Oceania’s Nautica Inaugural Season Down Under

Oceania’s Nautica Launches Inaugural Season Down Under
Published on modern agent: January 10, 2008

Oceania Cruises’ Nautica debuted in Sydney, Australia, on Wednesday and kicked off its inaugural season of sailings to Australia and New Zealand. Nautica arrived from Europe after a 45-day journey from Rome via Singapore and during her two-day inaugural stay in Sydney she will host hundreds of top-producing Australian travel agents and media. Nautica recently completed a $5 million refit at the Union Naval shipyard in Marseille, France. During the refit, all soft furnishings were replaced or renewed, new carpeting was laid throughout the public rooms and accommodations, and more than $1 million was spent installing new bathrooms in the ship’s 52 Penthouse Suites. Each of the Penthouse Suites now features a new granite and marble bathroom which boasts all new flooring, countertops and vanities, bathtubs and fixtures. In addition, new 20-inch and 26-inch flat-screen LCD televisions with DVD players were installed in all of the Penthouse Suites, Concierge Level Veranda Staterooms and Stateroom accommodations.

Nautica will sail four voyages in Australia and New Zealand during its inaugural season and return again in 2009 and 2010. Highlights of Nautica’s 2008-09 voyages Down Under include the 18-day “Southern Cross Holiday” from Singapore to Sydney, departing Dec. 20, 2008; the 15-day “Splendors of Down Under” between Sydney and Auckland, departing Jan. 7 and Jan. 22, 2009; the 19-day “Coral Seas and Asian Jewels” from Sydney to Bangkok, departing Feb. 6, 2009. With free airfare from 20 North American gateways and 2-for-1 cruise fares, these voyages are priced from $4,599 per guest.

To make a reservation on Oceania, contact A Room With A View - Cruise & Travel
800-571-3159
amy@aroomwithaviewtravel.com

Silversea 2009 Worldwide Cruise Schedule

Silversea Rolls Out 2009 Worldwide Cruise Schedule
Published onmodern agent: January 10, 2008

Silversea Cruises announced its 2009 worldwide voyage schedule and is now accepting reservations. The company’s four ships are set to visit over 320 different ports in 108 countries on 140 itineraries ranging from seven to 92 days. Of special note is the company’s first “Grand Pacific Voyage,” a 92-day odyssey that explores the Pacific Ocean. Following a route from Los Angeles to Papeete, Sydney and the Far East, with final stops in Alaska and Vancouver, Silver Shadow will visit 45 ports, 15 countries and two hemispheres on this epic journey. Other highlights include return visits to Alaska plus 10 new destinations: Szczecin, Poland; Malmo, Sweden; Skagen, Denmark; Gozo Island, Malta; Symi, Greece, Koper, Slovenia; Olhahali Island, Maldives; Nemuro, Japan; Visakhapatnam and New Mangalore, India.

Silver Cloud starts the year exploring South America before heading to the Caribbean. From late May through September, the 296-guest ship will be positioned in Northern Europe and the Baltic, offering 11 cruises of seven to 15 days, including several voyages featuring two-night stopovers in St. Petersburg. The ship heads back to the Caribbean and South America for the fall. The 296-guest Silver Wind begins 2009 with cruises to Africa, the Seychelles and the Arabian Peninsula, highlighted by inaugural calls to uninhabited Olhahali Island in the Maldives (Voyage 2905) and India’s Visakhapatnam and New Mangalore (Voyage 2906). From mid-April to early November, the ship will traverse the Mediterranean on over 20 different itineraries ranging from seven to 12 days. The ship repositions to Africa’s east coast and the Seychelles for the fall.

The 382-guest Silver Shadow kicks off the year with a series of mostly nine-day Caribbean voyages before transiting the Panama Canal to Los Angeles to embark on its 92-day “Grand Pacific Voyage” from March to June. On the schedule for the summer is Alaska, with a series of 12 cruises ranging from seven to 12 days, including several round-trip departures from San Francisco and Vancouver. During the balance of the year, Silver Shadow transits the Panama Canal and explores the Caribbean. For the 382-guest Silver Whisper, the year opens in Australia, New Zealand, the Far East and South Pacific with eight itineraries, ranging from nine to 18 days. On a pair of spring repositioning cruises, Silver Whisper will journey from Singapore to Dubai, with an overnight stay in Mumbai, followed by a Dubai-to-Athens voyage that overnights in Dubai and includes overnight visits to Safaga and Aqaba. An extended summer season in the Mediterranean features 22 mostly seven-day voyages.

