Jewel River Cruise Line Update

Jewel River Cruise Line, the company launched last November by former Silversea President and CEO Albert Peter and former Celebrity Cruises executive Jacques Wulffaert, on Friday said it would postpone the debut of its luxury brand, Jewel River Cruises, and consolidate the company.

In a statement, Jewel River said launching the first boutique-luxury ship in the river cruise industry had become increasingly challenging given the current worldwide economic climate and uncertainties in the international financial markets. Jewel River Cruise Line’s two other brands -- the premium Emerald River Journeys and the contemporary Aqua River Journeys -- will continue to operate. These ships are currently chartered to European tour operators through 2009.

Jewel River’s Fort Lauderdale office will be scaled back and operations will move to the European headquarters in Wollerau, Switzerland. President and COO Wulffaert will remain in Florida. Founder and Chairman Albert Peter will continue to move between the two offices. Wulffaert will concentrate on liaising between the charter operators and tour operators, as Peter continues to meet with financial institutions. “We still believe that a boutique-luxury brand in the river cruise industry is a sound and viable proposition,” said Wulffaert. “The river cruise market has been experiencing a boom and there is currently no true luxury brand in the market. We expect that when the economy stabilizes and credit becomes more readily available, we will be well positioned to be a dominant player.”

Jewel River had planned to offer the first ultra-luxury river cruise product in Europe. Its first ship, Jewel Imperial Blue, was expected to operate 10-day vacations on the Seine River in France to and from Paris. The ship was purchased from an individual owner and was set to undergo a $3.5 million transformation. The vessel was going to be converted to an all-suite vessel that accommodated 90 guests in 45 suites.

Under the original plan, the ultra-luxury venture was to be financed by its two other divisions, which were set to provide equity and cash flow, according to Peter, who had partnered with river cruise veteran Ulrich Baur and Swiss financier Eberhard Henter-Besting to form his company. The Jewel brand was going to be sold only to Americans exclusively through travel agents. Silversea veteran Jim Burnside had been named chief information officer and vice president-revenue management, reservations and IT. Terri Haas, vice president-sales, had joined the company from Costa Cruise Line. Calls to Jewel’s spokeswoman to see if those executives were still employed by the line had not been returned at press time. For more information on Jewel, call 866-342-7607 or visit www.jewelrivercruises.com.

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

Pacific Delight Tours Publishes Quick Guide

Pacific Delight Tours grouped five of its most popular tour packages in one easy-to-read “2009/10 Quick Guide,” with offerings suitable for every level of traveler. To kick off this new brochure, Pacific Delight is giving early-booking savings of up to $500 per couple for bookings made by Dec. 31. Program choices include major highlights of China: magnificent Yangtze River scenery on three- and four-night cruises; imperial Beijing’s Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City; the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs; Shanghai’s Shanghai Museum and Jade Buddha Temple; Xi’an’s famed legions of terra-cotta warriors; Lhasa, Tibet’s mountainous capital; and the vibrant city of Hong Kong. Prices range from $1,588 to $7,588 per person, double, before the early-bird savings. One of Pacific Delight’s most sought-after trips is the 17-day Classic China & Yangtze River Gold Experience -- an intimate, one-of-a-kind perspective into the country’s ancient history and culture, escorted by knowledgeable guides exclusive to the company.

This deluxe vacation, limited to just 16 guests, features accommodations in Asia’s best hotels; Junior Suites with balconies aboard Victoria Cruises’ newest and most luxurious ships; private shore excursions; superb meals; front section seats to many performances; and exclusive sightseeing. Cities include Beijing, Xi’an, Chongqing, Shanghai, Guilin and Hong Kong. Land-only prices are $6,788 to $7,588 per person, double, with 12 departures between April and October 2009; early-bird savings are $500 per couple. With no more than 26 participants, the upscale, fully escorted 13-day Historic Cities & Yangtze River Imperial Experience, provides an in-depth view of each city visited: Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Great Wall and a pedicab ride through Beijing’s old Hutong area; Xi’an’s 2,200-year-old terra-cotta warriors and horses, the Shaanxi Provincial Museum, which includes a Pacific Delight exclusive – a white-glove handling of treasures in the private artifact room; and Shanghai’s Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai Museum and renowned acrobatic show. Special meals include a Beijing Duck welcome dinner, Defachang Restaurant dumpling lunch and Tang Dynasty dinner and show. March 2009 to March 2010 departures are $2,918 to $3,688 for land only; early-bird savings are $300 per couple.

Two of Pacific Delight’s Deluxe SuperValue Tours, offering value and variety, are highlighted in the Quick Guide. The 12-day Historic Cities & Yangtze River provides travelers with an affordable way in which to delve into China’s Imperial cities -- Shanghai, Xi’an and Beijing -- and receive a strong understanding of the country’s history, art, archeology and architecture. The land portion of the tour is complemented by four nights of Yangtze River cruising aboard Victoria Cruises’ Premier Series five-star fleet, sailing the most spectacular portions of this legendary waterway. Land-only prices are $1,588 to $2,288 for departures between March 2009 and March 2010; early-bird savings is $100 per couple.

