1-15-09
Paul Gauguin Cruises: 45% Off, Free Air to Tahiti
Paul Gauguin Cruises, operator of the highest longest continually-sailing ship in the South Pacific, announced voyages for the m/s Paul Gauguin’s 2010 season, along with Early Booking Savings of up to 45 percent plus Free Roundtrip Air between Los Angeles and Tahiti when booked by March 31, 2009.

Reservations are now open for 38 itineraries ranging from 7 to 15 nights, highlighting Tahiti, the Society Islands, Tuamotus, the Cook Islands, Marquesas, Tonga, Fiji and New Zealand.

m/s Paul Gauguin’s 2010 Sailing Season

The ship will add two new itineraries in 2010, including five 11-night adventures to the Cook Islands, and two 14-night cruises featuring New Zealand, Tonga and the Cook and Society Islands.

Highlights of the 2010 sailing season include:

1. Sixteen classic 7-night departures featuring Tahiti and Society Islands;
2. Six 10-night and two 9-night voyages of Tuamotus and Society Islands;
3. Five 11-night Cook Islands adventures;
4. Four 14-night sailings featuring the Marquesas Islands;
5. In-depth 13- and 15-night discoveries of Fiji, Tonga and the Cook and Society Islands;
6. Two exclusive 14-night cruises featuring New Zealand, Tonga and the Cook and Society Islands

Special Departures accenting the 2010 schedule include:

1. The President’s Cruise on January 6, 2010, where guests can sail with Paul Gauguin Cruises President David A. Giersdorf;
2. The Jean-Michel Cousteau Cruise, featuring environmental advocate and son of the legendary Jacques Cousteau, on May 22, 2010;

Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society Ambassadors of the Environment Youth Program is available on all departures June through August, as well as December 18 and 27, 2010, introducing young travelers to the breathtaking natural wonders of French Polynesia – perfect for families traveling during these months;

December 18 and 27, 2010, where guests will savor a different kind of “White Christmas” on the white sand beaches of the Society Islands and Tuamotu Atolls.

Aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin

Having a recent multi-million dollar enhancement, the Polynesian-themed m/s Paul Gauguin features world-class cruise ship appointments, including private balconies in nearly 70 percent of suites and staterooms and an expanded al fresco dining experience. The spacious and elegantly adorned staterooms feature deluxe European linens, feather-down duvets, robes and cotton slippers as well as other amenities found only in the most luxurious of travel destinations.

Early Booking Ensures the Best Deals

Early Booking Savings of up to 45 percent, representing savings from $2,500 to $18,650 per person, when booked by specified Early Booking Date. Further savings of $1,250 to $2,500 per couple are available on select sailings when booked by March 31, 2009 as a result of Free or Two-for-One Roundtrip Airfare between Los Angeles and Tahiti. Also, families planning a voyage on m/s Paul Gauguin may take advantage of the third person in stateroom sails free promotion when booked by March 31, 2009. All Early Booking Promotional Savings are capacity-controlled, and subject to availability at time of booking.

Additionally, Paul Gauguin Cruises welcomes all past guests of Paul Gauguin Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea, The Yachts of Seabourn, Crystal Cruises, SeaDream Yacht Club or Windstar Cruises will receive an additional 5 percent off any m/s Paul Gauguin cruise fare.
Guests should contact their Professional Travel Agent or call 1-800-848-6172 to reserve a cruise or request a brochure. For additional information, please visit www.pgcruises.com.

1-13-09
Silversea Reveals Silver Spirit’s Inaugural Details
Silversea revealed the detials of the inaugural voyages for the brand new luxury vessel the line will reveal in December 2009. the 36,000-ton vessel will have 270 stateroom, including 26 of the popular silver suites and 222 verandah suites.

Silver Spirit will start with an 11-day “Holiday Spirit” maiden voyage sailing from Barcelona on Dec. 23, 2009, to Lisbon, and a 16-day “Maiden Crossing” departing Lisbon on Jan. 3 to Fort Lauderdale. The third voyage will be a 91-day “Grand Inaugural Voyage” departing on Jan. 21, 2010.

The “Grand Inaugural Voyage” will sail from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles and end in New York. The ship will stay in Rio de Janeiro during Carnaval, transit Cape Horn up the west coast of South America to the Mexican Riviera. Next it will transit the Panama Canal and conclude with a Statue of Liberty event in New York Harbor. The voyage will visit more than 45 ports in over 20 countries and island destinations across two continents, with overnight stays in Fort Lauderdale, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Punta Arenas, Lima, Acapulco and Los Angeles.

Guests on the full voyage will be invited to attend the naming ceremony, a gala dinner event on the eve of departure with accommodations aboard ship, exclusive shoreside events, and a VIP evening at the Rio Carnaval. Also included are commemorative gifts and a $2,000-per-suite onboard spending credit. A complimentary business-class air upgrade is also available for guests who purchase Silversea’s optional air program.