To make your reservation on Silversea, contact A Room With A View - Cruise & Travel
800-571-3159
amy@aroomwithaviewtravel.com

Crystal Expands Golf Theme Cruises for 2008

Crystal Expands 2008 Global Golf Choices
Published on modern agent: January 4, 2008

Crystal Cruises expanded its golf theme cruises for 2008. During three 11- and 12-day golf cruises, guests can tee off in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, and the maritime coast of Canada and New England. In addition to championship golf ashore and onboard events, golfers can compete in hole-in-one competitions for a chance to win a free Crystal cruise. The optional shoreside golf excursions include tee times, tipping and transportation. Storage and cleaning of guests’ golf clubs and shoes are also provided after each round. PGA pros will join Crystal guests at such courses as the Monte Carlo Golf Club perched 3,000 feet above the French Riviera, Spain’s El Saler Golf Course, and Lisbon’s Penha Longa Golf Course at the foot of the Sintra Mountain Range.

These special golf cruises feature golf clinics, group and private instruction from the visiting PGA professionals, celebrity hosts and the opportunity to golf in as many as three different countries on a single voyage. Crystal’s exclusive partnership with TaylorMade enables guests to practice their swing with the number one driver on the PGA tour. The first golf theme cruise of 2008 will be held April 26 to May 7 aboard Crystal Serenity from Rome to London, calling in Monte Carlo, Monaco; Valencia, Spain; Gibraltar, U.K.; and Lisbon, Portugal. The Crystal Symphony’s Sept. 27 to Oct. 8 cruise aboard Crystal Symphony from Montréal to New York will call at Québec, Canada; Corner Brook, Newfoundland; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Bal Harbor, Maine; and Boston. The Crystal Serenity’s Oct. 30 to Nov. 11 cruise from Barcelona to Lisbon calls at Valencia, Málaga and Cádiz/Seville, Spain; Casablanca, Morocco; Canary Islands; and Madeira, Portugal. Cruise fares begin at $3,780 per person, double occupancy. Golf excursion rates vary by course, and must be pre-reserved.

To make your reservation with Crystal, contact A Room With A View - Cruise & Travel
800-571-3159
amy@aroomwithaviewtravel.com

Regent Seven Seas Offers 2008-2009 Programs

Regent Seven Seas Offers 2008-2009 Land Programs
Published onmodern agent: January 4, 2008

Regent Seven Seas Cruises will offer a variety of pre- and post-cruise land programs in combination with its 2008 and 2009 worldwide itineraries. Regent’s land programs are highlighted by unusual transportation modes. For example, travelers who enjoy riding the rails can go fast from Tokyo to Osaka aboard Japan’s Shinkanse, or bullet train, or aboard China’s Magalev from Shanghai. Guests who prefer a more leisurely pace can cross Kent, England, in a 19th century Victorian railway car, journey from Colombo to Kandy in Sri Lanka aboard the Viceroy railway, or take an Indian Pacific Railroad luxury sleeper from Adelaide to Perth. Airborne adventurers can drift 1,000 feet over Stockholm or soar above Kenya’s Masai Mara national reserve in hot-air balloons. Helicopters provide the means to survey the waterfalls of a Central American rainforest or Italy’s Amalfi coast.

Regent’s 2008 land programs also include “Vintage Railway and Bodiam Castle,” available on the Seven Seas Voyager’s June 9 and June 24 cruises to and from Dover, includes a ride in a genuine 19th Century railway carriage to Bodiam Castle. “Kandy by Viceroy Train,” available on Seven Seas Voyager’s March 13 Singapore-to-Mumbai cruise, includes a ride on the 75 year-old Viceroy Special, a restored, private luxury train, for a journey to Kandy, one of Sri Lanka’s most historic destinations. “Elephant Back Safari at Camp Jabulani” is available on Seven Seas Navigator’s Nov. 1 cruise from Mumbai to Cape Town; it includes interaction with a specially trained herd of elephants and daily elephant safaris at the Kapama Private Game Reserve.

To make your reservation on Regent Seven Seas, call A Room With A View- Cruise & Travel
800-571-3159
amy@aroomwithaviewtravel.com

Uniworld Offers Two-for-One Holidays in Europe

Uniworld Offers Two-for-One Holidays in Europe
published on modernagent 9/20/07

Uniworld Grand River Cruises is offering two-for-one pricing on two holiday river cruises in Europe. The “European Holiday Grand River Cruise” departs Dec. 19 and sails from Nuremberg to Vienna. The seven-night cruise includes a river-view stateroom on the River Countess, all meals and celebratory dinners, and shore excursions led by English-speaking guides. The cruise is priced from $1,698 per couple, cruise only, exclusive of port charges. The “Rhine & Main Holiday Grand River Cruise” also departs Dec. 19 and sails from Cologne to Nuremberg. The nine-night cruise includes a river-view stateroom on the River Duchess, all meals and celebratory dinners, and shore excursions led by English-speaking guides. The cruise is priced from $1,998 per couple, cruise only, exclusive of port charges.

Contact A Room With A View soon to make your reservation!

