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Princess cruises ScholarShi at Sea program offers several courses during sea days for passengers to improve their skills or learn new ones. Imagine, for example, learning to use your digital camera to take professional-quality photos of your cruise. Or perhaps creating a hand-painted vase in the first ceramics studio at sea. Choose from up to 40 classes on every voyage including everything from scrapbooking to wine tasting. 

Culinary Arts
Get ready for a tantalizing tour of the world of fine food. Put your chef’s hat on and learn the secrets of preparing a spectacular array of mouth-watering gourmet specialties served onboard with our culinary arts courses. They feature entertaining demonstrations from guest chefs as well as our own onboard experts — with recipes to take home. The culinary demonstrations onboard are excellent! They are free of charge and last about an hour. You are taught to make an appetizer, main dish and dessert each in 20 minutes. At the end of the presentation, you can take a galley tour. Foodies Beware, on 7 day cruises, many times they only offer 1 cooking presentation the first sea day. I missed it on my last cruise thinking they would offer it again, so check your cruise programs. Other demonstrations throughout the cruise included Martini “mixology” and an ice carving demonstration.

 
Wine Tasting
Whether you’re a beginner looking to learn the basics of wine tasting, or a connoisseur interested in expanding your knowledge, our onboard wine tasting seminars should be on your schedule. These fun and fascinating adventures in the exciting world of wine offer a wonderful opportunity to make new friends as you taste superb selections hand-picked by our cellar master. This seminar is $9.50 pp Elite Captain Circle Members receive a coupon for free wine tasting. The last day at sea there is normally also a Maitre D’Hotel Wine Club: Members of this elite club are invivted to sample pretigious wines from the top-end of Princess Cruises’ renowned wine cellars served with deluxe canapes to compliment each premium wine. This seminar is offered at $25 pp including unique wine offers. You must book in advance as space is limited. You can ask your wait staff for assistance.

Scrapbooking@Sea

Learn to capture your cruise memories forever in a fabulous scrapbook or memory album. The first such program of its kind at sea, scrapbooking provides a fun social atmosphere where you’ll discover how to create a wonderfully personal keepsake of your Princess vacation. An introductory course is free of charge and teaches you basic tools like page design, journaling and other helpful hints. More in-depth courses are available with a purchase of our special Princess Scrapbooking Kit. These classes offer additional tips and clever ideas to craft your own pages while using our available decorative papers, die-cut machines and more! The introductory class is free, and then fees vary based on materials used, but do not exceed $25 pp

 

Photography@Sea

Wether you’re an amateur or intermediate photographer, here’s your chance to learn how to achieve professional results. With Photography@Sea, you can develop or enhance your picture-taking skills with fun hands-on courses in everything from basic techniques to new digital technology. Taught by our professional photography staff, courses include Introduction to Photography, Using and Setting Your Digital Camera, Photo Digital and Film Basics, or Creative Photography. You’ll also learn exciting travel photo techniques that you can use to capture more memorable images of your cruise.

Ceramics@Sea
Get creative and have fun with your own hand-painted design on unique pre-made ceramic pieces — fired in the cruise industry’s first onboard kilns! Choose a mug, a plate or a bowl, and add your own creative touch, then we’ll fire it in our kilns. By voyage end, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind souvenir! In addition, exclusively on Island Princess® and Coral Princess,® a wet-clay pottery program includes specialized wheel-throwing classes. Prices range from $15 to $30 including all paints, utensils, unlimited paint time, firing and finishing of each piece.

Computers@Sea
Is there a computer program you’ve always wanted to learn, but never had the time? Our popular series of classes makes it easy to improve your computer skills. Whether it’s your first time on a computer or you’re an experienced user, we have a class to match your skills and engage your interests. Computers@Sea offers lessons suitable for all ages, providing informative and individualized attention. Photo editing, create a slide show using Power Point, Word & Excel all cost $25 per class. A lab top is provided to each participant so that you can learn hands on.

Want to learn more about Azamara cruises in 2009? Azamara is a deluxe cruise line, and was voted one of the World’s Best Cruise Lines by Condé Nast Traveler. Europe. Asia. South America. The Caribbean. Where in the world would you like to go? With Azamara, you can travel to the far reaches of the earth and explore a myriad of ports and cities that most can only dream of. From French Polynesia to the warm waters off the islands of St. Barts, whatever your passion, let Azamara take you there in magnificent style.  Enjoy butler service, the most delectable dining on the high seas, a masterful spa, graceful accommodations, and more.

