Paying homage to the heyday of ocean liner travel and the films that celebrated those voyages across the seas, and utilizing that setting for high drama, smart comedy and some of the most famous Fred Astaire dance numbers, The Film Society of Lincoln Center (FSLC) provides New York audiences with a summertime treat by presenting the film series, Cinematic Passages: Ocean Liners on Screen. Sponsored by Cunard Line, the revered ocean liner company whose iconic voyage experience personifies the Golden Age of Ocean Travel, the series runs 26-30 August at the Walter Reade Theater (165 West 65th Street). Tickets go on sale on Tuesday, 9 August, both at the theatre box office and online at http://www.filmlinc.com/films/series/cinematic-passages-ocean-liners-on-screen.

“Cunard voyages offer guests the ongoing fascination, glamour and sophistication of the Golden Age of Ocean Travel,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. “As portrayed in the iconic films of Cinematic Passages, Cunard vividly brings to life this storied travel experience for today’s ocean liner enthusiasts to discover and enjoy.”

Highlights of the series include the Marilyn Monroe/Jane Russell romp Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Preston Sturges’ classic screwball comedy The Lady Eve, the Fred Astaire musicals Shall We Dance and Royal Wedding, and a rare 70mm presentation of James Cameron’s box office record breaker Titanic.

Another highlight will be the presentation of Ocean Liners in Fact, Fiction and On Screen: An Illustrated Lecture by Bill Miller on Friday, 26 August at 7:00 p.m. A frequent, immensely popular speaker in Cunard’s award-winning on board enrichment programme, Cunard Insights, and an international authority on the subject of the great “floating palaces” of the past and current generation of cruise ships, Miller is known as “Mr. Ocean Liner.” He has written more than 75 books and 1,000 articles, lectured on more than 50 liners and sailed nearly 350 voyages to date. His presentation will be complimentary with the purchase of a three-film pass to the film series.

Continuing FSLC’s effort to offer free-to-the-public programming, Robert Neal Marshall’s documentary on Bill Miller, Mr. Ocean Liner, as well as his documentary Three Queens-International Rendezvous (2008), about the final voyage of Cunard’s longest serving Cunarder, QE2, will be screened at the FSLC’s Film Center Amphitheater throughout the run of Cinematic Passages. Mr. Ocean Liner makes its New York City debut as part of the presentation.

Guests sailing a luxury cruise vacation aboard Cunard delight in the experience of the voyage itself, not just the destination. By day, guests enjoy voluminous libraries, world class spas, white-gloved afternoon tea service and engaging Insights programmes; and by night are entertained by black tie dinners, Royal Nights themed balls, West End-style productions and Veuve Clicquot champagne cocktails.

For more information about Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria, and to book a voyage, consult your Travel Agent, call toll-free 1-800-7-CUNARD (1-800-728-6273) or go to www.cunard.com.

Screening Schedule

Screening Venue:
The Film Society of Lincoln Center – Walter Reade Theater
165 West 65 Street, between Broadway & Amsterdam (upper level)

Friday, 26 August
1:00 p.m The Princess Comes Across
2:40 p.m. Shall We Dance
5:00 p.m. A Night At The Opera
7:00 p.m. Ocean Liners In Fact, Fiction And On Screen: An Illustrated Lecture by Bill Miller
9:00 p.m. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Saturday, 27 August
10:30 a.m. A Night At The Opera
12:30 p.m. Royal Wedding
2:30 p.m. A Night To Remember
5:00 p.m. The Lady Eve
8:00 p.m. Titanic (70mm print)

Sunday, 28 August
12:30 p.m. Love Affair
2:30 p.m. The Princess Comes Across
4:15 p.m. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
9:00 p.m. The Poseidon Adventure

Monday, 29 August
1:00p.m. A Night To Remember
3:30p.m. Royal Wedding

Tuesday, 30 August
1:30 p.m. Titanic (70mm print)

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Fred A. Barger, from Chesapeake, VA, recently cruised to the Falkland Islands with his wife Jan. Fred authored the following guest review.

