Crystal’s World Cruise 2009

Crystal Cruises has set a new course for its 14th annual 2009 World Cruise.

Crystal Serenity will depart Los Angeles on January 21, 2009 for Mexico, the South Pacific, New Zealand, Eastern and Western Australia, Indonesia and Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Russia, Alaska, British Columbia, San Francisco and back to Los Angeles.  Blending new ports with a contrasting mix of cosmopolitan, unspoiled, ancient, modern and exotic locales, the epic 105-day journey will visit 46 destinations in 17 countries.

Significant for 2009:

· First time in seven years that Crystal Cruises’ World Cruise will begin and end in Los Angeles.

· Five inaugural calls:  Rangiroa, French Polynesia; Napier, New Zealand; Komodo, Indonesia; Sihanoukville, Cambodia; and Petropavlovsk, Russia.

· First time Crystal has called in Bali since 2000 and in Alaska since 2005.

· Overnight stays are scheduled in Auckland, Sydney, Singapore, Bangkok, Shanghai, Osaka and Yokohama, and two-night stays in Ho Chi Minh City and Hong Kong.

· Travellers can add the Panama Canal cruises before and after for a 136-day voyage round-trip from Miami.

· Available in seven individual segments, for as few as 12 days.

“Each year Crystal sets out to create a travel experience of exotic destinations, exclusive shoreside events and meaningful onboard enrichment in a seamless environment of personalized luxury,” says Gregg Michel, Crystal’s president.  “Even the most discriminating travellers appreciate the attention to detail and extraordinary value of a Crystal World Cruise.”

Effective August 28, Crystal Cruises’ complete day-by-day World Cruise itinerary will be posted on its website, crystalcruises.com.  World Cruise fares will be available on October 15, 2007, when the luxury line will begin accepting reservations.  Full World Cruisers booked for 2008 will have the opportunity to book 2009 before it is open to the public.  To date, the line has dozens of passengers waitlisted for the 2009 World Cruise.

Something New for North Americans

THE FRED. OLSEN DIFFERENCE

Fred. Olsen is one of the best-known and most highly respected names in UK cruising with attractive, award-winning features that set the company apart from others.

Small Ships:  because its largest ship only carries 1.340 passengers, Fred. Olsen ships can call at ports that are inaccessible for mega-ships, without inundating the villages with a tsunami of tourists.

Itineraries:  small ships result in more interesting and varied itineraries, which combine small and unusual ports with the large and popular destinations.  Itinerary lengths range from 3-night mini cruises up to over 100 nights around the world.   Main cruising areas are the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Baltic, Norwegian fjords and Arctic, Africa and the Canary Islands, South America, Canada and North America.   With such variety, itineraries are never exactly the same.

Accommodation:  Fred. Olsen is now one of the few lines to have cabins to accommodate the single traveller right up to families as well as for those desiring suites with balconies.   Each ship has a limited number of cabins specially adapted for disabled passengers.

Atmosphere:  Because of the small size of vessel, all Fred. Olsen ships have a friendly and relaxed atmosphere – a real ‘home away from home’ feel about them.   Most of our passengers liken it to an English Country House.

Language:  The language on board in English, and apart from the Captain’s morning and mid-day status reports there are no annoying announcements bombarding everyone all day long.

Smoking:   All inside dining rooms are non-smoking, and most bars and lounges have clearly defined smoking and non-smoking areas as well.   Smoking is prohibited on all balconies in all Fred. Olsen ships, as well as in all cabins in Boudicca, Balmoral and selected suites in Black Watch.

The ArtsClub:  When experiencing The ArtsClub cruises, passengers will travel with a team of chosen experts, selected for their reputation as celebrated masters in their own field.   Each has a passion for sharing their knowledge in an informative and entertaining way.   The number of subjects included is huge and ranges from antiques to gardens; and from painting to current affairs.   The programme is open to all passengers at no additional charge (except wine tasting, and materials for watercolour painting).

Flagship Golf:  The golf programme offers the opportunity to play some fantastic courses in exotic locations, at the same time picking up tips from the ship’s resident PGA professional.   Booked and paid for in advance, this package includes up to four rounds of golf ashore, practice and coaching sessions with the onboard PGA pro, competitions and social activities for players and non-playing partners.

Friendliness:  All Fred. Olsen ships are renowned for their friendly and courteous crew who regard passengers as real people and not just cabin numbers.   Just a couple of days into a cruise your steward will know if you prefer tea or coffee after your meal, and the bartender will know your favourite pre-dinner cocktail.

