Canadian Travel Company Offers Great Lakes Cruises

The Great Canadian Travel Company is offering seven-night cruises on the Great Lakes aboard the 100-passenger, all-suite Clelia II. The cruises operate on four of the five Great Lakes from Toronto, Ontario, to Duluth, Minn. The cruise includes welcome and farewell receptions; all meals; house wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner; and open bar throughout the cruise. Tours and excursions also are included, as are educational programs and guest lecturers. Fares start at $5,595 per person, including transfers between pier and airport, port and embarkation taxes, and gratuities to porters, guides and drivers. There are 12 departures this year between June 27 and Sept. 12.

The cruise starts in Toronto and travels on Lake Ontario and bypassing Niagara Falls with time for an excursion. There’s a day at sea while cruising past Detroit and onto Lake Huron. The cruise then visits Manitoulin Island, the world’s largest freshwater island, where the Wikwemikong Reserve is a thriving community that has never ceded authority to Canada. Next is a visit to Mackinac Island and passage through Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie. The cruise continues through the Portage Waterway to call at Houghton and Thunder Bay before concluding in Duluth. For more information

Avalon Waterways Sets New Ships, Itineraries for 2010

Avalon Waterways in 2010 will christen two new ships in Europe and will increase its vacations by nearly 20 percent with more than 30 itineraries of five to 23 days in Europe, China, Egypt and the Galápagos. Avalon Waterways has created five new river cruises for 2010. “Paris to Normandy’s Landing Beaches” is an eight-day trip roundtrip from Paris, while “Grand France” is a 16-day vacation between Paris and the Côte d’Azur. The 13-day “Castles on the Rhine to the City of Music” travels from Zürich to Vienna, while the four- or five-day “A Taste of the Danube” sails between Vienna and Budapest. In the winter, the 12-day “Christmastime in Germany and Austria” sails between Frankfurt and Vienna.

In 2010, the company will christen its fifth new ship in less than 36 months, bringing Avalon’s Europe fleet total to 10. The company serves passengers unlimited complimentary local wine with all onboard dinners and features regional entertainment, land programs and an English-speaking staff.

To celebrate its new offerings, and to encourage travelers to book the cruise of their dreams, Avalon is offering early-booking incentives. Guests receive $150 per person off any 2010 Egypt, China, Galapagos or “Taste of the Danube” cruise-and-land-only vacation or $300 per person off when booking air on the same itineraries. For most Europe cruise vacations, the deal increases. Guests can receive $250 per person off select Europe river cruise-and-land-only vacations or $500 off per person when booking air on the same itineraries. Bookings must be made, under deposit, and discount applied between March 25 and June 30 for travel through Dec. 31, 2010. The offer applies to new 2010 bookings and will not be applied to existing bookings.  Call 800-640-4899

New Vessel for Galapagos 2010 - Cruise West

In celebration of Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday, Cruise West, one of the world’s leading providers of small-ship exploration cruises to the most fascinating destinations on earth, has updated its popular Galapagos itinerary. During the 2010 season, the 10-day/9-night cruises will journey throughout Darwin’s inspiring islands on the elegant, 100-guest Galapagos Explorer II, sister ship to Cruise West’s Spirit of Oceanus. The itinerary to this UNESCO World Heritage Site has been rearranged, ensuring that visitors receive maximum exposure to the Islands’ diverse wildlife and spectacular scenery. Save up to $600 per person by booking and paying in full by May 22, 2009.

Galapagos cruises depart March 29 and April 5, 2010; prices begin at $4,999 per person, double occupancy. Three tiered early booking and final payment savings are available - book and pay in full by May 22, 2009 and save $600; by July 16, 2009, save $400 and by September 11, 2009, save $200 per person. The cruise plus optional six-day Peru land tour starts at $9,499 per person. Travel Agents are encouraged to participate in Cruise West’s live online training programs.

More Information 800-640-4899

New Amawaterways Mekong Delta cruise

AMA Waterways, known mainly for European river cruises, is expanding into the Mekong River starting in September. The seven-night cruises to Vietnam and Cambodia are packaged with pre- and post-cruise land stays for a 15-day package starting at $3,999 per person, including international air from LAX and SFO. The cruises will be operated on the new 92-passenger La Marguerite, now under construction in Ho Chi Minh City, AMA Waterways President Rudi Schreiner told TravelPulse.com.