Guests who travel with Azamara Cruises are explorers, seeking experiences that are richer than those offered by most cruise lines. Many Europe and Asia itineraries will include overnight stays in cities such as Istanbul, Barcelona and Venice. The ability to reach smaller ports isn’t the only advantage of traveling on smaller ships. On both Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest, 93% of staterooms enjoy ocean views, with 70% offering private verandas. You’ll also discover an intimacy not found on larger vessels, creating a relaxed atmosphere that is far more conducive to interacting with the staff, as well as fellow travelers. The advantages of smaller ships are even evident when you’re in port. Captains can navigate right into the heart of the engaging ports of call so that almost immediately after you dock, you’re free to begin explorations.

Past Azamara & Captain Club members can receive up to $300 off all stateroom categories on the following cruises, when booking Jan 1st - March 31, 2009. Call about these and other Azamara discount offers.

7 Night Europe Mediterranean     Azamara Journey       Apr 25;  May 2, 9, 16, 2009

10 Night Europe Mediterranean   Azamara Journey       Apr 5, 15, 2009
                                                                    Azamara Quest             June 4, 2009

14 Night Europe Mediterranean   Azamara Journey        May 23, 2009
                                                                    Azamara Quest             June 14, 28, 2009

12 Night Scand/Russia                     Azamara Journey        June 6, 30, 2009

12 Night Caribbean                            Azamara Journey        March 8, 2009

14 Night Asia                                        Azamara Quest             March 14, 2009

16 Night Transatlantic                     Azamara Journey        March 20, 2009

24 Night Asia                                       Azamara Quest             April 7, 2009

Experience Silverseas cruises in 2009. As the economy continues to be the primary concern for consumers, Silversea has announced special savings and initiatives.

Free & Specially Price airfare:  Special, limited time offer has been expanded to include 16 new sailings and extended for new bookings received through March 31, 2009.  In total, 28 voyages in 2009 offer the special free airfare incentive. Generously discounted economy roundtrip airfare is also available from select central and western gateway cities.

Here are just a few of the cruises included in the free air promotion:

Mediterranean

• Silver Wind departs May 14 on a 7-day voyage (#2915) from Barcelona to Nice with calls in Valencia, Corsica, Livorno and Antibes. Early Booking Incentive cruise fares start at $5,435 pp
  *Exclusive bonus offer: Onboard host, cocktail party &
  complimentary shore excursion in Calvi, Costica’s Old Villages
• Silver Whisper departs July 4 on a 7-day voyage (#4918) from Venice to Athens with calls in Split, Kotor, Corfu and Itea. Silver Sailing cruise fares start at $4,896 pp

Northern Europe and Baltic

• Silver Cloud departs August 2 on a 7-day voyage (#1918) from Stockholm to Copenhagen with calls in Helsinki and Tallinn, plus a three-day, two night stopover in St. Petersburg. Silver Sailing cruise fares start at $5,176 pp 
• Silver Cloud departs September 5 on a 14-day roundtrip voyage (#1922) from London with calls in Tallinn, Gdansk, Copenhagen and Zeebrugge, plus a three-day, two night stopover in St. Petersburg. Advance Payment Bonus cruise fares start at $11,996 pp

Past passengers also enjoy savings of up to 50% off previously published cruise-only fares.

To learn more, contact a luxury cruise specialist at 877-306-5595

I came across this article on CNN on the 9 reasons people will not be traveling next year. There are some good points, but I would like to suggest a different point of view.

We all agree that 2008 has brought about drastic economic changes in this country.  However, we find that consumers are still traveling.

Vacation budgets:  It’s hard to imagine setting aside money for a vacation, but small adjustments make it very possible to include a vacation in your budget. Cosmos tours recently launched a campaign called “A little change could go a long way.” Cut out just a few stops at the specialty coffee shops and you an enjoy a delectable taste of the real thing on the other side of the globe. 20 grand lattes = 1 grand day in Italy or a couple of days on a National Park tour. It’s that simple.

The article points out that people feel uncertain about the future. After 9/11 we as a country learned that life brings unexpected challenges, tragedies and fear, but these emotions in many cases bring people together, and makes families and individuals want to enjoy their lives more. Even as we were uncertain of the security in our country and what the the future would bring, there was a significant increase in pregnancies after the terrorist attacks. Logic would have suggested the opposite - why bring a child into an uncertain world? You could argue that uncertainty makes people realize the value of living a meaningful and fulfilling life, providing a constant source for inspiration to work hard towards these goals.

