SOUTH AMERICA VIA STAR PRINCESS Part II

By Helen Maxey

March 7 & 8, 2011 These were sea days so we did our usual exercise

routines, attended presentations about the ship’s navigation systems, the

next port of Rio de Janeiro, and an entertainment production show called

British Invasion. All were informative or entertaining.

March 9 Our day in Rio de Janeiro was great. The temperature was

around 80 degrees with humidity in the 90 percent range. We took an all

day tour to Christ the Redeemer statue. To get there we took a tour bus,

then an incline railway followed by elevators and escalators. The statue

is about 115 ft. high and about 85 ft. from hand to outstretched hand. It

was not the best day to be there due to cloud cover, but we were able to

get a few pictures as the clouds parted. Because of the cloud cover we

were not able to get pictures of the surrounding area and city.

We drove for miles by famous beaches including Ipanema and

Copacabana. They were beautiful and crowded in places but we didn’t

see any swimmers due to the polluted water. At one of the beaches we

stopped to watch people riding air currents in hang gliders and then

landing on the beach. It looked like fun so we asked about the cost

which was $160/person, but we decided not to do it because it would

take about ½ day for a 30 to 35 minute flight. We didn’t have enough

time for the flight.

We had lunch at a famous Brazilian barbeque restaurant with a buffet

and waiters that carve beef and other meats from long skewers, at your

table. It was a great experience and we enjoyed the food.

After lunch we visited Sugarloaf Mountain to see views of the city.

Sugarloaf like all the many other mountains in the area is smooth and

rounded at the top resembling a giant ice cream cone. To get to the

mountain top we had to ride two gondolas. We saw good city views

after the first gondola, but the top of the second gondola was in the

clouds obstructing our view so we turned around and came down.

After dinner we saw a live show featuring Brazilian dancers in their

scantily clad feathered outfits. The show resembled what you might see

in Carnival which had just ended in Rio a day earlier. The men in the

audience especially loved the show as the female dancers came into the

audience and posed for picture with some of the men.

Thursday, March 10th This was our last day in Rio but the weather

was not good. We took a shuttle bus to the Ipanema area but we turned

around and came back to the ship when it started to rain. The ship sailed

for our next port in the early afternoon. By that time the weather had

cleared so we took pictures from the bow of the ship as we sailed out of

the harbor. We came so close to Sugarloaf Mountain that we could

almost touch it.

This is an absolutely gorgeous city and we would love to visit it again

sometime, perhaps during November or December when there is not a

problem with rain and cloud cover. Until the last few months Rio was

pretty unsafe for tourists because of the amount of crime and corruption.

We were told that they have cleaned up about 50% of the crime in

preparation for the Olympic Games that will be here in 2016. Many

criminals and about 1000 police have been put in jail. Still we were

careful and did not wear any jewelry during out sightseeing. We did not

have any problems but a few passengers had valuables stolen.

Friday, March 11th This was a sea day so we attended lectures,

exercised, and relaxed. We attended a presentation about the next two

ports, Salvador and Fortaleza in Brazil. (It is interesting that Brazil is

larger than all of the U.S.) We both attended another photography

lecture, and I attended an art history lecture.

Saturday, March 12th We went ashore in Salvador and joined two other

couples and a guide who spoke very little English to see the sights of the

city. They have 3-million citizen living there who are 95% Catholic.

There are 365 churches, most in a Baroque architectural style. Most of

the buildings are old and not well maintained.

Since this was one of the locations were slaves were bought and sold

during colonial times there is a large concentration of people of African

and European heritage.

Again, this is a city with miles of beautiful white sandy beaches. Most of

the citizens commute via public transportation but we were surprised to

see traffic jams and lots of late model cars.

The evening entertainment was Stephen Kane, a talented piano player

who played a variety of fast tempo pieces.

Sunday & Monday, March 13th & 14th These were sea days so we

attended lectures, exercised etc. One evening we attended a show by

Lenny Windsor, a British TV comedian. He was really good. The other

evening we watched the movie, “The Social Network” which was shown

on a large outdoor screen in the pool area. This was similar to going to a

Drive In Theater without cars. Everyone sits in Lounge Chairs and is

served popcorn.