The 11-day Golden Route SuperValue is similar to the Historic Cities & Yangtze River but substitutes the Yangtze River cruise with a two-night stay in Guilin, a city set among some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. While there, guests visit the magnificent rock formations at Reed Flute Cave and Fu Bo Hill and take a cruise on the Li River, passing lush green landscapes and picturesque villages. The land-only prices range from $1,648 to $2,188 on year-round departures; early-bird savings is $100 per couple. Pacific Delight’s China Escapade Series of vacations offer off-the-beaten-path itineraries to some of China’s most exotic regions. The 15-day Tibet & Yangtze River Escapade is an escorted journey that takes adventurous travelers to Tibet’s 1,300-year-old capital city of Lhasa, nearly 12,000 feet above sea level. Guests explore the many monasteries and palaces, including Norbulingkha, Sera or Drepung Monastery, Jokhang Temple, and the greatest architectural structure in Tibet, the 1,000-room Potala Palace, once the living quarters of the Dalai Lama. A Tibetan dinner and show includes the traditional Yak Dance. Other special sites include the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, with its Imperial Vault of Heaven; the terra-cotta warriors and Small Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi’an; and the Giant Pandas at the Chongqing Zoo.

A three-night Yangtze River cruise and three nights exploring Shanghai conclude the adventure. Land-only prices for the April-October 2009 departures are $3,918 to $4,388; early-bird savings is $100 per couple. The programs include pre-confirmed hotels, intra-Asia air/land transportation, most meals, sightseeing, local guide or tour escort, transfers, hotel taxes, service charges and baggage handling. Transpacific air is available at attractive rates. Prices are subject to change. Pacific Delight Tours offers escorted and independent tours to China, the Orient and Southeast Asia. For more information, call 800-640-4899

General Tours Introduces Cruising to Oberammergau

General Tours World Traveler is offering four small ship journeys featuring the Oberammergau Passion Play in 2010. These 15 guaranteed departures combine all-inclusive luxury cruising aboard the five-star ships of Peter Deilmann with comprehensive escorted touring. Each itinerary concludes with two nights in the Oberammergau region and excellent seats for the 41st presentation of this historic Passion Play. Departing Amsterdam on May 8, 2010, Holland at Tulip Time & the Passion Play begins aboard the intimate MV Casanova. The one-week cruise through Holland and Belgium features 8 escorted excursions, including Bruges, Brussels, and the famed Keukenhof Gardens. Priced from $5,299, this 10-day, all-inclusive cruise & tour features 26 meals, complete sightseeing, luggage handling, and port charges.

Treasures of the Danube & the Passion Play on the MV Mozart cruises to Austria, Hungary and Slovakia with a deluxe hotel stay in Salzburg, a visit to Berchtesgaden, and two nights in the Oberammergau region with tickets for the Passion Play. With 29 meals and complete sightseeing, this all-inclusive cruise & tour is priced from $5,799. General Tours Oberammergau 2010 offerings also include two in-depth cruise & tours in Germany. The Rhine, Black Forest & the Passion Play begins in Amsterdam aboard the MV Heidelberg, flagship of the Peter Deilmann fleet. Priced from $6,799, this 12-day all-inclusive cruise & tour features 32 meals, complete sightseeing, luggage handling, port charges, and reserved A1 seats for the Passion Play. Berlin to Prague along the Elbe & the Passion Play is a 14-day cruise & tour priced from $7,399. As with all of the company's European river cruises, General Tours is promising guaranteed prices, no fuel surcharges and no currency adjustments on all 15 Oberammergau cruise & tour departures. For more information, contact Riverdiscounts 800-640-4899

River Discounts Uniworld Savings

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

Uniworld Epicurean Adventurer Program

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is introducing an Epicurean Adventurer Program in 2009. The Epicurean Adventurer Program will include private wine tastings, wine and food pairings, cooking demonstrations and unique onshore excursions. Each Epicurean Adventurer cruise will feature a special dinner prepared with regional ingredients and learn how to select the perfect wine to complement the meal. Guests can participate in cooking demonstrations led by master chefs. Guided shore excursions will take guests into castles and vintners' homes for private wine tastings or to local food markets.



The Epicurean Adventurer Program will be available on the following 2009 cruises: "Danube Discovery," nine days between Vienna and Nuremberg with fares starting at $2,099 per person; "Rhine Discovery," nine days between Nuremberg and Basel starting at $2,099; the 16-day "Grand European Discovery" between Basel and Vienna from $4,049; the 14-day "Legendary Rhine & Moselle" between Amsterdam and Basel from $3,599; "Paris & the European River Romance," 11 days between Paris and Nuremberg from $1,999; "Paris & the Heart of Europe, 18 days between Paris and Vienna from $4,059; the 32-day "Paris & the Grand European Waterways" between Paris and Bucharest from $7,259; "Burgundy & Provence," nine days between Arles and Chalon from $2,059; and "Grand European Explorer, 30 days between Basel and Bucharest from $8,199. For more information, call 800-640-4899 riverdiscounts.com.

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.