The Falkland Islands are a hidden but beautiful treasure in the southern Atlantic Ocean – a bit difficult to reach but well worth the effort. Sitting east of Argentina, these small islands are a great port-of-call for cruise ships. The harbor at Port Stanley is not deep enough for the large ships to dock and unfortunately the seas and winds are not always conducive to tendering, so it is not a guarantee that you will set foot on the islands even when scheduled to stop. The ship’s captain will have the final say as to whether the seas are safe to tender, but once on shore you will be glad you braved the elements.

Stepping in to Port Stanley is like stepping back in time but with some modern conveniences. The town is small, the residents pretty much know each other, and it is difficult to find a traffic light. I believe they have only one of them. There is a bank but there are no ATMs and you cannot buy a money order. There is a post office but everything has to be flown out and there are not many flights off the island. There are a few roads but most are not paved with asphalt so a 4-wheel drive vehicle is a must. Since the Argentina “Conflict” of 1982, Great Britain has spent a great deal of money to bring the residents some modern conveniences such as cable TV and internet service. However the residents are very polite and still say “hello” to all. The national language is English of course, and the official currency is the Falkland Island Pound although British Pounds and U.S. Dollars are accepted. The Falkland Island Pound is equal in value to the British Pound.

All the large cruise ships drop anchor outside the capital city of Port Stanley and tender directly into the downtown area. The capital is named for Lord Stanley Of Preston. All excursions have representatives waiting at the tender dock, so you have little distance to walk to join your group. There are many excursions offered and they are a bit pricey compared to some ports. There are also things to do in and around town if you want to do some walking and save a little money. Many cruise ship passengers stroll around town, visit the shops, and possibly end up at the local beach to see Gentoo and Magellanic penguins. The cruise ships offer tours which will take you further out on the island to see Rockhopper and King penguins. Another option – and the one we chose – is to hire a local guide to take you to one of the great spots to see the penguins.

We hired local guide Patrick Watts. Patrick is a retired journalist and long-time soccer fanatic who offers 4-wheel drive tours to Volunteer Point. Volunteer Point is home to thousands of Magellanic, Gentoo, and King penguins. It is the only place on most cruise ship itineraries where you can see King Penguins. The trip takes nearly two and one-half hours each way, with only around thirty minutes on paved and dirt roads. The balance of the trip is through farmland as a true 4-wheeling adventure, and thus is not for the faint at heart. People with back or neck problems should rethink any trip to Volunteer Point as it is a rough trip whether with a private guide or on an excursion booked through the ship.

Patrick leads a caravan of thirty 4-wheelers. There were nine in our group with four passengers in each vehicle. Since two-way radios are about the only method of communication outside of town, safety dictates traveling in numbers. A flat tire on a solitary vehicle could strand the passengers for hours so the the caravans stay close together. Patrick’s tour prices are about half of what the cruise lines charge so you must book early with him. We first contacted him in October for our February cruise and had to be put on the wait list.

The one regret I had with the tour to Volunteer Point is the scenery on the Island is so beautiful, even under the overcast skies, I wanted to spend some time photographing it. Due to the time it takes to drive to and from Volunteer Point and the limited time the ship is in port, there was no time to stop the vehicle and admire and photograph the landscapes. The diversity of the landscape is tremendous, from farm lands, (horses and sheep), to peat bogs, (still harvested on a small scale to heat some of the local buildings), to rocky mountain peaks, to the rocky formations similar to a river which was caused by the receding glaciers at the end of the last Ice Age. This is one Island that I would love to travel back to and spend a week. One day is just not enough time in the Falkland Islands.

