Seabourns 2007 Cruises Highlight Hot List Destinations
The 10th Annual Condé Nast Traveler “Hot List” singles out the southern Italian region of Puglia as its up-and-coming “Hot Europe” destination for travelers. Not surprisingly, it’s already on the radar of the intimate, ultra luxury Yachts of Seabourn.
A lavishly illustrated article in the magazine’s May 2006 issue praises Puglia’s unspoiled authenticity, beautiful beaches and rich cultural history, along with its appealing culinary traditions and a small, but high-quality hospitality community. Those are the very qualities that make it an ideal candidate for a Seabourn port of call.
Located halfway between Bari and Brindisi on the Adriatic coast of Italy’s “heel,” the port of Monopoli is in the heart of the Puglia region. Seabourn Pride will initiate Seabourn’s Puglia presence with a full-day maiden call at Monopoli in May of 2007, during a 10-day cruise from Athens to Rome. Seabourn Spirit will call at the port three times during 7-day cruises between Athens and Venice in July, August and September. Called “Greece and Dalmatian Delights,” the voyages also include visits to Corfu, and to Kotor, Montenegro and Split and Rovinj, Croatia, along the Dalmatian coast, a region that has already generated considerable buzz as one of Europe’s most desirable destinations.
The Mediterranean provides a myriad of intriguing ports accessible to the yacht-sized Seabourn Spirit and Legend. The volcanic Aeolian island of Lipari is new in 2007, as is Tarragona in Spain. More ports along Turkey’s Turquoise Coast include Fethiye and Alanya, with a return to the popular seaside resort Marmaris. Also added in Europe is lovely Belle-Ile-en-Mer off the Atlantic coast of Brittany.
With early Booking Savings of up to 25%, fares for Seabourn cruises visiting Puglia start from $4,699 per person, based on double occupancy of a 277-square foot ocean-view suite. Call us at 888-286-9827 to book.
See Europe in the Fall Onboard an MSC Ship
Fall is a wonderful time to experience Europe – the summer tourist crush is over, shop prices are lower, restaurants are less crowded, and the weather is delightful. Combine that with an MSC Cruises’ 11-night itinerary and you can regenerate and rediscover and savor the subtle pleasures of European life, history and culture while visiting magnificent destinations.
From September to December, the ships in the Italian fleet will sail ancient routes, from the most beautiful ports in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, offering unforgettable trips and Italian-style cruising that is the trademark and pride of MSC Cruises.
Onboard MSC MUSICA:
11-night cruise to Croatia, Greece, Tunisia, Balearic Islands, Spain and France. Depart Oct. 28 from Venice for Split, Piraeus, Rhodes, Heraklion, Tunis, Palma, Barcelona, Marseille and Nov.8 in Genoa. Prices from $1,650 per person, double occupancy; government fees & taxes (GFTs) are extra.
Onboard MSC OPERA:
11-night cruise to Egypt, Cyprus, Greece and Turkey. Depart Oct. 30 from Genoa for Naples, Alexandria, Limassol, Rhodes, Izmir, Messina, Capri and return to Genoa Nov. 10. Prices from $1,600 per person, double occupancy; GFTs extra.
Onboard MSC LIRICA:
11-night cruise to Greece, Black Sea, Turkey and Sicily. Depart Sept. 11 from Genoa for Naples, Piraeus, Yalta, Odessa, Istanbul, Catania, Capri and return to Genoa Sept. 22. 11-night cruise to Spain, Morocco, Madeira and the Canary Isles. Depart Sept. 22 from Genoa for Barcelona, Casablanca, Funchal, Tenerife, Cadiz, and Malaga, returning to Genoa Nov. 21.
Prices from $1,700 per person, double occupancy; GFTs extra.
Onboard MSC ARMONIA:
11-night cruise to Croatia, Greece, Tunisia and Italy. Depart Oct. 29 from Venice for Dubrovnik, Bari, Corfu, Heraklion, Tripoli, Malta, Tunis, Messina, Civitavecchia, Olbia and return to Genoa Nov. 9. 11-night cruise to Spain, Morocco, Madeira and the Canary Isles. Depart Nov. 10 from Genoa to Barcelona, Casablanca, Funchal, Tenerife, Cadiz, and Malaga, returning to Genoa Nov. 21. Prices from $1,600 per person, double occupancy; GFTs extra.
