Nov 18, 2009 by Amber Nolan - 1 comment
Amber Nolan is on deck with the latest cruise deals, industry news, ship reviews, and advice on finding the perfect voyage to suit your personality.
Now that I’m back in New York, I wanted to share my final thoughts on crossing the Atlantic on the Queen Mary 2:
Despite being owned by Carnival, Cunard is light-years away from the party-scene on the famous “fun ships.” Although anyone can enjoy the QM2, many of the activities are geared toward an older crowd, but I’ve met all kinds of people who are cruising for a number of reasons. I’ve met young couples, first-time cruisers, two sisters that were as different as night and day, and a woman visiting her daughter in the States for this first time in years because she is too afraid to fly. In fact, I encountered several people using the cruise as an alternative to flying, which surprised me because it can be a costly method of transportation, however you don’t have to book a Grill Suite to have an enjoyable cruise.
If you’re considering an far-flung adventure on the other side of the globe, Bhaya Cruises offers a unique way to spice up a vacation in Vietnam without having to break the bank. This small-ship cruise line blends Southeast Asian style with contemporary luxury on each of its ships that sail sleepy Halong Bay. The company just announced some remarkable summer specials aboard the 40-passenger Bhaya Classic ships, for a total savings of up to 50 percent off.
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After six years of anticipation, a new luxury vessel, the Seabourn Odyssey, has been unveiled as the newest addition to The Yachts of Seabourn. This 640 foot vessel was launched on June 24 on its maiden voyage from Venice to Istanbul, and is exemplary of quintessential decadence throughout its 225 suites. The ship weighs in at a staggering 32,000 tons, and suites are equipped with décor equaled to that of a 5-star hotel, 90 percent of which contain verandas to overlook picturesque waterways while sipping on complimentary champagne. Seabourn Odyssey redefines cabins from small spaces used for changing, sleeping and showering, to spacious staterooms like the Grand Wintergarden Suite, which showcases ocean views from the glass-enclosed solarium, as well as outdoors on its two verandas.
Yesterday, the luxury cruise line Peter Deilmann made a surprising announcement that it will be discontinuing its river cruises in 2010, as reported by Travel Weekly and others. The German cruise line has been offering four and five star niche cruises for nearly 25 years now, and has collected an impressive list of awards.
The company cited economic conditions, fluctuating exchange rates, and a drop in passenger numbers as reasons for the decision, and all eight of the river ships will be sold after the summer sailing season has ended. Although this is the end of its river cruise program, it plans on continuing ocean cruising with luxury liner, the ms Deutschland.
It is disappointing to see another casualty of the difficult times, especially one that was so well revered in the cruise industry.
The cuisine on the Queen Mary 2 is deserving of an entire blog post. At one point, I was wondering how the days have been going by so quickly, and I have concluded it is largely due to the time I have devoted to sampling nearly every restaurant on the ship. When dining with Cunard, there is very little of “let’s grab a quick bite to eat.” Passengers can look forward to each meal and dinner preparations begin hours in advance with the ever daunting task of choosing what to wear.
I wasn’t expecting tropical weather, but I had anticipated spending some time on the outer decks curled up with a good book – but crossing the Atlantic can be breezy, cloudy, and always unpredictable. Of course, Cunard knew this when they built the Queen Mary 2, and designed her to make traveling these rough waters as smooth as possible, and to keep passengers entertained when the weather refuses to cooperate.
I ignored our steward’s advice to bring the pocket map. I wanted to wander and see where the ship’s seemingly endless hallways would take me, and as I heard the distant sound of plates clanging down the corridor, I realized it had taken me to breakfast. I thought a good cup of coffee would help to awaken me from this surreal dream I had been living in since yesterday evening, when I embarked on my first transatlantic cruise.
The Luxury Seekers of paradise will be hard-pressed to find a closer definition than French Polynesia or a more perfect ship to sail when visiting its islands than Regent Seven Seas’ luxurious Paul Gauguin, outfitted entirely with oceanview or balcony cabins and specifically designed to navigate this area’s waters. Experience an 11-night voyage this May that begins (and ends) in Papeete and visits Rangiroa, Taiohae, Bora Bora, Moorea, and other islands brimming with lagoons, volcanoes, coral reefs, and isolated beaches.
The Value At press time, this cruise, which sails May 26, had prices starting at $2,795/person—an incredible 71 percent off brochure rates. Bookings made before April 30 allow a third guest to sail free.
The Catch Airfare to the embarkation port isn’t included, and round-trip flights to Papeete are not exactly cheap.
The Details For more information, call 877/505-5370 or visit rssc.com.
From the April/May 2009 issue of Sherman’s Travel magazine.
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.
Try a Musical Transatlantic Crossing
The Luxury The 10-night Atlantic crossing from Miami to Lisbon this May from Crystal Cruises is music to our ears. The renowned Glenn Miller Orchestra will headline this big band–themed cruise, which will feature daily performances, swing dance lessons, and music lectures. Passengers can enjoy Crystal’s spacious rooms and exquisite dining venues, unwind in the only ocean-going feng shui–inspired spa, and stretch their sea legs in Bermuda and the Azores along the way before arriving in Portugal’s capital. There open-air plazas, cobbled streets, and painted-tile houses await.
The Value Now offered as part of the line’s 2009 Value Collection, berths start at just $3,165/person—almost 45 percent off the original price of $7,080.
The Catch Act fast. The ship sets sail on May 23.
The Details For more information, call 888/799-2437 or visit crystalcruises.com.
From the April/May 2009 issue of Sherman’s Travel magazine.
