Sydney Harbour Cruise Marriage Reception Venue

Looking for a luxury cruise boat for your Wedding on Sydney Harbour? We at Magistic Cruises tailor our package to suit your requirements.
Magistic Cruises offers a magnificent fleet of luxury boats for your wedding reception venue, along with professional service & superb catering.

Magistic Cruises operate under the umbrella company Blue Line Cruises Pty Ltd. Blue Line Cruises also operate Sydney Showboats, Sydney Things To Do Retail Outlets, Magistic Events, Cruising Restaurants, Tourism Online Marketing Services and more.

Magistic Cruises specialise in providing top quality tourism experiences at value prices for domestic and international visitors to Sydney.Magistic Cruises operate two luxury catamarans - Magistic Two and Simply Magistic. Our luxury catamarans were built to the highest Australian standards and feature exceptional nautical design and contemporary decor.

Magistic Cruises Wedding Package includes:

- Breathtaking Sydney Harbour views
- Red carpet arrival
- Pre lunch or dinner drinks with superior beverages
- Pre lunch or dinner canapés
- Exclusive 5 hour wedding reception
- Sumptuous 6 course sit down formal dinner
- Superior beverages including spirits flowing for the duration of the cruise
- Champagne during official toasts and throughout the cruise
- Elegant white linen & napkins, Villeroy & Bosch crockery with silver cutlery and fine glassware
- Dance area with complimentary wedding DJ
- Use of lecturn, projector, screen & cordless microphone for speeches
- Chair cover & sash in your choice of colour
- Feature Floral table arrangements
- Complimentary menu tasting for wedding couple
- Placement of bonbonniere / flavours and place cards
- Ceremony on board if desired
- Special wedding night at a 5 star CBD Hotel
- Function host onboard to oversee the needs of you and your guests
- Your own wedding coordinator to ensure all of your dreams come true

GOLD COAST BOAT CHARTER

'INSPIRATION' - Luxury Charter Boat

Luxury charter motor yacht 'Inspiration' is ideal small group bookings up to 20 passengers for celebrations with friends. Enjoy the canal's of Surfers Paradise and broadwater cruises. TYIN Tegnestue
via Arch Daily

Capacity:- Can carry up to 20 passengers.

Price:- $500 per hour (minimum 2 hours).

Drinks:- BYO (ice box provided, please bring ice, available at marina).

Food:- BYO or Catering Menu's we use from Blue Grotto Restruant or Nina's Catering below -

* Blue Grotto Resturant - choose your number of serves - Small (3 guests approx) - Medium (4 guests approx) - large (5 guests approx)
* Cold Seafood Platter - small $75, medium $95, large $115
* Cheese Platere and Crackers - medium $60, large $70
* Smoked Salmon Caesar Salad - 2 serves $30 (about 3 guests)
* Seared Chicken Strip Salad - 2 serves $30 (about 3 guests)
* Mixed Fruit Platter - medium $60, large $90



* Gold Coast Catering Food - Summer Buffet - $30 per person (minimum 10 persons), delivered in eskies ready for you to serve, all plastic plates, Knifes and forks, sauces, etc included. All food below included-
* Cheese, cabbana and Jatz biscuits, Corn chips and salsa.
* 4 cold meats, Sliced roast beef, ham, pork and chicken pieces.
* 4 salads, potato, coleslaw, greek and tossed salads.
* Bread rolls.
* Fruit Platter.

Cruise Holidays Announces Plans for 2012 Australia/New Zealand Wine Cruise

Have you ever considered what a “Down Under” cruise has to offer?   The sunny splendor of Australia and New Zealand await you.  Imagine sailing into Sydney Harbour and exploring the city sites and exciting nightlife of this bustling cosmopolitan city.  Enjoy the spectacular coastlines from the comfort of your ship.  Just across the Tasman Sea, 2000 kilometers southeast of Australia, lies New Zealand.

Popular ports of call include Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city.
Sydney is the largest and most populous city in Australia.  It has a reputation as an international center for music, arts, fashion, entertainment and tourism.  No visit is complete without a stop to view the iconic Opera House; which is home to Opera Australia and the Sydney Symphony.  Other popular destinations include the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Luna Park, Sydney Tower and the Taronga Zoo for a visit with the world famous koalas.

Melbourne, mainland Australia’s southern most port, is a vibrant city of hidden lanes, opulent bars, exclusive restaurants and eclectic boutiques.  The city’s landmark cultural space, Federation Square, is a popular tourist destination.  Enjoy a cocktail in a converted sea container in Chinatown, dine at one of the restaurants, cafes, bistros and bars in Southbank or visit the funky shops of Brunswick Street and upmarket shops of Chapel Street.

Christchurch (The Garden City) is the largest metropolitan area on New Zealand’s south island.  The city center is comfortably compact with the Avon River winding gently through as the central feature.  You can ski at a world class alpine resort, play golf, bungy jump, go rafting, mountain biking, hot-air ballooning, wind surfing, whale watching and visit world class wineries and gardening  all within 2 hours of Christchurch.

The capital of New Zealand, Wellington, is located on the southwestern tip of the country’s North Island.  It is home to Te Papa Tongarewa (the Museum of New Zealand), the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Royal New Zealand Ballet and the Wellington City Art Gallery.  Wellington’s café culture is prominent.  The city has more cafes per capita than New York City.

Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, is a cosmopolitan experience wrapped up in a fascinating water world that’s dotted with more than 50 islands.  In just 30 minutes from the city center, you can sail to an island, trek through a rainforest, picnic on a volcano, sample wines at a vineyard or wander a wild black sand surf beach.  Diverse cultures add flavor and interest to the city’s style of life.  Auckland is world famous for a style of cuisine known as “Pacific Rim” which blends Asian and Pacific flavors.