We were fortunate to not only get with Patrick’s group, but we were in Patrick’s vehicle. Patrick is a wealth of information about the Island, local customs’, the weather, the “conflict” of 1982, etc. He keeps you entertained, as I’m sure all of his guides do the entire trip out and back. And if you are not careful you just might learn something from him about these beautiful Islands and its people! About half way to Volunteer Point, the vehicles pull over for a short rest near a farm house. There are facilities there but be warned they are a tad different than what you are accustomed to on the ship. However, they can help you achieve sweet relief on this very bumpy adventure.

After a short break its back in to the vehicles for the last hour or so of the trip. Even though you can see the ocean from the farm house it is still a very slow moving, bumpy adventure. This last leg of the trip to the ocean takes you past the peat bogs. The scenery in this part of the Island is very similar to the countryside of parts of Ireland and Scotland. The weather is very similar as well. Again, I found it to be very educational as well as beautiful. Patrick was like an encyclopedia on anything to do with the Falkland Islands and the way of life over the past 50 years. Once you arrive at Volunteer Point you are given an amount of time, approximately 2 hours, to wander at your own pace to see the penguins up close. You will also be served a wonderful box lunch at your leisure. The food was surprisingly good, especially for a box lunch.

There are a few things to remember when you are around the penguins on the Falkland Islands. First, Penguins Have the Right of Way! If a penguin is walking to a point near you, stop and give them the right of way. Second, Do Not Touch or Disturb the Penguins! The Falkland Islands have a law that you cannot touch or disturb the wildlife or you may incur a fine of up to 3,000 British Pounds. There are rangers that patrol the area, so do not think you can get away with it. They really mean it!

Magellanic Penguins burrow in to the ground to make their nests.

King Penguins are very colorful.

King Penguins are about 3 feet tall. Their legs seem to be longer than the other penguins and therefore they walk more normal while the other types of penguins use more of a waddle.

Gentoo Penguins have a single white stripe across their heads.

A journey to the Falkland Islands is an adventure that few people on earth have the pleasure of taking. It can be difficult but very rewarding. The Islands are extremely beautiful everywhere you look. The people are polite and laidback. When you reach Port Stanley set out to see as much as you can. The best way to do that is to hire a local guide, like Patrick Watts, to show and explain to you the beauty of the Islands, the wildlife, the people, and the history. Trying to see the Islands on your own will save you a few bucks, but since you already put out good money to get there, why stop short. Go the extra mile and venture out further. See, enjoy, and learn about this wonderful little spot of heaven on Earth. It is a true adventure that everybody should experience and enjoy at some point in their life. But since only a small percentage of people will ever have the opportunity to realize this adventure, why shouldn’t you be one of them?

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Here they come again – those fuel surcharges from the cruise lines.  First to reinstitute the charge is Cunard and P&O (UK).  Will the other cruise lines be far behind?

The Cunard and P&O (UK) fuel supplement will be $3.85 per person per day. This will be assessed uniformly on the first through fourth passengers.

The new fuel supplement will be assessed on all new bookings effective May 10, 2010 for cruises departing on or after November 1, 2010. The fuel supplements will not exceed $154.00 per person per voyage.

For bookings made prior to May 10, 2010, no fuel surcharge will apply.

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MSC Cruises is offering a one-week only special from today through May 3 for up to a $200 shipboard credit per stateroom for cruises to Europe onboard MSC Fantasia,  MSC Splendida, MSC Lirica, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Armonia, and MSC Orchestra with rates starting from $749 per person (government fees and taxes are additional).

Guests can experience the vacation of a lifetime with Mediterranean cruise itineraries featuring destinations such as those in Italy, Greece, Spain, Monaco, Portugal, and France departing from a variety of ports.

Cruise itineraries include:

MSC Fantasia “Mediterranean Fantasy,” seven-night, Western Mediterranean cruise from Genoa, Italy; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; and Barcelona, Spain; calling in Naples (Capri), Italy; Palermo, Italy; La Goulette (Tunis), Tunisia; and Palma de Mallorca, Spain; and Marseille, France. Departures June – September, 2010. Rates from $1,099 per person [plus government fees and taxes (GFT’s)].

