We here at Specialty Cruises & Villas are a deluxe cruise, tour and Italian villa rental agency with a very idiosyncratic inventory of product. We only sell the very top luxury products, and only what we personally like and are knowledgeable about. And we aim to sell these products at the absolute best price in the marketplace. Our affiliation with Virtuoso offers our clients world wide support, and access to unique travel experiences all over the world.

The cruise industry has changed drastically over the last twenty years. The cruise product as it existed twenty years ago is extremely rare today. If you haven't noticed, most cruises are more affordable today than ever before. With this increased affordability, has come a change in the product. Where once service, cuisine and pampering were stressed, now 24 hour activity and a Las Vegas atmosphere are. The product has become more mainline, more aimed at middle American tastes. There is certainly nothing wrong with this, as it allows the cruise industry to tap a larger market, and for more and more people to enjoy a cruise vacation. But there are still some of us who enjoy the traditional cruise, the food and the personal service. Personal service gets lost somewhere on a 2500-4000 passenger megaliner.

So keeping this philosophy in mind, we sell only a few cruise lines that still offer this deluxe, upscale, traditional product. And, indeed, there are some companies today who are providing a product that is better than ever before.

We set certain criteria on which cruise lines to represent. We want a ship that feels like a ship, not a floating hotel with no attachment to the sea. We want low density ships, roomy ships, with a high crew to passenger ratio. This necessarily eliminates most new megaliners. We want professional service from a European led crew whom we can easily communicate with. This type of crew is becoming extremely rare today, and quite expensive for a cruise line. We want to see an emphasis on cuisine and presentation. We want food at least as good as one would experience at a moderately good shoreside restaurant. No banquet food, please. Keeping in mind that true gourmet food is rarely possible onboard ship given the lack of truly fresh ingredients, we want to see a never ending effort in that direction. We want to see financial stability and a company that knows where it's going, having identified its market. And lastly, but not least, we want to see value for money spent. None of these cruises are cheap, on the contrary they are relatively expensive, but they all offer the best value in relation to other products in their class. In many cases we have chosen to feature selected sailings which we believe represent especially good value in the market place. And in some cases, we have created even better value by taking group space, or entering into marketing arrangements allowing us to offer these selected cruises at even better prices, or with very special amenities.

Keeping all of the above in mind, we have chosen the following cruise lines to represent:

Crystal Cruises-This company still offers the best traditional cruise product. Non-stop activities and entertainment are offered on an almost 24 hour basis. Crystal can offer most anything the mega ships can, just in a far more sophisticated manner. This is the only one of our products to still offer two seatings for dinner, but don't let that scare you away as the Italian and Asian alternative restaurants, which can be booked for anytime between 7:00-10:00 PM, are some of the best at sea.

Silversea-Offers intimate, all-suite cruising on small ships with an international clientele.

Seabourn-Offers intimate, all suite cruising on even smaller ships(with a relatively larger ship in the works) to a largely North American clientele. Seabourn is one of the few cruise lines to still employ a professional European dining staff.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises-Recently changed their name from Radisson Seven Seas Cruises and offers luxury, all-suite cruising, on larger ships than Silversea or Seabourn. The larger ships trade a little in intimacy for a larger selection of public rooms and restaurants. Most of your fellow passengers will be from North America.

Sea Dream Yacht Club-In our opinion, this is the top luxury product for a shorter warm weather cruise in the Mediterranean during the summer or the Caribbean in winter. These intimate small ships actually use their outside space in the evenings; dinner under the stars and an outside movie might be to your liking. Plus the outside bar is the hot spot in the evenings. This is a product that is truly different and has no serious competition in its market segment.

