QUEEN MARY 2 Transatlantic Voyages - fares from $899
January 28, 2008
From the moment you step aboard the grandest ocean liner ever built, a sense of history and majesty envelops you. Ahead lie miles of open ocean that will take you back to a time when travel still meant something - when the journey was the destination.
Over six unforgettable days, you’ll discover what it means to truly become enriched. You will travel on an incomparable oasis of elegance, camaraderie and comfort. After all, QUEEN MARY 2® is no mere cruise ship. She is a true ocean liner, a mighty vessel built to navigate the widest expanses of the sea with speed and grace.
Prepare to embark on the adventure of a lifetime and leave your notions about travel far behind.
Enjoy fares starting at just $899* or receive a complimentary balcony upgrade from $1,099.
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Crystal Cruises Epicurean Odyssey Savings
July 27, 2007
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| Book now and save up to $5,858 per couple on a 2008 Western Europe Voyage! |
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| Enjoy an Epicurean Odyssey rich in culture, beauty and sumptuous cuisine on our 2008 Athens to London cruise. From authentic Sicilian fare to incomparable French vintages, this 13-day Wine & Food Festival voyage presents a cornucopia of flavors. Book now and save an additional 20% in Categories A-E or an additional 10% in our Penthouse staterooms! Ensure the best value of a European vacation by buying a Crystal Cruise with U.S. dollars today.
In Taormina, explore the majestic slopes of Mt. Etna, or tour Spain’s scenic Costa de Sol, home to the intriguing Moorish castles of Málaga. For wine lovers, discover Oporto and its celebrated port wine production in the Douro Valley, or visit one of the many world-famous chateaux and vineyards in the lush valleys of Bordeaux. Enhance your culinary acumen on board with cooking demonstrations by a renowned guest chef and complimentary wine tastings led by a master sommelier. Plus, Crystal’s innovative enrichment programs provide many opportunities to enrich your mind and revitalize your spirit. Sail with the World’s Best, voted by the readers of Travel + Leisure for the 12th consecutive year, to the historic cities of Western Europe and discover why the difference is Crystal clear.
Terms & Conditions: Voted World’s Best by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure magazines. |
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Luxury Cruises - Debunking the Myths
July 16, 2007
By: Liz McDougall, Staff Writer, CruiseMatch.com
Recently I’ve talked with some people that think that the luxury cruise market is only for the uber-rich, or star-struck contest winners that wander around Titanic-like ships with first and third classes. They worry about dress codes, fork placement, the dreaded last-day invoice, and a whole host of possible faux-pas they could make while onboard, like stumbling into the Captain’s personal brandy stash, and being thrown overboard for “bad form”.
First, let me put your mind at ease. Luxury Cruises, while being, well, luxurious, are very approachable and very affordable. The staff onboard the ships are used to folks experiencing a higher level of service, food and ambiance for the first time, and they are very happy to help you discover all there is to offer.
Here are some suggestions:
Relax and Talk to Experts.
As you prepare for your cruise, be honest with your travel planner about your concerns. The more information they know about you and what you expect, the better they can match you to the right cruise line and right ship. There are some luxury cruise lines which cater to an older crowd and so the nightlife won’t be as expansive. There are some that have added educational seminars rather than Karaoke (both are fine, by the way…) - just be sure and communicate your likes and dislikes clearly so you’re not disappointed.
Sticker Shock Averted.
Your travel planner’s motto should be, “We can work with any budget, What’s yours?”. Don’t be offended by this question; they aren’t trying to wrangle more money out of you. It helps them (and you) to weed out options which clearly won’t work - but will allow them to perhaps get some extras included by way of their relationships with the cruise lines if they have a little wiggle room. Be sure you know exactly what’s included and what’s not in the cost of your cruise fare, and consider flexibility in terms of dates, departure ports and even length of your cruise. It could be the cruise of a lifetime even if it is only a four-day, rather than a sixty-eight-day sojourn.
Shopping & Gambling Onboard
I have a confession to make. I love to play blackjack, and I especially love to play on cruise ships. I can imagine myself in a 40’s spy film being watched by some tall, dark, handsome man who buys me a drink… and… I digress. Reality is, its usually my dapper tuxedoed husband desperately trying to keep me from losing our next month’s mortgage on one hand. The point is: have a budget in advance and stick to it. Things can add up quickly when you’re shopping and gambling onboard.
Do your Research, but Validate Them Professionally
I wouldn’t make a move without a travel professional these days. I simply can’t call the Internet, although I do love to surf for ideas and research and despite the fact that I can connect with people around the globe and get first-hand information, having someone that knows me, what I like, what I dislike and can tell me without fear of offense that I would be making a terrible mistake by doing such and such. That kind of unbiased “travel therapy” is crucial today, and I appreciate it.
Ready to go? Here are some excellent luxury cruise lines to get you started: Crystal Cruises, Sea Dream Yacht Club, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea Cruise Lines, Oceania Cruise Lines & Cunard Cruise Lines
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