On board MSC MELODY:
11-night cruise to Sicily, Greece, Egypt, Libya and Malta. Depart Genoa Sept. 20 for Naples, Catania, Rhodes, Alexandria, Tripoli, Malta, Salerno and return to Genoa Oct. 1. 11-night cruise to Sicily, Turkey, Ukraine and Greece. Depart Genoa Sept. 9 and Oct. 1 for Naples, Catania, Istanbul, Yalta, Piraeus, Argostoli, and Livorno, returning to Genoa Sept. 20 and Oct. 12. Prices from $1,530 per person, double occupancy; GFTs extra
Visit Cruise Planners or call us at 888-286-9827 for more information about these or any of MSC Cruises itineraries around the world.
MSC Orchestra Update
Just a quick update on the progress with the construction of the MSC Orchestra.
On August 3 work began to position the funnel onboard the ship and on August 23 the rudder was put into postion.
The ship is scheduled to be moved from the Aker France Shipyard to Penhoet Quay where work on the interior fitting out will take place.
MSC Orchestra is scheduled to be completed in April 2007 with the christening scheduled for May 29, 2007.
Five Holland America Ships Head to Europe in 2007
2007 will mark the longest European cruise season in recent history for Holland America Line with sailings over the course of nine months. A fleet of five ships will embark on one third more sailings next year with 46 different itineraries. Sailings to Europe begin March 12 and run through November 3, 2007 and range from 10- to 56-days. With 136 ports of call in Europe, including 13 new maiden ports – guests may choose from a total of 82 cruise departure dates.
Holland America Line displays a flair for seeking out intriguing places off the beaten track. First time maiden port calls to ports such as Jupivogur, Iceland; Sochi, Russia; and Koper, Slovenia add an element of emotion and excitement. Unique sites including Djupivogur and Seydisfjordur in Iceland, the Lofoten Islands off the coast of Norway and Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye, spotlight spectacular natural beauty. Ports in Slovenia and Albania plus seldom-visited cities like Lorient, France; Lubeck, Germany; Peterhead, Scotland; and Greenwich, England provide singular perspectives for a well-rounded understanding of wide-ranging countries and cultures. The program of 2007 itineraries that also includes ten quintessential Transatlantic crossings and journeys to the North Cape and Polar Icecap.
Click on "more" to fnd out about all the unique offerings Holland America has in store for their 2007 European season. Visit Cruise Planners for more information about Holland America's itineraries around the world or call us at 888-286-9827 to book.
Shore excursions are an essential cruise element and Holland America Line’s 2007 European cruises feature more than 500 diverse shore ventures. These optional tours can be booked online in advance through the cruise line and highlight each region’s local culture and rich heritage including classical ruins and historicmonuments, cosmopolitan capitals and seaside resorts, adventurous physical pursuits and visual performances, and flavorful visits to markets, restaurants and even private homes for an authentic meal.
Enhancing the European experience onboard each ship are region-specific enrichment opportunities such as the Explorations Speaker Series and food and wine demonstrations and classes in the onboard Culinary Arts Center presented by Food and Wine magazine. Foodies may savor certain European sailings hosted by notable chefs such as Andrew Carmellini of A Voce, or Alexandra Guarnaschelli of Butter, both at the helm of these New York City hotspots; as well as James Boyce of swank Studio at Montage Resort in Laguna Beach or sweets connoisseur extraordinaire Fran Bigelow of delectable Fran’s Chocolates in Seattle.
The European quintet of ships includes the state-of-the-art 1,848-passenger ms Westerdam with open, airy spaces; the premium line’s flagship the 1,316-passenger ms Rotterdam; the five-star 1,258-passenger ms Veendam (newly deployed to the region) and ms Maasdam; and the 793-passenger ms Prinsendam, the “Elegant Explorer” designed for longer cruises. All ships are top-rated for “best overall service” by Porthole magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards and have earned the International Five Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences, boasting ultra-spacious staterooms, many with expansive private verandahs, for Europe’s dramatic views.
