Jacques Pepin’s First Restaurant

Most days, I absolutely love being a cruise specialist travel agent; I enjoy the interaction with my clients, the negotiations with the cruise lines, learning ever more about the industry, and traveling - both when escorting clients and on my own. But some days I just long to be a travel writer. Yes, as you all know I enjoy writing, and do indulge here in my editorials and in travel logs (which are more than occasionally picked up by media sources), but the desire doesn't stem from that; it comes from some of the events writers are invited to which I, even as a top producing agent, never get to experience.

Why am I mentioning this now? Because of an event Oceania hosted yesterday to announce the creation of a Jacques Pepin restaurant aboard their newest ship, Oceania Marina.

Already familiar to Oceania cruisers as the Executive Culinary Director for the line, Pepin is the well-known TV cooking show host and author of more than 20 cookbooks, but interestingly he's never had his own restaurant under his own name.

The cuisine will simple, freshly prepared French dishes that draw inspiration from bistros in his home town of Lyon and the fabled bistros of Paris. Dining in Jacques will be reminiscent of dining in a favorite bistro that is run by a long-time friend. The service, while professional and polished, is friendly and endearing and in the tradition of fine French dining, a leisurely pace is de rigueur, thus ensuring a relaxing dining experience. Expect menu highlights including an appetizer of homemade Pumpkin Soup a l'Anglaise served in a pumpkin shell and fresh Mussels Mariniere. The eatery also will serve "specialites de la maison" that are hand-selected each day in local markets the ship visits.

Custom Jacques Pepin signature china, antique flatware and Lalique glassware will adorn the tables, and chandeliers fashioned from crystal decanters will add a whimsical shimmer to the room, the line adds. There also will be art done by Pepin himself.

There will be no extra charge for dining in the restaurant, although passengers will need to make reservations in advance. Sample menus will be uploaded to Oceania's Web site in coming months.

Now why does this announcement make me want to chuck my day job and take up travel writing? Oceania feted writers (and a few selected agents, but alas, not me) at an event in New York at the French Culinary Institute to announce the restaurant. All afternoon I was reading tweets from various sources describing the dishes to which they were treated, including descriptions of "buttery lobster rolls", descriptions of 32-oz prime rib, chocolate croissants, french wine, even a cooking demonstration led by Pepin himself. Can you blame me for temporarily dreaming of a slightly different career at times like this?

But back to the more serious matters. I'm a fan of the premium restaurants onboard, and think that for those who like something special, they offer a different experience onboard at a very reasonable price for what you receive. Especially on the Deluxe and Luxury lines, where they are included or at an extremely minimal surcharge for gratuities, they're an exceptional value and quality. I'm personally looking forward to dining in Prime C aboard Azamara Quest next month to celebrate my birthday, and feel that it will be equal to anything I could have here at home, at a much better price (not to mention the view!). While the ever-increasing emphasis on premium-fee restaurants onboard ships is controversial, as some feel everything should be included in the cruise fare, I'm glad that the lines are going this direction to provide a superior experience for those who will enjoy it, while not neglecting their main dining rooms and even buffets.

I can't wait to try this out! (Hint, hint, Oceania!)

EXCLUSIVE Celebrity 3-Day Sale!

EXCLUSIVE to our company, Celebrity is offering onboard credits up to $150/cabin on selected sailings for 3 days only! These credits are only applicable for new bookings made July 21-23 for sailings 7 nights or longer in an Oceanview or higher category!

If you're looking to sail this fall or even into early 2010, you might find exactly what you're looking for here. Fares are combinable with restricted rates, such as residency and senior fares, but not with other benefits such as shareholder credits.

