Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - (Page 60) CRUISES The Temple of Understanding in Durban CONTINUED FROM PAGE 58 Increasingly, agents say their cruise clients seek extreme cultural immersions. Clients want a way to connect with residents, to experience local life and to not just see but also do. Cruise lines have taken note. For example, the adults-only Bob Marley trip offered by Carnival Cruise Lines (www.bookccl.com), which is priced at $89 per person, is also offered by other lines in other segments. tional Turkish lunch of such dishes as Gözleme, keskek and manti. But rather than dining at a fancy hotel at a table just for tourists, tour guests dine with locals, removing their shoes and sitting on the floor. After lunch, guests go outside to help the locals collect fruit, which, depending on the season, might be cherries, grapes, pomegranates, figs or quince. This extreme cultural immersion into the heart of off-the-beaten-path Turkey is priced at $109 for adults, $84 for children. A Taste of Turkey Deluxe Azamara Cruises (www.azamara cruises.com) offers an unusual 6.5-hour cultural immersion tour in Kusadasi, Turkey. The excursion’s title says it all: “Colors, Tastes and Smells of Turkey.” Clients travel to Sirince, renowned for its apricots and peaches, and for the wine made from those fruits. Guests can sample the food and drink, and also visit a famous Orthodox church within the village. Then it’s on to the mountainous area of Kirazl Koy, where cruisers visit the primary school and meet and chat with the village’s children. They might also opt to nap under a cherry tree or pop into the village center for a coffee. Azamara guests also are treated to a tradi60 | TravelAgent July 21, 2008 Faith and History Sometimes, cultural immersion means learning about other faiths, their history and varied architectural styles. Many travelers, particularly in the luxury segment, find this kind of trip stimulating not only culturally, but also intellectually. For $49 per person, Silversea Cruises (www.silversea.com) offers a four-hour “Three Religions Tour” in Durban, South Africa. It showcases South Africa’s diverse religious life and architecture. Guests visit the Juma Musjid Muslim Mosque, the second largest mosque in the southern hemisphere. The building blends Islamic decorations with South Africa’s Union Period style. Guests can then stroll through a 1920s-era arcaded bazaar—a vibrant trading and market area for locals. Next, it’s on to St. Emmanuel Catholic Cathedral, and then on to the Hare Krishna Temple in nearby Chatsworth. Cultural immersion is also increasingly an add-on feature to a historic shore trip. Guests see the main sites, but then also get a deeper snapshot of local life and culture. For instance, after AMA Waterways’ (www.amawaterways. com) passengers disembark and enjoy their Palace of the Popes tour and stories of the past in Avignon, they explore nooks and crannies within the village of St. Paul de Vence and tour the Chateauneuf du Pape’s wine cellars, walking through caves to learn the old way of producing wine in wooden barrels. This tour is included in the cruise fare. Cultural immersion often has rewards beyond the cruise itself. Agents report that these travelers return home feeling empowered by having achieved a connection with local people and their culture. As such, they want to cruise again and again. I CONNECTING YOU For more information on worldwide cruising, visit www.travelagentcentral.com/cruises http://www.bookccl.com http://www.amawaterways.com http://www.amawaterways.com http://www.azamaracruises.com http://www.azamaracruises.com http://www.silversea.com http://www.travelagentcentral.com/cruises
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 Online Now Contents Contributors From the Editor Europe Pacific/Asia Tanzania South Pacific Pacific Northwest Las Vegas Florida Mexico The Caribbean Comes to D.C. Cruises Tours Hotels Agenda Luxury Travel Expo Global Destination Update Small Luxury Hotels Expands into Asia ASTA is Changing, and Growing Carnival Reduces Direct Business In the Spotlight Classified Marketplace Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 (Page Cover1) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 (Page Cover2) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 (Page 1) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Online Now (Page 2) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Online Now (Page 3) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Contents (Page 4) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Contents (Page 5) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Contents (Page 6) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Contents (Page 7) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Contributors (Page 8) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Contributors (Page 9) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 10) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 11) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 12) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 13) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 14) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 15) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Europe (Page 16) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Europe (Page 17) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Europe (Page 18) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Europe (Page 19) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 20) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 21) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 22) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 23) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tanzania (Page 24) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tanzania (Page 25) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tanzania (Page 26) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tanzania (Page 27) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - South Pacific (Page 28) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - South Pacific (Page 29) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Pacific Northwest (Page 30) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Pacific Northwest (Page 31) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 32) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 33) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 34) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 35) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Florida (Page 36) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Florida (Page 37) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Florida (Page 38) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Florida (Page 39) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Mexico (Page 40) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Mexico (Page 41) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Mexico (Page 42) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Mexico (Page 43) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Mexico (Page 44) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Mexico (Page 45) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 46) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 47) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 48) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 49) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 50) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 51) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 52) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 53) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 54) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 55) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 56) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 57) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 58) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 59) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 60) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 61) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tours (Page 62) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tours (Page 63) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tours (Page 64) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tours (Page 65) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Hotels (Page 66) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Hotels (Page 67) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Agenda (Page 68) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Agenda (Page 69) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Agenda (Page 70) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Luxury Travel Expo (Page 71) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Global Destination Update (Page 72) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Small Luxury Hotels Expands into Asia (Page 73) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - ASTA is Changing, and Growing (Page 74) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Carnival Reduces Direct Business (Page 75) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - In the Spotlight (Page 76) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Classified Marketplace (Page 77) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page 78) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Advertising Index (Page 79) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Trendwatch (Page 80) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Trendwatch (Page Cover3) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Trendwatch (Page Cover4)
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