The World by ResidenSea-This is another totally unique product. The people who have bought apartments onboard actually own this ship. The apartments sell from 2.4 million dollars on up to about 9 million dollars. The unit you rent is privately owned from the rental pool. The owners can afford to spend their time anywhere they please and they choose the World for a considerable period each year. The service and food are beyond anything else at sea, as a matter of fact in a totally different league. As long as you don't need to be entertained (there is very little entertainment), I can't think of a better place to spend time. The experience is kind of like an Aman resort or Four Seasons at sea.

Hapag Lloyd Europa-Another very different super deluxe product. This very formal, all suite cruise ship caters primarily to the German speaking market, but the quality is so high that it warrants our attention, especially if you like things Teutonic, or are looking for a different experience away from other North Americans. How about cruising Europe with Europeans?

Star Clippers-Again, a totally different experience. These are real sailing ships, indeed the Royal Clipper is a replica of the largest sailing vessel ever built. They actually sail for most of the cruise and are emotionally riveting. The service and food aren't quite as deluxe as our other products, but they do a good job and you will never forget leaving port under sail. Your fellow passengers will be a mixture of Europeans and North Americans and the on board currency is the Euro.

These are the only cruise lines we sell, and we are major producers for each, in some cases being among their top three agents in North America, or in the case of the World by Residensea, the top world wide producer 2005-2007. We have are all sailed on and know these products intimately. We do not pretend to be experts on all cruise lines or all areas of travel, but we are the experts on these eight small cruise lines. References can be provided upon request.

CURRENT SPECIALS


Following are some examples of our current special offerings, but bear in mind that we strive to offer the very best pricing on all the cruise lines we represent, so call us for a no obligation quote on the cruise of your choice. At the end of the listings below, we are featuring a number of "expedition" cruises that might be of interest to the more adventurous.

Please understand that cruise prices now change daily, and it is not always possible to keep the below listed prices current. Please confirm all prices with our office. Prices, unless noted otherwise in the listing, are cruise only and do not include port charges and fees, taxes, or fuel surcharges.

Oct 17, 2009  Seabourn Odyssey  Istanbul-Fort Lauderdale,  24 nights,  calling at  Mytilini/Greece, Volos/Greece,

Athens, Aghios Nikolaos/Crete, Valletta/Malta, Trapani/Sicily, Monte Carlo/Monaco, Marseille/France, Barcelona/Spain,

Oct 17, 2009  Seabourn Odyssey  Istanbul-Malaga, 14 days,  calling at  Mytilini/Greece, Volos/Greece, Athens, Aghios Nikolaos/Crete, Valletta/Malta, Trapani/Sicily, Monte Carlo/Monaco, Marselle/France, Barcelona/Spain, Valencia, Malaga.  Prices from $7189 per person(Cat A) plus taxes and fees, for a suite with balcony. Specialty Cruises added amenity: two night deluxe land package pre-cruise in Istanbul including hotel, transfers, breakfasts and taxes, plus full day shore experience in Valletta with lunch(or, if you prefer $150 per person shipboard credit), and $400 per suite shipboard credit.

Oct 31, 2009  Seabourn Odyssey  Malaga-Fort Lauderdale,  10 days, calling at  Funchal/Madeira.  Prices from $3122 per person plus taxes and fees based on cat. A. Specialty Cruise added amenity: one night pre-cruise deluxe hotel in Malaga.

Nov 9, 2009  Silversea Silver Wind  Athens-Port Said, 10 nights,  calling at Santorini/Greece, Kusadasi/Turkey, Tartous/Syria, Limassol/Cyprus, Haifa/Israel, Ashdod/Israel, Alexandria/Egypt.  Price for Vista Suites are $4147 per person, or $3732 for past passengers. Veranda Suites are $5197 or $4677 for a past passenger.  Specialty Cruise added amenity: one complimentary hotel night pre-cruise in Athens at the Grande Bretagne Hotel, plus $250 per suite shipboard credit. #1431-08 15/1/5p/0

Nov 11, 2009 The World by ResidenSea New Guinea Expedition Manila-Cairns, 23 nights cruise/one hotel night, calling at Malakal, Papua New Guinea Expedition 9 nights, Port Moresby. Special expedition cruise with full expedition team onboard. Cruise includes a number of “wet” Zodiac landings. Prices from $12200 per person including one deluxe hotel night pre-cruise in Manila. Please contact us for an expedition brochure.

