Cruise Holidays - Attheta Travel

I am proud to be certified by CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) as an Elite Cruise Counselor. The Cruise Counselor Certification Program is CLIA's most comprehensive training which requires agents to successfully complete a number of compulsory training courses and exams, attend cruise conferences, and conduct ship inspections. Anita Thompson, Attheta Travel, dba Cruise Holidays.

Monday, August 29, 2011

New Ships, Great New Features

The cruise industry is continually topping itself, introducing new ships with features designed to increase guests’ comfort and enjoyment.

One of this year’s new ships is the Avalon Panorama, which sets a new standard for European river cruise ships. Avalon calls the Panorama a “suite ship.” It has two decks of suites with wall-to-wall windows that, when open, give the sitting area the feel of a large, open-air balcony. Each suite is 200 square feet, almost one-third larger than the industry standard. The ship also offers amenities, such as an Internet Corner with Wi-Fi access, a library, a spacious Sky Deck with a shade system, a heated whirlpool and an open-air restaurant. In each suite, you’ll find an elegant marble bath, a flat-screen television and fresh flowers. The Panorama is currently sailing 14-night, Amsterdam-Budapest itineraries, stopping in Vienna on the way. Avalon will introduce two more “suite ships” – the Vista and the Visionary – in 2012.

Like its sisters in the Odyssey Class, the Odyssey and the Sojourn, the Yachts of Seabourn’s new Quest has a spacious feel. The 450-guest ship has a vast spa and expansive pool areas. Among the Quest’s 225 suites, 90 percent have private verandahs. All have separate sleeping and living areas and granite baths with bathtubs, separate showers and double sinks. There are walk-in closets, iPod and MP3 connections, and personal refrigerators stocked according to the preferences of each guest. Seabourn is known for its spas, and the spa on the Quest offers an herbal bath facility, an aroma steam bath and a Kneipp walk.  This form of soothing hydrotherapy involves walking through basins of water at various temperatures and pressures.

Guests can work up an appetite enjoying the water sports available at the unique onboard marina, then choose from four gourmet dining venues. The Quest is now sailing seven-day Eastern Mediterranean cruises, and will cross the Atlantic to Ft. Lauderdale for a series of Caribbean voyages this fall. In January 2012, the Quest and its lucky passengers will depart on the ship’s first world cruise.

To find out how to get on board, talk with your Cruise Holidays personal cruise expert.