No matter how varied your interests may be, Australia and New Zealand has something for everyone.  From cultural museums to world class restaurants; from nature hikes to wine tasting; from golfing to bungy jumping, a “Down Under” cruise will be the experience of a lifetime.

Oceania Cruises and Cruise Holidays of Alexandria are pleased to announce the 2012 Australia and New Zealand Wine Cruise.  The cruise will be during the winter of 2012 with exact dates to be determined.  Through Cruise Holidays of Alexandria you will be able to reserve your stateroom prior to the general public which will provide you with a greater opportunity to reserve the stateroom or suite of your choice.

Blogging from Arles

We arrived in Arles yesterday morning.  We flew into Marseilles, and had private transfers from the airport to Arles, a ride that took about 50 minutes.

Arles has proved to be a wonderful Roman city.  We are staying at the 3 Star Le Calendal Hotel.  It is located directly in the heart of the city, right across the street from the Roman Theater and adjacent to the Roman Amphitheater.  The staff are exceptionally friendly and helpful.  Though we arrived 2 hours before check-in, the hotel graciously offered to store our luggage.  We settled in the hotel's shaded courtyard for what turned out to be a delicious meal.  Mine was chicken tourenedo (?), consisting of rolled chicken breast with an olive paste, mashed potatoes with gravy, and a side of roasted vegetables.  As promised, the rooms were ready right at 2, and were furnished in typical Provence style.  Bright colors, spacious, and beautiful bathrooms made this hotel a real find, combined with its central location, make this hotel a real find.

Arles is a wonderful city.  After we finished our lunch, we set out to explore.  First stop was the Roman Theater.  Built in 90 A.D., it had a capacity of 20,000.  The Amphitheater is a remarkably-preserved ruin.  We also browsed the markets lining the streets.  Table linens, soaps, and pottery, standard and beautiful fare for Provence, were typical finds.  Later in the evening, we enjoyed a delightful meal at an outdoor cafe directly across from the Amphitheater, and then a late-night stroll down to the Rhone River.  We located our Uniworld ship which we are boarding today.

I will write more later.  In the meantime, follow my trip on Twitter, complete with pictures, at www.Twitter.com/CruisePallette.

Azamara Club Cruises' New Approach -- A Review

(By Jim Work) -- This post is long overdue.  In April, I had the pleasure of joining the top-producing Cruise Holidays stores on Cruise Holidays International’s 2010 President’s Circle cruise aboard the Azamara Club Journey.  This was my first experience aboard Azamara, and it was the debut cruise for Azamara’s more inclusive onboard amenities.

I sailed aboard Azamara with an admitted bias towards its top competitor, Oceania Cruises.  After all, I have experienced Oceania Cruises on three prior occasions, and I am a top 50 producer for Oceania.  Nevertheless, I was favorably impressed with Azamara.  I believe it is adequately distinguishing itself from Oceania, and serving a niche market in its own right.

To its credit, Azamara Club Cruises recognized it needed a make over.   Since its inception in 2006 by Royal Caribbean International as its upper premium brand, Azamara had struggled to define itself.  If foundered as an almost step-sister to Royal Caribbean’s already-established premium brand, Celebrity Cruises.  Mention Azamara, and people would say “hah?”

Royal Caribbean decided to shake things up.  It hired Larry Pimentel, a noted expert in the Cruise Industry.  Pimentel joined Azamara with 25 years of distinguished experience in the industry.  He served as CEO and co-owner of SeaDream Yacht Club, an intimate line catering to the high-end market.  Prior to that, Pimentel served as President and CEO of Cunard and Seabourn.  He had also been named as among the 25 most influential travel executives in America.  Azamara gave Pimentel wide latitude to recruit the industry’s top talent and make sweeping changes among the line’s small fleet consisting of just 2 ships.

Pimentel immediately recognized the need to separate the line in the market, creating a more upmarket experience.  The result – the first upper premium line to include complimentary wine at lunch and dinner, complimentary gratuities, and complimentary port-to-city-center transfers.  It also scrap many itineraries, and adopted a more port-intensive approach, giving its guests the luxury of more overnights and long port stays with fewer sea days.  These changes aimed squarely at attracting a more sophisticated cruiser, one seeking the cultural and educational aspects of travel.

I was aboard the Journey for 10 days.  I found the ship remarkably familiar from my experiences aboard Oceania.  In fact, the ships are nearly identical, as both Oceania and Azamara purchased their ships from the now defunct upscale Renaissance line.  Azamara has managed to squeeze a few more staterooms aboard, carrying a maximum of 694 guests, compared to Oceania 684 maximum capacity.  It also carries fewer staff, offering still an impressive guest-to-staff ratio of 2 to 1 compared to Oceania’s 1.75 to 1.  Nevertheless, I found the service to be above average, with only a few hiccups along the way.  For the most part, these occurred in the dining room.  For example, on occasion in the specialty dining restaurant, our water glasses remained empty for too long, and our meals at times were not prepared to our liking.  Despite these minor hiccups, the service far surpassed Royal Caribbean’s other two brands, and was better than most other premium lines.

My accommodation was a luxurious Sky Suite.  In addition to ample space of more than 300 square feet, the room also boasted true butler service.  Among other things, the butler provided service for 2 private parties I hosted in my room, and, had I asked him to, would have even unpacked my luggage.  The balcony was large, accommodating a full-size table for dining, 2 chairs, and 1 lounge chair.  The bathroom too was luxurious, consisting of a bathtub with shower.

The entertainment aboard was surprisingly good.  Unlike some other lines of this size, Azamara offers full production shows.  Of course, the ship also has a host of small venue entertainment to include piano, comedy, and even an opera singer.