MSC Splendida, “The Splendid Mediterranean,” seven-night, Western Mediterranean cruise from Genoa and Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy; and Barcelona, Spain; calling in Marseille, France; La Goulette (Tunis), Tunisia; Valletta, Malta; Messina (Taormina), and Sicily, Italy. Departures June – November, 2010. Rates from $799 per person plus GFT’s.

MSC Lirica, “Mediterranean Marvels,” seven-night, Western Mediterranean cruise from Civitavecchia (Rome), Genoa, and Salerno, Italy; and Palma de Mallorca, Spain; calling in La Goulette (Tunis), Tunisia; Toulon (St. Tropez), France; Portofino, Italy; and Ajaccio, Corsica, France. Departures July – August, 2010. Rates from $1,049 per person plus GFT’s.

MSC Sinfonia, “Sparkling Mediterranean Rivieras,” seven-night, Western Mediterranean cruise from Livorno, Italy; calling in Monte Carlo, Monaco; Valencia, Spain; Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain; La Goulette (Tunis) Tunisia; Catania (Taormina), Italy; and Naples (Capri), Italy. Departures July – August, 2010. Rates from $1,049 per person plus GFT’s.

MSC Armonia, “Jewels of the Adriatic,” seven-night, Northern Europe cruise, from Venice, Italy; calling in Dubrovnik, Croatia; Corfu, Greece; Piraeus (Athens), Greece; Argosoli, Kefalonia, Greece; Kotor, Montenegro; and Ancona, Italy. Departures from July – August, 2010. Rates from $949 per person plus GFT’s.

MSC Orchestra, “Iberian Discovery,” eight-night, Western Mediterranean cruise from Genoa and Barcelona; calling in Malaga, Spain; Cadiz, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Gibraltar, England (United Kingdom); and Alicante, Spain. Departures September – November, 2010. Rates from $749 per person plus GFT’s.

Cruise prices and government fees and taxes vary depending upon departure date(s) and port(s). Shipboard credit values vary depending upon stateroom type.

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For the 22nd year, Royal Caribbean International will be plying the waters and scenic lands of Alaska.   The cruise line today announced 34 voyages for Royal Caribbean’s 22nd consecutive season in the Great Land, comprising six unique itineraries aboard Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas. Vacationers can choose a seven-night northbound or southbound itinerary between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska, via the Inside Passage, or a seven-night roundtrip Alaska itinerary from Seattle. Additionally, vacationers can select a Royal Caribbean cruise tour land package, which combines a cruise aboard Radiance of the Seas with one of 21 escorted land tour itineraries traveling into Alaska’s majestic and wild interior. Bookings for Royal Caribbean International’s 2011 Alaska cruises and cruisetours open today.

“Royal Caribbean’s 2011 Alaska cruises and cruisetours offer vacationers a variety of ways to take in Alaska’s grandeur: by ship, motorcoach, train and even plane,” said Betsy O’Rourke, senior vice president of Marketing, Royal Caribbean International. “Multigenerational family vacationers and adventurers of all ages will find opportunities for their own “Why Not?” moments, with Alaska’s awe-inspiring natural wonders as the backdrop. Throughout, guests will enjoy the world-renowned Royal treatment delivered by our friendly and engaging staff and crew.”

A grand Alaska adventure awaits guests on a 2011 Royal Caribbean cruise tour land package, 11- to 14-night vacations that combine a seven-night cruise aboard Radiance of the Seas with a pre- or post-cruise tour into Alaska’s interior. A dedicated Tour Director escorts each group of guests as they explore the Alaskan frontier aboard Royal Caribbean’s signature deluxe motorcoaches and the Wilderness Express, the cruise line’s exclusive glass-domed train cars, which offer breathtaking views of the untamed landscape. The packages feature overnights in Denali with included activities into the National Park for the chance to spot grizzly bear, caribou, wolf, moose and dall sheep – known as the “Big Five” – and include overnights at the charming and rustic Talkeetna Lodge. Other highlights include a tramway excursion 2,300 above the valley of Alyeska and learning about Alaska’s indigenous people at the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage. Optional sightseeing tours include flightseeing across the Arctic Circle, white-water rafting; and jet-boating on Alaska’s glacial waters.