The onboard credit amounts are:

• $75 - Ocean View staterooms - 7 - 10 night itineraries
• $100 - Veranda or higher 7 - 10 night itineraries
• $125 - Ocean View staterooms - 11+ night itineraries
• $150 - Veranda and higher - 11+ night itineraries

The applicable ships and sailing dates are:

• Equinox, 11/23/09, $125/$150 onboard credit (Oceanview/Veranda+)
• Solstice, 12/13/09, $75/$100 onboard credit
• Solstice, 12/20/09, $75/$100 onboard credit
• Constellation, 9/19/09, $125/$150 onboard credit
• Constellation, 10/3/09, $125/$150 onboard credit
• Constellation, 12/6/09, $125/$150 onboard credit
• Constellation, $1/17/10, $125/$150 onboard credit
• Constellation, 2/28/10, $125/$150 onboard credit
• Mercury, 12/12/09, $75/$100 onboard credit
• Mercury, 10/23/09, $125/$150 onboard credit.
• Summit, 12/19/09, $75/$100 onboard credit
• Millennium, 12/7/09, $125/$150 onboard credit
• Millennium, 10/10/09, $125/$150 onboard credit
• Century, 11/28/09, $125/$150 onboard credit

If you're interested in any of the above sailings, or want more information, email me at amber@cruiseresource.com, or phone me at 303-690-8937 or toll-free at 888-SAIL-123 (888-724-5123). If you're wanting to sail anyway, book now! Don't miss out on an onboard credit offer!

Terms and conditions for the 3 day sale: Celebrity Cruises reserves the right to impose a fuel supplement of up to $10 per guest per day on all guests if the price of West Texas Intermediate fuel exceeds $65.00 per barrel. Onboard Credit offer ($100 per stateroom is in U.S. dollars and not redeemable for cash). Offer only valid for new FIT bookings made July 21 - 23, 2009 on mentioned departures. All Unrestricted and select Restricted promos (Reduced Air AR**, Resident RES, Seniors SRS, Military, Police & Firefighter, Outside special or gty, Balcony special or gty) can be combined with this program offer. Offers can not be applied to deep discount promos, off-tariff price promos, or agency phone # driven promos such as, Net rates, Celebrity Exciting Deals, Ind. incentive rates (IIT), Gross rates, Interline rates, Friends & Family rates, EZN rates, travel agent rates, etc. Offers also can not be combined with other offers or promotions, including, but not limited to, other onboard credit or dollars (savings) off offers, Captain's Club Offers, Shareholder benefits, Future or Celebrity Voyages offers and benefits. OFFERS DO NOT APPLY TO INSIDE STATEROOMS OR GROUP BOOKINGS. Onboard Credit ($75 per stateroom-Ocean View staterooms on 7 -10 night itineraries; $100 per stateroom- Concierge Class, Verandas & Suites on 7 - 10 night itineraries; $125 per stateroom -Ocean View staterooms on 11+ night itineraries; $150 per stateroom -Concierge Class, Verandas and Suites on 11 + night itineraries) will be applied by Celebrity Cruises, to those applicable bookings, once the booking window closes. All itineraries are current at the time of printing and subject to change without notice. Certain restrictions apply. ©2009Celebrity Cruises. Ships' Registry: Malta.

Adventure River Cruising!

I had this idea that river cruising was some cushy lark for timid softies with delicate tummies and an inhibited sense of adventure. Well, several new river cruise itineraries are changing that.

Pandaw on the Rajang of Sarawak and now the Brahmaputra in India. future plans for the SE Asian river specialists. Well known for their signature voyages along the Mekong from Saigon to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, they’ve also been busy on the Chindwin and Irrawaddy in Burma since 1995 and are soon to embark on the Ganges and Hugli rivers in India starting this September. The other stuff is secret, but look out for exciting new itineraries from this go-ahead line including The Heart of Borneo 

I’ve been on the Amazon proper, but I did not venture up one of the lesser known tributaries, the Rio Negro, into eastern Ecuador, on the other side of the Andes. The jungle hideout, Sacha Lodge, is secreted deep in the tidal floodplain and completely at the mercy of tiny marauding primates like marmosets and squirrel monkeys. Giant prehistoric birds called Hoatzins lurk about while Toucans kept their distance and called loudly from the canopy. You could even fish for piranha off the veranda.