10- to 32-day Northern Europe. Celebrating its European heritage, Holland America spotlights the natural beauty and epic history of Scandinavia and Russia with 16 itineraries from Copenhagen, London, Amsterdam or Rotterdam. Two full days in St. Petersburg for in-depth excursions to the Hermitage Museum, Summer Palace at Peterhof and other celebrated attractions is just one of many highlights. Select cruises also showcase the Norwegian Fjords and North Cape, transits of the Kiel Canal and a circumnavigation of the British Isles on 10-, 12- and 14-day vacations. Collector’s Voyages ranging from 24 to 32 days are designed for those with a true passion for longer, more in-depth cruise travel. Sailings depart spring through fall and start from $1,999 per person, double occupancy.
10- to 28-day Mediterranean, Northern Africa & Black Sea. Monuments built by ancient Greek, Roman and Egyptian civilizations, sun-washed playgrounds bustling with a modern-day buzz, Holland America blankets the Mediterranean with 12 different itineraries encompassing natural and man-made wonders. Cruisessail from Rome, Venice and Athens and spotlight major cities like Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Florence/Pisa, Alexandria, Jerusalem and Istanbul. Sophisticated travelers are drawn to exotic North African ports like Tunis and Carthage and the re-emerging Black Sea ports of Varna, Constanta, Yalta and Sochi. Cruises depart spring through fall and begin at US $1,999 per person, double occupancy.
14- to 28-day European Treasures. European cruises that bridge the continents northern and southern climes feature itineraries that weave a cultural tapestry from the Greek Isles to the British Isles. These artful immersions are ideal for those seeking to sample many flavors and capitals throughout the Mediterranean and Western Europe. Cruises depart spring through fall from Athens, Venice, Rome, London and Amsterdam and feature as many as 21 ports in16 countries. Sailings start at US $2,599 per person, double occupancy.
12- to 56-day Transatlantics. Immortalized in the days of the grand ocean liners, crossing the Atlantic is a one-of-a-kind travel experience. Holland America, one of the first lines to sail between Europe and North America,proudly offers ten exceptional passages in 2007 that are much more than an ocean crossing. In addition to the ultra relaxing sea days, shorter crossings of less than 16 days offer as many eight port calls while the longer voyages from 17- to 56-days visit between six and 30 ports highlighting the storied towns that rim the mighty Atlantic.
Eight traditional spring and fall voyages sail 10- to 27-days to or from Athens, Copenhagen, Ft. Lauderdale, New York, Rome, Rio de Janeiro and Tampa. Two spectacular sailings offer double the fun while circling either the North or South Atlantic roundtrip from North America. On March 12 a 56-day Grand Mediterranean and North Africa voyage aboard the Elegant Explorer Prinsendam cruises roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale and is available in varying lengths of 25-, 28-, 53, or 56-days with a Rome mid-point. While Maasdam’s annual mid-summer adventure sails July 7 roundtrip from Boston and can be purchased as a 17-, 18- or 35-day voyage featuring Rotterdam as the half way marker. Fares for Transatlantic crossings start at US $1,849 per person, double occupancy.
Guests can benefit from Holland America Line’s Early Advantage pricing which represents 10- to 30-percent off current brochure fares on select sailings booked by September 30, 2006
Royal Caribbean Purchases Spanish Cruise Line
In a move to further expand its European and Latin American operations, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE, OSE: RCL)
today announced its agreement to purchase Pullmantur S.A., a Madrid-based cruise and tour operator. Royal Caribbean expects the acquisition to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2006, subject to regulatory approvals
Pullmantur, formed in 1971, is the largest cruise operator in Spain. It has two primary business interests: cruises and tour operations. Its cruise division consists of five ships operating in Europe and Latin America. Its tour operations sells travel packages to Spanish guests – including hotel and flights – primarily to Caribbean resorts, and sells travel packages to Europe aimed at Latin American customers. Pullmantur also has a small air business that operates three aircraft in support of its cruise and tour. Pullmantur has offices in Spain and Portugal, with approximately 2,600 employees, and will be Royal Caribbean’s first wholly-owned European brand.
Royal Caribbean has signed an agreement with the shareholders of Pullmantur to buy all of the capital stock of the company for €430 million, plus Pullmantur’s net debt of approximately €270 million. Royal Caribbean has obtained a committed bridge facility to support the purchase. As part of the transaction, Pullmantur will be withdrawing from all Cuba-related activities prior to closing.
Right now we don't have any word if this will effect on of the line's offerings in Europe or elsewhere in the world.
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