Have you ever gazed at a port of call over the railing of a cruise ship and wished that you could really experience the culture – the sights, smells, textures, sounds and flavors – of the place you are visiting? The Excursion Society makes that kind of experience possible.

Three years ago, Cruise Holidays launched the Excursion Society, a unique shore excursion program. This popular program offers unusual, complimentary shore excursions exclusively to it members – cruise guests who seek truly memorable, distinctive experiences while on shore. The Society’s excursions are available on selected Holland America Line, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean cruises.

When Holland America’s Zuiderdam stops in Oranjestad, Aruba, on November 6, for her 10-DAY PANAMA CANAL SUNFARER cruise, Excursion Society members will have the opportunity to experience the island’s artistic side. First up is a visit to Fort Zoutman, which dates from 1796 and is among the island’s oldest structures. The fort’s restored tower, the Willem III Tower, now houses the Fort Zoutman Museum. The museum has a fascinating collection of artifacts from the early days of civilization on Aruba.
From this immersion in Aruba’s past, the group will transition to the island’s vibrant present with a visit to the Access Art Gallery in the heart of Oranjestad. Here, Excursion Society members will not only browse the gallery’s works – they will have the opportunity to talk with local artists during a lecture and reception. A lunch of delicious local specialties will follow.

The group will top off its excursion with a tour of Aruba’s Numismatic Museum, which has coins from more than 400 countries. The amazing 40,000-piece collection was assembled by three generations of an Aruban family.

If you would like to experience this and other shore excursions that go beyond the ordinary, ask us how you can join the Excursion Society.

•  Ease of planning.  We can provide all the information you need about cruise lines, ships and specific itineraries that match the needs and interests of your group.  Some amount of discussion among group members – and perhaps a use of the democratic process – may be required to decide on a cruise itinerary and ship.  But, once that decision is made, no one in the group has to organize meals or entertainment – it's already done.  If you want to organize a special party or event on board just for your group, we can help you coordinate with the ship's guest relations staff.  We can also arrange flights to and from the port of embarkation through the cruise line's air department, ensuring that group members fly together when possible.

• Special amenities.  When we help you make reservations as a group, you may qualify for special amenities, upgraded accommodations, onboard credits or discounted shore excursions.  Larger groups (about 30 people or more) may even qualify for a free cabin, which could be used by the organizer or a group member who couldn't otherwise afford the cruise.  Large groups can also request a hospitality desk on board, which gives group members a place to meet and make plans for shared activities.

Seattle, April 14, 2009 - Holland America Line is introducing a new 14-day Alaskan Adventurer cruise itinerary in 2010 to complement its extensive selection of seven-day itineraries and departures. The Alaskan Adventurer increases the choice of Holland America itineraries to a total of four, joining the popular Alaskan Explorer, Glacier Discovery and Glacier Bay Inside Passage itineraries.

Holland America's schedule features eight ships offering 149 total departures from May 3 through September 24, 2010. The Alaskan Adventurer cruises will sail roundtrip from Seattle on flagship ms Amsterdam and call at Anchorage, Homer and Kodiak for the first time. Seven-day cruises will sail from Seattle, Vancouver and Seward.

"Drawing on more than 60 years of Alaska experience, Holland America Line has introduced this new 14-day Alaskan Adventurer itinerary to expand guests' cruising options," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales, and guest programs. "It is a major addition to our 2010 Alaska cruise schedule, which continues to offer the widest selection of seven-day itineraries and departures of any cruise line in Alaska."

Holland America is featuring a wide range of seven-day cruises, both roundtrip from Seattle and Vancouver and one-way between Vancouver and Seward. As a longtime tour operator, Holland America continues to be awarded the most permit entries of any major cruise line to Glacier Bay, a 65-mile long fjord with spectacular tidewater glaciers.

"Holland America's itineraries also continue to feature the best glacier viewing," said Meadows. "Every cruise visits massive tidewater glaciers."