Like Oceania Cruises and most lines in the luxury market, dining is open.  Guests dine where and with whom they like.  Azamara’s dining, however, is a bit different from Oceania Cruises.  The main dining room is complimentary of course.  Its two specialty restaurants – Prime C and Aqualina – are not.  Their fee is a nominal $15 per person for guests not booked in suites (suite guests may dine complimentary in the specialty restaurants with no limit).  The fee is similar to what is found on most other cruise lines for their specialty restaurants.  The quality of the food I found as a whole to be very good, and indeed the main dining room’s cuisine was consistently as good as the food served in the specialty dining restaurants.

What I like most about a line like Azamara and Oceania is the size.  With fewer than 700 guests aboard, it is simply an elevated experience over larger cruise lines.  I especially appreciated this when using the pool on hot days (we were in the Caribbean).   Never a wait for a lounge chair, and nowhere on the ship did it ever feel crowded.

I recommend Azamara Club Cruises for adults looking for an upscale but certainly not stuffy cruising experience.  It also is an excellent venue for groups, as it offers complimentary use of meeting rooms and equipment.  One cautionary note:  Azamara Club Cruises (like Oceania Cruises) has no children's programs aboard.  Children are permitted aboard, but bear in mind Azamara’s focus is on providing a upmarket experience focused on destination.

Oceania Cruises Releases 2011 Alaska Itineraries

For the first time ever, Oceania Cruises will be sailing Alaska in 2011.  Its Alaska season will featuring 10, 12, and 14 night cruises with departures from May 12 to August 26, 2011.  Itineraries will be port intensive, and will include 14-night San Francisco round trip; 12 night San Francisco to Vancouver and reverse; 12 night Vancouver to Anchorage and reverse; and 10-night Vancouver round trip cruises.  As always, Oceania's introductory rates are the lowest they will ever be, and are offered at 2-for-1 rates and free airfare from select gateway cities across the United States and Canada.

Preferred Oceania Cruises' travel agencies likely have enhanced amenity offers that include prepaid gratuities and shipboard credit.  Cruise Holidays Luxury Cruise Counselors is offering these, plus a complimentary shore excursion valued at up to $100 per person if booked by May 15, 2010.  Click here for details.

Rates are valid until August 31, 2010.  Given the anticipated heavy demand for these new itineraries, many expect these itineraries to sell out much sooner than August 31st.  Guests can book with a deposit of $750 per person.

Silver Spirit: Silversea's Newest (and largest) Ship.

The Silver Spirit debuted in 2010, completing a full World Cruise as its first voyage.  The World Cruise terminated in New York, New York, on Thursday, April 22, 2010.  I was fortunate enough to receive one of a very few number of coveted invitations for an overnight stay aboard the Silver Spirit before it sailed off on a 14-night Transatlantic to Southampton, England.

Though one night is not nearly enough to get a complete flavor for what sailing aboard the Silver Spirit would be like, it certainly provided me with an introduction to this newest of Silversea's fleet.  The ship holds a maximum of 540 guests, with a gross tonnage of 36,000 tons.  It is the largest ship in Silversea's 6-ship fleet.  With a space ratio of 67:1, it provides guests onboard one of the largest space ratios of any cruise ship.  It also offers a complement of 376 crew members, for a guest-to-staff ratio of just 1.4 to 1.

Unlike the other ships in the fleet, the Spirit boasts an art decor theme throughout, with rich woods, deep burgundy carpets, and inlaid brass.  It offers a total of 6 onboard dining venue.  Aside from the main restaurant, the ship offers unique alternative dining choices depending on what appeals to you on any given evening.  La Tarrazza is often the choice for breakfast and lunch.  Meals are served buffet, Silversea style.  In other words, while guests select their meal through a buffet line, Silversea's attentive staff escorts guests to their seats.  The dinner, too, is served buffet style but features gourmet Italian cuisine.  I dined in La Tarrazza for breakfast, and I would rate it among the highest in terms of quality of the breakfasts I've had on any cruise line on which I have sailed (and there have been many).  Fresh breads, cheeses, bacon, homemade omelettes, fresh fruits, and pastries all comprised the tempting choices.  La Tarrazza, positioned at the back of the ship, also offers panoramic views with no doubt amazing sunset viewing.  There is no fee to dine in La Tarrazza, but reservations are required for dinner.

Another alternative dining choice includes Stars.  Stars is a Supper Club-style restaurant that seats just 48 guests, requiring reservations.  Like La Tarrazza, however, there is no fee to dine here.  Guests arrive early for cocktails, dinner is served around 9, and the entertainment begins at 10.

Two specialy restaurants require a fee:  Seishin and Le Champagne.  Seishin serves up Sushi and Asian specialties.  Depending on the courses you select, the cost will range from $30 to $200 per person.  Le Champagne offers just 24 guests per night a set menu which varies daily paired with some of the world's finest wines hand selected for the meal.  This is where I was privileged to dine on Thursday evening.  The cost for Le Champagne is a steep $200 per person for the food and wine pairing dinner, which seemed a bit too high to me.  The food and wine were good, but for me they would not have been worth the added cost.  I'm not sure my judgment here, though, is accurate because the waiter did caution me and my table mates that the wine and dinner we were served were not the same as would be served to paying guests. 

The entertainment aboard Silversea is highly rated, and did not disappoint.  The show, titled The Age of Aquarius, I would rate as excellent, and certainly among the best of any shows I have seen on a ship.  The singers were talented, and played their roles well.  The show featured a broad selection of popular music from the 1960s, which squarely aimed at Silversea's Baby Boomer demographic.  It took place in Silversea's very comfortable theater, aptly named The Show Lounge.  Interestingly, The Show Lounge is pretty intimate for a theater, holding just 340 (or only 60% of the Spirit's total guest capacity). 

