Recommend March 2012 - (Page 43)

SMALL SHIP CRUISING in the U.S. continued from page 18 clapboard colonial homes and manicured gardens; and visit 18th century lighthouses that guided whaling ships back to bustling ports. Departure dates are May through September, with rates starting at $3,110. “Our clients are very well-traveled,” says Beebe. “They are slightly older in age, 55+, afﬂuent and well-educated. Most have cruised with the larger lines and have now ‘graduated’ to the smaller lines. After cruising on large ships and having to deal with long waits and crowds, eventually they discover American Cruise Lines, welcoming the more reﬁned, unique and intimate cruising experience we provide.” And this year and next are big years for the cruise line as it’s debuting two brand-new itineraries: Alaska and the Mississippi River. There’s the 7- to 11-night cruises in Alaska’s Inside Passage aboard the American Spirit and a number of cruises—including themed cruises such as Civil War and Mark Twain—on board the Queen of the Mississippi, which is set to debut on the river in August. The company targets the young at heart, emphasizes Jacox. “Adventure-seeking people, those who like to be active outdoors, highly educated and interested in learning along the way, looking for a more meaningful travel experience. Ages range from 35-70 usually, but we are getting more families with young children.” In 2013, the line will be adding the 88-guest Safari Legacy to its ﬂeet, debuting in Alaska in summer 2013 and then sailing fall and spring seasons on the Columbia and Snake rivers. A twist to this boat will be the incorporation of Living History programs on board and ashore, consisting of characters from history appearing on board for reenactments, presentations and discussions. n keep an eye out for… Clients looking to explore America’s heartland might want to book the Great American Steamboat Company’s new Steamboat American Queen, the largest paddleboat steamboat ever built, the company says. The steamboat is set to debut next month, calling Memphis its home-port. The 436-guest vessel will offer 3- to 10-night journeys through from Memphis, New Orleans, St. Louis, Minneapolis/ St. Paul, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Louisville and Chattanooga. Themed cruise aﬁcionados will especially love the Epic Civil War voyages being featured for the 2012 inaugural season. They are 8- to 10-night cruises with visits to legendary battleﬁelds following in the footsteps of the blue and the gray between New Orleans, Vicksburg, Chattanooga and Louisville, accented by onboard entertainment including actors, impersonators, leading lecturers, balladeers and reenactments. Rates start at $2,295 pp dbl and include pre- or post-luxury hotel stay. “Guests want to discover so much of this country’s rich history,” says Tim Rubacky, senior v.p. of sales, marketing and product development, Great American Steamboat Company, “and themed cruises such as our Civil War are led by academics and passionate storytellers. What could be a better classroom.” You’ll want to know, too, that the line has signed an exclusive agreement with Signature Travel Network, meaning both will work closely together to develop extensive sales and marketing initiatives that include co-operative marketing, travel agent educational opportunities and agent training programs. american safari cruises For clients who want to sail America’s great waterways on a yacht, American Safari Cruises—a division of InnerSea Discoveries—offers upscale, active cruises aboard four yachts: the 36-guest Safari Explorer, the 86-guest Safari Endeavor, the 22-guest Safari Quest and the 12-guest Safari Spirit. In fact, the company pioneered yacht cruising in Alaska in 1997, and currently offers itineraries in the state’s Inside Passage, Washington & British Columbia, the Columbia & Snake rivers and the Hawaiian Islands. The line emphasizes the “un-cruise.” Tim Jacox, executive v.p., sales and marketing, InnerSea Discoveries/American Safari Cruises, explains: “An un-cruise searches the protected shores and waters for ultimate wildlife, scenic and wilderness encounters. A key to the uncruise is small group access to explore remote, inner reaches and avoid the beaten path inhabited by main stream cruise ships. We go where other ships do not and focus on actively exploring the wilderness—hiking, kayaking, skiff explorations, paddle boarding, expert naturalists, exclusive cultural experiences. Our guests spend time discovering and playing outside, learning about the area’s history and culture, watching whales and seeking out other wildlife. Our itineraries are ﬂexible and we are guided by nature and wildlife.” They offer, he says, a redeﬁnition of luxury. “Certainly American Safari Cruises offers wonderful onboard services, accommodations, amenities and a rich yet relaxing environment on all four of its yachts,” says Jacox, “but that luxury is accentuated untold times when combined with our luxury of experience. Our highly active/adventurous explorations focus on untouched, remote areas and agents should be aware of that emerging deﬁnition of luxury, especially since it applies so perfectly to our un-cruises,” adding that the point isn’t the company’s ﬁve-star experience. “The real stars, which number in the thousands, are the bears, whales, dolphins, eagles, icebergs, waterfalls, trees, indigenous peoples, and yes, real stars in the sky seen from the deck of a small ship anchored in an isolated cove with no one else around.” And clients will see all this and more on any of the myriad Alaska itineraries the line offers, including the 14-night Famed Inside Passage, which extends from Juneau to Seattle. The itinerary is a who’s who of Alaska, with the Icy Strait, Glacier Bay National Park, Baird Glacier/ Frederick Sound, Ketchikan, San Juan Islands/Friday Harbor and more. Departure dates are April through September, available on all four Safari yachts, with rates starting at $6,095. Archived related articles (available on recommend.com): Small Ships in the Old South (March 2011) contact information American Cruise Lines: (800) 460-4518; americancruiselines.com American Safari Cruises: (888) 862-8881; americansafaricruises.com Great American Steamboat Company: (888) 749-5280; agents.greatamericansteamboatcompany.com march 2012 43 http://www.recommend.com http://www.americancruiselines.com http://www.americansafaricruises.com http://agents.greatamericansteamboatcompany.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend March 2012

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Vikram Chatwal Hotels
Tour Talk: SITA World Tours
From Zambia to Zimbabwe
Small Ship Cruising in the U.S.
All-Inclusive Resort Guide: The Caribbean & Mexico
Alaska: New Action in an Old World
Sandpearl Resort, Clearwater, Florida
European River Cruising 2012
Pantanal: The Brazilian Serengeti

Recommend March 2012