Passengers:  Ever since the Tea Party and other historical events, Brits and Americans have enjoyed each other’s company and this is certainly true in the environment of a cruise.   Dinner conversation is always spiced with good-natured enthusiasm to learn the opinions and views of each other. The environment for Canadians is most harmonious.

Civilizations:   This is a package, sold in addition to the cruise price, that operates on some Black Watch cruises designed to appeal to lovers of culture, history and the arts.   This group of passengers will have their own dedicated host, and at least two expert lecturers on the subjects applicable to that cruise.   For instance, a cruise through the Baltic to St Petersburg would have lecturers on Baltic History and Lapp Culture.    These passengers also have dedicated shore tours.

Senior Officers for QUEEN VICTORIA

Cunard Line has announced the appointment of three senior officers who will serve aboard its newest ocean liner, Queen Victoria, when she enters service in December 2007. The veteran trio joins Captain Paul Wright, whose appointment as Master of Queen Victoria was announced inOctober 2006. Together, they boast more than 85 years of seagoingexperience, gleaned most recently aboard Queen Victoria’s fleetmates, RMS Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth 2.

William Robinson, Chief Engineer

With Cunard for nearly 20 years, William Robinson currently serves as Chief Engineer aboard Queen Elizabeth 2. Joining Queen Victoria in the same position, he will be responsible for all aspects of the operation and maintenance of the ship’s technical equipment, which is considered among the most advanced in the industry. Chief Robinson joined QE2 as a Junior Engineer and quickly earned his Combined 1st Class Certificate, working his way up the engineering ranks. His first seafaring experience, over 30 years ago, was sailing oil tankers and gas carriers for Shell.

The Chief is a graduate of Sunderland University in Sunderland, England, where he earned his Bachelor of Education degree in Technology. Following graduation, he taught Craft Design and Technology for three years. Accepting the post as Chief Engineer aboard Queen Victoria, he says, is the realization of a lifelong ambition.

Robert Howie, Hotel Manager

Robert Howie brings more than 21 years of experience — on land and atsea — to his new post as Hotel Manager aboard Queen Victoria. Mr Howie held the position of Food & Beverage Manager aboard RMS Queen Mary 2 int he ocean liner’s inaugural year and was then promoted to Hotel Manager in Cunard’s flagship in 2005. In charge of all onboard operations re housekeeping,  food and beverage, entertainment and personnel, he was at their during some of the ship’s most iconic voyages including her 2006 inaugural South America run, first World Cruise earlier this year including the ship’s rendezvous with QE2 in Sydney and inaugural call into San Francisco, as well as Carly Simon’s DVD concert special in 2005. Prior to joining Cunard, Mr. Howie served in senior managerial Food & Beverage positions and new build projects fo rPrincess Cruises — both shoreside and onboard — since 1990.

Alastair Greener, Entertainment Director

Alastair Greener combines his love of stage and sea, characteristicsthat will serve him well as he prepares to join Queen Victoria as Entertainment Director. The quintessential English gentleman has served as Cruise Director in both RMS Queen Mary 2 and QE2, and in addition to being a vivacious host for the onboard production shows, he is an enthusiastic thespian himself, having been a presenter for training videos for Cunard.  He was also asked to represent CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) as a media tour spokesperson. Mr. Greener is a member of the British Actors Union and has appeared in a wide range of film, theatre and television productions, including the BBC’s “House of Cards” and Warner Brothers’ “Black Beauty.”

Prior to Cunard, Mr. Greener joined Princess Cruises in 1997 and has served in eight ships within the fleet.

“Our guests will be delighted to find ‘old friends’ aboard Cunard’s newest ship,” said Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line. “One of our distinguishing characteristics is the number and frequency of our repeat guests and they will truly appreciate ‘coming home’ to these familiar faces.”

Autumn Colours from Kingston, Ontario.

Heritage Cruise Lines has an attractive offer for its Prime Time Fall Colours Cruise, Thursday, September 27 to Monday, October 1, 2007 (GC18-07).  A special discounted price of $999 / person plus GST based on double occupancy will be available for this cruise only.  Georgian Clipper, a vessel accommodating only eighteen passengers,  offers a perfect venue for this scenic cruise from Kingston, Ontario.