Guests also can explore Alaska up-close on a wide variety of optional shore excursions available for purchase, such as mushing across a snow-covered glacier on a dog sled in Juneau on “Dog Sledding on the Mendenhall Glacier via Helicopter,” and cheering on lumberjack teams in Ketchikan as they compete in events such as axe throwing and log rolling at the “Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show.” In Skagway, guests can choose a hike through a rainforest and experience Alaska’s rugged beauty on the “Sawtooth Mountain Nature Hike,” and then voyage from Icy Strait Point to Point Adolphus, the region’s premier whale watching destination, on “Whale & Marine Mammals Cruise.”
Royal Caribbean’s 2011 Alaska season begins on May 13 with a seven-night itinerary to Sawyer Glacier via the Inside Passage aboard Rhapsody of the Seas, departing Vancouver and calling at Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. The season continues with 15 sailings from Seattle that follow a similar seven-night itinerary, 14 of which are roundtrip and replace Ketchikan with a call at Victoria, British Columbia.

Radiance of the Seas will begin the Alaska season with a special 12-night Ultimate Alaska itinerary departing from San Diego on May 15. The itinerary will cruise Hubbard Glacier, calling at San Francisco, Alaska’s Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and Sitka, and Nanaimo, British Columbia. Radiance of the Seas will then alternate north- and southbound seven-night itineraries on 16 sailings between Vancouver and Seward via the Inside Passage and featuring a visit to Hubbard Glacier.

Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas are both appointed with multi-deck, dazzling glass windows, affording guests sweeping vistas of Alaska’s landscape as it unfolds. Guests can race to the top of the ships’ iconic rock-climbing walls for an even more thrilling view from the ship’s highest point or enjoy a variety of rejuvenating spa treatments in the Day Spa. Younger guests will be entertained and enlightened in the cruise line’s award-winning Adventure Ocean and teen programs, with scheduled activities led by a college-graduate counselor beginning from 9 to 2 a.m. In the evenings, guests can enjoy the Royal Caribbean Productions’ award-winning Broadway-style musical revues, and recount the day’s experiences in multiple onboard bars and lounges over cocktails. Throughout, all guests enjoy the Royal treatment delivered by Royal Caribbean’s friendly and engaging staff and crew.

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This will be wildly popular with guests and crew members from countries where football – aka soccer – is THE game.   To ensure their guests won’t miss a minute of the action, even while vacationing, Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International have obtained rights to air all games of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ while at sea, in international waters,  on every ship across the three fleets.

Guests sailing with any of the three cruise lines during the entire series of the matches – airing from June 11 to July 11, 2010 – can watch them in the comfort of their staterooms, and in designated onboard lounges.* FIFA World Cup fans can combine a memorable Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International vacation and still cheer on their team with fellow likeminded guests in special onboard programs that include themed activities, food and beverages. On some ships, guests also can participate in onboard tournaments, workshops and other special 2010 FIFA World Cup-themed activities.

*Games featured for public viewing will vary by ship itinerary, time zone and demographics.

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Cruise Line Recognizes Travel Agents as “Heroes”

Royal Caribbean International today kicks off Travel Agent Appreciation Month. This year, the cruise line is recognizing its outstanding travel agent partners as “Heroes” and empowering them with new travel agent development programs; enhanced selling tools, such as a new set of professionally designed, customizable collateral pieces; and offering rewards and incentives. Throughout April, travel agents also can earn the chance to win a stateroom on a pre-inaugural sailing aboard Allure of the Seas. And Royal Caribbean will proudly drape a banner that covers one side of the cruise line’s headquarters building, proclaiming “Royal Caribbean International Appreciates Travel Agents Everywhere” to the thousands of vacationers that travel to the Port of Miami to board a cruise.

