Singles save on Elegant’s Cruise Trips

Single passengers sailing on Elegant Cruises’ small cruise ship, the 105 passenger Andrea, will not be assessed a single supplement on three European cruises in July and August. The Andrea offers a personalized cruise trip to scenic island and coastal areas the large cruise lines cannot visit.

The 13-night voyage to the Baltic Capitals, departing July 1 from St Petersburg includes three days to explore the art, history and beauty of St. Petersburg before sailing to Helsinki, with stops in Tallin, Estonia; Riga, Latvia; Visby, Gotland, Sweden; Gdansk, Poland; Klaipeda, Lithuania; Stockholm, Sweden; and Mariehamn, Aland Island.

The return voyage, departing from Helsinki on July 13, explores the Gulf of Bothnia -- “Land of the Midnight Sun” -- with stops at historic Rauma, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the remote Finnish islands of Jurmo, Uto, Aland and Kokar. A highlight of this voyage is a visit above the Arctic Circle to a nomadic Sami (Laplander) tribe. This cruise trip includes stops in Stockholm, Tallinn and 2 days in St. Petersburg before returning to Helsinki.

On August 22, the Andrea will depart from Barcelona for a scenic 11-night cruise trip to Sete and Marseille, France; Portofino and Capri, Italy; Bastia, Corsica; Syracuse, Sicily; Gallipoli; Dubrovnik and Split, Croatia before arriving in Venice.

Tauck Christens new Ship for European River Cruises

On April 3, Tauck World Discovery officially launched its newest 118-guest European river cruises ship, the Swiss Sapphire, at a ceremony in Antwerp, Belgium.

The Swiss Sapphire will alternate with its sister ship, Swiss Emerald, on six different European river cruise itineraries, including The Blue Danube for 13 days, the Black Sea to Budapest for12 days, the Rhine & Moselle for 13 days, Prague to the Black Sea (combining the Blue Danube and the Black Sea to Budapest itineraries) for 20 days, and the Grand European Cruise, a 24 day cruise adventure along the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers through nine European countries with 2-nights in Bucharest.

In addition to plasma TVs, mini-bars and individual air-conditioning in all cabins and suites, the 361-foot, four-deck Swiss Sapphire features a Jacuzzi on its top deck, a steam room, Lido bar, lounge, restaurant, fitness center and massage room.

Explore historic villages along Europe’s famed waterways and enjoy the sites from the top deck as the ship glides past ancient castles, medieval cathedrals and intriguing countryside. With shore excursions, informative lectures on history and the regions, wine served with dinner, all gratuities, meals ashore and the services of three Tauck directors and one Cruise Director included, Tauck’s European river cruises provide a floating luxury hotel through which to relax and enjoy Europe.

Small cruise ships feature biblical scholar

For a culturally enriching experience on small cruise ships, consider Elegant Cruises’ "Monasteries of the Lonely Desert" itinerary departing on December 18, 2008 and January 1, 2009.

Dr. William Dever, a Near Eastern biblical scholar, will be the guest lecturer on these voyages into the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba. His field of expertise is the historic development of the religions originating in the region.

The 62-passenger ship M/S Monet will depart from Cairo and cruise through the Gulf of Suez to the Red Sea.

Highlights of the cruise tour include:

• an overnight hotel stay near Luxor and Valley of the Kings;
• an excursion to St. Catherine’s Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site;
• 2-nights land accommodation in the ancient city of Petra.
  

Early booking savings of $300 per person are in effect until May 31st.

Historic small ships cruise through the Göta Canal

Hurtigruten (formerly Norwegian Coastal Voyage) is offering unique four- and six-day small ship adventures along Sweden’s spectacular Göta Canal from late May through mid-September.

The cruises focus on the history of the canal (the 175th anniversary celebrations are scheduled for next year) and the culture and attractions of the surrounding cities and towns. The 190 km long Göta Canal includes 58 locks reaching a total elevation of 92 meters above sea level.

The vintage small ships, the M/S Diana, M/S Juno and M/S Wilhelm Tham, were constructed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and refurbished in 2003-2004 to include modern comforts while maintaining the ambience of their original period. They have no more than 29 cozy, small cabins, most of which have bunk beds, washbasins and shared toilets and showers.

Each cruise includes daily buffet breakfasts, with fixed-menu two-course lunches and three-course dinners. Swedish, English and German are spoken onboard. The ships have a dining room, lounge, library and small kiosk. There are no televisions or radios to disrupt the relaxing voyage.

The four- and six-day cruises travel from Stockholm to Göteborg, Sweden’s largest port. Along the way, guests are able to explore the villages and historical sites by foot or by bicycle. Key sites include:

• The Trollhätte Canal Museum with detailed descriptions of historic and modern canal lock construction;
• The Royal Hunting Museum in Älgens Berg with a special display on the region’s noblest animal, the moose;
• A collection of castles: Läckö's 13th-century castle, rebuilt in the Baroque-style in the 17th century; the ruins of 13th century Stegeborg castle, with unique Viking pole barriers; and the Vadstena Cloister with King Gustav Vasa's 1540s Gripsholm Castle.
  

During July and August, the M/S Diana will also sail two-day, one-night cruises between Motala and Söderköping.

Luxury Small Ships Schedule Speakers

The top-rated luxury small cruise ships of SeaDream Yacht Club will feature guest speakers on their westbound transatlantic voyages in November 2008. The itineraries will include speakers on world affairs, astronomy, maritime history and people profiling/character analysis.

With a crew of 95 and only 55 couples, SeaDream offers award-winning personal service and 5-star cuisine. Each all-inclusive yacht voyage includes all meals, wine with lunch and dinner, open bar with select premium liquors, use of water toys and gratuities. Evening activities include a piano bar, movies under the stars and quiet conversations or strolls around the decks.

After cruising through the Mediterranean during the summer, SeaDream I will depart on November 1 from Tenerife to Antigua on an 11-day trans-Atlantic crossing. Guest speakers include Bruce Gronich, a professor at University of Texas who has taught physical science and astronomy and Alice Weiser, a former consultant to US government agencies, who is an expert on people profiling and character analysis. Cruise fare pricing begins at $3,099 per person based on double occupancy.

SeaDream II departs from Tenerife on November 13 for an 11-day crossing to Miami. Speakers on this cruise include Irving R. Levine, a NBC News correspondent and Anthony Nicholas, an authority on maritime history. Cruise fares begin at $2,999 per person based on double occupancy. Taxes, fees and air transportation are additional.