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Scenic Tours will commence operating their two new luxury river ships is early 2008
Scenic Tours will commence operating their two new luxury river ships is early 2008, the vessels feature large open-air balconies with over 25 sq. feet of space. Passengers can enjoy luxurious five-star accommodations while cruising along Europe's magnificent Rhine and Danube rivers.

The new ships feature the largest staterooms in the market with 82 percent of all cabins having private balconies. Four of the decks house standard cabins, suites, Royal suites, Junior suites, dining and observation areas complete with all the finer touches with each cabin and suite having a flat screen TV, air-conditioning, Internet access, mini-bar, hairdryer, personal safe and state-of-the-art in-room entertainment system which will offer a choice of over 1,000 movies on-demand.

There are two full decks of balcony suites that provide the ultimate in personal space, measuring 24 percent larger than average European river cruise cabins. Guests in the Balcony Suites, Junior Suites and Royal Suites on the superior Danube Deck enjoy the service of a private butler. Services provided by private butlers include complimentary serving of tea and coffee in guests' suites, garment pressing (maximum of two per day), shoe shining, serving pre-dinner canapés and drawing baths for guests in Royal suites.

For guests' enjoyment, the luxurious vessels include a spacious open-air lounge on the forward deck, as well as an on-board spa and gourmet restaurant. Inclusive value fares include Scenic FreeChoice's guided shore tours and sightseeing opportunities, gourmet meals, wine with dinner, airport and all gratuities. Individuals can indulge in gourmet meals served up in the fine dining restaurant, offering large panoramic windows for the ultimate waterfront dining experience. On-board meals include breakfast, lunch and dinner, complete with complimentary fine wines.

Fares will include gourmet meals, guided shore tours and sightseeing opportunities. For more information, visit - Scenic Sapphire

New Menus Filled With Regional Flair Enliven Cuisine Aboard Holland America Line’s Fleet in 2008

From coconut scallops in the Caribbean and Spanish tapas in the Mediterranean to chicken mole in Mexico, guests sailing aboard Holland America Line’s premium cruise ships in 2008 will savor new menus reflecting their ship’s current itinerary.  Master Chef Rudi Sodamin has incorporated flavors, techniques and recipes from around the world on new menus fleetwide.

Menus are changing to reflect the ship’s sailing itinerary, and local foods are brought on board to better reflect the regional cuisine. The new Mexico and Caribbean menus are the first to debut and are available now on ships sailing those itineraries.

“Part of the fun of travel is experiencing new cultures,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales, and guest programs. “By incorporating regional dishes, Chef Rudi has brought the excitement of visiting new destinations to the dining room.”

Fresh fish will be brought on board in the Caribbean and Mexico along with local produce such as chayote, bread fruit, guava and fresh Mexican chiles. Island spices, local fish and produce, and Sodamin’s knowledge of local specialties spice up the menu. On the Mexico itinerary, a guest might dine on Chicken mole, a Mexican regional specialty. In the Caribbean, the recipe changes to Caribbean jerk-style chicken.

Other sample dishes include: chili-rubbed tuna brochette, chilled West Indian lassi soup, mahi mahi with roasted corn salsa and plantains, Mexican tortilla soup with mushrooms, and guava stuffed chicken.

In an effort to enhance the fine dining experience on board, Sodamin will continue to introduce new menus as the ships change sailing destinations. He’s developing new menus for Northern and Southern Europe, as well as other destinations. On European itineraries, guests can enjoy prosciutto and coppa from Italy, Spanish tapas, Mediterranean olive oils and produce, artisanal cheeses and Norwegian salmon. Alaskan sailings will continue to feature wild Alaskan seafood.

Dinner menus in the main dining room have been redesigned with a fresh, modern look. A list of starters includes appetizers, soups and salads. Next is an entrée section, followed by Chef Rudi Sodamin’s recommendations for the day. A selection of entrées available daily includes favorites such as Caesar salad and New York strip steak. Wine and champagne recommendations appear at the bottom of the menu.

Guests on board may choose to dine in a variety of venues, from a quick bite poolside to a formal five-course affair. Every ship features an elegant main dining room; sophisticated Pinnacle Grill where guests can sample Sterling Silver beef and fresh seafood; the casual indoor-outdoor Lido Restaurant, and the Terrace Grill on deck for lunchtime fare.

River Barge Cruising booking season is here
With a huge and growing choice of barges and destinations available as well as the opportunity to buy in US Dollars, barge cruising offers serious value and is a delightful way to explore the delightful and picturesque by-ways that rural Europe has to offer - at a price you can afford. Starting now and running through to the end of February we are able to offer a 20% reduction on select barge charters.  The barges in question are mainly the 12 passenger vessels and a spread of destinations are available.   Click to enlarge image

If you're considering a barge charter for a family or group program... call us for full details.

msy Wind Star Sails into 2008 with Degrees of Difference Enhancements Completed
The 148-guest Wind Star is the last of Windstar Cruises’ three ships to complete the Degrees of Difference multi-million dollar initiative to enhance the line’s fleet of motor sailing yachts. Guest upgrades Completed in Public Areas, Staterooms and Technical Operations and include remodeled bathrooms in all staterooms, an expanded beauty salon and a refurbished lounge.

Stateroom bathrooms now have a more contemporary look with new fixtures, open glass shelves, new cabinets, granite countertops, porcelain sinks, and a magnifying mirror. Teak floors were refinished to retain the popular nautical style. Full length mirrors and slippers were added in staterooms.