“I want to thank our valued travel agent partners for everything they do, and for their passion, loyalty, feedback, and dedication,” said Vicki Freed, senior vice president, Sales, Trade Support and Services, Royal Caribbean International. “We strive to provide our travel agent partners with the most accessible support, via phone, online, email, and face-to-face meetings. Additionally, we are always exploring cutting edge tools that will help our travel agent partners grow their business and increase their profits.”
Travel Agent Appreciation Month recognizes travel agents and the important role they play in helping to create memorable Royal Caribbean vacations for their customers. Just as the cruise line is recognizing travel agent partners as its heroes, it also is helping travel agents recognize their own community heroes, such as firefighters, police officers and military personnel with special offers. Royal Caribbean also is encouraging travel agents to recognize everyday heroes, such as parents, by offering them family pricing, which is based on quad-occupancy for even more value when the whole clan goes on vacation.

In the spirit of empowering its travel agent partners and helping them sell cruises more effectively, Royal Caribbean has developed new and innovative programs to educate travel agents. For example, the cruise line is kicking off Travel Agent Appreciation Month with a new training initiative about Royal Caribbean’s Culturally Enriching Cruises. Travel agents will learn how these sailings are tailored for vacationers mostly from a specific country or region, offering guests the opportunity of experiencing the local flavor of the region. In order to maximize guests’ experiences, Culturally Enriching Cruises embrace a regions’ customs including the onboard language, entertainment, and dining.  Through April 23, 2010, travel agents also can win one of 35 staterooms on a pre-inaugural sailing aboard Allure of the Seas. Every Oasis of the Seas or Allure of the Seas Boardwalk- or Central Park-view balcony stateroom they book will earn them an entry in a drawing to win the coveted experience.

In addition to special promotions throughout the month, Royal Caribbean is presenting enhanced selling tools, and new logo items for its travel agent partners. The cruise line will be offering an online version of the new “Royal Recommends Using a Travel Agent” logo that can be used on agency websites and marketing communications, and buttons that can be worn and license plate frames that also proudly display the slogan.

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Travelers Can Learn How Locals Live, Explore by ATV or Get a Taste of Local Cuisine

Princess Cruises has added nine new choices to its lineup of optional land excursions for Alaska cruisetours, giving travelers opportunities for fresh adventures, including discovering how local hunters and trappers live, exploring by ATV, riding a dog cart, visiting a true Eskimo village or learning to cook Alaska cuisine.

In total, the optional land excursion program features 96 tour choices that cruisetour travelers can add to the land portion of their trip.  These activities are currently open for purchase and offer a range of experiences from easygoing to exhilarating – including cultural tours, nature hikes, kayak adventures and flightseeing tours.

Cruisetour passengers can get additional information about the land excursions from a new section on Princess’ web site, http://www.princess.com/learn/cruisetours/alaska/land_excursions, offering full details on the program and tour listings.

“Just like shore excursions from our ships, these optional land excursions are selected to give cruisetour guests some uniquely Alaska adventures and experiences,” said Charlie Ball, president of Princess Tours.  “And because these tours are all operated by Alaskan companies, travelers will be able to experience the state from a true local perspective.”

Land excursions operate from each of Princess’ own wilderness lodges – Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge and Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge – as well as from additional locations featured on some cruisetours, such as Anchorage and Coldfoot (for Arctic Explorer cruisetours).

New land excursion options debuting this season include:

Wilderness Living Adventure & Dog Cart Ride (Denali) – How did the hunters, trappers and woodsmen of old travel and live in the wilderness of Alaska?  This tour provides a look at many Alaskans who make their living in the wilderness near Denali.  The hosts share stories about their lives, particularly what winters are like in Denali.  A dog cart ride takes travelers down a rustic trail for a taste of sledding and possible views of Mt. McKinley.

