It is being reported in USA Today that Cunard Line is considering the introduction of a la carte, by the plate pricing for one of the dining venues on Queen Elizabeth, scheduled to make her debut in Southampton on October 11, 2010.
The Veranda, a much-loved restaurant on the original Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary, will be the top of the line dining room on the new ship. It replaces the Todd English Restaurant, which currently fills that position on both Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Love Wine? Love Cruising? Love This
AMA Waterways has announced a unique variation of its popular Fall river boat cruise between Amsterdam and Paris. Designated the "Vineyards of the Rhine and Mosel" cruise, it is aimed in particular at wine enthusiasts.
From their press release: "Europe’s Rhine and Mosel rivers are famous for their bucolic scenery, historic destinations and hillside vineyards. This fall, AMA Waterways showcases this spectacular region with a unique wine-themed cruise on the luxurious MS Amalegro. Depar
From their press release: "Europe’s Rhine and Mosel rivers are famous for their bucolic scenery, historic destinations and hillside vineyards. This fall, AMA Waterways showcases this spectacular region with a unique wine-themed cruise on the luxurious MS Amalegro. Depar
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Azamara's Hot Offers for Cool Times
Azamara Club Cruises, which bills itself as "a destination-immersive cruise
[caption id="attachment_360" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Azamara Journey"][/caption]
line for up-market travelers who want to not only see the places and cultures they visit, but to live them", has announced a sale on winter voyages. Bookings must be made by August 31, 2010.
Azamara Journey
For voyages departing between November 29, 2010 and February 27, 2011, on Journey's winter voyages in the
[caption id="attachment_360" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Azamara Journey"][/caption]
line for up-market travelers who want to not only see the places and cultures they visit, but to live them", has announced a sale on winter voyages. Bookings must be made by August 31, 2010.
Azamara Journey
For voyages departing between November 29, 2010 and February 27, 2011, on Journey's winter voyages in the
Monday, July 26, 2010
River Boat Cruises in Russia and the Ukraine
There are two main options for river boat cruises in Russia and the Ukraine, sailing along the Volga and Svir rivers in Russia and the Dneiper River in the Ukraine.
The cruise between Moscow and the incomparable St. Petersburg, Peter the Great's "Window on the West", is the classic river boat cruise in Russia. This cruise, bookended as it were by Russia's two principal cities, typically visits two of the Golden Ring cities, Uglich and Yaroslavl (founded in 1010). Other stops, at smaller and quainter villages, provide a first-hand glimpse of typical Russian village life.
Enroute, the cruise traverses the two largest lakes in Europe, Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega. Cruising on Lake Onega provides the opportunity for the ship to visit the island village of Kizhi, site of the Open Air Museum of Architecture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The highlight of this visit is Preobranzhanskaya Church, the Church of the Transfiguration, a three-tiered wooden structure built in 1714 without a single nail.
The major river boat cruise companies on this route include three day visits to both Moscow and St. Petersburg, giving guests ample opportunity to explore the important sites in each city. Shore excursions are included in the package and the ship serves as the guests' hotel.
A cruise along the Dneiper River in the Ukraine is the second option in this region. Sailing between Odessa and Kiev, the cruise includes some time on the Black Sea as well. Surprising Sevastopol, home of the Russian Black Sea fleet, is also the jumping off point for a visit to two important historical sites. One is the archaeological site of Chersonese, a Greek city founded in the 6th century BC. The other is the Tatar city of Bakhchisarei, capital of the Crimean Khanate, site of the Khan's residence, and cultural and political center for the Crimean Tatars. It was in Sevastopol that the light brigade made its fateful charge, memorialized in verse by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
Additional stops on this river boat cruise include Yalta, where pasasengers visit the White Palace, a former imperial residence and site of the 1945 Yalta Conference of Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill; Zaporozhye, ancestral home of the Cossacks; and Kiev, with its UNESCO World Heritage Site, St. Sophia Cathedral.
River boat quality in Russia can be fairly questionable, and care needs to be taken in choosing the boat to book. Focusing consideration on several major lines is well-advised. AMA Waterways has one ship on the Volga, the totally gutted and rebuilt Amakaterina, sailing in 2011. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has a single ship as well on the Volga, the River Victoria. Viking River Cruises, the major operator here, has four ships on the Volga and one on the Dneiper.
The cruise between Moscow and the incomparable St. Petersburg, Peter the Great's "Window on the West", is the classic river boat cruise in Russia. This cruise, bookended as it were by Russia's two principal cities, typically visits two of the Golden Ring cities, Uglich and Yaroslavl (founded in 1010). Other stops, at smaller and quainter villages, provide a first-hand glimpse of typical Russian village life.
Enroute, the cruise traverses the two largest lakes in Europe, Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega. Cruising on Lake Onega provides the opportunity for the ship to visit the island village of Kizhi, site of the Open Air Museum of Architecture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The highlight of this visit is Preobranzhanskaya Church, the Church of the Transfiguration, a three-tiered wooden structure built in 1714 without a single nail.