The weather is getting very hot and humid now that we are very close to

the equator. The seas are very calm and we are told the doldrums are

usual near the equator.

Tuesday, March 15th We docked in the city of Fortaleza, the home of

about 200-million Portuguese speaking people. Fortaleza is just South of

the equator. This was the first state in Brazil to abolish slavery. A lot of

people come here for the beautiful beaches but we didn’t see much of

them. We did not sign up for a tour here but chose to take a free shuttle

into the city instead. It took us to a handicrafts market which sold lots of

lace and clothing. It was not in a very good area so we didn’t walk

around the area, and after a half hour we had seen everything we wanted

to see and took the shuttle back to the ship just in time to miss the rain.

It continued to rain the rest of the day so we exercised and relaxed on the

ship.  The outside temperature is in the mid 80’s and the sea temperature is

about 88.

The evening entertainment was a singer by the name of Spencer Robson.

He was quite good.

Wednesday, March 16th Today we actually crossed the Equator

heading north. The ship’s crew presented a skit (that had its origins in

ancient pagan rites) to celebrate the occasion. It featured King Neptune,

Queen Nephritite, nymphs and others. It was fun loving, silly and very

difficult to see due to the huge crowd.

The rest of the day we exercised, spent time sun bathing and signed up

for another cruise in April, 2012 which goes from Singapore to

Malaysia, Male, India, Dubai, Mauritius, and Cape Town, South Africa.

Thursday, March 17th & Fri. March 18 These were sea days so we

attended a lecture by the Future Cruise Director about upcoming cruises

for the 2012-2013 season, but did not sign up for anything more at this

time. We both attended a presentation by comedian Lenny Windsor

about another British comedian with whom he worked by the name of

Benny Hill. It was entertaining although neither of us remembered

Benny Hill.

I attended the movie called Eat, Pray, Love with Julia Roberts which I

enjoyed.

Our evening entertainment was cut short as I needed to recover from a

virus that was spreading throughout the ship.

Saturday, March 19th The ship stopped at Barbados but we were not

able to enjoy it because of my virus. We had been here on another cruise

so we didn’t feel too bad.

Sunday, March 20th We visited Antigua and didn’t take a tour as we

had done this on a previous cruise. We did walk around town and

bought a watch band. Like Barbados, this is a beautiful island, and we

might have explored it more if I had felt better.

Monday, March 21st We docked at St. Thomas which is a US Territory

so this is where we cleared US Immigration. We took a shuttle into town

to explore the shops. Merchandise purchased here is duty free and tax

free so shopping is very popular. They take U.S. dollars and everyone

speaks English. We made some investments in jewelry and spent so

much time shopping that we didn’t have time to visit the beautiful,

famous beaches here. Also the afternoon traffic is so heavy that we were

concerned we wouldn’t make it back to the ship before it was time to

sail. We enjoyed having lunch in a casual restaurant overlooking the bay.

We would like to come back here some day.

Tuesday, March 22 & Wed. March 23 These were sea days as we head

to Ft. Lauderdale where the cruise will end. The weather has been

beautiful for the past two weeks (low 80’s) so we did some sun bathing.

Wayne came down with the virus so that curtailed our activities, but he

went to the doctor as soon as he felt it coming on so his symptoms were

not as bad as mine. Our last day was mostly spent packing.

Wayne added up the miles we traveled from the ships log and it was

almost 10,000 miles. This was a great cruise. We saw a lot and would

have needed a lot more time to see the Mayan ruins, falls, and Amazon.

Maybe we can go back to see these places some day.

We disembarked the Star Princess Thursday March 24th and went to

Coral Gables which is a place is a place we often stay overnight before

making the 6 hour flight to Seattle from Miami International Airport. We

had a great lunch and dinner in Coral Gables which was a good way to

end a good vacation.