Nightly entertainment also is offered up in numerous other intimate venues throughout the ship, whether your taste is jazz, piano, or easy listening.  After the show, we made our way to the Panorama Lounge, so named because of its panoramic views off the back of the ship.  The Panorama Lounge converts to Silversea's nightly disco, with a DJ spinning tunes that ranged from rock from throughout the ages to true disco and country music.  The drinks flow liberally here, as even during regular cruises the alcohol is included.  The amazing Silversea crew members never allowed our glasses to be more than half empty before offering us another drink.  While certainly a great testament to Silversea's incomparable service levels, such free-flowing alcohol can be dangerous...be forewarned!!

The Spirit also includes an 8300 square foot spa and fitness center, making it the largest of the spas on Silversea's fleet.  It includes 9 treatment rooms, sauna and steam rooms, and an outdoor hot tub off the back of the ship.

Finally, the staterooms on Silversea are luxurious and well appointed.  All staterooms aboard are considered suites, with the minimum square footage of 312 square feet.  They include a bathroom that is roughly twice the size or more of the average cruise ship bathroom.  All bathrooms include a large shower, separate soaking tub, stylish real marble and wood laminate floor, and attractive vessel sink.  Other luxurious appointments included a full walk-in closet, an iPod speaker, and two flat screen televisions integrated into floor-to-ceiling mirrors:  one in the separate sitting area, and the other directly in front of the bed.  The room includes ample storage space, constructed of tasteful inlaid wood. 

Some things to keep in mind about Silversea.  Silversea draws only about 50% of its guests on any given cruise from North America.  The others come from Europe, Australia, and across the globe.  For guests who desire a true international experience, this is a huge bonus.  The drawback:  Silversea's liberal smoking policy.  Bucking the trend of other cruise lines, many of whom have gone to complete bands or otherwise very restrictive smoking policies, Silversea does permit smoking in most bars and lounges. 

Overall, anyone who chooses to sail aboard the Silver Spirit will be rewarded with an extraordinary level of service, excellent cuisine, and a memorable vacation.  I do highly recommend it.

Volcano Reeks Havoc on Cruises Too

The eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano has left millions of would-be passengers stranded for days at airports around the world, but the ripple effects have been enormous for cruise passengers too.  For North Americans, April typically marks the early season for European sailings.  The grounded flights have left cruise passengers already in Europe scrambling to find flights home, and others preparing to leave the States and Canada with no way to arrive at their embarkation ports.

Cruise lines consider the eruption, rightfully so, a force majeure or Act of God.  Even passengers who purchase insurance through the cruise lines are finding little comfort.  The cruise line's insurance, nearly universally, considers the eruption a non-covered event.  Here is what we have learned about some of the big cruise lines, and how they are responding to the travel disruptions:

Royal Caribbean is offering clients who purchased airfare through Royal Caribbean with assistance rerouting their flights, and, if not possible, will refund clients who are unable to make their cruise because of flight cancellations.  Alternatively, clients can elect a future cruise.  Clients who purchased insurance through Royal Caribbean, but not airfare, however, are not covered and stand to lose the full value of their cruise.

Princess Cruises has a statement on its website advising its clients to check with their air carriers on flights.  It provides that clients who are able to join their cruise mid-itinerary should notify Princess.  Princess is offering a per diem refund for the number of days missed for clients who join mid-cruise, which will be applied to the clients' shipboard account.  Please note that this concession applies only to those who are able to join their cruise mid-itinerary.  Those who miss their cruise are subject to normal cancellation penalties.

Silversea Cruises is imposing standard cancellation penalties regardless of whether clients are using airfare provided by Silversea, or arranged airfare independently.  Moreover, as with the other lines, insurance purchased through the cruise line does not cover disruptions and cancellations caused by the volcano.  Silversea, however, has advised us that they are reviewing each client on a case-by-case basis, so it is best to work with your travel professional to attempt to receive some concession from Silversea.

These cruise lines are representative of cruise line industry as a whole.  There are two lessons to be learned from this eruption:

    -First, buy independent travel insurance on every trip.  This event reveals big gaps in the insurance coverage offered by the cruise lines.  Clients who purchased insurance through Travel Guard, for example, are protected against flight disruptions and cancellations (provided they purchased the insurance before the disruptions occurred).  Travel Guard, as do some other independent travel insurers such as Access America, has a 24-hour dedicated flight desk to assist their customers with flight disruptions, and will refund the cost of the cruise if a customer is unable to make the cruise because of the volcano.

  -Second, this is one instance where having the cruise line's air is beneficial.  Cruise lines that are offering any protection at all are doing so only for clients who purchased airfare through the cruise lines. 

Disney Cruise Line: For Kids of Any Age, from 1 to 81.

I admit.  I had been ambivalent about traveling on Disney Cruise Line.  For one, unlike my sister, I am not a huge Disney fan.  Of course, I like Mickey and Minnie, Goofy and Donald, but I never felt the need to vacation with them.  For another, I have no small children to entertain, so in terms of experiencing the different cruise lines, Disney had not been high on my list.  I wanted to experience a Disney Cruise some day, though, and that some day finally came.

My extended family and I -- 17 of us in all ranging in age from 1 to 81 -- traveled on the Disney Wonder on a three day Bahamas cruise February 11-14th.  Three days worked well for us when we booked -- it was not a big time commitment, it was over Presidents' Day Weekend, and, amazingly because of promotions Disney ran in the fall, it was relatively inexpensive allowing more of my family to go.  What I discovered, though, was that 3 days left me longing for more, so much so that I booked another Disney cruise while on board.

Being in the industry, I knew the statistics.  Roughly 40% of guests who travel on Disney Cruise Line are adults with no children.  Disney Cruise Line hosts more honeymoons onboard than virtually any other cruise line.  And Disney has a reputation of being a premium product, excelling in service and cuisine in ways that other cruise lines in the family market do not.  Yet, it was the personal experience I had that really drove home why so many adults love Disney, and keep coming back to Disney Cruise Line over and over again.

