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From the desk of Frances Wood
Cruise News Update!
Windstar Cruises Effective June 2011, Windstar was bought by Xanterra Parks & Resorts, the company that operates all the lodges in our national parks. The purchase assures Windstar's position as a luxury cruise option.
Crystal Cruises In 2012, Crystal will become "all-inclusive". There will be no charge for beverages, wine/spirits and onboard gratuities will be in the cruise fare. Effective dates are March 19th for the Symphony and May 8th for the Serenity.
Regent Seven Seas Starting in 2012, Penthouse suites and above will feature iPads for passengers' use. Starting in April, categories E & above (D & above on the Navigator) on the larger ships will have concierge amenities which entitle passengers to priority online reservations in the specialty restaurants and 60 minutes of free internet access per suite among other perks.
Seabourn Cruises With the June inaugural sailing of the Quest, Seabourn now has a fleet of six ships--three of the original small yachts (Pride, Spirit, Legend) and three larger yachts (Odyssey, Sojourn, Quest). All ships feature the Seabourn quality which makes the line one of the highest rated luxury cruise lines.
Celebrity Cruises For those who want to sail this winter from the Northeast corridor to warmer climates, Cape Liberty, NJ will be the home port for the Silhouette's 12-night roundtrip sailings to a variety of Caribbean ports.
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When traveling in a developing country, travelers often visit bazaars and markets where bargaining is expected. Many times they are also approached for handouts by children and beggars on the streets.
1. Try bargaining for quantity rather than a lower price...two pashminas for the price of one!!
2. Buy more locally made gifts than you ordinarily would as this promotes jobs and helps the economy. Patronize local vendors and shops rather than high end emporiums.
3. Rather than handing out cash, make a small donation to a local school, the donation can be as simple as pens and pencils.
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 More than half of the coastline of the entire United States is in Alaska. |
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From the desk of Trish Timmerman ...
Uniworld's New SS Antoinette
Uniworld's newest ship is a five star boutique hotel, the Antoinette is the most luxurious ship to sail the Rhine River. Its unique facilities include a heated swimming pool with underwater music, the beautiful L'Orangerie Lounge and Bar du Leopard and a 20-seat movie theatre.
All suites have additional amenities with special butler service, including: packing and unpacking assistance, free laundry service, in-room breakfast, daily fruit and cookie plate, slippers, flat-screen televisions with DVD player, Nespresso coffee machine, refrigerator, shoe shine service, bottle of wine upon arrival, and a special dinner in the Bar du Leopard. The 391 sq. ft. Royal Suite on the top passenger deck is the most lavish and offers extra benefits.
Eight day sailings from April through November include all shore excursions with passengers receiving a portable audio headset to follow the guide's every word. Departing Basel or Amsterdam, ports include Strasbourg, Speyer, Rudesheim, Koblenz and Cologne.
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From the desk of Julia Shore ...
Island Luxury in Anguilla!
 With endless beaches and some of the Caribbean's best hotels and restaurants, Anguilla in the British West Indies remains the height of island luxury. The development of the island has been limited to discreet small hotels and elegant upscale resorts. Just north of St. Maarten the 16-mile territory is known for its pristine beaches and exclusive luxury properties.
Each season Anguilla is becoming decidedly more sophisticated with recent openings of new hotels, restaurants and "super villas" (an Anguillan specialty). Its airport runway has just been expanded to accommodate, in addition to private jets, larger commercial planes and can also be reached by ferry from St. Maarten.
Anguilla's 7,063-yard championship golf course, Temenos, designed by Greg Norman, offers dramatic elevation changes, water features on 13 holes and the 440-yard 16th hole is the Caribbean's answer to the 18th at Pebble Beach.
For your next seaside vacation, family reunion, destination wedding, come to Anguilla, and enjoy all it has to offer! For a list and detailed description of accommodations, click on the link below.
Click here for more information about accommodations
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From the desk of Janet Pringle ...
Paris the perfect place to celebrate!
Paris-with it's unique mix of old and new, offers limitless opportunities for special celebrations. My daughter and I spent a glorious week in this amazing city for her 16th birthday. The romance, history, culture and style of the city was truly a magical experience.
 The 20 neighborhoods (arrondissements) located on the right and left banks of the River Seine each has their own flavor, attractions and feel. Our week flew by as we sampled cuisine, window shopped and visited cultural landmarks. We fell in love with the cafes frequented by so many famous artists, writers and musicians and felt quite Parisian sitting outside sipping our coffee.
Chateau de Versailles was the highlight of our first time in Paris. It was hard for me to imagine that my daughter was the same age as Marie Antoinette when she became Queen of France. We visited the Grand Apartments, the glittering Hall of Mirrors, and the Petit Apartments.
Choosing a hotel in Paris presents a delectable dilemma. On the Right Bank: Le Bristol, ideally located on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore (steps away from the Champs-Elysees) is famous for its fashion boutiques and art galleries. The 187 bright and spacious rooms and suites, indoor rooftop swimming pool and three stars Michelin rated gourmet restaurant, provide a unique setting for guests from around the world to gather. The hotel also features another restaurant, Le 114 Faubourg, Le Bar Lounge, 24-hour room service, a fully equipped fitness center and Anne Semonin Spa.
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From the desk of Barbara Valeriay ...
Exciting news in the airline industry--Have you heard about the World's Largest Airliner?
It's the Airbus 380, making daily flights on Lufthansa between Frankfurt and Miami. The size of a football field, it is double-decked, has 526 seats and is configured to accommodate 420 passengers in economy class, 98 in business and 8 in first class. All economy seats are equipped with a video screen and are a slimmer ergonomic design.
The Miami airport had to spend 4 million dollars on terminal modifications, and this airplane elevates Miami International Airport to an elite group of airports worldwide that can accommodate it. Air controllers also had to be trained. The A380 also flies out of New York and Los Angeles.
It's the world's most fuel efficient aircraft, burning about 12 percent less fuel than other wide-body airplanes. It's also roughly 30 percent quieter than other wide-body jets.
Curious to see it? You should be able to watch it land from vantage points south of the airport along Perimeter Road, including the 94 Aero Squadron Restaurant at 1395 NW 57th Ave.
Or call us...We will book a flight for you! I cannot wait to try it!
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Regent Seven Seas Cruises has a wonderful selection of restaurants onboard click below to read more about them, including the newest restaurant, Prime 7.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises Restaurants
There are a variety of wonderful restaurants on the Oceania ships, click below to read more about the wonderful cuisines they have to offer.
Oceania Cruises Restaurants
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326 East Palmetto Park Road