Cruise Pricing Still Favors Consumers
Does cruising still represent a good vacation value? According to actual cost data from Cruise Holidays, the answer is a resounding “yes.” Cruise Holidays recently determined the average daily cost per person of three popular cruise destinations (Alaska, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean) for the past three years – and found that cruise prices for 2011 remain very affordable. See the cost comparison below:
Average Cruise Cost per Person, per Day*

7-day Alaska Cruise
2011 - $248
2010 - $230
2009 - $255
2008 - $259

7-day Caribbean Cruise
2011 - $126
2010 - $147
2009 - $171
2008 - $158

12-day Mediterranean Cruise
2011 - $222
2010 - $262
2009 - $290
2008 - $269

*Average of all categories of cruise lines and staterooms. Includes only the cruise portion of each booking; excludes airfare, shore excursions, etc.

Of course, in addition to price, you should take other factors into account when selecting a cruise vacation. You’ll want to consider various destinations and itineraries; whether to sail on a cruise line or ship you haven’t experienced before or revisit one that you enjoyed; and maybe upgrade to a balcony stateroom or suite. Still, in making your decision, it’s helpful to know that cruise prices remain attractive and provide great value. Remember that the basic cost of your cruise includes your accommodations, meals, entertainment and lots of fun and amenities on the ship.
To help ensure that you can secure the cruise of your choice at the best possible price, book as early as possible. Cruise prices tend to rise as the sailing date draws closer, so advance booking is always a good practice, especially if you have your heart set on a specific cruise and sailing date. Talk with your personal cruise expert about the best cruise values available right now.

Revisiting the Titanic

The sinking of the cruise ship Titanic on April 15, 1912, will be commemorated next year by at least two cruises that will visit the spot where the mighty ship went down. The ship was thought to be unsinkable, but on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York, the Titanic struck a massive iceberg. The ship sank less than three hours later off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, with the loss of about 1,500 lives.

A British travel firm has chartered a ship for a Titanic memorial voyage departing from Southampton, England, on April 8, 2012, and ending in New York. The entire cruise will be steeped in Titanic history, with menus, music and entertainment much as they were on the Titanic. After a stop in Cobh, Ireland, the ship will arrive at the spot where the Titanic sank, where a memorial service will be held. The ship will then call on Halifax, Nova Scotia, where passengers can visit cemeteries where Titanic victims are buried.

Azamara Club Cruises will send the Journey from Boston on April 9, 2012, to the spot where the Titanic sank. Bill Willard, who developed the remote-operated vehicle (ROV) used to explore the sunken ship during the 1998 Titanic expedition, will be on board, along with authors and historians who have studied the Titanic. Passengers can attend a variety of lectures and presentations on the history of the ship, its passengers, and expeditions to the site of the wreck. On April 14, an expedition ship equipped with an ROV will meet the Journey at the sinking site. The ROV will dive to the wreck and relay live video images of the resting Titanic.

While the sinking of the Titanic was a tragedy, it prompted changes in ship design and communications that have benefitted cruise travelers ever since. After the Titanic, ships were built with double hulls and taller bulkheads for watertight compartments. Wireless communication devices became mandatory for ships at sea, enabling crews to obtain weather reports, check their locations with precision and call for help in emergencies. While the doomed ship had enough lifeboats for only half of its passengers and crew, today’s ships have enough lifeboat space to accommodate everyone on board – another legacy of the Titanic.

Packed and Ready to Go – Day -1

Tomorrow, we catch our flight to Beijing.  On Wednesday, we expect to walk on the Great Wall of China. 

Since we have several flights inside China, we may have an issue with our luggage.  We are allowed one checked bag per person with a weight limit of 44 pounds (20 kilo).  I am a gadget person and gadgets add extra pounds.

With a 13 hour time difference, I expect we will have MAJOR jet lag.  From what I was told, the body will adjust to a time zone change of one hour per day.  That being the case, we will be more than halfway through the trip before we adjust to the local time.

We have a 7 day tour inside China before we board the ship in Hong Kong.  Then we will spend the next two weeks on the Azamara Quest.  We hope to update our blog and facebook as often as we can.   Our trip will take us to China, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Singapore.

Fabulous St. Petersburg

A cruise of northern Europe includes many must-see ports, such as the Scandinavian capitals of Copenhagen, Stockholm and Helsinki. You may also want the itinerary you choose to include St. Petersburg – to see this Russian city on the Baltic Sea is truly an extraordinary experience.