It's hard to summarize all the reasons why my Disney Cruise experience has catapulted Disney to among my top three or four favorite cruise lines.  For one, not to be too trite, there was something really "magical" about having Minnie, Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Captain Jack, and a host of other Disney characters about the ship on a daily basis.  From photos with your favorite characters, to a Pirate Party on Deck with Minnie and Goofy and Mickey, to one of the only actual fireworks displays at sea, the experience was quintessentially Disney.  Add to that the magnificent spa, the adult-only pool with hot tub, a spacious well-equipped gym and a phlethora of intimate lounges for adults to kick back and relax over their favorite drink, and it's not hard to see why Disney Cruise Line has such broad appeal.

For those who judge cruise lines by the dining experience, I don't think Disney will disappoint.  In the range of cruise lines, I would rate Disney's dining experience squarely in the middle within the Premium market -- superior to the mass market lines like Royal Caribbean, NCL, and Carnival, but not quite as good as the upper premium and luxury lines, like Oceania Cruises, Crystal Cruises, or Regent Seven Seas.  What makes the experience so unique is the rotational dining through the ships' three unique dining venues.  While your table guests and dining room waiter and assistant waiter remain the same each night, the restaurant and accompanying menu change.  One night you will dine in Tritons; the next in Animator's Palate, and the next in Parrot Cay.  All are unique, but perhaps the most unique is Animator's Palate.  Costing Disney roughly $4.3 million to construct, Animator's Palate begins the evening in all black-and-white decor.  As the evening progresses, the black-and-white characters turn to color, until the walls and paintings all turn vibrant.  If I had to fault one thing, it would be the deserts.  Like on so many cruise lines, I found the desert menu and quality lacking.  Not being a huge desert fan anyway, though, I found the appetizers and main courses more than made up for that.

I also was impressed with the quality of the staff.  Staff members were polite to a fault, always greeting guests as they passed, stepping aside to allow guests to pass in the narrow hallways, and performing their jobs with consummate professionalism.  Our head waiter, Witt, knew our names by the first night of our short cruise, and called us by name thereafter. 

Finally, I really liked the layout of the staterooms.  The rooms are spacious, with plenty of storage room, desk, and sofa.  What I like best, though, is the split bathrooms.  Included in all rooms with the exception of interior, the split bathrooms feature sinks in both bathrooms, with a toilet in one and a tub/shower combination in the other.  This really helps when getting ready in the mornings.  One stateroom category I highly recommend is the Category 7 sheltered balcony.  For the money, it's a steal, priced significantly lower than regular balcony staterooms, but still offering a spacious balcony cut into the haul of the ship.  There aren't many of these rooms on the ship, so getting them may be a challenge at times, but they offer perhaps some of the best value rooms onboard.  I also was impressed with the Category 9 ocean view staterooms on Deck 2.  With a layout that is identical to balcony staterooms, but boasting a very large porthole window in lieu of the balcony, these rooms too represent a great value.

Overall, I rate Disney Cruise Line a 7.5 out of 10, which is a pretty high score in my book.  We liked it so much, in fact, that we are planning a wine cruise aboard a Disney cruise in Europe in 2011.  Stay tuned.

Independent Shore Excursions

A great way to enhance your overall cruise experience is to consider taking shore excursions operated independently of the cruise line.  I am not suggesting stepping off the ship and taking your chances with the countless vendors peddling their services.  Instead, I am recommending that you work with a trusted travel professional to explore the many reputable providers of independent and private group shore excursions.

There are many advantages.  One is simply great choice in customizing your overall experience.  Another is the more intimate experience you'll have.  Rather than joining a group of 50 of your fellow ship guests on a full-sized bus, you'll instead likely be with a group of 20 or fewer on a van or small-sized bus.  Additionally, these small, independent shore excursions often can be modified along the way, or fully customized before you even join your guide.   These excursions often are no more expensive, and many times are less expensive, than comparable excursions offered by the cruise lines.

Our clients sometimes express concerns about the risks involved in an independent excursion provider not returning to the ship on time.  The thought is that the ship will wait for guests who have traveled with the cruise line excursions, but not for guests taking independent excursions.  By working with reputable excursion providers, however, this should not be a great concern.  These providers guarantee your on time return to your ship, or they will get you to the ship's next port of call if for any reason they you do not make your ship before it sails.  In the years we have been in business, we have placed many clients on independent excursions, and never have they been late returning to the ship.

Some of the private group excursions we have customized for our clients have included an amazing tour of the Biblically-significant city of Ephesus, Turkey.  On this private excursion, our guide was a native of the area, and also a Biblical expert.  Because there were only 10 of us on the excursion, the guide and her driver were very receptive to allowing us to remain longer at the stops of our choice, and we were not wedded to a rigid schedule.  We enjoyed a diversion to a fine leather shop, followed by a leisurely and informative tour of the amazing ruins of Ephesus.

Another extraordinary private excursion we have arranged included a 3-day tour of St. Petersburg, Russia, with the same private guide and driver all three days.  Again with a private group of just 10 guests, we were able to customize our tour along the way to linger in the places we desired while spending less time in those places that proved of little interest to us.

When arranging independent excursions, I strongly recommend working closely with your travel professional to ensure you get the most from your experience while ensuring you will be in the hands of reputable, fully licensed excursion providers and tour guides.

Cruise Holidays of Alexandria's Fifth Anniversary Cruise

Cruise Holidays Luxury Cruise Counselors marks 5 years in Alexandria, Virginia in 2011.  Each year, we have invited our clients/friends to join us on our anniversary cruises.  We've been to some extraordinary places -- Alaska, the Baltics, the Mediterranean.  We want our 2011 Anniversary Cruise to be our most spectacular yet, and we're seeking your input.