Valueworld tours offers Mekong Delta Cruise Tours as well as the Thailand and the Kwai River

Contact Riverdiscounts.com 800-640-4899

Avalon Waterways is set to debut the Avalon Creativity

Avalon Waterways is set to debut the Avalon Creativity, the company’s eighth new ship, in a Dutch-themed christening event on August 8. Attendees will arrive in Volendam and enjoy a reception on the dock that will house the Avalon Creativity.

The new ship arrived from the Den Breejen Shipyard in Holland and is setting sail just two months after the Avalon Affinity’s inaugural cruise.

“My career is full of many firsts, from leading the development of the burgeoning Girlfriend Getaways franchise to overseeing Budget Travel’s migration to the Web, but this ‘first’ – my first time as a godmother of a ship – is an experience of a lifetime,” said Nancy Telliho, president of Newsweek Budget Travel, Inc. and godmother to the ship. Telliho, as godmother, will baptize the Avalon Creativity with champagne in preparation for its maiden voyage.

Post-christening, the Avalon Creativity will set sail on its inaugural romantic Rhine cruise, an itinerary that the ship will cruise through the end of 2009. Travelers interested in experiencing the new ship this year can receive 50 percent off air on Avalon Waterways air-inclusive 2009 Europe cruises if booking before August 4.

In 2010, the Avalon Creativity will move to Western Europe, cruising Avalon Waterways’ new grand France and Paris to Normandy’s landing beaches itineraries.

Amenities and features on Avalon’s new ships include flat-screen TVs, modern bathrooms, large closets, flexible bed design (beds may be configured as two twins or one queen), Egyptian cotton linens, mini-bar, safe, laundry and ironing services, a fully equipped fitness room, library, hair salon and gift shop, as well as a club lounge and large jacuzzi pool on the Sky Deck.

RiverDiscounts.com 800-640-4899

It’s Only Happy at Royal Caribbean This Week

Happy Hour, that is. Sorry this is late this week, but I was waiting for the Celebrity and Azamara Happy Hours to be posted, and they just did. Unfortunately, what they posted was that there would be no Happy Hours this week.

So we have Royal Caribbean's offers! I'll admit they're a bit thin this week, too, consisting of 3- and 4-night Caribbean and Bahamas sailings. But if you're wanting a last-minute getaway, these will be perfect!

Of course, these are on sale only Tuesday, July 21, so give me a call now if you're interested.

Royal Caribbean Happy Hour/Sales Event Deals for Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Carnival’s New Vacation Protection Plan Provisions - Good Enough?

How could I even ask such a question? Aren't new features almost always good? Not if they don't go far enough toward covering what YOU need.

Carnival announced today that they are adding job loss assurance and severe weather watch/warning protection to their Cruise Vacation Protection Plan offered on Carnival cruises.

The severe weather watch/warning protection provides reimbursement in the event the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and/or National Weather Service issues or maintains a severe weather watch or warning within 48 hours of a cruise departure. Should the watch or warning affect either the cruise departure city or the guest's route to that city, the plan will allow for cancellation and reimbursement up to the full amount of the cruise cost.

Another new weather protection feature provides that if a guest is traveling to the cruise departure port via a common carrier (airplane, bus, train, etc.) and inclement weather ultimately causes the guest to miss 50 percent or more of the cruise vacation, the guest may receive reimbursement up to the total cost of the cruise.

The new job loss plan will provide reimbursement up to the total cruise cost if individuals who have booked a cruise and purchased the plan are subsequently terminated by their employer and have worked for that employer for at least one continuous year.

These two additions definitely have value, and could be important to some travelers. However, like most cruiseline-offered policies, they may not be the right solution for you or provide as comprehensive insurance as do independent policies.