Staying at home and seeing local attractions can be monotonous, so people will want to venture away from home. Why not take a driving vacation through New England or the National Parks? Rafting trips in the Midwest are also very affordable. A good travel agent can help you think “out of the box” and find the right trip for your family.

The article mentions that deals are good, but consumers feel they could be lower. Cruises are going for as low as $99 for 3 days…we just  booked a client on a 3 day NCL cruise in March, balcony cabin for $306 pp and the promotion included a $40 ship board credit. Worried about onboard expenses? You can go on a cruise and spend little money out of pocket.  Read our blog for some great ways to save while on your next cruise!

Another point, was that people don’t feel like traveling right now. Each time a new ship came out this year we saw a spike in interest to experience them.  We were part of the Inaugural cruises for both the Celebrity Solstice and Ruby Princess, and consumer excitement in both of these ships was evident with the surge of bookings for these ships. The Oasis of the Sea is not sailing until November 2009, but consumers could not wait to begin booking the world’s largest cruise ship when reservations opened in September of this year.

Stress! Plunging markets. Shaky mortgages. Pricey bailouts. The financial crisis is taking a toll on budgets, but could also be affecting people’s health. Stress has been linked to overeating, heart disease, high blood pressure, depression and more. Relaxation is key, and what better way to relax than to take a short vacation?

Hiking, biking, river rafting, cooking and wine tours have all increased in popularity over the past several years. We also see increased bookings for family travel to the Galapagos, Alaska, Costa Rica, Canada, Hawaii and Europe as these itineraries ensure that there are plenty of activities for both adults and children. People are interested in travel, they just seem to be looking for new destinations and experiences.

The article also suggests that the travel industry is not offering enough incentives. Early payment discounts, payment plans and incentives are in place for several tour companies and cruise lines. For the month of January, many cruise lines have not only lowered fares,  but they are reducing the deposit required  by 50% to make a reservations. The airline industry should be dropping prices as they start to purchase new fuel contracts at lower rates, but there are plenty of vacation alternatives close to home if they don’t. Purchasing from a travel agency could also give you some added benefits such as savings on travel insurance, complimentary shore excursions, onboard credits and more at no additional cost to the consumer.

Last but not least, it seems that many consumers are planning their trips for 2010.  It’s okay to plan ahead, but keep in mind that as the economy recovers, the prices will start to go back up. With cruises, consumers can get a full refund of their deposit up to the time of final payment, so there is no risk in booking early to take advantage of these great promotions. Many insurance policies will offer coverage that allow travelers to cancel for any reason, (including work related issues.)  This is another advantage of booking with a travel agent, as booking direct may not always provide consumers the option to purchase the type of insurance coverage they need.

The article closes by stating that for those that do travel in 2009, even a small budget could offer a wonderful, and rewarding experience. You can read other great reasons to travel in 2009 in the article Thank you! 6 reasons we love to Travel Now.

We’d love to hear about your travel plans for 2009.

Cruises are an excellent value. Food, entertainment and many onboard activities are included in the price of the trip. Still, it is easy to overspend if you’re not careful.

Where can the spending add up? Watch the beverages, shore excursions, spa treatments and items ship sell onboard. Many are over priced.

Talk to your travel agent about the port you are visiting and read online blogs. In many islands you can just walk off the ship for shopping and beaches, where on others you will want to buy an excursion or take a cab.

Spa: Want a relaxing massage or facial? Regular prices are about 20 to 30% higher than you would pay at a local spa. The best time for a Spa treatment is the days you are in port, where they will run $20 to $60 off per treatment. Keep in mind even if you have an excursion planned for the day, the spa is open until 10 p.m. Try to avoid getting your hair & nails done onboard. They are expensive and usually do not offer any specials on these services. Also, they will try to sell you products at the end of your treatment. Ask questions and write the name of the items down but purchase it when you get home. You can usually find cheaper price on the internet. Elemis for example often offers 10% off on online purchases.

Consider purchasing packages, such as the soda, wine, beer, coffee or ice cream programs. I was recently on a 7 day cruise where it cost $29 per person. When you consider that each soda costs $3, and my husband usually drinks a minimum of 5 per day, he easily would have spent $80 or $90 on soda versus the $29.  Tea, coffee, milk & juice is free onboard, but name brand coffee such as Seattle Best or specialty coffee drinks, there is an additional charge. Ice cream can be ordered each night in the dining room with your choice of topping and whip cream, so perhaps pass on the $3.50 ice cream sundae and wait for dessert. You can always order 2 desserts if something else on the menu interest you. Chocolate cake with a side of vanilla ice cream perhaps?