In the Lounge, the bar was relocated to a central and visible location near the back of the room and refreshed with reupholstered furniture, new carpet, ceiling, lighting, and wall coverings.

The Salon moved from deck one to deck three by the Lounge providing a more serene spa experience with space for relaxation. Expanding into the area vacated by the bar, salon space doubles with a new waiting area, two separate massage rooms, an area for facials and hair/nail treatments, and pedicure chair. The number of massage appointments available for guests has doubled and new spa treatments have been added including La Therapie Hydralift Facial, Elemis Aroma Spa Seaweed Massage, and Ionithermie Cellulite Reduction Program. The expanded spa menu turns the former salon into a complete spa facility.

Other additions in guest areas include new tables and chairs in the Veranda, a new couch and ceiling in the Lobby and upgrades to public bathrooms. In the Pool Bar, a new bottle display area, new lighting, and wall and ceiling coverings update the look. Upgrades were also completed for the technical operations of the ship.

In 2006, Windstar invested in luxury amenities on board all three ships. Wireless internet is available throughout the ship along with Bose SoundDock speakers in all staterooms, Apple iPod Nanos pre-loaded with music for complimentary check-out and laptops for rent. Plush Euro-Top mattresses, luxury bedding, Egyptian cotton towels and bath amenities by L’Occitane were added to staterooms as well. Other additions include lemon-scented iced towels and orange sorbet served on warm days.

In The Restaurant, enhancements include a reinvigorated menu served on elegant Rosenthal china with Riedel stemware; a new wine list featuring more boutique labels plus the flexibility to purchase wine in ports along the ships’ itineraries; and Petit-fours, trays of delicate sweet treats, to be served with coffee at the end of dinner.

The four-masted Wind Star will sail roundtrip from Costa Rica January through March with a limited amount of Panama Canal cruises in the spring and winter, returning to the Greek Isles from May to October and offering a few Mediterranean itineraries in late spring and late fall.

The 312-guest Wind Surf completed Degrees of Difference upgrades in December 2006 and the 148-guest msy Wind Spirit completed upgrades in April 2007.

EasyCruise "new" ship undergoes extensive refit
EASYCRUISE LIFE (ex LEV TOLSTOY, NATASHA, PALMIRA, THE JASMIN, FARAH) will debut April 19, for EasyCruise offering passengers a seven day cruise to six Greek islands, Syros, Samos, Kalymnos, Kos, Paros and Mykonos and a call at Bodrum, Turkey. The 1981-built former Soviet passenger ship vessel is currently undergoing an extensive refit to accommodate over 500 passengers, with facilities that include a pool, bar, restaurant, spa, sauna, sun decks, wellness zone, chill out zone and shops.

Fincantieri cuts steel for Silversea newbuild
A steel-cutting ceremony at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard marked the beginning of construction for Silversea Cruises’ newbuild, scheduled for delivery in late 2009.

On hand were Silversea chairman Manfredi Lefebvre and president Amerigo Perasso. Fincantieri was represented by Ancona shipyard director Mauro Leboffe and Enrico Buschi, general manager of the Merchant Ships Business Unit.

The Silversea newbuild is 36,000gt, 195.8 meters in length and 26.5 meters at the beam. Passenger capacity will be 540, with a crew of 378. All 270 passenger accommodations offer ocean views, and 222 cabins and 34 suites come with balconies.

Silversea holds an option for a second newbuild.

Independence of the Seas nears completion

With only 15 weeks until delivery, Royal Caribbean International’s newest ship, Independence of the Seas, took to the seas for the first time last Friday. About 85% complete, the third Freedom-class ship is due to be delivered two weeks ahead of schedule, in late April.
Over 1,700 yard workers and sub-contractors are working at Aker Yards in Turku on areas including the main dining room, the theatre and the upper deck pool area, in temperatures that are several degrees below zero.

After leaving Finland Independence of the Seas will arrive in Southampton for inaugural celebrations in the UK before becoming the largest newbuild in the RCI fleet ever to be based for a season in Europe.

RCI announced an additional two sailings in early May as the ship is arriving ahead of schedule including a four-night Southampton round-trip to Cork departing on May 2 and an 11-night Canary Islands cruise that departs May 6, calling at Madeira (Portugal), Tenerife (Canary Islands), Gran Canaria (Canary Islands), Lanzarote (Canary Islands), Lisbon (Portugal) and Vigo (Spain), from £897 per person based on two sharing an inside cabin.

Victoria Cruises to refurbish Victoria Empress
Victoria Cruises, the cruise company sailing China’s Yangtze River, will refurbish the Victoria Empress this winter as the company announced. The ship is expected to resume sailing in March 2008. The multi-million-dollar refurbishment includes 99 refurbished cabins and updated architectural interiors, renovation of the Grand Lobby, newly constructed Dynasty Dining Room and a la carte dining services.

“Every few years, we take the time to refresh and enhance our ships as necessary so everything remains top quality and impressive to our guests,” said Larry Greenman, manager of public relations and customer service for Victoria Cruises.

“We’re putting a lot of work into the restyling of the Victoria Empress because we recognize the importance of constantly upgrading our vessels in order to remain competitive in the growing Yangtze River marketplace,” he added.

In April 2009, Victoria Cruises will grow its fleet to eight vessels with the introduction of the new Victoria Jenna. When the Victoria Jenna edges out of port on April 26, 2009, it will be the largest and most luxurious vessel plying Yangtze waters.