Thanks to the recent media frenzy surrounding the latest ABC drama, Cougar Town, cougars are officially making a comeback.  (If you’re still pondering what a Cougar is despite all the buzz, I suggest you head over to Urban Dictionary for an unofficial interpretation of the term).  As the nation gears up for tonight’s series premier starring Courtney Cox, another group of middle-age women – and the young men that lust after them – are preparing to heat things up in the travel industry. That’s right – Carnival Cruise Line is hosting the very first International Cougar Cruise.

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These days, you just can’t lie like you used to. The words you speak may be “I was on a business trip,” but your Twitter page, Facebook status, and out of office message indicate otherwise. If you think you’ve got what it takes, there is one place where liars are welcome, and the better the bluff, the richer you become. All you need is a bit of luck, and a ticket on a Carnival cruise.

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Under-the-radar cruise line Pearl Seas certainly knows how to keep us on the edge of our seats. The new cruise line has been relatively quiet about the first sailing of its ship, the Pearl Mist - originally slated to debut this July.  While all systems appeared to be “go for launch” on the website, the cruise line has now pushed back the maiden voyage to September 5 (rumor has it that the 214-passenger ship is still under construction).

Pearl Seas stands out in the crowd because it blends several styles of cruising together, and doesn’t quite fall into any one category. Its small ship sizes will allow for easy navigation of rivers and less-travelled waterways in Canada, as well as exotic islands in the Caribbean. This luxury line will feature all-suite ships, private balconies, a relaxation spa, custom-designed shore excursions, onboard historians, entertainers, and naturalists.

The new maiden voyage will embark from St. John’s. NewFoundland on a 7-night cruise bound for Quebec City. For information on this cruise or additional itineraries, visit http://www.pearlseascruises.com.

People have always had a fascination with the legendary RMS Titanic, and now Fred Olsen cruises is allowing passengers to go back in time to that fateful day to relive the famous ocean crossing (only without the whole iceberg thing). April 12, 2012 will mark the 100-year anniversary of the sinking of Titanic, and even though there’s still three years to go, tickets are already on sale for the 12-night cruise aboard the Fred Olsen Balmoral that will follow the same path as Titanic, from Southampton to New York City.

Why the Balmoral? Would Cunard’s brand new Queen Elizabeth – which launches in 2010 be a better choice? It certainly has the look, but Fred Olsen has ties to Harland and Wolff – the company that built the original Titanic. During the ocean crossing, the Balmoral will offer cuisine that matches the menus of yesteryear, musical entertainment from that era, and historians who are fluent with the story of Titanic, beyond the tale of Kate and Leo.

For more information, visit:

http://www.titanicmemorialcruise.co.uk/

A number of major cruise lines include a port of call at one of their “privately-owned islands,” but while there’s no doubt that this concept has mass appeal, these islands are left with a manufactured feel, because nearly every aspect – from the tropical drinks to the straw markets – is cruise line owned-and-operated.

Cruise West’s latest announcement is in a league of it’s own by entitling passengers to a true private-island experience at a Costa Rican National Park. Beginning next January, the cruise line will sail to Cocos Island, an uninhabited area that was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 2007, and was short-listed as a candidate to be one of the New7Wonders of Nature. The island is so remote that before cruise lines can anchor their ships, they must first receive permission from the island’s only inhabitants – a handful of Costa Rican Park Rangers. Read the rest of this post »

While technically not a traditional cruise, we felt compelled to pass along this piece of information anyway. New York’s Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises will debut two new sailings this summer. Circle Line Queens and Circle Line Brooklyn will begin to set sail within the next month, and to commemorate this momentous occasion they will host an all-day celebration. On Saturday June 20, Circle Line will offer a free block party at Pier 81, with a 1940’s-style carnival, which pays homage to the company that first set sail in 1945. The event will also include a barbeque, merry-go-round, carnival entertainers, and even free cruises to the Statue of Liberty. Both of the new cruises can hold up to 600 passengers and provides commuters with upgraded amenities, while keeping the classic feel on Circle Line intact.

To learn more about Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, click here.

The same group that’s partially responsible for John Mayer’s nearly-naked jog aboard the Mayercraft Carrier (see our previous blog entry) is now bringing Elvis back for the third year in a row with a little musical magic. The affinity travel company, Sixthman is joining forces with Elvis Presley Enterprises and Carnival cruises to host a 4-night concert cruise aboard the newly-refurbished Carnival Inspiration featuring all things Elvis.

The cruise embarks from Tampa on November 12 heading west to the beautiful beaches in the Cozumel, Mexico, often considered the “snorkeling capital of the world.” Days at sea will be spent meeting with celebrity guests, (although don’t expect A-listers like Brad and Angie), watching an Elvis fashion show, playing Elvis monopoly,  trivia tournaments, and performances by more than 15 artists. The event will be hosted by the King’s close friend, Jerry Schilling, and will feature live music by former band mates and performers including the TCB band, The Sweet Inspirations, Ronnie McDowell, D.J. Fontana, Mark Anthony, and many more. Tickets are now open for booking, starting from $549 per person based on double occupancy.

Personally, I’m intrigued by the Elvis monopoly. Find out more at http://www.theelviscruise.com.

Small ship cruises often come with a large price tag, but Variety Cruises has tapped into the hard-to-reach niche of offering intimate sailings at budget rates. Apart from establishing some serious “sea credit” for its popular Mediterranean voyages, the family-owned cruise line has just announced that it will be expanding into the Arabian Gulf beginning this November. The 7-night cruises will sail from Dubai or Muscat, and are available at some very attractive rates, starting from just $1,592 – a rare find for such a unique itinerary.

Unlike many cruise ships that visit the region, the newly renovated Panorama holds just 49 passengers, providing a private, personalized setting. These enticing itineraries include 3-nights spent sailing and exploring the Musandam Peninsula, and two nights traveling around the Omani coast and interior. The ship will coast past scenic mountains, lagoons, and remote fjords, and numerous optional shore excursions are available for those wanting to venture farther inland. Cruisers can partake in water activities like diving and snorkeling, or they can hop on a 4-wheel-drive adventure to hot springs, fishing villages, and ancient fortresses.

To learn more about these new itineraries, visit www.varietycruises.com.

Or, check out this great offer on sailings to Greece from Variety Cruises with our Editor’s Review.

The thought of going back to school sounds much more appealing when it’s in the same sentence with the word “vacation.” Enrichment Voyages thought so too, and to encourage enrollment, they have dropped rates on a 21-night educational cruise nearly 44%. During the school year, the cruise line hosts the Semester at Seas Program for students, but in order to fill in the gap during the semester breaks, the prices of lengthy academic cruises become remarkably affordable. Read the rest of this post »

River cruise ships take travelers where large mainstream cruise lines simply cannot go, allowing passengers to experience a destination past the port. In an effort to convince travelers to opt for the “river route,” the boutique cruise line, Uniworld, is offering free airfare to overseas departure ports in Europe, Russia, and Egypt. In order to take advantage of this 2-for-1 special, the first passenger must pay the published brochure rates on a 2009 cruise, and in turn their companion receives free airfare from the United States. Read the rest of this post »