Internet: Wifi connections are great on the newer ships, but again this can get expensive. Purchase a package prior to using the internet. Minutes can go for over .70 if you do not purchase a package, but drop down to .30 to .50 on average depending on usage if you buy one of their packages. Some ships run specials the first day of the cruise where you get 10 to 30 minutes free if you sign up for a package that day so check your cruise bulletin.

Specialty dining: In recent years ships have now offer restaurants that have a cover charge.  The food & service in these venues are usually top notch, but if you are on a budget, you can skip it without being cheated. It’s not that $20 or $25 is not worth it for Brazilian Lobster or Kobe beef, but depending on  the ship you are on, there is usually a great selection in the regular dining room without paying additional. The menu’s are posted early each day outside of the dining room, so take a look and see what interests you. If you don’t feel like dressing up, then the buffet usually has the same items being offered in the formal dining room.

Gratuities: Your bar bill include 15% tip each time you order. There is no need to tip additional money, unless you feel the service is “above and beyond.”

Watch the casino! Cruise lines are making it easier for you to spend your money. On many ships, In the slot machines, you just insert your room key and you can deduct the amount you’d like right from your account. It is harder to keep track of how much you are spending versus using cash, since no receipt prints out. Best bet is to have a budget in mind for each night, take cash and walk out when it’s gone.

Last but not least shopping. Although items onboard are duty free, chances are you can purchase the items cheaper in port. You can “negotiate” with local vendors most of the time to get the price down, where on the ship it is a fixed price.  Also be aware of the shopping allowance per person. When visiting the Caribbean, you are eligible for a $800 pp exemption. You may also bring back 1 liter of alcohol, up to 200 cigarettes and up to 100 non-Cuban cigars. You will be asked to complete a form prior to disembarking the ship that explains all of these exemptions.  Keep all of your receipts handy just in case you are questioned by customs.

Children can spend hours in the kids club, and adults can spend an entire cruise vacation, reading, watching movies, swimming, watching live entertainment and eating, at no additional cost.

Princess Balcony Bonanza Sale extended until February 28,2009. Don’t delay in booking to get the cabins with the best location on the ship. Princess is offering some great prices, and free upgrades from ocean view to balcony on select sailings. Keep in mind that your cruise deposit is refundable until the time of final payment, so there is no risk in booking your Princess cruise early. Many sailings have added amenities including ship board credits, wine and more. Call for details.

BALCONY BONANZA EXTENDED! Summer 2009 EUROPE/ALASKA/CARIBBEAN/ CANADA & NEW ENGLAND Free upgrades from oceanview to balcony!^ Extended through February 28, 2009!

EUROPE 10 DAYS SHIP: ITINERARY: EMERALD PRINCESS® Scandinavia & Russia Sail roundtrip from Copenhagen 12 DAYS SHIP: ITINERARY: RUBY PRINCESS® Grand Mediterranean Sail between Venice & Barcelona GRAND/CROWN PRINCESS® RUBY PRINCESSSM Greek Isles Sail between Rome & Venice CROWN PRINCESS® British Isles Sail roundtrip from London CROWN PRINCESS® North Cape & Norwegian Fjords Sail roundtrip from London GRAND PRINCESS® Egypt & Aegean Sail roundtrip from Rome ALASKA 7 DAYS SHIP: ITINERARY: ISLAND/CORAL/DIAMOND/ SAPPHIRE PRINCESS® Voyage of the Glaciers Sail between Anchorage & Vancouver GOLDEN/STAR PRINCESS® Inside Passage Sail roundtrip from Seattle CARIBBEAN 9 DAYS SHIP: ITINERARY: CARIBBEAN PRINCESS® Bermuda & Eastern Caribbean Sail roundtrip from New York CANADA & NEW ENGLAND* 7 DAYS SHIP: ITINERARY: CARIBBEAN PRINCESS® Canada & New England Sail roundtrip from New York 10 DAYS SHIP: ITINERARY: CROWN PRINCESS® Classic Canada & New England Sail between New York and Quebec BOOK EARLY FOR BEST AVAILABILITY!