Seabourn Ships Undergo Multi-Million Dollar Makeovers

Seabourn Ships Undergo Multi-Million Dollar Makeovers
published on modernagent 9/20/07

Seabourn Cruise Line said its three vessels — Seabourn Pride, Spirit and Legend — are undergoing multi-million dollar renovations during dry-dock maintenance periods scheduled between September and April. The renovations include major overhauls of two open-air alternative dining venues to increase seating capacities and enhance the options for guests to enjoy evening entertainment. The renovations are the most extensive since balconies were added to 36 of each ship’s suites five years ago. “As we prepare for the launch of Seabourn Odyssey [in June 2009], we are also investing in the future of our existing fleet,” said Pamela Conover, Seabourn’s president and CEO.

The ships’ indoor/outdoor Veranda Café, located aft, is converted each evening into Restaurant 2, which serves tasting menus and themed dinners in a casual setting. The renovation will enlarge the outdoor section, increasing the seating capacity and adding a new awning for enhanced weather protection. The Sky Bar, overlooking the sun deck and whirlpool spas, occasionally serves Sky Grill dinners. During the renovation, twin staircases leading from the deck below are being replaced with a single stairway, allowing an increase in the deck space adjacent to the Sky Bar. Existing fixed cocktail-sized tables are being replaced with more versatile furniture, some of which can be removed to clear the deck space for occasional entertainment and dancing. Further features of the renovations include an upgrade of all bedding, new carpets in many public areas, upgrades to the treatment rooms in the spa, and new furniture in the card rooms and Internet centers.

Seabourn Pride just completed the process in Germany. The Seabourn Spirit will undergo the renovation in Singapore in January, while Seabourn Legend will be upgraded in April at Lisbon. One change will be immediately visible as guests arrive to embark. The ships’ livery is being updated, with the decorative line along the shear of the hull being changed from dark blue to black, and the distinctive shield emblem on the ships’ stacks highlighted in gold rather than blue.

To make your reservation, contact A Room With A View!

Crystal Expands Land Options with 2008 World Cruise

Crystal Expands Land Options with 2008 World Cruise
Published on: August 14, 2007

Crystal Cruises expanded the number of Overland Adventures available with its 2008 World Cruise because of record participation in 2007. Crystal has assembled 34 multiple-day excursions — 10 of them brand new — for clients eager to venture more than 1,000 miles from World Cruise ports to trek Borneo’s rainforest, train an elephant in northern Thailand, and drink in Australia’s Barossa Valley wine region, among others. Departing Jan. 19, Crystal’s 108-day 2008 World Cruise travels from Los Angeles to London and calls at 45 ports in 22 countries. With the Crystal Serenity serving as home base, world cruisers can enjoy fully-escorted, two- to six-night adventures that depart from one port of call and re-join the ship in another.

Crystal’s 2008 overland collection includes such new options as a three-night trip from Singapore to Borneo’s Kota Kinabalu rainforest for an orangutan experience in Sandakan; a two-night excursion from Ho Chi Minh to Thailand for elephant training and a Thai massage in Chiang Mai; and a three-night outing from Cairns to Ayers Rock in the Australian outback. Besides record demand, Crystal’s Overland Adventures have received record ratings from World Cruisers. Where possible, accommodations are planned at hotels that share Crystal’s service philosophy, such as The Oberoi, The Peninsula and Mandarin Oriental. Crystal is also using several Four Seasons Hotels, including a Four Seasons Tented Camp in Thailand’s Golden Triangle, the region where Thailand, Burma and Laos meet. Programs feature rare antiquities as well as visits to local shops and markets. Many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are showcased in the programs. Fares for the Overland Adventures begin at $1,205 per person and include all air/ground transportation, accommodations, meals and a Crystal escort. Overland Adventures may be pre-reserved online at www.crystalcruises.com where guests may also view day-by-day itinerary details.

To make your reservation, contact A Room With A View

Crystal Sets new Cruise Savings Promotions

Crystal Sets New Cruise Savings Promotions
Published on: August 9, 2007

Crystal Cruises announced new savings promotions for 2007 and 2008. Guests can save up to 48 percent on six late August and fall 11- and 12-day Mediterranean voyages aboard Crystal Serenity. Cruises depart from Venice, Monte Carlo, Athens, Istanbul and Rome. Fares start at $3,890. This November, guests can save $500 per person in most stateroom categories — including verandahs — on Thanksgiving voyages through the Panama Canal and Caribbean aboard Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity.

Along with Crystal’s family-friendly activities and supervised junior activities program, kids 11 and under will sail free when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare adults. Plus, Crystal Serenity has just increased its third berth capacity by 15 percent. With the new promotion and special savings fares, travelers can save up to 60 percent off brochure fares. Fares start at $2,195. The 2007 and 2008 Value Collection offers savings of up to 52 percent. Three applicable cruises remain in 2007 through the Panama Canal, Mediterranean and Caribbean. Crystal’s 2008 Value Collection features 11 sailings of 10 to 17 days through the Panama Canal, South America, the Mediterranean, Western Europe, Caribbean and a transpacific voyage from Los Angeles to Hong Kong.