Dec 2, 2009  Silversea Silver Shadow  Ft Lauderdale-Bridgetown/Barbados, 9 nights, calling at Tortola, St Kitts, St Barths, St Lucia, Grenada, ovenight in Bridgetown/Barbados before disembarking. Prices for Vista Suites are $3047 per person, or $3797 for Veranda Suites. Specialty Cruises added amenity: one complimentary deluxe hotel night post-cruise in Barbados.  #4444-09  20/1/5/6

Dec 2, 2009  Silversea Silver Shadow  Ft Lauderdale-Ft Lauderdale, 18 nights, caling at Tortola, St Kitts, St Barths, St Lucia, Grenada, ovenight in Bridgetown/Barbado, St Vincent, Grenada, Guadelope, Antigua, St Martin, Turk & Caicos Islands. Our special price on Veranda Suites is $5995 per person.

Dec 11, 2009  Silversea SIlver Shadow  Bridgetown-Ft Lauderdale, 9 nights, calling at St Vincent, Grenada, Guadelope, Antigua, St Martin, Turk & Caicos Islands. Prices  for Veranda Suites are $3797 per person, or $3417 for past passengers. Specialty Cruises added amenity: one complimentary deluxe hotel night pre-cruise in Barbados. #2238-08  20/1/5/22

Dec 31, 2009 ResidenSea The World Sydney-Perth, 21 cruise nights/2 hotel nights, Sydney overnight, Melbourne 2 nights, Adelaide 2 nights, Kangaroo Island, Albany, Bunbury, Perth overnight. Prices from $12500 per person, including two deluxe hotel nights pre-cruise nights in Sydney.

Jan 03, 2010 Silversea Silver Spirit Lisbon-Fort Lauderdale, 16 nights, calling at Funchal/Portugal, Las Palmas/Canary Islands, Tenerife/Canary Islands, Antigua, St. Bart’s, St. Maarten. Price for a Mid Ship Veranda $5046 per person, if paid in full by 30 June. Specialty Cruise added amenity:  one deluxe hotel night, pre cruise, in Lisbon.

Jan 21, 2010, Land/Cruise Program(22 night cruise/4 nights hotel)  The World by ResidenSea  After overnighting in Perth at the new boutique hotel, The Outram, board the World and experience a "Captains Choice" day. On this day, the captain will choose where to go, either stopping in a special spot or doing some scenic cruising; maybe even utilizing the ship's fleet of Zodiaks. "Captains Choice" days are what makes the World so special. It will probably be a day that you will never forget. Next spend two days in Geraldton, one day in Exmouth, and then begin your six day exploration of the Kimberly Coast, starting first with Broome. Many of the stops on this little known stretch of fantastically beautiful coast will be zodiak landings. After a day at sea, call at Komodo Island/Indonesia and see the  dragons.  Next, visit Palopo, on the Isalnd of Sulawesi and Baubau.  After another day at sea, spend two days in Lombok/Indonesia, before  arriving in Bali. From the World, transfer to The Four Seasons Sayan in Ubud, where you will spend  three nights before returning home. Prices from  $15895 per person.

Feb 07, 2010 Silversea Silver Shadow Los Angeles-Los Angeles, 26 nights, calling at Huku Hiva/French Polynesia, Atuona/Marquesas, Rangiroa/French Polynesia, Moorea, Papeete/Tahiti overnight, Bora Bora, Christmas Island, Lahaina/Maui, Honolulu/Oahu. Price for a Vista Suite is $8596 per person or $10746 per person for a Veranda, if paid in full by 30 June 2009. Specialty Cruise added amenity: $900 per suite shipboard credit, plus $500 per suite shipboard credit.

