Recommend June 2011 - (Page 18)

super-sexy voyages by sea continued from page 16 and the next. The cruise also visits Venice, Athens, Kusadasi, Istanbul, Mykonos, Naples, rome, Monte Carlo and Barcelona. Clients who want time to themselves can choose Florence & Time On Your Own, which offers a short guided tour and free time for $89. Contact: (800) PRINCESS; princess.com cape town A true escape to lands far away comes in the form of Oceania Cruises’ Safaris, Sands & Splendors. Departing from Cape Town and traveling to east London, Durban and richards Bay in south Africa, it also visits Mozambique, the French Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, the seychelles, the Maldives, sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia and singapore. yes, it’s a long cruise—35 days aboard the Nautica—but an enchanting one for a leisurely honeymoon. Clients can sign up for the 3-night, pre-cruise Cape Town & Winelands Experience, priced at $1,199, to explore the exciting harbor city of Cape Town. They’ll take a cable car up to Table Mountain and see the colorful houses of Bo-Kaap; during their free time, they might want to shop or take the ferry to robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was once imprisoned. They’ll also travel to stellenbosch to admire its Cape Dutch-style architecture and oak trees, then visit one of the area’s wine estates. On the third day, clients will explore south Africa’s beautiful south westerly tip on the way to Cape point Nature reserve and its rugged cliffs looking out to sea. After lunch, they’ll visit the African penguin at Boulders Beach. Clients can also choose to spend a few nights at a game reserve along the Bushmans river or visit Victoria Falls. Oceania is offering free airfare from select cities and 2-for-1 cruise fares through the end of August, which means rates would start at $9,799 per guest. Safaris, Sands & Splendors departs on Dec. 22. Contact: (800) 531-5619; oceaniacruises.com the bvi A sunny afternoon spent exploring the natural grottos of The Baths at Virgin Gorda or splashing about the shoreline of Jost Van Dyke is time not easily forgotten. Despite its occasional wild-party atmosphere, we’re partial to the British Virgin Islands’ unspoiled beaches and carefree ambiance, as it’s yet to lose its “true Caribbean” vibe. This is one of those island getaways that we never tire of, in fact, with always-sparkling waters and as much excitement underwater as there is above it. Star Clippers’ 7-night Treasure Islands jaunt gives clients ample time to play among the huge boulders and saltwater pools of Virgin Gorda and swim, hike and explore Jost Van Dyke, plus have a few drinks at famous Foxy’s on Great Harbour. Departing from and returning to phillipsburg, st. Maarten, it also spends a day exploring other islands along the sir Francis Drake Channel, including Norman Island, the site of sir robert Louis stevenson’s Treasure Island, and soper’s Hole in Tortola, where the elegant Star Clipper spends the night. Other port of calls include st. Kitts, st. Barths and Anguilla. The Treasure Islands itinerary starts at $1,875 pp dbl, with two departures per month from November through March. This 4-mast beauty has lots of lounging space indoors and sunning spots outside—we love the widow’s net for a nap or a quiet read—plus two swimming pools and watersports equipment for snorkeling, windsurfing and more. passengers can complement their getaway with an onboard massage or morning fitness class. Contact: (800) 442-0551; starclippers.com new zealand The serene beauty and unique wildlife of this south pacific destination quickly find their way into clients’ hearts with the 15-day Exploring New Zealand’s North & South Islands from Smithsonian Journeys. A Dec. 27 departure includes visits to Milford sound, part of Fiordland National park and a World Heritage site; White Island, an active marine volcano; the town of Gisborne, where they’ll visit with a Maori community; and the city of Auckland. Clients will get a daily eyeful of majestic vistas and intriguing animal life: the rare Fjordland crested penguin in Doubtful sound, fur seals along the Otago peninsula, orcas and sperm whales off Kaikoura and perhaps a swim with Hector’s dolphins, the smallest of their kind, off the shores of Akaroa. The itinerary also includes a visit to stewart Island, with a population of 380 people, easily explored with smithsonian Journeys’ naturalists. Cruising aboard the 35-cabin Oceanic Discoverer, all passengers enjoy outdoors-facing windows, a sun deck with a hot tub and an “open bridge” concept that allows them to meet the ship’s captain and officers and enhance their knowledge of navigation. They can also sign up for a 4-night tour extension that visits Aoraki Mt. Cook, the highest point in New Zealand, as well as Christchurch and Queenstown. With this extension they’ll also enjoy a jet boat trip along the Dart river, where some of the most picturesque scenes in the “Lord of the rings” trilogy were filmed. The cruise starts at $12,590; the extension is $2,590 pp dbl. Contact: (877) 338-8687; smithsonianjourneys.org n phnom penh It might seem like an odd choice for a “sexy” shore excursion, but the dusty wonders of Cambodia’s electric capital have long been an exotic secret for brave travelers. The city is still a work in progress even decades after freeing itself from the Khmer rouge, but still preserves the magic of a once-glorious era. AMA Waterways’ 16-day Vietnam, Cambodia & the Riches of the Mekong provides a rich glimpse into present and past life in phnom penh through a city tour and visits to its royal palace and National Museum, while also showing clients what life on the shores of the Mekong is all about and adding land time in Cambodia and Vietnam. Guests spend two nights exploring Hanoi before enjoying an overnight stay in a traditional wooden junk in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay. Then it’s off to siem reap in Cambodia for three nights of exploration; clients visit part of Angkor Archaeological park, including the main temple of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer empire, established in the latter part of the 12th century. They’ll also visit the temples of Banteay srei and Ta prohm before embarking on their 7-day cruise along the Mekong river and journeys on oxcart rides, visits to Buddhist monasteries and local markets, slipper- and candy-making workshops and more. On board, they’ll be privy to an array of folkloric dance and musical performances, as well as culture chats and assorted entertainment. prices for 2012 start at $3,148 pp dbl. Contact: (800) 626-0126; amawaterways.com Archived related articles (available on recommend.com): Five Sexiest Shore Excursions (June 2010) 18 june 2011 recommend.com http://www.princess.com http://www.oceaniacruises.com http://www.starclippers.com http://www.smithsonianjourneys.org http://www.recommend.com http://www.amawaterways.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend June 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Club Med Weddings by Imagine
A Perfect Honeymoon
Super-Sexy Voyages by Sea
Home-Based Happily Ever Afters
Kiss & Tell
Saying "I Do" on an Island
The Best Beach Honeymoons
Brazil Travel Planner
Say "I Do" to Central America
Steamy Love in South America
Finding Honeymoon Gems in Europe
Mesmerizing Retreats
Exotic Africa—The Perfect Honeymoon Haven
Five Fiery Honeymoons in Mexico
Mexico Says "I Do" to Destination Weddings

Recommend June 2011