Anaktuvuk Pass Adventure (Coldfoot) – Guests can visit a true Eskimo village with this tour to the Nunamiut village of Anaktuvuk Pass.  Travelers fly northwest from Coldfoot to Anaktuvuk Pass, nestled in the heart of the majestic Brooks Mountain Range and the Gates of the Arctic National Park.  Once in the village, guests will get a first-hand look at life in Anaktuvuk Pass as it exists today.

A Taste of Fairbanks – An evening at Chez World Cooking School will show travelers how to prepare food the Alaskan way.  Whether they fully experience the class with hands-on participation or simply watch the overhead monitors, students will learn the secrets behind Alaskan delicacies such as salmon, reindeer sausage, halibut, crab, moose, and caribou, as well sourdough bread and pancakes.  Students will get to taste the entrees of the day plus take home recipes and a chef’s apron.

Susitna River Airboat Adventure (Mt. McKinley) – Travelers can experience parts of the lovely Susitna River that others can’t with this airboat excursion.  Piloted by a captain who knows the waters well, the airboat can navigate through narrow channels, moving through inches of water and in some cases no water at all.  Participants will enjoy the beauty of the Susitna while looking for wildlife and their tracks, and can even bring home a souvenir animal track casting.  On clear days, they can also marvel at spectacular views of Mt. McKinley.

Sea Kayaking at Columbia Glacier (Copper River) – This opportunity to paddle into the massive Columbia Glacier icefield offers an experience that travelers will never forget.  From Valdez participants take a scenic ride to Columbia Glacier for a kayaking expedition up close to the glacier, plus lunch on the beach.  The excursion could also result in sightings of wildlife such as seals, sea otters, bald eagles, sea lions, whales and bears.

Chatanika Gold Camp & ATV Ride with Dinner (Fairbanks) – The early miners never traveled like this!  Following a hearty dinner at Chatanika Gold Camp, travelers take a 2.5 hour ATV ride along a mining trail used by early miners to access the surrounding gold fields.  The approximately 15-mile route follows a ridge line and offers beautiful views of the distant mountains and valleys.

Explore Historic Seward (Kenai) – From Kenai, travelers can enjoy a drive down one of the nation’s most scenic highways and past parts of the Iditarod National Historic Trail.  At the end of the road at Resurrection Bay is the historic city of Seward, gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park.  Travelers will have plenty of time to see the town, visit local attractions or browse the quaint shops and art galleries.

South Denali 65-Mile ATV Adventure (Mt. McKinley) – An ATV adventure along dirt roads carved out of the wilderness by the area’s first prospectors, this tour takes travelers far into the back-country of south Denali with its cascading waterfalls and scenic wonders.  Participants can also try their hand at panning for gold in Peters Creek.

Scenic Koyukuk River Float (Coldfoot) – It’s not too often that travelers can enjoy a scenic float trip 60 miles north of the Arctic Circle!  This tour takes passengers down the Middle Fork Koyukuk River through the Brooks Mountain Range, where they can relax as their raft floats through the vast wilderness of Alaska and a guide shares the rich history of the region.

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Goal is to Raise $3 Million in Three Years for Childhood Cancer Research and Treatment

Carnival Cruise Lines has partnered with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to launch a comprehensive fundraising initiative with a goal of raising $3 million for the organization over the next three years. St. Jude is one of the world’s premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic diseases.

The program, called Care to Play: Carnival For St. Jude Kids, kicks off the week of March 28 aboard all 22 Carnival ships and provides guests an opportunity to participate in fun, interactive activities designed to raise funds and awareness in the fight against childhood cancer.

The new shipboard fundraising effort is the second phase of the Carnival-St. Jude partnership that began late last year with the line’s initial $50,000 donation to St. Jude. Funds were raised through Carnival’s “Virtual Book of Dreams” contest which asked kids to share their dreams for an opportunity to become the cruise industry’s first waterslide godchild.