US Border Crossing Problems for Canadians

U.S. Customs officials admit ignoring Canadian pardons for offences, says ACTA
ACTA, in its latest issue of ‘Scoop’, noted that Canadian pardons for offences are not recognized by foreign governments, including the U.S., and pardons to not guarantee entry into another country or the right to a visa. This situation “more frequently occurs when people were condemned for a drunken driving offense using a breathalyzer and then are refused entry by US customs. A conviction for driving under the influence, which Americans call “Driving While Impaired” or “D.W.I”, can prevent you from entering the United States even if you have received your pardon in Canada for this offence.” ACTA cites a recent article in the Ottawa Citizen, saying that cleared records are ‘irrelevant’ for U.S. entry purposes, as U.S. customs officials are downplaying recent complaints that they are getting tough with Canadians at the border by turning away those with criminal records. Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada alerts travellers that if they have a criminal record, “no matter how minor or how long ago the offence, you may be refused entry to the United States or encounter problems in transit through its airports.”

MSC in the Med this Fall

This autumn, become part of the vibrant Ramblas in Barcelona, transport yourself to the exotic bazaars in Tunisia, and admire the elegance of  St. Tropez or cruise along the Turkish coastline and the Greek Islands under the mild autumn sun. MSC Cruises offers seven different itineraries with a rich selection of ports on board MSC Orchestra, MSC Musica, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Armonia, MSC Melody, MSC Lirica and MSC Opera.

Choose one of MSC Cruises’ autumn voyages and be better prepared to face the winter months.

Rates quoted are based on MSC Cruises’ “Best Fare, Best Room” promotion. Pricing for this promotion has been simplified into categories of interior, oceanview, balcony, etc., depending on the ship.  All prices reflect interior accommodations and are $US, cruise only, per person, double occupancy; government fees and taxes are additional.

As an added bonus, North American residents who place a reservation need only place a $100 deposit per person, based on double occupancy. Prices vary by sail date and category. In addition, children sail free when staying in a cabin with two full-fare-paying adults.

The following are a sampling of MSC Cruises’ autumn Mediterranean itineraries; additional departure dates are available. Shore excursions are optional and available for purchase.

MSC Orchestra departs from Venice Saturday Oct. 27 (Sunday, Oct. 28 from Bari) with the following itinerary:
Italy, Greece, Turkey, Croatia (7 nights). Ports of call include Bari, Katakolon, Izmir, Istanbul and Dubrovnik before returning to Venice. Prices from $995.
Optional excursions include:
Matera (from Bari): Visit the famous Rocks of Matera, real caves inhabited up to a few decades ago and where Mel Gibson recently filmed his film, “The Passion”.
Ephesus (from Izmir): Tour  of the prestigious Hellenic –Roman city, with the Odeon Theatre that hosted up to 1,400 spectators, the Library of Celso and  Adrian’s Temple with its well preserved bas-relief.

MSC Musica departs from Barcelona Friday, Oct. 26 (Sunday, Oct. 28 from Genoa and Monday, Oct. 29 from Naples) with the following itinerary:
Spain, France, Italy, Tunisia, Balearic Islands (7 nights). Ports of call include Marseille, Genoa, Naples, Palermo, Tunis, and Palma de Majorca, before returning to Barcelona. Prices from $995.
Optional excursions include:
Palermo and Monreale:Transfer to Monreale to visit the Duomo, famous for its splendid mosaics. Then onto Palermo to view the Cathedral at the church of Martorana, Piazza Pretoria and the Massimo Theatre.
Palma of Majorca: Tour to discover the capital of Balearics stopping off at the Bellever Castle, visit the majestic Cathedral and Plaza de Toros, free time at the Gothic Barrio.

MSC Sinfonia departs from Rome Sunday, Oct. 28 (Monday, Oct. 29 from Genoa) with the following itinerary:
Italy, Principality of Monaco, Spain, Malta, Tunisia (7 nights). Ports of call include Genoa, Monte Carlo, Valencia, Valletta, and Tunis, returning to Rome. Prices from $995.

Family Christmas Cruise in One of The World’s Largest Ships

There is a possibility of space availability on the following cruise even at this late date.  The programme is on request only so please call us to see if there are any openings.

Christmas Cruise in Freedom of the Seas, 23/30 December, 2007
Category D1 – Balcony Cabin
Junior Suites – Balcony Cabins
Itinerary: Miami, at sea, Labadee, Ocho Rios, George Town ( Grand Cayman ), Cozumel, at sea, Miami

Princess World Cruises 2009

Imagine touring the Sydney Opera House, exploring the ruins of Angkor Wat in Cambodia and standing before a pyramid in Giza — all on one trip! This is a World Cruise with Princess® — and we’re pleased to offer two amazing choices for you to experience the adventure of a lifetime.