The 235-foot-long La Marguerite boasts spacious outside accommodations of 226 to 443 square feet. Eighty-two percent of accommodations have balconies. The 38 staterooms measure 226 square feet, the six Sadec Suites are 284 square feet and two Indochina Suites are 443 square feet. The eight cabins on the lower Mekong Deck have portholes, while all other accommodations have large windows and balconies. The Indochina Suites also boast whirlpool tubs. All cabins have air-conditioning, a wardrobe, a writing desk, a sofa, a mini-bar, a safe, a bathroom with shower, a hair dryer, TV and a bathrobe and slippers. Bottled water in cabins is replenished daily. The ship also has a gym, spa, main lounge, second panorama lounge with library, restaurant with bar, a business center and a sun deck with a bar and a cross between a large hot tub and pool. The main restaurant includes unlimited local beer and house brand spirits with meals. Smoking is allowed only on the Sun Deck.

More Info

 

New Ships on the Danube

Uniworld River Cruises is to launch its tenth boutique hotel-style ship, the River Beatrice on March 23 in Vienna, meanwhile Amawaterways will celebrate the newest addition to its fleet, MS Amalyra, with an Easter Sunday christening, in the quaint town of Vilshofen, Germany.

Sonesta Nile Cruises

  Sonesta Dahabeya is the latest addition to the Sonesta Nile Cruises portfolio. As a member of the Sonesta fleet of deluxe-service Nile cruisers, this small cruiser will combine comfort and beauty in an inspiring way, promising a remarkable and rewarding cruise experience like no other on the Nile.

Cruise Bookings Stabilize

Cruise cancellation rates, which had skyrocketed in the fall, are back to more normal levels, reports UBS cruise analyst Robin Farley in a lengthy research note.

A-Rosa New Danube Route

Danube Tourist Commission

2009-03-20 10:14:06

New in A-Rosa's 2009 catalogue is the eleven-day "Danube and Cataracts" cruise that combines the cities of the classic Vienna-Budapest-Bratislava route with a spectacular voyage to the cataracts of the Iron Gate and the Serbian capital Belgrade. (www.a-rosa.de)

Danube Travel Magazine

James Mackintosh, the author of many articles about the Danube that have appeared in The Guardian and Telegraph, plans to publish a Danube Travel Magazine in both English and German editions. The magazine will be aimed especially at passengers on Danube cruise ships.

Norwegian Epic Deck Plans Released!

While individual reservations for the Norwegian Epic won't open for another month, I've received access to the deck plans and the ability to make group bookings immediately!

There are a number of surprises in these deck plans, such as "studio" staterooms with some exclusive features, and of course the increasingly-popular Spa stateroom categories.

"Since this ship is our largest and most innovative Freestyle Cruising vessel to date, we've taken a fresh approach to our stateroom mix, offering niche accommodations such as our family and spa categories, along with creative, ground-breaking design as evidenced by The Studios with Living Room and largest ever Courtyard Villa complex," said Kevin Sheehan, NCL's CEO.

According to NCL, the new Studio staterooms are designed with the budget-conscious traveler in mind and were created to maximize space, as the Studios are slightly smaller than standard inside staterooms. Each studio can sleep up to two people and features a large, round window that looks out into the corridor, along with customizable color changing light effects that mirror different stages of the day. Guests can also change the light by mood settings, such as the love setting.

The 128 Studios occupy decks 11 and 12 and Studio guests have exclusive key-card access to the Living Room, a two-story lounge area featuring a concierge, bar, room service, two large TV screens, a quiet reading section and comfortable seating for hanging out.

NCL will also be introducing spa balcony, deluxe balcony staterooms and suites within the spa for the first time. Guests in the 39 Spa suites, which feature a unique look and feel, will have complimentary 24-hour access to the ship's thermal suite and fitness center. In addition, eight of the spa suites each feature an in-room whirlpool.

Norwegian Epic's ship-within-in-a-ship complex will be comprised of 60 suites and villas spanning two private decks (decks 16 and 17) at the top of the ship. The suite category choices will include Courtyard Villas, Penthouse Suites and Deluxe Owner's Suites. Guests staying in one of these suites will have exclusive access to the Courtyard Villa, which features a pool, two whirlpools, gym, saunas, sundeck, the Uber bar, a concierge lounge and indoor/outdoor dining.

Norwegian Cruise Line's popular family-friendly staterooms are available on the Epic as well. The majority of the staterooms, both deluxe balcony and balcony, many that connect, will be on two decks close to an expanded Kids Crew facility. The family staterooms will feature Norwegian's signature New Wave design.

There are still some "reveals" to come, and blank public spaces on the deck plans, but if you're dreaming of this innovative new ship, knowing that NCL strives to be a design and lifestyle leader in the cruise industry, you can now start planning your inaugural season bookings!

And if you have at least 5 cabins ready to go, I can book you immediately! Give me a call or email me for details on dates, fares and availability.

Norwegian Epic Deck Plans