We've narrowed our search to three destinations and four cruise lines.  The possible destinations are (1) Asia; (2) the Holy Land; and (3) Norway and the Fjords.  We think these destinations are unique, and promise to offer our clients something different.  Regardless of destination, we'll be hosting lots of fun activities, to include onboard cocktail receptions and private shore excursions custom tailored to our specifications, just for our group.  To assure that the broadest number of people can join us, we've select four cruise lines which we believe will offer us an exceptional onboard experience at the best values:  (1) Holland America Line; (2) Princess Cruises; (3) Azamara Club Cruises; and (4) Oceania Cruises.  These are premium and upper premium lines that provide superb on board service, quality cuisine, comfortable accommodations, and affordable rates.

We'd love your input.  Please complete our survey, and let us know which of these three destintations interest you, and what cruise line(s) would most appeal to you.  Also, if you might be interested in the details of our 5th Anniversary Cruises, simply leave us your name and address and we'll mail information to you as soon as we've finalized the details.  If you fill-out the survey and then end up joining us on the cruise, we'll give you a special gift.  Simply click here to complete the survey.

Book Regent Now to Beat April 1st Fare Increase

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has announced that it is raising rates effective April 1, 2010, on its 2010 Europe itineraries.  Currently, Regent is offering up to $1,000 off already 2-for-1 fares for a number of Mediterranean cruises aboard the Seven Seas Mariner.  On top of the savings rates, Regent also is offering free roundtrip airfare, free unlimited shore excursions, and free business class airfare for guests who book a Penthouse Suite or above.  Penthouse Suites or above also come complete with  dedicated Butler Service.  Guests below the Penthouse Suite can upgrade to Business Class air for a low promotional rate of $999 each way.

Consider the following cruises (Note:  all rates include airfare from select gateway cities, all taxes and port charges, gratuities, and complimentary beverages):

• July 10-21, 2010, Rome to Venice (11 Nights), visiting Sorrento, Amalfi/Positano, Taormina, Olympia, Corfu, Kotor & Dubrovnik, Korcula, and Koper.  Click here for details.
• July 21-31, 2010, Venice to Barcelona (10 Nights), visiting Dubrovnik, Corfu, Sarande, Olympia, Taormina, Sorrento, Rome/Civitavecchia, Livorno, and Marseille.  Click here for details.
• July 31-August 7, 2010, Barcelona to Rome (7 Nights), visiting Palma de Mallorca, Mahon, St. Tropez, Monte Carlo, Portofino, and Livorno.  Click here for details.
• August 7-19, 2010, Rome to Venice (12 Nights), visiting Sardinia, Sorrento, Trapani, La Goulette, Valletta, Santorini, Olympia, Corfu, and Durbrovnik.  Click here for details.
• August 19-26, 2010, Venice to Athens (7 Nights), visiting Split, Kotor, Corfu, Sarande, Olympia, and Santorini.  Click here for details.
• August 26-September 5, 2010, Athens to Istanbul (10 Nights), visiting Kusadasi, Sevastopol, Sochi, Yalta, Odessa, Constanta/Bucharest, and Nessebur.  Click here for details.
• September 5-15, 2010, Istanbul to Athens (10 Nights), visiting Mykonos, Santorini, Kusadasi/Ephesus, Rhodes, Limassol, Haifa, and Asdod (overnight).  Click here for details.

Some things to know about Regent:

• All rooms are spacious suites with balconies.  Minimum square feet is 252, with an additional 49 square foot balcony.
• Dining is open seating in one of four onboard dining venues.  They include Prime 7, offering contemporary interpretations of classic American steakhouse fare; Signatures, serving French cuisine inspired by Le Cordon Bleu; Compass Rose, Regent's flagship restaurant serving up continental speciatlies; and La Veranda, serving elegant buffets.
• All gratuities, soft drinks, and most alcoholic beversages are complimentary onboard.
• Dress is elegant casual; there are no formal nights.
• Ships are mid-size, catering to a maximum of just 700 guests, making for a more intimate, relaxes experience.

Silversea Announces Extraordinary Savings on Select Cruises.

Today, we received word from Silversea Cruises about select 2010 voyages that we can offer at huge savings rates.  Silversea is a trul luxury line, sailing smaller ships rich with luxurious appointments and amenities.  All gratuities, non-alcoholic, and most alcoholic beverages are included, and many promotional rates include roundtrip airfare from major North American gateways.  Here are just a few examples:

• Silversea Cruises Below $3,000 per person (including alcoholic beverages and gratuities):
• April 21-28, 2010, San Juan to Fort Lauderdale, visiting St. Barts, Antigua, Tortola, and Turks and Caicos, $2,758, including airfare! (compared to brochure rate of $6,895).
• December 21-28, 2010, Barbados roundtrip, visiting Dominca, St. Barts, Tortola, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, from $2,798 (compared to brochure rate of $6,995)
• Silversea Cruises Below $4,000 per person (including airfare and gratuities):
• June 17-24, 2010, Stockholm roundtrip, visiting Szczecin (Poland), Ronne (Denmark), Gdynia (Poland), Riga (Latvia), and Mariehamn (Finland), from $3,638, including airfare! (compared to $9,095 brochure rate).
• July 16-23, 2010, Copenhagen roundtrip, transiting the Kiel Canal and visiting Hamburg (Germany), Kristiansand, Oslo (Norway), and Skagen (Denmark), from $3,638, including airfare! (compared to $9,095 brochure rate).
• July 18-24, 2010, Rome to Barcelona, visiting Porto Vecchio (Corsica), Portoferraio (Italy), Livorno (Italy, overnight), Cannes (France), and St. Tropez (France), from $3,758, including airfare! (compared to $9,395 brochure rate).
• July 25-August 1, 2010, Barcelona to Lisbon, visiting Formentera (Balearic Islands), Valencia (Spain), Cartagena (Spain), Malaga (Spain), and ending with an overnight in Lisbon, from $3,758, including airfare! (compared to $9,395 brochure rate).