Silversea began accepting reservations on Jan. 12. An area of the company’s website is now dedicated to Silver Spirit. Fares for the full Grand Inaugural Voyage start at $39,187 per person, double occupancy, and include “Extended Voyage Savings” of 5 percent, plus enhanced “Early Booking Incentive” and new “Extended Advance Payment Bonus” discounts applicable to voyages in 2010.

The 36,000-ton Silver Spirit will accommodate 540 guests. Ninety-five percent of the suites will feature a private veranda. The ship will boast one of the highest space-to-guest ratios at sea today, 67. The onboard décor will lend a sophisticated 1930s Art Deco ambience to the public spaces, highlights of which include an indoor/outdoor spa measuring 8,300 square feet, three whirlpools, and six dining venues including Seishin, a Japanese restaurant, and the Stars Supper Club, featuring live music, dancing and nightclub-style entertainment. A new full-color, 36-page brochure showcasing Silver Spirit’s inaugural season will be available in the coming weeks. For more information, call 877-215-9986 or visit www.silversea.com.

1-13-09
Princess: Convenient Alaska Cruisetours from Seattle
Princess Cruise Lines is offering an innovative Alaska Wilderness Sale promotion. The line is introducing an innovative lineup of cruisetours that offer passengers the extra convenience of roundtrip travel from Seattle at unprecedented low fares. These new options make planning an Alaska land/sea vacation easier than ever by including all travel once the passenger gets to Seattle, including airfare between Seattle and Anchorage, as well as a free stateroom upgrade.

The Alaska Wilderness Sale runs through February 28, 2009, and features four new Seattle-based cruisetour options. Offering both northbound and southbound travel, the 11- or 12-night cruisetours feature a seven-night Voyage of the Glaciers cruise plus Direct to the Wilderness rail transportation and stays at Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge and Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge. Air travel between Seattle and Anchorage, as well as motorcoach transfers between Seattle and Vancouver are included in the package. Free stateroom category upgrades are included as well. Fares start at $1,099 for an 11-night land/sea vacation.

The new Alaska Wilderness Sale cruisetours include the line’s famed Voyage of the Glaciers sailings between Vancouver and Whittier — featuring calls at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway with daylight cruising of Glacier Bay National Park and the 16 glaciers of College Fjord. Passengers can choose departures on either the 2,670-passenger Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess or the 1,970-passenger Coral Princess and Island Princess.

In the rail tour portion, passengers will enjoy Direct to the Wilderness rail transportation right from their ship to the Denali area, giving them extra time in the heart of Alaska’s wilderness. Cruisetour options include two nights at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge and one or two nights at Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge. The packages also include an overnight stay in Seattle.

Princess’ 2009 Alaska season runs from May 9 to September 14, and features a total of 130 Alaska sailings – including the signature Voyage of the Glaciers sailings, Inside Passage routes from Seattle and San Francisco, and a small ship experience on 14-day Connoisseur voyages to some of the state’s less-visited ports. In addition, Princess will again take more passengers to the ice-filled wonder of Glacier Bay National Park than any other line, with 81 visits (all Gulf and Connoisseur voyages).

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company’s website at www.princess.com.

1-9-09
Carnival Implements New Price Protection Policy
Carnival Cruise Lines is launching a new cruise pricing option called “Early Saver” which offers fares as much as 25 percent lower than the best generally available rates and provides rate protection if rates later drop below what the consumer originally paid.

Early Saver rates will be available beginning January 12, 2009 and offered up to three months prior to sailing date for cruises of five days or less and up to five months prior to sailing date for longer length voyages, subject to availability. Early Saver fares include all stateroom types, including suites.

The Early Saver rate protection feature provides that if a lower Carnival advertised rate becomes available after the booking is made, a rate adjustment can be requested and the cruise line will issue the difference in the form of a non-refundable shipboard credit. The lower fare must be for the same ship, sailing date, stateroom category and number of guests.

When booking an Early Saver fare, consumers are able to choose a specific stateroom. The standard required deposit is immediately non-refundable at time of booking. Any changes in ship or sailing date outside of Carnival’s standard penalty period require a $50 change fee. For changes inside the penalty period, normal penalties apply.

To request a price adjustment, a rate protection form must be completed and emailed to Carnival. Consumers can access the form via the cruise line’s web site at carnival.com or their travel agent may complete the form via the cruise line’s travel agent web portal. The lower rate must be available at the time the form is submitted and rate adjustments will be processed within two business days. Rate adjustment requests can be submitted up to two business days prior to the cruise departure date. Early Saver fares are available for both individual and group reservations.

The Early Saver fare program will be available on virtually all Carnival ships and itineraries, which include voyages ranging from three to 18 days in length to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Canada, New England, Europe, Bermuda and South America. The fares are subject to availability and certain restrictions apply. To book an Early Saver rate, consumers may contact a travel agent, call 800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.

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