Nov 18, 2009 by Amber Nolan - 1 comment
Hot luxury travel deals, top destinations, and truly memorable experiences for sophisticated travelers who appreciate good value.
If you’re thinking that this trend of over-the-top onboard entertainment is the new direction of the cruise industry: think again. One cruise line that has recently surfaced is traveling back in time by placing emphasis back on the ports of call. Voyages to Antiquity will soon be sailing the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Red Sea with a focus on the culture and history of each destination. Founded by Gerry Herrod, (who also introduced Ocean Cruise Line and Orient Lines), Voyages to Antiquity will offer nine unique itineraries aboard its boutique vessel, the Aegean Odyssey – which is slated to debut in May 2010.
Located off the northwestern coast of Africa, the Canary Islands have been attracting visitors for years, with its near-perfect climate and alluring beaches. Luxury cruise line Fred Olsen specializes in voyages to this Spanish-owned island chain and right now the company is drastically reducing rates on a number of its cruises. This 12-night voyage aboard the Boudicca is our top pick with rates starting from just $95/night.
The Luxury On this 10-day cruise-tour, animal lovers and adventure seekers can explore the exotic wildlife of Ecuador’s mystical Galápagos Islands. Adventure Life is offering fall cruises aboard the Millennium (pictured), a luxury yacht with six spacious cabins featuring private balconies and picture windows. On off-ship excursions, naturalist guides will lead the way through tropical forests, across red-sand beaches, and to the Charles Darwin Center, where visitors can view 11 subspecies of tortoises. Read the rest of this post »
The Luxury With more personal space than larger ships, Holland America’s midsize MS Zaandam is offering a one-time repositioning cruise. Embarking October 4 from Vancouver, the four-night Pacific cruise casts its first anchor in Victoria, British Columbia (pictured), where passengers can spend a day exploring the city’s colonial streets and brewpubs. Before reaching the final port of call in San Diego, passengers will have spent two leisurely days at sea, perhaps relaxing in the old-fashioned Explorers Lounge or joining the late-night crowd at the piano bar or nightclub. The dining options include Pacific Northwest cuisine at the Pinnacle Grill. Guests can also take part in a live cooking demonstration at the onboard Culinary Arts Center. Read the rest of this post »
The Luxury After embarking from Athens on November 9, this 10-day Silversea cruise visits 10 ports in Asia, Europe, and Africa. The itinerary includes some off-the-path destinations such as Haifa (pictured) and Ashdod in Israel; Limassol, Cyprus; and Tartous, Syria, an island port receiving only a handful of luxury cruise ships each year. The 298-passenger Silver Wind will also anchor in popular eastern Mediterranean ports such as Santorini, Greece, and Alexandria, Egypt. Guests can experience musical entertainment in the Show Lounge or moonlight movies under the stars.
The Luxury Caribbean cruises can enter dangerous waters in late summer since this is the peak of hurricane season. The ABC islands, close to Venezuela, however fall south of the storm belt, and are typically a safe bet for cruises. Itineraries including all three islands are rare, yet this seven-night Royal Caribbean cruise aboard Adventure of the Seas calls on two: Aruba and Curaçao (Bonaire is excluded.) Aruba is a tourist’s playground of sprawling beaches and flashy casinos. Curaçao exudes a different vibe, with pastel-painted homes and coastal cliffs. This cruise also stops at Dominica and St. Thomas.
The Luxury Some cruise passengers favor spending multiple days at sea, while others love waking up at a new port of call each morning. For those in the latter group, a seven-day Mediterranean cruise aboard the Seabourn Odyssey is the way to go. The ship will leave Venice on September 5, after the region’s hottest temperatures have subsided. The itinerary is packed with unique destinations starting with the first port of call in Trogir, Croatia (which will be followed by Bari, Italy). After that will come a series of calls in Greece, including Kefalonia, Katakolon, Gythion, Mykonos, and Athens.
The Luxury What sets Hurtigruten apart from most cruise lines is that its ships are working ferries. So even though the onboard accommodations and restaurants are excellent, the ship’s distractions (such as shows or gambling) are few. Passengers can instead focus on experiencing Norway’s cities and fjords. The 11-day Norwegian Holiday itinerary begins in Oslo with two full days for sightseeing before the journey to Kirkenes and Bergen. Hurtigruten travel experts are on hand to help with planning. Or simply ask the locals.
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.
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.