St. Petersburg is the city of the tsars, founded by Peter the Great. It was the capital of imperial Russia from 1712 until 1914 and still contains many of Russia’s greatest cultural treasures.
When visiting St. Petersburg, it’s important to book shore excursions through your cruise travel agent, which will assure that you are dealing with the best operators. Exploring St. Petersburg on your own can be difficult, and you may need a Russian visa, which you would have to obtain in advance of your cruise.

The most famous of St. Petersburg’s many attractions is The Hermitage, the world’s second-largest art museum (behind the Louvre). The museum’s incredible collection includes Botticellis, Michelangelos, El Grecos, Rembrandts, Renoirs and much, much more. One of the four buildings that make up The Hermitage is the stunning Winter Palace, which is beautifully restored. Other landmarks of St. Petersburg are St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Peter & Paul Fortress, the Russian Museum, and a number of spectacular imperial palaces surrounded by parks and gardens.

Because there is so much to see, many visiting cruise ships spend one or two nights docked in St. Petersburg. You can use the evening hours to see some legendary Russian ballet, take a boat ride along the city’s canals or even visit a nightclub.

When you visit St. Petersburg, be sure to dress for the weather – most of the museums and attractions are not air-conditioned, so wear lightweight clothing on warm days. Take a bottle of water with you, as local water supplies may cause a case of “traveler’s tummy.” Stay with your tour guide – if you wander on your own, it may be difficult to find someone who speaks English to assist you. Your personal cruise expert can provide more information about visiting the city of the tsars.

Europe to Draw More Cruisers This Summer

If you’re planning a European cruise for the summer of 2011, you’ll be in good company. Actual booking data from Cruise Holidays offices throughout North America show that more vacationers are planning to cruise Europe this summer than Alaska, which has traditionally topped Europe for passenger count.

While the appeal of Europe is certainly based on its fabulous ports, fascinating history and modern attractions, it’s helped by the fact that European cruises represent good value. A recent survey shows that Cruise Holidays’ experts agree three to one that, for now, European cruises deliver greater value than Alaskan cruises. Cruise Holidays’ data also show that the average cost of a 12-day Mediterranean cruise has steadily dropped since 2009. The average cost per day across all stateroom categories is down to $222 per person, compared to $262 in 2010 and $290 in 2009.

European cruises are also popular among experienced cruise passengers. While first-time cruisers often choose the Caribbean or another destination close to home, many of those who have experienced the comfort and convenience of a cruise vacation are ready to head to Europe.

In addition to value and convenience, one of the best things about cruising Europe is that so many popular cities and sights are accessible via cruise. Many of Europe’s major cities were built on the water, and approaching from the sea offers fantastic views.

Two of the most popular European cities to visit via cruise ship are Barcelona, Spain, and Rome, Italy. Barcelona is a vibrant city where you can spend a wonderful day simply walking through the distinctive neighborhoods, admiring the mix of Gothic and modern architecture. You can also browse the flower and produce stands of Las Ramblas and pause to enjoy some tapas (small plates of delicious food) with a glass of sangria.

Rome’s ancient ruins, precious artworks and religious sites give it the feel of a giant living museum. You can sightsee, shop, indulge in gelato and pasta, and experience a bit of la dolce vita (the good life) that abounds in Rome.

Because both Barcelona and Rome are located in the Western Mediterranean, you can easily visit both on the same cruise. There are several other regions of Europe to explore by cruise, including the Eastern Mediterranean, the Western Coast, the British Isles, the Baltics and Scandinavia. To consider all of your options for a European cruise, talk with your personal cruise expert.

South America via the Sun Princess

Cruise Journal by Helen Maxey

Sunday, 2/20/11 We left Seattle for Dallas around 7:00 am, changed planes and waited in the Miami airport for our LAN flight to Santiago which was four hours late. It was a 7 and a half hour flight, so thanks to Wayne’s frequent flyer miles we had sleeper seats. That’s the only way to go if you can do it. We arrived just after 12-noon the next day reasonably rested.

Monday, 2/21/11 We were met in the Santiago airport by a Princess Cruises rep who provided great assistance for retrieving our luggage, going through Customs, and catching the bus to the Intercontinental Hotel where we stayed. It was costly to enter Chile -- $140 each (a tax for both entering and exiting Chile), but everything went smoothly in the airport. We were warned not to bring in any food – the penalty for doing so was $10,000 – they had dogs that sniffed out food, and other dogs that sniffed out drugs.

