From the desk of Frances Wood ... 

Cruise lines are going "overboard" to meet the refined culinary tastes and lifestyles of today's passengers.  Celebrity chefs, hands on cooking experiences and "healthy menus" are all part of today's culinary cruise scene.

Canyon Ranch menus offered on Cunard's Queen Mary, Regent Seven Seas and Oceania cruises.  These menus offer the fine dining experience expected by passengers while keeping heart and waistlines in mind!

Have a favorite celebrity chef?  Cruise lines have partnered with chefs from around the world to offer unique and signature menus on board:

Chef Tamba and Nobu Matsuhisa at the Crystal Serenity Sushi Bar

• Cunard Ships- Todd English Restaurant
• Seabourn- menu was created by Charlie Palmer
• Crystal Cruises- restaurant devoted to cuisine by Nobu, the sushi king
• Holland America- Le Cirque experience  
• Oceania's new ships have Jacques Pepin
• The Food Network partnered with Anne Burrell and Celebrity Cruises

If you not only enjoy eating but want to know how these chef's do it, you can participate in several different activities.  Special chef dinners, some held in the galley, hands on cooking classes and trips with the chef to local markets are some of the ways to discover how they deliver a superior culinary experience.  

The names of the continents all end with the same letter with which they start, excluding the north and south in front of America.

It takes a drop of ocean water more than 1,000 years to circulate around the world. 

Want to getaway for the Holidays?

Crystal Cruises

Enjoy a relaxing 42 day cruise, experiencing two luxury cruise liners! Depart Ft. Lauderdale, on December 6th, 2011 on the Queen Victoria, and return to Miami, January 17th, 2011 on the Crystal Symphony.   

Aboard the Queen Victoria you will enjoy cruising through the Panama Canal and the Caribbean before arriving in Los Angeles where you will be escorted to the Crystal Symphony.  Once aboard the Crystal Symphony you will enjoy cruising the Hawaiian Islands then return to Los Angeles and continue back through the Panama Canal stopping in different Caribbean ports before returning back to Miami.      

This is a great opportunity to get away for the holidays at an affordable price and  never have to get on a plane!  The combination of three separate itineraries in which you can experience beautiful views of the Panama Canal, Hawaii, Cabo San Lucas, Cartagena and the Grand Cayman Islands.  The per diem price for a balcony cabin begins at $380 per day and the suite cabins begin at $600 per day.  Call us today to book this fabulous getaway!

Click here to see the full itinerary      

Queen Victoria

 From the desk of Trish Timmerman ...    

Since its inception in 1962, Abercrombie and Kent has been arranging private and group touring for clients, as well as organized affinity groups.  Africa is one of their specialties and they cover the entire continent.  

Of my three trips with A&K my favorite was the Southern African in Style, a Connoisseurs Journey through South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana.

Accommodations are at the best Hotels, Safari lodges and camps available, some of the notables are:

• The Cape Grace in Cape Town
• Stanley & Livingston on the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls
• Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero in Chobe National Park in Botswana
• Sanctuary Chiefs Camp in the Moremi Game Reserve
• Baines Camp in the Okavango Delta area along the Boro River

If you are looking for the "Big Five", African Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Elephant and Cape Buffalo, this Connoisseurs journey is one of the best ways to find them!

A&K guides and employees are rated among the best in the world, earning both Readers Choice Award and Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth, among others.

I would go back to Africa in a heartbeat.  Every time you are surprised and thrilled with the new animals you encounter and the warmth of the people you interact with en route.  

From the desk of Janet Pringle ...

Rocky Mountaineer 

I recently returned from a wonderful journey on board Canada's Rocky Mountaineer.  We traveled from the mountain enclave of Banff, to the cosmopolitan coastal city of Vancouver.  My trip included two full days of train travel and an overnight in Kamloops.  On board the bi-level GoldLeaf Service coaches, gourmet breakfast and lunch are served "downstairs" on white-linen table cloths with fine china.  If two filling meals weren't enough, we also indulged on flaky scones, locally made cheese and freshly baked cookies!

While seated comfortably in a wide, reclining seat on board a glass-domed coach, I gazed at varied, panoramic landscapes as we made our way west.  We passed clear, glacier-fed lakes and rushing rivers, as well as long stretches of farmland, arid mesas and the jagged, snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies.  Along the way, I'd go outside to the covered vestibule between coaches-- a perfect spot not only for stretching my legs and enjoying the fresh air, but also capturing clear photos of the beautiful scenery.

The Rocky Mountaineer's Onboard Attendants go out of their way to ensure a wonderful vacation experience for all passengers.  Whether they are pouring drinks, pointing out wildlife or telling fascinating stories about the Western Canada's history and folklore, the Rocky Mountaineer staff caters to guests on this magnificent trip of a lifetime.  There are four scenic itineraries offered by Rocky Mountaineer, a seasoned company that has been providing dynamic vacations on Canada's historic train tracks for 20 years.  All Aboard!      

From the desk of Julia Shore ...   

When I think of luxury resorts Aman comes to mind. Amanresorts offers a guest experience that is intimate and discreet while providing the highest level of service.  Each resort and setting is unique, but certain elements characterize all of them- a beautiful natural location, outstanding facilities, exceptional service and a small number of rooms to ensure exclusivity and privacy.  Each leaves an impression, an indelible mark.

You can now experience an Amanresort in Montenegro, a country famed for its beauty.  The most iconic images associated with Montenegro are of the tiny islet named Sveti Stefan.  Attached to the coast by a narrow isthmus, the island was once a fortified village dating back to the 15th century.

Aman Sveti Stefan is located in the center of Montenegro's Adriatic coastline, and enjoys breathtaking views out to sea, across the bay and along Montenegro's most renowned stretch of coastline.  The island itself measures 12,400 square meters and while its historic exterior remains largely unchanged, the resort's interiors have been restored and updated to meet contemporary expectations.

Across the bay on 79 acres seaside estate lies Villa Milocer, part of Amanresorts, surrounded by more than 800 olive trees and embraced on three sides by ancient cedar and pine forests.  Because of its size, (accommodates total of 16) Villa Milocer and is an ideal place for large family celebrations.

The resort can easily be reached from Dubrovnik, and it is a perfect ending to any European vacation.