All of these rates are for at least ocean view suites, boasting tremendous square footage and luxurious appointments.  There are a number of other departures at similar savings.  Should you like to experience these departures, we can also secure for you some additional amenities.  At these rates, factoring in the included gratuities, soft drinks, wine and other alcoholic beverages, and airfare, cruisers can experience Silversea Cruises at an overall cost that rivals some of the mass market and premium lines.  Visit our website at http://www.LuxuryCruiseCounselors.com, or give us a call toll free at (866) 368-7327.

Azamara "Club" Cruises: More than Just a Name Change.

Fledgling Azamara Cruises recently changed its name to Azamara Club Cruises.  Although some may question the wisdom of Royal Caribbean's struggling upper premium cruise brand changing its name just as it is trying to develop brand recognition, the name change actually marks more significant changes.

Royal Caribbean International founded Azamara Cruises 2 1/2 years ago, in May 2007.  It took aim squarely at Oceania Cruises, sailing identically-sized ships that, like Oceania's, were formally part of the defunct Renaissance Cruises' fleet.  Unlike Oceania, however, which proved an instant success, Azamara  struggled to develop its own niche in the upper premium market.  Many found it difficult to distinguish Azamara from Royal Caribbean's other premium brand, Celebrity Cruises.  The two brands were supported by the same sales and management staff, and the same rigid rules that governed Celebrity's business applied to Azamara.  The result was that the type of business Azamara attempted to attract -- upscale and sophisticated -- found Azamara to be simply inferior to other offerings in the market, most notably Oceania.

In an effort to stem declining revenue and boost per-passenger rates, Azamara determined it needed to implement drastic changes and travel in a new direction.  It brought on Larry Pimentel, formerly of Cunard Line, Seabourn, and SeaDream Yachts, to head up the effort.  In announcing the brand's new positioning, Pimentel noted earlier this year "This isn't a strategy from going 'from good to great.'  This is about taking an already great product and making it exceptional."

Azamara immediately separated itself from Celebrity.  It brought on some of the best business development managers in the industry, creating a whole new sales and support staff.  In addition, it announced drastic changes that push Azamara Club Cruises to the edge of the upper premium market, bordering on the luxury market.

Some of the changes Azamara Club Cruises announced include:

• Slowing down the ships.  Azamara will focus on quality over quantity, visiting fewer ports but spending longer in the ports visited.  Placing the emphasis on destination immersion, Azamara Club Cruises will offer more overnights and more in-depth shore excursions.
• Included gratuities, wine and water.  Beginning in April, guests on Azamara Club Cruises will enjoy included gratuities and complimentary wine, bottled water, and a selection of coffees at lunch and dinner.
• Complimentary self-serve laundry.  Guests will enjoy free use of laundry machines onboard their ship.
• Free Shuttle Bus Service.  Often, ships dock just far enough outside of the city to make walking into town difficult if not impossible.  Azamara joins some other upscale lines in offering free shuttle bus service to guests in many of its ports of call.
• Butler Service.  Azamara's previous claim of offering universal butler service for all stateroom categories was widely panned by guests, who considered their "butlers" no different from regular stateroom attendants.  To address this concern, Azamara Club Cruises has eliminated calling stateroom attendants butlers, and will be offering true butler service in all suite-level accommodations.

These changes come with a price.  Since announcing the changes, Azamara Club Cruises has significantly increased rates, anticipated to rise by as much as 30% or more.  It also has indicated that the days of slashing rates to fill ships is over.

For guests who would like to experience Azamara Club Cruises at pre-price-hike rates, however, Cruise Holidays Luxury Cruise Counselors secured spaced on five European voyages at previous pricing.  On the following five itineraries, our clients will save as much as $1,000 per stateroom.  The five cruises are:

• 7-Night Mediterranean, Barcelona to Rome, Sept. 12-19, 2010.  Click here.
• 10-Night Greek Isles, Athens to Istanbul, July 24-Aug. 3, 2010.  Click here.
• 14-Night Western Europe, Copenhagen to Barcelona, Aug. 29-Sept. 12, 2010.  Click here.
• 12-Night Iceland & Fjords, Copenhagen Roundtrip, July 12-24, 2010.  Click here.
• 12-Night Holy Land, Athens to Rome, October 12-22, 2010.  Click here.
  

For more information on these cruises, or on Azamara Cruises generally, contact Cruise Holidays toll free at (866) 368-7327.

Holland America's Alaska: Top Notch

Alaska is one of my all time favorite cruise destinations, perhaps because parts of Alaska can only be experienced from a Cruise Ship:  The Inside Passage, Glacier Bay National Park, and Juneau, just to name a few.  Combining a cruise with a land tour, however, is the ultimate Alaska experience, and nobody does that better than Holland America Line.

Holland America is the leader in the Alaska market.  It has been sailing Alaska for 60 years, longer than any other cruise line, and has more unique offerings.  In 2010 alone, it is sailing 8 ships offering six distinct cruise only itineraries and an astonishing 31 combination cruise and land-tour options.  Guests have the choice of sailing cruise only roundtrip from Seattle or Vancouver, or, if they prefer, sailing one way between Vancouver and Seward.  Guests also can choose a cruise tour that combines a 3, 4, or 7 night cruise with up to 11 nights on land.