I make no secret that in most situations, I'm not a fan of the policies offered by cruise lines. There are several reasons for this: they don't cover any arrangements you book independently, such as airfare, hotels or excursions; they usually don't cover pre-existing conditions; many don't offer refunds but instead offer future cruise credits if you cancel under their "any reason" provisions; they don't protect against supplier default; their coverage limits aren't terribly generous with regard to medical and evacuation coverages; and sometimes limit coverage for illness to non-traveling family members.

Carnival's policy isn't bad, it just doesn't provide comprehensive coverage. It does refund in cash if you need to cancel for a medical reason. It does allow cancellation for the illness of a non-traveling immediate family member. The job loss and weather additions are nice bonuses. But the medical limit is $10,000, and evacuation is only $30,000, neither of which is adequate in this day and age, especially for those covered under Medicare which doesn't allow claims for treatment outside the US. In addition, there is no waiver for pre-existing medical conditions, though if you do need to cancel for a pre-existing condition, they will give you a future cruise credit. And of course there's no provision for coverage for any other aspects of your cruise vacation which weren't booked through Carnival.

I applaud Carnival's enhancements, but as always, I recommend you discuss with your travel advisor your particular needs and what coverage might best suit your situation. In most cases, I feel that independent coverage offers superior protection, often at or close to the same cost as that offered through the cruises. There are exceptions, always, and it's important to look at your specific situation and decide based on that what form of coverage is best for you.

It’s Time to Twitter

Have you started following me on Twitter yet? If not, it's time!

I know that Twitter can seem like it's just for kids or celebrities who have the presumption that everyone in the world wants to know every minutiae of their life. But it's evolving into so much more than that.

For example, it allows for a quick way to get out information on breaking news stories. If you were watching me on Twitter this morning, you would have read an article where NCL's CEO talks about indications cruise fares may be heading up again. While I could re-write that as an editorial for here, it's a tidbit that is more easily communicated in a shorter, more concise format. Hence, I tweeted it for everyone.

While a lot, probably a majority, of Twitter users access it from handheld devices such as smart phones, you can access it and follow your favorites from your computer as well. You can just go to the address of the person you wish to follow (www.twitter.com/whomever), or use a free program such as TweetDeck (www.tweetdeck.com) to follow multiple people, even get updates on news, sports and weather! It stays on your desktop and alerts to you new posts from those you're following.

Why am I encouraging you to follow me on Twitter? Next month, I'll be doing another of my "Live From" series of cruise reviews, this time from Italy, but because of the port-intensive nature of the cruise I'll be on, and other time constraints, I'm going to make use of Twitter for a majority of the updates, including pictures! While a few of the posts will be made here, if you want to follow me while I show a different aspect to cruising, you'll want to do so on Twitter. You can even ask me questions while I'm there!

So start checking it out now. You can follow me at www.twitter.com/cruiseresource or @cruiseresource on Twitter. I look forward to tweeting with you!

CruiseCritic.co.uk list of the top 10 rivers for cruising in 2009.

Fabulous Luxury Offers

I've been saying that this year is the time to try out Luxury cruising, and the below offers certainly support that. Many cruisers have the perception that "luxury" brands are too expensive, but when all the inclusions, such as alcohol, gratuities, bottled water, sodas, specialty coffees and the like are factored in, there's often not as much difference as you might expect. And this year, they are especially kind to the budget.

First up is my favorite ship in the world, the Paul Gauguin sailing in French Polynesia (Tahiti). Book by September 30, and enjoy 2-for-1 cruise fares and free or 2-for-1 airfare! The opportunity to cruise the South Pacific aboard the deluxe m/s Paul Gauguin has never been better!