Feb 15, 2010 ResidenSea The World Bali-Singapore, 7 cruise nights/2 deluxe hotel nights, Calling at Semerang/Borobadour, Tioman. Prices from $3900 per person, including two deluxe hotel nights in Bali.

Mar 08, 2010 Silversea Silver Spirit Santiago-Acapulco, 14 nights, calling at Antofagasta/Chile, Pisco, Callao/Peru overnight. Manta/Ecuador, Puntarenas/Costa Rica, Puerto Quetzal/Guatemala. Price for a Vista Suite is $6981 per person or $7751 per person for a Verandah, if paid in full by 30 June 2009. Specialty Cruises added amenity: one night pre cruise at the Ritz Carlton in Santiago.

Mar 08, 2010 Silversea Silver Spirit Santiago-Los Angeles, 24 nights, calling at Antofagasta/Chile, Pisco, Callao/Peru overnight. Manta/Ecuador, Puntarenas/Costa Rica, Puerto Quetzal/Guatemala, Acapulco overnight, Zihuatanejo, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada. Price for a Vista Suite is $10167 per person or $11272 per person for a Verandah. If paid in full by 31 May 2009. Specialty Cruise added amenity: one night pre cruise hotel stay at the Ritz Carlton Santiago, plus wine country tour and transfer to the pier in Valparaiso.

Mar 22, 2010 Silversea Silver Spirit Acapulco-Los Angeles, 10 nights, Acapulco overnight, Zihuatanejo, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada. Price for a Vista Suite is $4246 per person or $4696 per person for a Veranda, if paid in full by 30 June 2009. Specialty Cruise added amenity: one night deluxe hotel pre crise in Acapulco.

Apr 02, 2010 Silversea Silver Spirit Los Angeles-New York City, 20 nights, calling at San Diego, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Quetzal/Guatemala, Fuerte Amador, Panama Canal, Cartagena/Colombia, Fort Lauderdale. Price for a Vista suit is $7846 per person or $8746 per person for a Veranda, if paid in full by 30 June 2009. Specialty Cruise added amenity: $800 per suite shipoard credit in a Vista Suite, or $1000 per suite in a Veranda Suite.

Apr 23, 2010 Silversea Silver Spirit New York City-Southampton, 14 nights, calling at Boston, Halifax/Nova Scotia, St. John’s/Newfoundland, Cork, Cardiff, Plymouth/UK. Our special price for a Vista Suite is $5095 per person or $6975 per person for a Veranda, if paid in full by 30 June, 2009. Specialty Cruise added amenity: $550 per suite shipboard credit in a Vista Suite or $700 per suite in a Veranda.

May 08, 2010 ResidenSea The World Chania/Crete-Venice, 17 nights cruise/4 deluxe hotel nights, calling at Marmaris, Fethive, Bodrum, Santorini, Naxos, Zakynthos, Captains Choice, Kotor/Montenegro, Rovini/Croatia. Prices from $9995 per person, including 2 deluxe hotel nights pre-cruise in Crete and two post cruise in Venice.

May 28, 2010 ResidenSea The World Venice-Nice, 18 nights, Three nights in Venice, Rab, Novalja, Split, Korcula, Siracusa 2 nights, Captain’s choice, Civitavecchia/Rome, Portofino/Italy, Nice/France 2 nights. Prices from $9600 per person.

May 28, 2010 ResidenSea The World Venice-Barcelona, 25 nights cruise/2 hotel nights, Three nights in Venice, Rab, Novalja, Split, Korcula, Siracusa 2 nights, Captain’s choice, Civitavecchia/Rome, Portofino/Italy, Nice/France 3 nights, Antibes, Collioure 2 nights, Captain’s Choice. Prices from $13,750 per person, including two deluxe hotel nights post cruise in Barcelona.