For 2008 Western Europe cruises, new bookings made before Sept. 14, 2007 offer savings of up to 20 percent on all Deluxe Stateroom accommodations (including verandah staterooms) and 10 percent on all Penthouse accommodations aboard Crystal Symphony’s 13-day voyage departing May 25 from Athens to London. Fares start at $3,995. Travelers seeking a longer cruise experience in Europe can save 20 percent on all categories of staterooms and suites for new bookings made before Sept. 14, 2007, when combining Crystal Symphony’s May 25 Athens-to-London cruise with the cruise prior or cruise following. The combination cruises create a 27-day exploration of Egypt, the Mediterranean and Western Europe, or a 24-day journey from Greece to the Baltic Sea, at savings ranging from $1,000 to $2,530 per person. Those who combine three voyages for a 38-day cruise receive total savings of $3,840 per person. All guests who book a future cruise on board receive between 4 and 4.5 percent off their next cruise. All guests will receive a discount of 3.5 percent when they pay in full six months in advance. Not only do returning Crystal cruisers automatically save between 3 and 4 percent on their next cruise, but they can enjoy additional savings that range from shipboard credits, gifts and parties to stateroom upgrades and an 11-day free cruise in a Crystal Penthouse.

Additionally, Crystal Society members who sail on Crystal Serenity’s Mediterranean voyages departing July 19, July 31 or Aug. 24, 2008, will receive a $150-per-member shipboard credit if booked by Oct. 15, 2007. Starting fares for single travelers are 125 percent of the applicable double occupancy fare.

To make your reservation, contact A Room With A View!

Cunard Sells QE2 to Dubai World

Cunard Sells QE2 to Dubai World
Published on: June 19, 2007

Cunard Line on Monday announced the surprise sale of the Queen Elizabeth 2 to Dubai World in a $100 million deal that will turn the iconic liner into a floating hotel at The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, the world’s largest man-made island. The QE2 will be delivered to Dubai World in November 2008, where it will be refurbished. From 2009, the vessel will be berthed at a specially constructed pier to create a luxury floating hotel, retail and entertainment destination.

The ship, which was launched in September 1967, is the longest-serving ship in Cunard’s 168-year history, and was its longest-serving flagship. Since it came into service in 1969, the QE2 has undertaken 25 world cruises, crossed the Atlantic more than 800 times and carried more than 2.5 million passengers. QE2 has been purchased by Istithmar, the investment arm of Dubai World, a wholly owned company of the government of Dubai. Nakheel, developer of The Palm Jumeirah, is also a Dubai World company.

Carol Marlow, president and managing director of Cunard, said: “We are delighted that when her legendary career as an ocean liner ends there will continue to be a permanent home for her that will enable future generations to continue to experience fully both the ship and her history.” Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman of Dubai World, said: “QE2 is without a doubt one of the wonders of the maritime world, and is easily the most famous serving liner in the world today. I am delighted we will be able to create a home for her on the newest wonder of the world, The Palm Jumeirah. Dubai is a maritime nation and we understand the rich heritage of QE2. She is coming to a home where she will be cherished.”

Istithmar said its refurbishment program will aim to recreate QE2’s original interior décor and fittings. The QE2 at The Palm Jumeirah will also include a museum celebrating the history of the ship.

The World Launches New Golf Cruises

The World Launches New Golf Cruises
Published on: June 18, 2007

The World, a private residential community at sea, is offering new golf voyages. Each golf voyage is two weeks and includes accommodations, meals and three rounds of golf. In 2007, golfers can choose from voyages throughout Europe as well as Morocco. When not out on the course, golfers can take advantage of The World’s Country Club, an onboard golf club with three artificial grass greens, a sand bunker, a simulator that portrays 52 famous courses, and golf pros available for individual and group lessons, as well as golf clinics. Among the golf voyages this year is the “Baltic Adventure,” Aug. 23-Sept. 7, which includes rounds at the Moscow City Golf Club, the Ozo Golf Club in Latvia, and other courses in Finland and Estonia. The golf cruise is priced from $13,725 per person, based on double occupancy. Another highlight is the cruise to Spain and Morocco, Dec. 4-20, which includes rounds at Golf de Andratx in Palma de Mallorca, Royal Golf d’Anfa in Morocco, and courses in Malaga, Casablanca and Tangier. Fares start at $12,350 per person, double occupancy. Golf voyages include accommodations aboard The World, green fees, dining, select wines and spirits, gratuities and port fees. Each golf voyage includes three rounds of golf per person. Additional rounds can be arranged.

To make your reservation, call Amy at A Room With A View.