When choosing among the plethora of options, I strongly recommend that my clients rule out any itinerary that does not include Glacier Bay National Park.  Glacier Bay is a national treasure, and for that reason, only 2 ships per day are allowed in the park.  Nevertheless, it is one of the most magnificent glacier formations, making it a must-see for many.  More Holland America itineraries include Glacier Bay than any other cruise line, including a 7-night cruise offering that sails roundtrip from Seattle.  For guests who have more time to spend, I strongly recommend choosing a cruise tour.  It is the best way to see the inland sights of Alaska, including Denali National Park and Mt. McKinley.

Among the many unique cruise tour options Holland America offers is its Klondike, Denali, Kluane, & Glacier Bay National Parks cruise tour.  This cruise tour spends just 4 days on the cruise ship, but during those four days guests will visit the best of any Alaska cruise: Skagway, Glacier Bay National Park, Ketchikan, and the Inside Passage before debarking in Vancouver.  The land portion of this cruise tour, however, is beyond compare.  During 11 days on land, guests will visit Anchorage, travel the famous McKinley Explorer Rail to Denali National Park to spend 2 nights at a Denali lodge, then travel via rail for an overnight in Fairbanks, followed by stays in Tok, 2 nights in Dawson City (a Klondike Natinal Historic Site), and 2 nights in Whitehorse (a World Heritage Site).  Along the way, guests are treated to a 6-to-8 hour Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali, a tour of the TransAlaska Pipeline, the opportunity to pan for gold, a series of optional hikes to soak up Alaska's incomparable scenery and wildlife, and a ride on the famous and historic White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad.

For guests who have time only for the cruise itself, one of the best options is the 7-night Glacier Bay Inside Passage cruise.  This cruise visits all the must-see places on an Alaska cruise:  the Inside Passage, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Juneau, and Kethikan.  It also offers the convenience of sailing roundtrip from Vancouver.  Another exceptional option is the Glacier Discovery via Glacier Bay National Park cruise, sailing either northbound or southbound between Vancouver and Seward, and visiting all the same must-see places.  The obvious benefit of the one-way cruise is the opportunity to visit Anchorage and inland Alaska either during a pre or post-cruise stay.  Rates on Holland Alaska cruises are exceptional.  Cruise Holidays of Alexandria currently has an unbeatable offer on an early season, May 23, 2010, sailing Southbound from Seward to Vancouver on the Glacier Discovery cruise.  Rates begin at just $549 per person (double occupancy), plus our guests receive a $100 per stateroom amenity credit, 2 bottles of wine, and a dinner in Holland America's specialty restaurant, the Pinnacle Grill.  Details are found here.

Oceania Marina Debuts

Oceania Cruises last week released its first itineraries for the brand new Oceania Marina.  The Marina expands Oceania's fleet to four, and is the first ship built for Oceania.  Its existing three ships -- the Regatta, Insignia, and Nautica -- were all formerly part of the Renaissance fleet.

Clients familiar with Oceania have lamented the fact that the Marina will carry just under twice the number of guests as its three existing ships.  We believe, however, that guests who like the small-ship feel will be pleasantly surprised with the Marina.  For one, despite catering to 1258 maximum guests (as compared to 684 on the three existing ships), the Marina is more than twice the tonnage resulting in a much greater space ratio.  Though clients on the three existing ships never feel crowded, they will feel even less so on the Marina.  The greater tonnage also carries with it significant other benefits.  Most noticeable to past Oceania guests will be the expanded stateroom sizes.  Balcony staterooms go from 165 square feet on the three current ships to an impressive 282 square feet on the Marina, more than 100 square feet larger.  This allows Oceania to incorporate larger bathrooms with full-size tubs in every stateroom category except for the interiors.

Additionally, the Marina expands on Oceania's culinary choices.  Joining Toscana, Polo Grill, and Tapas on the Terrace, the Marina adds Famous Master Chef Jacques Pepin's signature restaurant, aptly named Jacques, and Red Ginger offering "contemporary interpretations of Asian classics."  The Marina also adds the Bon Appetit Culinary Center, the only culinary center at sea to offer hands-on instruction.  Guests can sign-up to take these hands-on lessons onboard their cruise with leading expert master chefs.

Judging from the recently-released Marina brochure, the Marina also will boast stunning decor in muted and soothing neutral tones, exuding elegance throughout.  Most importantly, Oceania continues its pursuit of service excellence.  The Marina improves Oceania's already impressive guest-to-staff ratio of 1.75-to-1 to a near industry-leading ratio of just 1.57 to 1.

With so much to offer, it is no wonder the Marina's debut generated Oceania's largest single booking day in its history, with the company fielding more than 1500 calls.  One of the first itineraries to sell-out was the Maiden Voyage, a 13-night Transatlantic crossing departing Barcelona on January 22, 2011, sailing to Miami.  No doubt the price contributed to its rapid sell-out:  $1,499 per person, inclusive of roundtrip airfare, taxes, and port charges.  Other itineraries included the Inaugural Passage, an 18-night voyage from Miami to San Francisco through the Panama Canal departing February 8, 2011, offered from $3,799 per guest, inclusive of roundtrip airfare, taxes, and port charges, and Colonial Crossing, a 19-night Transatlantic voyage departing Miami on March 28, 2011, making ports of call in Savannah, Charleston, New York, Bermuda, Funchal, and Malaga before ending in Barcelona.  Rates on the March Transatlantic begin at just $2,499 per guest, inclusive of roundtrip airfare, taxes, and port charges.  Cruise Holidays of Alexandria is holding staterooms for our clients on all three of these sailings, which are available for booking on a first-come, first-serve basis with a deposit of $750 per person.  Our clients also will enjoy additional amenities on board, including prepaid gratuities and $50 per stateroom amenity credit.  If interested, please e-mail, or call (866) 368-7327.