Many roundtrip Seattle cruises feature Alaska's immense Hubbard Glacier in Yakutat Bay, the largest tidewater glacier in North America. Some cruises visit College Fjord with 10 large tidewater and valley glaciers named after Ivy League colleges. Others sail by the twin Sawyer Glaciers in the narrow, 26-mile Tracy Arm fjord.

Alaska Travel Guides sail on board every Holland America ship in Alaska and share their knowledge of local culture, history, art and flora and fauna with guests. In addition to the Alaska Travel Guides, Native interpreters board the ships in Glacier Bay and by Hubbard Glacier to explain the origins of the Huna and Yakutat people.

14-day Alaskan Adventurer Cruises
The 1,380-guest Amsterdam will homeport in Seattle to sail the 14-day Alaskan Adventurer cruises departing roundtrip May 17 through September 6, 2010. The Amsterdam will be the first cruise ship of a major cruise line to call in Anchorage, providing guests with a full day and evening in Alaska's major city.

The flagship will also call at the new ports of Homer and Kodiak. Homer features a breathtaking location at the tip of the Kenai Peninsula, the Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center and the famous Homer Spit in Kachemak Bay. Kodiak, home of the famed Kodiak bear, reflects both 7,500 years of native Alutiiq heritage and Russian fur trading influence since 1792 as the first capital of Russian America.

The Amsterdam's leisurely itinerary features the scenic Inside Passage, highlighted by cruising Tracy Arm fjord with its twin Sawyer Glaciers. The ship also cruises by the Hubbard Glacier in Yakutat Bay. Ports of call include Ketchikan, Skagway, Sitka, Anchorage, Homer, Kodiak, Juneau and Victoria, BC.

Alaskan Explorer Cruises
Four ships will be home-ported in Seattle in 2010, sailing a total of 63 seven-day Alaskan Explorer cruises roundtrip. The Amsterdam opens the season with two seven-day Alaskan Explorer cruises departing May 3 and 10 before shifting to the new 14-day itinerary.

From May 9 through September 24, the 1,432-guest ms Zaandam departs Fridays, 1,316-guest ms Rotterdam departs Saturdays and the 1,918-guest, Vista-class ms Oosterdam departs Sundays. The Zaandam and Rotterdam highlight the Hubbard Glacier and the Oosterdam showcases Glacier Bay. All Alaskan Explorer cruises call at the historic ports of Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan, plus Victoria, BC, and feature scenic cruising of the Inside Passage and Vancouver Island.

Inside Passage and Glacier Discovery Cruises
Four ships will be home-ported in Vancouver, two of them sailing seven-day Glacier Bay Inside Passage cruises roundtrip. The 1,432-guest Volendam (Wednesday departures) and 1,916-guest Zuiderdam (Saturday departures) sail 39 voyages from May 8 through September 18. They visit Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, Glacier Bay National Park and Tracy Arm fjord.

The 1,270-guest ms Ryndam and the 1,258-guest ms Statendam will offer two more sailings of the Inside Passage-with port and glacier variations-September 12 and 19 to conclude the season.

The Ryndam and Statendam also sail 36 seven-day Glacier Discovery cruises between Vancouver and Seward and reverse with Sunday departures May 9 through September 12. From Vancouver, the northbound itinerary features Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay National Park and College Fjord in Prince William Sound. The southbound route from Seward calls at Haines in place of Skagway.

The Glacier Discovery and Glacier Bay Inside Passage cruises are often combined with a land tour to create a comprehensive CruiseTour. A diverse selection of 31 CruiseTours from 11 to 20 days may include visits to Denali National Park, Fairbanks, the Kenai Peninsula, the Arctic and the Yukon Territory. Many CruiseTours offer two-days at Denali-"Double Denali"-to maximize wildlife and Mt. McKinley viewing.