The major river boat cruise companies on this route include three day visits to both Moscow and St. Petersburg, giving guests ample opportunity to explore the important sites in each city. Shore excursions are included in the package and the ship serves as the guests' hotel.
A cruise along the Dneiper River in the Ukraine is the second option in this region. Sailing between Odessa and Kiev, the cruise includes some time on the Black Sea as well. Surprising Sevastopol, home of the Russian Black Sea fleet, is also the jumping off point for a visit to two important historical sites. One is the archaeological site of Chersonese, a Greek city founded in the 6th century BC. The other is the Tatar city of Bakhchisarei, capital of the Crimean Khanate, site of the Khan's residence, and cultural and political center for the Crimean Tatars. It was in Sevastopol that the light brigade made its fateful charge, memorialized in verse by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
Additional stops on this river boat cruise include Yalta, where pasasengers visit the White Palace, a former imperial residence and site of the 1945 Yalta Conference of Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill; Zaporozhye, ancestral home of the Cossacks; and Kiev, with its UNESCO World Heritage Site, St. Sophia Cathedral.
River boat quality in Russia can be fairly questionable, and care needs to be taken in choosing the boat to book. Focusing consideration on several major lines is well-advised. AMA Waterways has one ship on the Volga, the totally gutted and rebuilt Amakaterina, sailing in 2011. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has a single ship as well on the Volga, the River Victoria. Viking River Cruises, the major operator here, has four ships on the Volga and one on the Dneiper.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
The Future Looks Brighter
There is news this week that makes the future of two grande dames of the sea more hopeful.
It is being reported that Queen Elizabeth 2, currently languishing in Dubai, a sad testimony to the over-spending there, may be going to the western Australian port of Fremantle. The mayor of Fremantle has expressed the belief that he would have strong support from his constituency to bring QE2 there in time to be used as a floating hotel for the ISAF Sailing World Championships in December 2011.
O
It is being reported that Queen Elizabeth 2, currently languishing in Dubai, a sad testimony to the over-spending there, may be going to the western Australian port of Fremantle. The mayor of Fremantle has expressed the belief that he would have strong support from his constituency to bring QE2 there in time to be used as a floating hotel for the ISAF Sailing World Championships in December 2011.
O
Monday, July 12, 2010
Carnival Cruises Announces New Sale
Carnival Cruise Line published details of their new sale in a press release today:
Press Release Source: Carnival Cruise Lines On Monday July 12, 2010, 11:07 am EDT
[caption id="attachment_345" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Carnival Dream"][/caption]
" Carnival Cruise Lines is hosting its first-ever "1-2-3 Go! Sale" which combines three of the line's most popular sales incentives – Cash Back of up to $160 per stateroom, best available upgrades and attractive "Fun Select" rate
Press Release Source: Carnival Cruise Lines On Monday July 12, 2010, 11:07 am EDT
[caption id="attachment_345" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Carnival Dream"][/caption]
" Carnival Cruise Lines is hosting its first-ever "1-2-3 Go! Sale" which combines three of the line's most popular sales incentives – Cash Back of up to $160 per stateroom, best available upgrades and attractive "Fun Select" rate
Saturday, July 10, 2010
What's Your rush? Stay a While Longer
[caption id="attachment_340" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Brilliance of the Seas"][/caption]
After a successful test run on board Splendour of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas in the summer of 2009, Royal Caribbean has decided to extend their late departure program to all their ships sailing in Europe. For a fee of $35 for adults and $17.50 for children 3 to 17 (free for children under 3) departing guests may stay on board their ship until 90 minutes before the next sailing.
After a successful test run on board Splendour of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas in the summer of 2009, Royal Caribbean has decided to extend their late departure program to all their ships sailing in Europe. For a fee of $35 for adults and $17.50 for children 3 to 17 (free for children under 3) departing guests may stay on board their ship until 90 minutes before the next sailing.
Friday, July 9, 2010
International Expeditions Waives Single Supplement Fee on Select 2011 Galapagos Vacations
In another welcome announcement for single travelers, solo travelers will save $1,250 on select International Expeditions cruises to the Galapagos Islands. The company distributed a press release today with details of the promotion.
[caption id="attachment_335" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="M/V Evolution"][/caption]
"International Expeditions is waiving the single supplement fee on its January 7, May 27 and September 30, 2011 Galapagos Islands cruises. On the 10-day Galapagos
[caption id="attachment_335" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="M/V Evolution"][/caption]
"International Expeditions is waiving the single supplement fee on its January 7, May 27 and September 30, 2011 Galapagos Islands cruises. On the 10-day Galapagos
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
And The Good News For Singles Continues
Uniworld River Cruises adds its overture to singles, joining Azamara Club Cruises and Silversea Cruises in greatly reducing or eliminating single supplements on select sailings. Unfortunately, you need to act very quickly, as Uniworld's offer is valid only until June 30th.
"Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has announced it will waive its single supplement charge on a selection of popular 2010 European river cruises allowing solo travellers to cruise at no additional charge.
John Molinaro,
"Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has announced it will waive its single supplement charge on a selection of popular 2010 European river cruises allowing solo travellers to cruise at no additional charge.
John Molinaro,
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)