Mar 11, 2010 by Elina Vaysbeyn - 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.
The Luxury The SeaDream Yacht Club has the perfect fallback plan for travelers should the last leg of winter just not want to quit: Carrying only 112 passengers, the SeaDream I will set sail from San Juan, Puerto Rico, on March 23 and spend five nights plying the Caribbean. The ship’s small size will allow it to dock at less crowded ports, including the stunning bay in Vieques, Puerto Rico; as well as Gustavia on St. Barts; and two of the British Virgin Islands: Norman Island and Jost Van Dyke. (Norman Island served as the backdrop for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.) SeaDream offers a more unstructured vacation than what’s granted on most cruise lines: Guests can linger in ports without feeling rushed and dress casually while enjoying a luxurious experience. Read the rest of this post »
The hardest part of planning a trip to South America? Trying to fit its far-flung cities and sites into one doable itinerary. From well under $3,000 to over $4,000, these cruises visit both popular and remote spots, while adding on exciting excursions and amenities without breaking the bank. Read the rest of this post »
This year, French Country Waterways is tipping their glass to married couples everywhere by offering a quinquennial wedding anniversary special (for those that have been together for five or more years). The luxury river-barge line is reducing rates by five percent for each quinquennial anniversary celebrated. The longer couples have been married, the more they’ll save (it almost makes up for those brief moments when they may have wanted to kill each other). Lovebirds celebrating their golden anniversary will save 50 percent! This offer is valid from April through October, however to get the most bang-for-the-buck, as part of shoulder-season savings, sailings in April are already reduced up to $1,000 – starting from $4,845.
Last month, Silversea launched its newest luxury ship, the Silver Spirit. This ship is impressive and is the kind of cruise I like to take – a quality, all-inclusive experience that packages all of the amenities and services of a larger vessel into a smaller, more intimate setting (with only 540 guests). The ship has an Art Deco design that suggests an old world elegance circa 1930 and boasts spacious cabins that might trick you into thinking you’re floating at sea on a five star resort. Read the rest of this post »
Sure, that bargain cruise fare you spotted on one of the mainstream, big-ship cruise lines might look good at first glance, but the real sticker shock doesn’t actually set in until your vacation nears its end, and a whopping itemized shipboard statement arrives in your stateroom. Those à la carte cruise fees can rack up in no time at all – factor in a round of margaritas here, some sodas and bottled water there, and a round of tips for the cruise staff, and before you know it, your $599 “bargain” 7-night cruise has suddenly doubled in price. The luxury, small-ship cruise line, Silversea, comes to the rescue, with an all-inclusive pricing policy that promises what you see is what you get when it comes to its fares – freeing up your hands to snap photos and swim laps, rather than having to dig into your pockets the whole time. Ahhh, sweet carefree Silversea!
On Thursday evening, I set sail on luxury small-ship cruise line, Silversea, from Rio de Janeiro’s stunning harbor, bedecked in an evening gown, champagne glass in hand, all under the watchful gaze of the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. Back in the stateroom, a personally assigned butler worked on unpacking my belongings, while the waitstaff buzzed about taking orders of complimentary top-shelf cocktails. Best of all, with butler service, alcoholic beverages, and all gratuities already included in the upfront Silversea fare, I wouldn’t need to reach into my pockets for any of it. Now this was sailing in carefree style! Read the rest of this post »
Luxury cruise line, Silversea, will soon introduce the newest addition to its fleet, the Silver Spirit. This all-inclusive ship sets sail on her 91-day “Grand Inaugural Voyage” on January 21, 2010, from Port Everglades. This veritable floating gallery of amenities features all the grandeur of a palace, plus plenty of personal touches to suit your moods and delight your senses.
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.