Efforts under way to keep Delta Queen

VICKSBURG, Miss. -- Sens. Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker have joined in congressional efforts to keep the Delta Queen afloat.

The Mississippi Republicans have joined with lawmakers from seven other states to exempt the riverboat from safety regulations.

Because its superstructure is wood, the Delta Queen violates the 1966 Safety of Life at Seas Act. The owners have operated the passenger steamer under an exemption, which expires this year.

Proposed legislation would extend the exemption to November 1, 2018. Without the bill, the Delta Queen could not be allowed to board more than 50 passengers or operate overnight cruises.

The boat's November farewell tour, which Majestic is calling the 2008 Delta Queen Tribute Event, will see the riverboat stop at Greenville, Vicksburg and Natchez en route to New Orleans and retirement.

New Web Site launched for Cruising Russia and Ukraine

The week the new web site cruisingrussia.com was launched including itineraries, ships, deck plans, passengers reviews and lower prices. Covering the Volga river in Russia and the Dneiper River in the Ukraine there are many itineraries to select from with prices from $1,599 per person.

You can read reviews on the site from passengers that have sailed the ships, eaten the food and slept in the beds.

This site joins other specialized sites for river cruising: Danubecruising.com. Rhinecruiseforless.com and rivercruisereports.com.

For more information contact Mike Davies 864-446-7524

CRUISE WEST ENTERS EUROPE MARKET IN 2009 WITH NEW DANUBE RIVER CRUISE

Star Clippers promotes Far East sailing

Star Clippers is offering free airfare from San Francisco or Los Angeles, to Phuket, Thailand, and return air from Singapore, on the Nov. 29 Far East sailing aboard Star Clipper.

The offer is available to residents of North America and Latin America.

The 14-night cruise between Phuket and Singapore combines a seven-night round-trip Phuket itinerary with a seven-night Phuket to Singapore voyage.

Contact RiverDiscounts 800-640-4899

Star Clippers Tight-lipped on Newbuild

After announcing plans last September to build the largest and most expensive sailing vessel ever, Star Clippers is still in discussions with various shipyards and “working on purchasing agreements” for its fourth yet-to-be-named ship, said Mark Carlson, director of marketing, on Thursday. “I haven’t heard much on anything at all as of late; it’s all very hush hush,” Carlson said. However, he did reveal that the five-masted vessel will be 7,400 tons, 518 feet in length, have a beam of 61 feet, and a 20-foot draft. The ship will also have an “Ice-Class C” hull, extra- heavy anchor gear, a davit-dampening system, and specially modified tenders – allowing her to sail virtually anywhere in the world. Currently, Star Clippers operates three sailing ships in the Caribbean, Far East, Mediterranean and Tahiti.

Go Barging Introduces New Luxury Vessel for 2009

Go Barging announced the addition of a new vessel, the Enchanté, to its 2009 fleet. The Enchanté will operate two new itineraries in Southern France. Go Barging is now accepting reservations for the 2009 season. The Enchanté can accommodate up to eight passengers in the four double-bedded air-conditioned suites, each of which features a bathroom furnished with luxury bath products. The vessel offers onboard TV, DVD player, and Internet connection. The sun deck has an alfresco dining area, hot tub, and loungers. Five gourmet dinners will be served onboard, and guests will dine out one evening at a local restaurant. Onboard, meals are accompanied by regional wines and an open bar. Prices start at $5,890 per person, double occupancy, and include six nights on the Enchanté, all meals prepared by the onboard chef, regional wines, open bar, excursions and admittance fees. Also included is pick-up and transfers to and from designated points. One of the Enchanté's two alternating itineraries features the Canal du Midi, beginning in Montpellier and exploring chateaux, the world's oldest canal tunnel at Malpas, old towns, and concluding in Le Somail. The second itinerary explores Provence and Camargue. Highlights include visits to Avignon and the Palais des Papes, cruising through Camargue National Park, and tours of Arles and Pezenas. For more information, call RiverDiscounts 800-640-4899

RiverDiscounts.com extends Viking early booking discounts

Join us in 2009!

River cruising is the best way to travel through many of the world's most fascinating places, and there has never been a better time to explore the world with Viking River Cruises. To provide our guests with a relaxing enjoyable experience, we have designed our journeys to include accommodations, meals, shore excursions and cultural enrichment. Plus, to provide an even greater value, RiverDiscounts clients can now save up to $2,700 per couple or get all-inclusive international airfare from only $199 per person.



Europe



GRAND EUROPEAN TOUR

15 days: Amsterdam to Budapest

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ROMANTIC DANUBE

8 days: Budapest to Nuremberg



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PORTRAITS OF SOUTHERN FRANCE

8 days: Chalon to Avignon

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RHINE GETAWAY

8 days: Amsterdam to Basel

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EASTERN EUROPEAN ODYSSEY

16 days: Bucharest to Nuremberg

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TREASURES OF THE RHINE

15 days: Basel to Antwerp

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ELEGANT ELBE

12 days: Berlin - Magdeburg to Melnik - Prague



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CITIES OF LIGHT

12 days: Paris - Trier to Nuremburg - Prague



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PARIS & THE HEART OF NORMANDY

8 days: Paris to Le Havre



China

IMPERIAL JEWELS OF CHINA

12 days: Shanghai to Beijing

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CHINA'S CULTURAL DELIGHTS

17 days: Beijing to Shanghai





Russia

WATERWAYS OF THE CZARS

13 days: St. Petersburg to Moscow

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FOOTSTEPS OF THE COSSACKS

11 or 12 days: Kiev to Odessa







Act today-Get first choice of destination and cabin category. Your savings expire Sep 30, 2008



RiverDiscounts.com 800-9640-4899

10 new cruises for Hebridean Princess in 2009

Delta Queen attracting bidders on sale block

Ambassadors Declares Loss

Ambassadors International, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMIE) has reported a net loss of $2.4 million on revenues of $80.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2008, compared to net income of $5.8 million on revenues of $80.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007.

Marine revenues in the second quarter of 2008 increased $2.7 million over the second quarter of 2007 as a result of an increase in sales in Bellingham Marine, the Company's marina construction business. Travel, incentive and event related revenue in the second quarter of 2008 increased $0.1 million over the same period in 2007 primarily due to an increase in program volume. Cruise revenues decreased $2.4 million in the second quarter of 2008 over the same period in 2007 due to $1.6 million decline in revenue from Windstar Cruises which was acquired in April 2007 and $0.8 million decline in revenue from Majestic America Line. Additionally, a decrease of $0.2 million in insurance premiums earned on existing insurance programs as a result of not entering into any new programs in 2008 also offset the increase in revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2008.

Costs and operating expenses were $81.5 million in the second quarter of 2008, a decrease of $0.1 million from the second quarter of 2007. Costs and operating expenses in the second quarter of 2008 included a $5.9 million decrease in Majestic America Line operating costs. This decrease was offset by a $2.4 million increase in operating costs for Windstar Cruises and a $3.4 million increase in costs in the marine division, primarily due to the increase in cost of marine revenue resulting from increased revenues generated during the period.