn just announced a significant change to its formal night policy. (The new rules will make their debut across the Seabourn fleet soon.)

• No black tie optional nights on cruises that are eight nights are shorter
• 1 black tie optional evening on cruises that are 9–13 nights
• 2 black tie optional nights on cruises that are 14–20 nights
• 3 black tie optional events on cruises that are 21 nights or longer

On those special "black tie optional" evenings, men are asked to wear tuxedos or dark-colored suits and women generally wear gowns or stylish cocktail dresses. The Restaurant hosts this gala while guests who wish to dress down (to the Elegant Casual category) are invited to dine at Restaurant 2, The Colonnade, or the Patio Grill).

My husband and I were thrilled to hear about this change. However, I completely understand that many cruisers love dressing up. I think they should continue dressing in whatever manner makes them most comfortable. I know couples who dress up every night for dinner while cruising. Others prefer Elegant Casual most of the time. Each traveler should do what works for them.

I do not think that the new dress code "dumbs down" the Seabourn experience. On the contrary, I think the cruise line will find that it attracts a new demographic of travelers who were afraid Seabourn would be too stodgy for them. I believe these new-to-cruising individuals will be a refreshing addition to Seabourn's passenger complement. After all, anyone who can afford Seabourn's price point knows how to dress smartly for dinner—formal night or not.

What do you think about Seabourn's new black tie optional plans?

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com