Care to Play activities include the “Groove for St. Jude,” a fun dance activity held once each cruise that allows guests to make a $10 donation and “groove to the music” in one of the ship’s high-energy dance clubs with sounds provided by the ship’s DJ.  Guests receive a Care to Play T-shirt and wristband and 100 percent of their donation goes directly to St. Jude.

Another component is Carnival’s Teddy Bear Workshop in which children from the line’s Camp Carnival program can build their own cuddly St. Jude keepsake bear.   To show their support, kids can also customize their bear with doctor’s apparel, including scrubs, surgical mask, and a lab coat.  One hundred percent of profits, after all related expenses, benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Additionally, copies of the “The Dream Plucker of Perrysport,” a highly imaginative children’s book based on creative stories and illustrations submitted by Camp Carnival participants, will be sold in the shipboard Camp Carnival facilities for $5.95. One hundred percent of the purchase price of this item will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Several hundred copies of the book have also been donated to the hospital.

A number of other fun and exciting activities are planned for the future and will be announced at a later date.

Just in time for Opening Day, Carnival will be auctioning off the baseball bat signed by All-Star third baseman Alex Rodriguez of the World Champion New York Yankees that was used in the Carnival Dream’s naming ceremony in New York.  Those interested in bidding on this one-of-a-kind commemorative item can visit www.carnival.com/stjude, a special Web site that highlights the Carnival-St. Jude partnership.  One hundred percent of the auction proceeds will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The site also includes a two-minute video on Carnival-St. Jude initiatives, a listing of the line’s yearly progress toward its fundraising goal, and a link to St. Jude’s Web site where visitors can donate directly to the organization.

“Carnival Cruise Lines is pleased to launch the Care to Play initiative which provides our guests with a number of wonderful and memorable ways to help some very special children,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival’s president and CEO. “With a goal of $3 million, these fundraising opportunities will enable our guests to assist St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in their groundbreaking efforts in the fight against childhood cancer,” he added.

“We truly appreciate the commitment of Carnival Cruise Lines to the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude. “Each dollar raised through the Care to Play campaign will help in our fight to find cures for cancer and other deadly childhood diseases so that children in communities everywhere will have a second chance at life.”

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Let this new web tool help you pick the best cruise line for your tastes.  World’s Leading Cruise Lines, a marketing alliance between Carnival Corporation & plc’s six brands serving the North American market – Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn – has created an innovative, new web-based tool that engages consumers and helps them discover which brands’ unique style of cruising matches their ideal vacation experience.

Through a series of experiential questions, the Cruise Navigator tool asks users to choose from a range of desired vacation experiences, indicating priorities and interests.  Their ideal vacation is then compared to a favorite car or a favorite film, for example, to self-select between brands spanning the contemporary, premium and luxury cruise categories.  Links to handy travel agent locators are provided as well as brand overview videos and the opportunity to “send to a friend.”  Prospective guests enjoy mixing up their answers to see which cruise lines Cruise Navigator suggests they explore further.

Cruise Navigator is the latest addition to the World’s Leading Cruise Lines comprehensive website www.worldsleadingcruiselines.com, a helpful online resource featuring destination descriptions, profiles of the six member lines and the Best Blogs at Sea www.bestblogsatsea.com.  Carnival Corporate Marketing partnered with Boston based integrated agency Arnold Worldwide to develop the tool.

“Vacation time is as precious as ever and each of our brands contributed to Cruise Navigator, enabling the vacation planning public and travel agents alike to select from the diverse experiences offered by these distinct cruise lines, each a leader in its own market segment,” notes Bill Harber, Carnival Corporation & plc’s senior director of marketing.

World’s Leading Cruise Lines capitalizes on an array of ships, destinations, durations, and cruising styles for excellent vacation options.  Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, World’s Leading Cruise Lines inspires first time cruisers and repeat guests to discover their best vacation experience. Together, these brands offer a variety of exciting and enriching cruises to the world’s most desirable destinations.

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