As you sail the magnificent globe, see ancient ruins from the unmistakable giant stone heads on Easter Island to the Acropolis in Athens. Stroll Dubai’s captivating marketplaces, or wander through the Tuscan countryside. Snorkel along the Great Barrier Reef, transit the Panama and Suez canals, lounge on remote tropical beaches and much more. Embark on the ultimate escape, and spend 107 days visiting more than 40 of the world’s most exciting destinations onboard Tahitian Princess® or Royal Princess®.

Reserve now and save US$2,000 per person with Early Booking Discount fares — and when you reserve your balcony cabin or mini-suite by November 15, 2007 your airfare is included!^ Plus, any booking made before January 31, 2008 will earn onboard credits up to $1,000 USD per person — and complimentary hotel and dining charges.*

2009 World Cruise Highlights

Buddha statues – Bangkok, Thailand

Two ways to see the world. Princess® gives you two unique ways to see the world. Choose Tahitian Princess® orRoyal Princess® for a deluxe cruising experience. Both of these smaller vessels will sail a 107-day itinerary, visiting more than 40 of the world’s most exciting destinations.

Get a great world view. Royal Princess and Tahitian Princess each offer a high percentage of balconies on which to relax and take in your own view of the world. Enjoy your own blissful slice of sea and sky all to yourself.

Taste the finer things. One evening, it’s a multi-course Italian feast at Sabatini’sSM. The next, an otherworldly experience with Ultimate Balcony Dining.† You’ll choose from special World Cruise menus in the dining room. And you’ll delight in casual options like pizza on deck or the 24-hour buffet. Each day, every meal on your World Cruise is a celebration of tantalizing tastes.

Special World Cruise benefits. It’s no ordinary voyage, so our World Cruise passengers will enjoy special benefits like airfare-inclusive fares for balcony staterooms and mini-suite bookings.^ Plus, reserve now and you’ll receive valuable onboard credits up to $1,000 USD per person, along with complimentary hotel and dining charges.*

Extend your World Cruise. Travel in Tahitian Princess and you can disembark in Dover, or extend the voyage 10 days and end in Stockholm with a call in St. Petersburg. For a truly majestic ending, add a 6-day Transatlantic Crossing from Southampton to New York in Cunard’s luxurious RMS Queen Mary 2® and receive a US$150 per person discount.**

^     Certain restrictions apply. Early Booking Discount of US$2,000 per person is based on Tahitian Princess and Royal Princess 107-day World Cruise sailings. Early Booking Discount fares are a savings off of Brochure fares. Upon expiration, the Brochure fares may become applicable and may then be the prevailing rate. Early Booking Discount is a reduction from Brochure fares and does not apply to categories OS-PH and third- and fourth-berth passengers. Air-inclusive offer is applicable only to Full World Cruise passengers booking categories OS-AB, BA-BD in Tahitian Princess and categories OS-BD in Royal Princess. Air taxes, transfers, and hotel accomodations are additional and apply only to lower-berth passengers and to the sailing dates, staterooms categories and rates that are published in the brochure. Select staterooms may be excluded from this offer. This offer is based on space availability, is capacity controlled, and may not be combined with any other public, group, or past passenger offer. Travel Agent reference promo code PA1. Airfare offer expires November 15, 2007. Government fees and taxes are additional, per person, and subject to change without prior notice. Brochure fares are offering fares and may not have resulted in actual sales in all categories and may not have been in effect over the past 90 days. Fares may remain at a discounted level after this promotion.
*     Passengers booking categories OS-BF will receive an onboard credit of $1,000 USD per person when booking the 107-day World Cruise. Passengers booking categories CC-G will receive $500 USD per person. Onboard credit offer is not applicable for Interior cabins (categories II-L). Onboard credit offer applies to the first two passengers in a stateroom and does not apply to third- and fourth-berth passengers. Onboard credit offer is available for bookings made before January 31, 2008. Hotel and dining charges are complimentary for passengers booking the 107-day World Cruise. This offer is for bookings made at Brochure, Early Booking Discount or group fares and may not be combinable with any other public, group or past passenger offer.
**     $150 discount is per person, based on 5/2/09 RMS Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic sailing from Southampton to New York. $150 per person discount is only combinable with Brochure, Early Booking Savings (EBS) or Group fares in RMS Queen Mary 2 sailing. Discount does not apply to third- and fourth-berth passengers.
†     Ultimate Balcony Dining is available in select staterooms. Dining options, locations and venues may vary by ship and charges are subject to change.