Shore Excursions
Holland America offers more than 250 optional shore excursions in conjunction with its Alaska cruises. Guests can customize their Alaskan experience with excursions that involve everything from adventure and wildlife watching to history, art and cuisine. They can enjoy active excursions such as sea kayaking, fly or sport fishing, dog sledding and viewing eagles, sea otters and whales. Other exciting excursions feature such attractions as the White Pass Summit Scenic Railway from Skagway, Russian heritage in Sitka, a photography tour in Haines and a five-course tasting meal featuring Alaska seafood prepared by a local chef in Ketchikan.

Azamara Cruises is for travelers who are looking for a deluxe cruise experience with unexpected touches of luxury, such as butler service for every stateroom and suite. In fact, Azamara’s deluxe cruises fit a delightful niche right between two traditional cruise categories: premium and luxury.

At 30,777 tons each, Azamara’s two ships, the Azamara Journey and the Azamara Quest, are able to dock in ports where many larger vessels cannot go. Accordingly, the cruise line can offer unusual ports of call, such as Seoul, South Korea; Cabrits, Dominica; and St. Malo, France.

The smaller size of Azamara’s ships and a high crew-to-passenger ratio create a personalized, attentive level of service. Each cruise also includes an onboard “destination specialist” who provides in-depth information on the itinerary’s ports of call.

In addition to butler service, all staterooms on Azamara’s ships come with a daily fruit basket, fresh flowers, afternoon canapés, and a sweet surprise on the pillow each night. Suite guests enjoy some additional amenities, including complimentary champagne and specialty coffees.

Dining rooms and restaurants feature open seating for every meal, creating a casually sophisticated atmosphere. Alternative restaurants include Prime C, a steakhouse, and Aqualina, which features Mediterranean cuisine. There’s also the main dining room, the Windows Café, the Pool Grill and scrumptious treats at the Cova Café to choose from.  Entertainment on board includes shopping, art auctions, shows, clubs, a casino and a variety of enrichment programs.

Some Azamara sailings now include special incentives, such as shipboard credits that can be used for spa visits and other treats.

Dining has always been an important part of the cruise experience, and the past few years have seen an evolution in cruise ship dining. From an emphasis on quality and quantity, the focus has gradually changed to an emphasis on quality and choice.

Delicious food is still available 24 hours a day on most cruise ships, but some traditional options – such as massive midnight buffets – are giving way to different, often healthier choices. For example, Celebrity Cruises’ charming Cova Cafés offer “after-theater” menus beginning at 11:00 p.m., featuring canapés, artisan cheeses and petit fours. Princess Cruises’ 24-hour restaurant, Horizon Court, offers sandwiches, salads, pastas and desserts late into the night.

Traditional dining, with assigned tables and seating times, is still a mainstay on many cruise ships. However, some cruise lines have completely done away with traditional dining in favor of a flexible model in which guests dine when, where and with whom they like. Norwegian Cruise Line was the first to offer this type of flexible dining, with up to 10 onboard restaurants to choose from. Now, many cruise lines offer a combination of traditional and flexible dining.

Some onboard specialty restaurants require reservations and an additional fee that can run from $10 to $30 per person. These are gourmet restaurants that provide an outstanding, memorable dining experience. If you would like to try one, your personal cruise expert may be able to secure a reservation when you book your cruise. If not, call for a reservation as soon as you get on board – they fill quickly.

Other options for cruise ship dining include casual buffets, poolside grills, spa cafes, sushi bars and pizzerias. You can also order from the room service menu at any time.

A trend toward healthier cruise dining is also gaining momentum. Some cruise ship menus are now completely free of trans fats. Most menus feature healthy choices, with a focus on fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lighter sauces.

A memorable cruise is about more than the ship and the itinerary – it’s also about what you do on shore. When you’re a member of Cruise Holidays’ Excursion Society, your cruise experience can include a unique, private and complimentary shore excursion.

On Celebrity Cruises’ 12-night “Classical Mediterranean Cruise” departing August 14 from Barcelona, the Excursion Society will provide its members with such an opportunity. After docking in Civitavecchia, Italy, society members will follow the footsteps of the Popes through Rome and Vatican City.

