Recommend December 2013 - (Page 18)
Islands. The 112-passenger yacht's fares are (here's that magic
word again) inclusive.
A yen for adventures in the natural world is another item popping
up on passenger wish lists. In response, says Rolf Logan,
Hurtigruten's sales director, Americas (hurtigruten.com), "Our
excursions are being expanded so that we can deliver even more
of what is so special about each season in Norway. Springtime examples
include getting closer to wildlife on new kayaking, birding,
and whale- and reindeer-watching outings. New autumn excursions
next year will feature foraging in the local forests for edibles."
Hurtigruten guests mingle with the local residents of Antarctica.
Uniworld, too, turns all-inclusive in 2014, wrapping up gratuities,
shore excursions, and unlimited beverages; while Regent Seven
Seas (rssc.com) recently expanded its all-inclusive, all-suite luxury
product to include free, fleet-wide WiFi. An inclusive offer is also on
tap with Scenic Cruises, as well as new-on-the-block Emerald
Waterways, slated to sail in 2014.
On the mighty Mississippi, the American Queen Steamboat
Company (americanqueensteamboatcompany.com)-which
similarly serves up complimentary shore tours plus beer and wine
with dinner-provides a different experience from the smaller river
vessels, thanks in part to the U.S.-flagged American Queen being
longer than a football field. Billed as the largest and most opulent
riverboat anywhere-picture six decks festooned with fanciful gingerbread
trim-the gentle-paced paddlewheeler appeals to both
American and international passengers with its heartland-themed
history and amenities. Next spring the line will branch out to the
Pacific Northwest when the new American Empress sails her
inaugural voyage on the Columbia and Snake rivers.
Also plying ol' man river is American Cruise Lines
(americancruiselines.com), with some 35 itineraries around the
country including a soon-to-launch St. Louis-to-New Orleans
program (six states in eight days) with Queen of the Mississippi.
On March 1, a new Mardi Gras cruise will kick off the line's third
season on the all-American waterway.
new experiences
Along with freshly minted domestic itineraries come exotic
destinations sure to beckon your seasoned clients in search of the
next big thing. In September, far-flung voyages went on sale for
the 128-passenger Silver Discoverer (silversea.com), joining the
Silversea Expeditions fleet next March, complete with a dozen
Zodiacs and a glass-bottom boat for close encounters with marine
life. Adventurous passengers will explore remote areas of Micronesia,
Melanesia, and Polynesia, along with the Russian Far East,
Southeast Asia, New Zealand and Australia. Those of us who have
journeyed with the luxury line can guarantee that clients who set
out to view some of the world's last wildernesses will do so in
solid comfort.
In October, SeaDream Yacht Club's SeaDream II (seadream.
com) embarked on a series of 17 voyages (through April 2014),
with itineraries that take in Myanmar, Thailand, India, China,
Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Northern Australia. Expect to
drop anchor at ports such as Komodo Island and Kitava, Trobriand
18 december 2013
good things come in small packages
Opportunities for shorter jaunts-a boon for the busiest clients in
your database-are also on the rise. Disney Cruise Line
(disneycruise.com), after debuting Disney Fantasy in 2012, took
aim at "making it easier than ever for families to enjoy a Disney
Cruise Line vacation by offering cruises from a variety of regional
homeports," says DCL president Karl Holz. Citing "an impressive
array of itinerary options from Galveston," Holz notes "the addition
of shorter getaway cruises that call on our most popular port of
call, Disney's Castaway Cay."
This year, Crystal Cruises (crystalcruises.com) announced a
120 percent increase in shorter cruise choices in Europe alone,
plus 25 percent more port days than the previous year. Coming
next year, 34 percent of Crystal cruises promise to be 10
days or less.
dining & dancing
Did I mention food, crazy good food? Arguably the favorite amenity
aboard any ship, it just keeps getting better as top chefs compete
in raising the bar, both in onboard restaurants and in hands-on
culinary centers. Holland America (HAL) (hollandamerica.com)
claims its own Culinary Council composed of celebrated chefs
from around the world that strategize about the direction of the
premium line's initiatives. In its posh Pinnacle Grill, "An Evening
at Le Cirque" is staged once on each cruise. Working with Craig
Hopson, Le Cirque's executive chef, HAL recreates the legendary
restaurant's ambiance and award-winning experience for lucky
diners. For vegetarian passengers, the line introduced a menu that
serves up 30 new dishes in the main dining room.
Oceania (oceaniacruises.com) recently unveiled the coming
season's curriculum at its Bon Appetit Culinary Center, which
will star more than 20 different classes, ranging from regional
cuisines to secrets of homemade pasta. Passengers will polish
their cooking skills in a state-of-the-art classroom, at individual
work stations equipped with induction cook tops. Classes start
at $69 pp and include shopping for local ingredients with the
chef in portside markets.
Entertainment? Along with the daily nonstop list of familiar events
and activities at sea come surprises. New York-themed
Norwegian Breakaway, for instance, showed off the glam
Rockettes as godmothers this year, while rocking three new Broadway-style
shows.
For Holland America, it was the year of "Dancing with the
Stars: At Sea." In 2013 and early 2014, HAL ships are scheduling
theme cruises with dance lessons, a dazzling production starring
celebs and dance pros, and a dance-off competition.
Dance-long a Cunard signature (cunard.com)-is similarly alive
and kicking aboard the line's traditional beauties. As I discovered
on a summer sail around the British Isles aboard Queen Elizabeth
recommend.com
http://www.hurtigruten.com
http://www.disneycruise.com
http://www.rssc.com
http://www.crystalcruises.com
http://www.hollandamerica.com
http://www.americancruiselines.com
http://www.oceaniacruises.com
http://www.silversea.com
http://www.recommend.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend December 2013
Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Canyon Ranch
Tour Talk: Insight Vacations
17th Annual Recommend Readers' Choice Awards Winners
Cruising 2013
Discovering North America
Caribbean Trends
Anguilla Travel Agent Specialist Program
Asia & The South Pacific in the Rearview Mirror
Mexico 2013
Latin America in 2013 and Beyond
Africa + The Middle East Continue to Make Stides
Nostalgic for Europe
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