Tahitian Princess 
Itinerary: Ft. Lauderdale, Grand Cayman, Quito (Manta), Lima, Easter Island, Pitcairn Island (scenic cruising), Tahiti (Papeete), Rarotonga, Auckland, Tasmania (Burnie), Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Rabaul, Guam, Osaka, Hiroshima, Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, Sihanoukville, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur (Port Kelang), Port Blair, Mumbai, Dubai, Salālah, Safaga, Port Said, Athens (Piraeus), Sorrento/Capri, Rome (Civitavecchia), Cannes, Barcelona, Gibraltar, Lisbon, Cork, Paris/Normandy, Dover

Royal Princess
Itinerary: Ft. Lauderdale, Grand Cayman, Quito (Manta), Lima, Easter Island, Pitcairn Island (scenic cruising), Tahiti (Papeete), Rarotonga, Auckland, Tasmania (Burnie), Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Rabaul, Guam, Osaka, Hiroshima, Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, Sihanoukville, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur (Port Kelang), Port Blair, Mumbai, Dubai, Salālah, Safaga, Port Said, Jerusalem (Ashdod), Istanbul, Athens (Piraeus), Venice, Sicily (Messina), Barcelona, Cannes, Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Rome (Civitavecchia)

CRISTAL Joins Louis Cruise Lines

The newest addition to the Louis Cruise Lines fleet is Cristal, formerly the Leeward and Superstar Taurus of Norwegian Cruise Line / Star Cruises Group. The acquisition of Cristal brings the total number of cruise vessels in the Louis Cruise Lines fleet to fourteen.
For the remaining season, Cristal will sail a series of 3&4-Day Cruises from Piraeus to Mykonos, Kusadasi, Patmos, Heraklion, Santorini and Rhodes through to November 12. This is the itinerary previously carried out by the sunken Sea Diamond.

All the attractive features which made Cristal a favourite of passengers when she cruised the Caribbean and South East Asian waters have not only been retained, but were further enhanced with recent refurbishments.

Crystal has Greek Officers, an internationall crew, and fully complies with U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Public Health requirements.

NCL and PGA Marketing Partnership

 

NCL Corporation and the PGA TOUR have an official marketing partnership naming Norwegian Cruise Line as the “Official Cruise Line of the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour.”

The three-year agreement also provides NCL the right to use the TOUR marks in advertising, as well as promotional and tournament hospitality opportunities built around both Tours. The PGA TOUR and NCL will work together on promoting the line’s current Golf Hawai‘i and Golf Bermuda programmes, as well as on expanding the golf experience, exploring executions that include tournaments and TOUR members.

“The PGA TOUR is a very well respected organization with more than 105 million fans and the demographic of these fans aligns well with NCL’s target audience,” said Scott Rogers, NCL’s senior vice president of sales and marketing. “In our continuing effort to embrace new and innovative marketing programmes, we expect that this partnership with the PGA TOUR will let golfers around the world know that you can combine a great cruise vacation with top golf experiences at the best courses in the world on NCL.”

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Norwegian Cruise Line as an official marketing partner of the PGA TOUR,” said Tom Wade, the TOUR’s chief marketing officer. “NCL is a dynamic company that continues to build its reputation as a true innovator in the cruise industry. We look forward to working with NCL on developing unique platforms to drive awareness among our fans for their exceptional golf vacation experiences at the top courses around the world, especially in Hawai‘i and Bermuda.”

In 2007, the PGA TOUR kicked off the FedExCup, a  new season-long points competition, culminating this autumn with the first-ever PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, during which the champion will be determined. The Champions Tour, for professionals 50 and over, showcases the most accomplished and revered players in golf.

About the PGA TOUR

The PGA TOUR is a (U.S.) tax-exempt membership organization of professional golfers. Its primary purpose is to provide competitive earnings opportunities for past, current and future members of the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour; to protect the integrity of the game; and to help grow the reach of the game in the U.S. and around the world.

In 2007, the three Tours will compete in approximately 110 events for approximately US$340 million in prize money. Tournaments are being held in six countries outside the U.S. and in 36 states.

In addition to providing competitive opportunities for its membership, TOUR events also generate significant funds for local charities. In fact, the three Tours have surpassed the US$1 billion mark in overall charitable contributions. The PGA TOUR’s web site address is http://www.pgatour.com and the company is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

About NCL Corporation

NCL Corporation Ltd. is an innovative cruise company headquartered in Miami, Florida, with a fleet of 14 ships in service and under construction. The corporation oversees the operations of Norwegian Cruise Line, NCL America, and Orient Lines. The company recently took delivery of its newest ship, Norwegian Pearl, and is currently building Norwegian Gem for delivery in October of 2007. In addition, NCL plans to build up to three new third generation Freestyle Cruising ships for delivery between 2009 and 2011.

Years ago PGA was associated with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.  At The Cruise People, Ltd., Michael Abel is the specialist in golf cruises.