Jul 1, 2010  Silversea Silver Cloud  Copenhagen-Copenhagen, 15 nights, calling at Flaam, Gudvangen, Aalesund, Trondheim, Leknes, Tromsoe, Hammerfest, Honningsvag(North Cape) ovenight, Gravdal, Helleysilt, Geiranger, Bergen. Prices for Vista Suites are $6997 or $8947 for Vernda Suites. Economy air from U.S. gateways is $800. Specialty Cruise added amenity:  One complimentary deluxe hotel night in Copenhagen, plus $1000 per suite shipboard credit.  #537-09 15/1/9/5

Aug 17, 2010 Cruise/Land Package Residensea World/Myres Castle, Edinburgh-Reykjavik/Iceland, 13 nights. After a 5 night stay at a Scottish Castle(exclusive use by our group), and viewing of the famous Military Tattoo one evening, you will board the World in Edinburgh and cruise to Oban/2 days. The next day is "Captain's Choice". On this day, the captain will choose where to go, either stopping in a special spot or doing some scenic cruising; maybe even utilizing the ship's fleet of Zodiaks. "Captains Choice" days are what makes the World so special. It will probably be a day that you will never forget. Then its on to Torshavn in the Faroe Islans for 2 days. Lastly a day at sea and then another day of "Captains Choice" before arriving in Reykjavik. We are also offering an optional post-cruise 3 night off-road experience for those who really want to sea the inerior of Iceland. The castle stay will basically be "house party" style, with all meals and liquors included. Their will also be a full menu of acivities, allowing you to experience Scotland. For those interested in Golf, St Andrews is only 20 minutes away. The castle stay will be hosted by Jim Bisciglia, owner of Specialty Cruise & Villas. Prices from $7595 per person for suite with veranda.

Sep 01, 2010 ResidenSea The World Reykjavik-Quebec, 21 nights cruise/2 hotel. Greenland Expedition 9 nights, Greenland Expedition/Nuuk, Cruise by the Torngat Mts., St Anthony/Newfoundland, Quebec overnight. Nine nights of the cruise are expedition days with a full expedition staff and numerous Zodiac landings. Prices from $12300 per person, including one deluxe hotel night pre-cruise in Reykjavik and one night post cruise in Quebec City. This expedition cruise will be hosted by Richard & Lyn Kaufman from Specialty Cruises. An optional pre-cruise, 3 night off-road experience is available for those wanting to see the interior of Iceland.

Dec 03, 2010 ResidenSea The World Rio de Janeiro-Buenos Aires, 14 nights, Overnight in Rio de Janeiro, Parati, Punta del Este 2 nights, Montevideo, Buenos Aires 3 nights. Prices from $7800 per person.

Expedition Cruises

These cruises all have an expedition team on board and sail to areas that are rarely seen by cruise ship passengers. Many of these cruises have zodiac landings and/or helicopter landings. We only represent the most interesting sailings on the best ships and with the best expedition programs. You don't have to give up your creature comforts on these programs either. Indeed, the Prince Albert II, Hanseatic and Orion are the equals of any luxury cruise ship.

Jul 16, 2009 The World by ResidenSea Vancouver-Anchorage, 21 nights, calling at Captains Choice, Queen Charlotte Island, Prince Rupert/BC, Misty Fjord, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Sitka, Cruising Tracy Arm, Haines, Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Valdez, Anchorage overnight. Prices from $11150 per person, including two nights deluxe hotel pre-cruise in Vancouver.

Jul 16, 2009 The World by ResidenSea Vancouver-Nome, 42 nights, calling at Captains Choice, Queen Charlotte Island, Prince Rupert/BC, Misty Fjord, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Sitka, Cruising Tracy Arm, Haines, Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Valdez, Anchorage 2 nights, Kodiak, Cruising along the Shelikof Strait, Dutch Harbor, Bering Sea Expedition 13 nights, Nome overnight. Prices from 21950 per person, including two nights deluxe hotel pre-cruise in Vancouver.