Featuring the vibrant culture and natural wonders of Tahiti, the Society Islands and Tuamotus, this multi-award-winning ship will embark on just sixteen 7-night sailings and just six 10-night voyages in 2010, on dream itineraries designed to bring you closer than ever before to some of the world's most exotic locales - and at a value unheard of for such paradise:

• 2-for-1 Savings on January - March 2010 sailings when booked by September 30, 2009
• 2-for-1 roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles — an additional value of up to $1,250 per couple — when booked by September 30, 2009
• Early Booking Savings of up to 45% on April - June 2010 sailings

7-night sailings highlighting Tahiti and the Society Islands start from $2,748 per person, including 2-for-1 roundtrip Air savings between Los Angeles and Papeete, Tahiti when booked by September 30, 2009, while the 10-night itineraries highlight the Tuamotus and Society Islands and start from $3,648, including Free Roundtrip Air between Los Angeles and Papeete, Tahiti when booked by September 30, 2009.

This ship is the perfect fit for French Polynesia. From their private motu (island) where you can be served lunch and an "adult beverage" while luxuriating in a lounger in the warm, clear lagoon waters, to snorkeling or diving with brightly-colored tropical fish, exploring the beauty and culture of these magnificent islands, or simply reveling in the hospitality of these charming people, this is an unforgettable cruise...at unheard-of prices!

French Polynesia not piquing your interest? Then check out the 1-week sale from the Yachts of Seabourn! Ultra-luxurious yacht-style cruising can be yours at extremely attractive fares if your book this week.

Book one of the below cruises aboard The Yachts of Seabourn with extraordinary savings of up to 65%. You will sail aboard an intimate yacht and enjoy all-suite accommodations, personalized service and an atmosphere of sophisticated ease. With special fares from just $1,349, don't miss this exceptional value. It's the perfect opportunity for you to experience the winner of the World's Best Small-Ship Cruise Line. But hurry, the sale begins today, Monday, July 13 and lasts just one week.

• Caribbean Getaway • Seabourn Spirit
  DEC 16, 2009 • 5 days Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas to Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  Special Fares from $1,349
• Atlantic Sunsets • Seabourn Spirit
  NOV 15, 2009 • 12 days Lisbon, Portugal to Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  Special Fares from $2,765
• Belize, Panama & Costa Rica • Seabourn Legend
  NOV 23, 2009 • 14 days Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica
  Special Fares from $3,599
• Caribbean Tapestry • Seabourn Odyssey
  NOV 28, 2009 • 12 days Round-trip Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  Special Fares from $3,999
• Costa Rica, Panama & Belize • Seabourn Legend
  DEC 7, 2009 • 14 days Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica to Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  Special Fares from $3,599
• Asian Capitals & Vietnam • Seabourn Pride
  FEB 13 or MAR 13, 2010 • 14 days Singapore to Hong Kong, China
  Special Fares from $4,999
• Asian Capitals & Vietnam II • Seabourn Pride
  FEB 27, 2010 • 14 days Hong Kong, China to Singapore
  Special Fares from $5,249
• Caribbean Gems • Seabourn Legend
  MAR 20, 2010 • 5 days Round-trip Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
  Special Fares from $1,499
• Caribbean Gems • Seabourn Legend
  MAR 25, 2010 • 7 days Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas to Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  Special Fares from $1,999

If you've longed to check out a luxury line, this is the time! Whether you choose the Paul Gauguin, or luxuriate on Seabourn, you will have an amazing, pampering experience at sea.

Happy Hour Again? Of Course!

Well look here - it's Happy Hour time again! Time for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity to reward you for being able to be flexible and book close-in to sailing date.

This week, Alaska is on sale again for Celebrity, and Royal Caribbean has a selection of Caribbean, Bahamas and Mediterranean.

As always, remember these are one day only prices, good only on Tuesday, July 14. I can make your booking before they open to the public, so your best bet for availability and cabin selection is to contact me on Monday if any of these pique your interest.

Royal Caribbean Happy Hour/Sales Event Deals for Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Celebrity Happy Hour/Xciting Deals for Tuesday, July 14, 2009