We didn’t do much the rest of the day except rest, and walk a few blocks from the hotel to check out the restaurants and shops.

Tuesday, 2/22/11 Today we took a City Tour and discovered that Santiago is a very nice city – clean, well maintained, with many modern buildings (many due to rebuilding after Chile’s frequent earthquakes). They have earthquakes daily, stronger earthquakes weekly, and in 1960 they had one registering 10 on the Richter Scale which was the largest quake ever in the world. They also have many lovely parks and open spaces for public enjoyment -- all this with a backdrop of the Andes mountains towering over the city. The mountains are very close to the city.

Wednesday, 2/23/11 The bus trip to Valparaiso took about two hours. This is where we boarded the Star Princess. This town is interesting as it sits at the foot of the Andes and all the houses are built into very steep cliffs—the town has been heralded by UNESCO for it’s unique building techniques. We had lunch on the ship with a very interesting 86 year old lady. She was a widow, traveling alone from Argentina, but had lived in Washington, DC for 10 years. She was very sharp and feisty, telling us about an incident with Immigration or Security people. She loved fruit, bought some outside the ship and attempted to take it aboard to her room. Of course she was told she could not do that but she proceeded to do it anyway telling the authorities that they would have to “shoot” her to stop her. The next day she was visited by the ship’s management to tell her story. They later presented her with a large bowl of fruit.

Thursday, 2/24/11 This was a sea day so we attended a seminar about the technical aspects of photography and using Nikon cameras. I used the gym, and because the seas were a little rough and the gym is in the bow of the ship, the ship was pretty rocky and I had a little trouble standing up, but I still managed to work out for about 45 min. We had lunch with interesting people -- a doctor from California and retired couple from Arizona. This was our first formal evening, and after dinner we saw a production show done by the Princess Dancers. It was good.

Friday, 2/25/11 This was another sea day so I visited the gym again (the seas were a little calmer today), and we attended Part II of the photography seminar. It was excellent and we learned a lot. The evening entertainment was quite good – it was a one-man show from a man who lived in Uruguay and played a small unusual harp he bought in Ireland. It allowed him to play many songs that he could not have played on a regular harp.

Saturday, 2/26/11 Because this was another sea day, I took some time to catch up on this log, do my work out in the gym, and do some sightseeing (we cruised quite close to shore through the Chilean fjords). It is similar to cruising through the Inland Passage going to Alaska – very beautiful.

In the afternoon we attended a presentation produced and narrated by the ship’s photography personnel. It was a collection of videos and still pictures taken over six passages through Antarctica. Last year was the last year any cruise ships could navigate through Antarctica because of EPA regulations over environmental concerns. Some of the icebergs were two or three stories higher than the ship which was 18 stories high. It was very beautiful and the wildlife was abundant. Now the only way to see Antarctica is to fly over it which costs about $3000 or to cruise in a smaller ship that uses something like diesel rather than the bunker oil used by cruise ships.

The evening entertainment had a South American Gaucho theme. The female performed a freeform dance routine that was graceful and beautiful. The male performed a roping and dance routine with luminescent ropes with bobbles that when they hit the floor and combined with the noise from his spurs provided a unique entertaining performance.

Sunday, 2/27/11 The day started very early as we had a shore excursion to Magdalena Island Penguin Reserve that left at 7:30 am. It was not easy to get there as we had to take a tender from the ship to shore (from the town of Punta Arenas, Chile) where we boarded a bus for the ferry that took us to the Island. The island is in the middle of the Magellan Straight. The ferry trip took about an hour. It was a beautiful day with flat seas and sunshine. I was worried about the trip as the weather is often bad with rough seas and heavy winds, but that did not happen. The island was baron except for a lighthouse and a couple of sheds. There were thousands of penguins there. They were black and white and about 2 ½ feet tall. They dig holes in the dirt where they nest, and return year after year to the same nest. In about a month and when the babies have all their feathers, they make the trek from Magdalena Island to the waters off Brazil. Then they return to Magdalena Island in December to mate and nest. It was a great day and we took lots of pictures.