The adventure begins with a ride through the lovely countryside along the Tyrrhenian coast to the Eternal City of Rome. You’ll visit the Lateran area of the city, where the Popes lived before moving to the Vatican district. Your guide will take you to the Cathedral of Rome – the Basilica of Saint John in Lateran, the official ecclesiastical seat of the Pope. There, you’ll be awed by the Scala Sancta – the Holy Stairs climbed by Jesus – and the Sancta Santorum, the private chapel of the Popes.  It’s a powerful experience for visitors of all religious backgrounds.

Then, you’ll be transported to the Vatican, viewing exceptional landmarks such as the Colosseum and Venice Square along the way. In the Vatican district, you’ll be refreshed by an authentic Italian lunch, including fine Italian wine.

After lunch, you’ll visit other magnificent sites that are important in Papal history. The first will be St. Angel Castle, built in the second century as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian and used as a fortress by the Popes. You can climb to the top of the castle for a rooftop view of Rome. Finally, you’ll see St. Peter’s Basilica, the grandest Christian church in the world. The beautiful treasures within include Michelangelo’s Pieta and Bernini’s gilt baldachin over the high altar. You and your companions will have much to discuss as you ride back to the ship.

The Excursion Society’s shore excursions are featured on a number of Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Holland America Line sailings during 2009.

To join the society (it’s easy), give me a call.
 

Miami   -    Jan 27, 2009   ---    Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) today announced that it has selected the name for its new F3 ship: Norwegian Epic. Just as the name implies, the ship will be the largest and most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship to date.

The 4,200-passenger Norwegian Epic is scheduled to sail year-round to the Caribbean from Miami, beginning in summer 2010. Following a series of inaugural events in Europe and the U.S., the ship will homeport in Miami and will sail year-round to the Caribbean offering alternating seven-day Western and Eastern Caribbean voyages through April 2011. These cruises are scheduled to go on sale to the public later this spring. NCL will open Norwegian Epic's sailings for group block bookings exclusively for travel partners in mid-March 2009.

"The F3 experience will take our already successful Freestyle Cruising to the next level, affording our guests the ultimate freedom and flexibility. Norwegian Epic, denoting a ship that is very impressive on a grand scale, is the most fitting name," said Kevin Sheehan, NCL's president and CEO. "The combination of the ship's exciting new features, along with the tropical allure of these Caribbean destinations, will provide an extraordinary cruise vacation for our guests."

The ship's Western Caribbean itinerary includes stops in Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico. Norwegian Epic's Eastern Caribbean itinerary includes stops in Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands and Nassau, Bahamas.

Norwegian Epic represents the next generation of Freestyle Cruising – a ship that incorporates a wide range of new features and amenities, including curved New Wave staterooms and unique nightlife options. To date, the company has revealed five unique nightlife venues that rival the experiences of Las Vegas, Ibiza, the Riviera and South Beach. The five venues include the industry's first true Ice Bar; POSH Beach Club, a first of its kind beach club at sea that offers an exclusive, adults-only setting at the top of the ship; Halo, the Über Bar, a private bar and lounge in the ship-within-a-ship villa complex; Bliss Ultra Lounge, NCL's all-day entertainment and nightclub complex with four-lane bowling alley; and Spice H20, an adults-only aft pool deck experience.

In addition, the ship will feature the New Wave standard, New Wave balcony and New Wave deluxe staterooms that represent a giant leap forward in cruise ship accommodations with a completely fresh take on bathroom design, contemporary curved architecture and open living space. The New Wave stateroom's most distinctive design element is its curved walls and lines creating a modern and chic experience. NCL has maximized the living space with a bathroom that is completely unique with a separate shower stall, separate water closet and a modern vanity top sink. The staterooms feature a sophisticated earth-tone palette accented with a splash of color and rich, dark wood. Concealed contour LED lighting and back-lit domed ceilings set a relaxing vibe.

NCL plans to unveil additional details about Norwegian Epic in the near future.