Monday, 2/28/11 Today we are in Ushuaia, Argentina (an Yahgan Indian word pronounced oo shoo-AYE-ah and meaning “a bay penetrating westward”) where we took a tour of the Andes mountains and city. It was a nice drive. We saw many very high mountains. , and stopped for snacks and a Tango show which was quite good.

Tuesday, March 1/11 The day began early to take pictures as we rounded Cape Horn back in Chile. It is a baron island with only a flag, church, a few buildings, and a monument in the form of an Albatros to commemorate all the seamen lost while sailing around the Horn. There have been hundreds of ships wrecked rounding the horn and thousands of lives lost. There was an expert on the area aboard the Star Princess who had rounded the Cape Horn 133 times prior to this trip. On all of his prior trips he had seen lots of rough weather, buthad never seen such calm, beautiful weather with sun as we had on this trip. Many times in the past it was so windy and rainy that the ship could not cruise close enough to the island to see it. We were very lucky.

We spent a good part of the day exercising to work off some of the extra calories we have been eating. Wayne likes to walk the decks. I like to use the gym. Then after dinner we listened to a singer impressionist performer.

Wednesday, March 2nd We took a tender from the ship to Stanley in the Falkland Islands which is a British colony. There was not much to see there but we read that a “must see” was the museum that featured history of the area and relics from the conflict between Argentina and the British in 1982. It was a 45 min. walk to the museum, and thankfully we got a shuttle ride back to the ship. The museum was pretty interesting.

Our entertainment for the evening was a Princess Dancers production show. These shows are always excellent.

Thursday March 3rd and Friday March 4th These were sea days and we spent our time in the gym or walking the deck. I took Yoga and stretching classes and another class on South American Zumba exercise/dance. This is an incredibly fun way to get exercise. We also went to hear talks on upcoming ports.

Saturday, March 5th Today we visited Buenos Aires, Argentina. This is a large beautiful city, but unfortunately we had a terrible tour and did not see many of the best parts. The only two stops that the bus made were 1) to the Recoleta (a famous cemetery consisting of large marble crypts), and 2) a handicrafts store. This was not a large store, yet all the buses stopped there and we had to stay there waiting for the bus to return for 70 minutes. There was standing room only and it was a miserable ordeal. We suspect that the tour operator got some kind of kickback from the crafts store for bringing passengers to the store.

The tour did include lunch and a tango show. Both were excellent but very long.

The evening ended well as we attended a performance by award winning Canadian singer, actress Lovena B. Fox. She was by far the best performer we have had on this cruise so far.

Sunday, March 6th Montevideo, Uruguay was our port of call today. In the morning we walked into the older part of the town and found it to be an old, rundown part of the city with lots of garbage on the streets. We could tell by the architecture that this was once a beautiful place. This was probably during the mid 1700’s after the Spanish founded the city. We walked to a large estuary where we saw people fishing and walking along the seaside promenade.

In the afternoon we had a great city tour to a newer part of the city. Unlike yesterday’s tour the bus made many stops for picture taking. We saw many old mansions and lovely homes, many outdoor sculptures, parks and beaches. Our guide spoke perfect English. Uruguay has a democracy but has nearly free socialized medicine and education through college level. There are problems that come with this though. While only 1% of the people are considered illiterate, the current ruling party handed out money to poor people which caused a huge deficit and the implementation of their first income tax. The average person makes only about $500/mo., but rents start at about $400/mo. so most young people live with their parents. The high education level of the population makes competition for good jobs high and drives down wages.

The weather for the past three days has warmed up considerably as we proceed North toward the equator. It has been in the low 80’s.

To be continued…

2010 Revisited

2010 was a great year for new cruise ships, with several new ships continuing trends toward multiple dining venues, new types of staterooms and spectacular entertainment.

Celebrity Eclipse, the third ship in Celebrity Cruises’ Solstice Class, launched with signature features like the grass-covered Lawn Club. A new feature, the alternative restaurant Qzine, offers a unique menu and make-your-own guacamole.

The Seabourn Odyssey, like its sister the Sojourn, has the one of the largest spas on any luxury cruise ship. There are indoor and outdoor treatment rooms and a Kinesis wall that combines cardio, strength and flexibility training. The indoor/outdoor concept is also featured in the Colonnade restaurant, where diners can watch their delicious meals being prepared in the open kitchen.

Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Epic, like the cruise line’s other ships, features freestyle dining. Unlike other NCL ships, the Epic has a sprawling Aqua Park with water slides and a tube ride, and 128 studio cabins with a shared lounge space specifically for solo cruisers. The ship’s entertainment includes the Second City comedy improvisation troupe and the Blue Man Group.

While bigger isn’t always better, one would be remiss to leave out Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas, now the world’s largest cruise ship, which began serving passengers in late November.

River cruise lines are also adding new ships to accommodate the growing demand for river cruises in Europe and Asia. While river cruise ships are necessarily smaller than their ocean-going cousins, new ships are being designed with larger staterooms and luxury features like balconies.

To find out more about how you can sail on one of the fabulous new ocean or river cruise ships – and to find out what’s in store for 2011 – talk with your personal cruise expert.

Holland America Line Launches ‘Stateroom Direct Service’ Program on All Sailings

News Release from Holland America Line (3/2/11)

New initiative allows guests immediate access to their stateroom upon embarkation

Seattle, Wash., Mar. 2, 2011 – Holland America Line has launched a new Stateroom Direct Service program that simplifies the boarding process by giving guests immediate access to their staterooms upon embarkation.

Under the program, staterooms will be ready as early as 11:30 a.m., and cruisers will no longer have to check their carry-on bags and wait in public areas while their staterooms are being prepared. Additionally, arriving guests will receive their luggage earlier, allowing them more time to unpack and settle into their rooms. Guests also will have the opportunity to enjoy lunch at their leisure in the line’s Lido restaurant, which features a full-service buffet.

“Holland America Line is always seeking new ways to enhance our on-board cruise experience, and through this streamlined boarding process guests can now get into their staterooms earlier and begin enjoying their vacation sooner,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “Stateroom Direct Service creates the best start to a cruise for our guests and sets the precedent for top-notch service to follow.”

The early embarkation initiative is in place on all of the line’s 15 vessels. As part of its on-going fleetwide Signature of Excellence enhancement program, Stateroom Direct Service adds to Holland America Line’s long list of exclusive offerings that allow guests to maximize their premium cruise experience and start enjoying the on-board facilities and amenities as soon as they board the ships.

For more information and cruise fares, contact a professional travel agent, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com

- www.hollandamerica.com -

Sailing Through the Panama Canal

The Panama Canal was built to be the vital link between two huge oceans, and nearly 100 years after it first opened, it still serves that purpose admirably. During the past few decades, it has also become a terrific cruise destination, offering an unforgettable trip through one of the world’s engineering marvels and a sojourn through the lush landscapes of Central America.

The Panama Canal cruise season begins in October and runs through April. There is plenty of variety in cruise itineraries, which range from seven to 21 nights or more. The classic Panama Canal cruise goes from Florida and to California (or the reverse), with stops in some combination of ports in the Western Caribbean, Central America and the Mexican Riviera.

The 50-mile, nine-hour trip through the canal takes you between the Atlantic and Pacific with the help of three massive locks: Gatun, Pedro Miguel and Miraflores. Because the trip takes a full day, passengers are usually not able to disembark for shore excursions, but the complexity of the canal’s engineering and the beauty of its surroundings are more than enough to hold your interest. This type of complete trip through the canal is called a “full transit” cruise.

Another option for seeing the canal is a “partial transit” cruise. On these cruises, your ship will not go all the way through the canal. Instead, it will enter the canal and pass through one or two locks. Passengers can then disembark for shore excursions, such as a trip further into the canal on a smaller boat; a visit to a nearby rainforest or a native Embera Indian village; or a ride on the scenic Panama Railway that runs parallel to the canal. When you rejoin your ship, it will exit the canal the same way it came in.

Depending on the itinerary you choose, before and after your canal experience you can visit wonderful ports like the Caribbean islands of Aruba and Curacao; Puntarenas and Puerto Limon, Cost Rica; or Cabo San Lucas and Acapulco, Mexico.

To visit the Panama Canal yet this winter or plan ahead for next, talk with your personal cruise expert about all of your options for partial or full transit cruises.