^FREE BALCONY UPGRADES APPLY TO SELECT SUMMER 2009 SAILINGS ONLY ON A SPACE AVAILABLE BASIS AT TIME OF BOOKING. *BALCONY BONANZA FARES FOR CANADA/NEW ENGLAND WILL BE AVAILABLE ON DECEMBER 13, 2008. This offer applies to lower berth passengers only. Offer may not be combinable with other discounts, promotions, or shipboard credits, and is available to residents of the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico only. Call Princess for applicable fares and air add-on program. Please refer to the applicable Princess Cruises brochure for terms, conditions and definitions which apply to the booking.

Whether you prefer a large floating city with “neighborhoods,” a mid-size ship or a small luxurious ship, 2009 brings you plenty of new cruise ships to choose from.

Royal Caribbean  
Oasis of the Seas 
5,400 passengers       November, 2009

                     Costa Cruise Line  
Costa Pacifica                     Costa Luminosa
3,004  passengers                2,260 passengers   
June, 2009                         April, 2009

                      MSC Cruises            
Splendida                           Magnifica
3,300 passengers                 2,550 passengers     
July, 2009                          December, 2009
                                    
Seabourn              
Odyssey                         
450 passengers      June, 2009

Carnival                
Dream                      
3,652 passengers    September, 2009

Celebrity                    
Equinox                      
2,850 passengers    August, 2009

Silversea                
Spirit                                
540 passengers      November, 2009

River Cruises:

Amadeus Waterways:      Amadolce & Amalyra (142 passengers each) March, 2009                                        
Uniworld: River Beatrice (160 passengers)
 River Tosca (84 passengers) April, 2009

Do you plan to sail on any of these new ships in 2009?

Grand Turk is the capital of the Turks & Caicos Islands. A small island bursting with turn of the century Caribbean charm. The island was founded by Bermudian salk rakers some 3 centuries ago & Turks & Caicos is a seperate Crown Colony of Great Britain. it’s Bermudian-British-Colonial architecture surrounded by the colorful local dwellings and crystal blue waters, make Grand Turk a beautiful place to visit.

Pier:

Cruise ships dock at the Grand Turk Cruise Center. A very short walk gets you right to the beach and shopping area.

Transportation:

You can rent a car, jeep or bike to explore the island of Grand Turk which is 11 kilometres long and two kilometres wide. In addition to magnificent beaches, it is world renowned for diving, snorkelling, fishing and other water sports. The reef wall 400 yards off shore in Pillory beach is the most popular spot for divers.

Shopping:

Grand Turk boasts many fine shops selling everything from local souvenirs to an excellent selection of duty free items. The most visited area in the port is Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville Bar & Restaurant. Smaller arts & crafts can be found throughout the island. Innovative work can be found by local artist who use the natural environment, such as shells, to create designer mirrors, lamps and other household decor. If you collect stamps, a visit to the Philatelic Bureau in Grand Turk is a must; the brightly colored stamps are highly valued around the world.

Beaches:There is a beautiful beach located within the cruise center. Beach chairs are complimentary and clam shell umbrellas and floats are available for rent.

The Island was hit by hurricane Ike earlier this year, and there was cosiderable damage around the island, but you would not known it by visiting the cruise center, as everything has been repaired. Several shore excursions are currently unavailable, however you can still take the popular Horseback riding, Dune buggy and 4WD Safari tours of the island, as well as snorkeling and fishing adventures. Most passengers on our cruise seemed to just enjoy the beach and shopping right in the pier area, or  spending time around the pool and ”Wastin’ away in Margaritaville.”

With 2009 right around the corner, it’s time to plan your next big getaway. Where are you looking forward to traveling next year? Here are some of the predictions, trends and statistics for travel in 2009.

The U.S. Tour Operators Association reported that for the 5th straight year, Italy placed first as the most popular international destination for vacation packages and tours. Modern Bride’s annual “World Best Honeymoon” survey showed Italy has even beaten out Hawaii as the #1 honeymoon destination.  Recommend Magazine’s Readers Choice awards also listed Italy as the #1 destination. Croatia and China were the hottest up-and-coming countries for tours and travel packages. We were surprised not to see Dubai on the list.

Lonely Planet’s top 10 destinations: #1 U.S. with emphasis on National parks and Hawaii;  #2 Mexico, with an emphasis on Mexico City and the Pacific Coast; #3 Argentina; #4 Japan; #5 India & #6 Canada (tied);#7 Australia #8 China (tied);#9 Spain and #10 France.

Frommers recently released its top destinations for 2009, focusing on international destinations that are affordable and seeking the newest “hot spots”.  Washington D.C.; Waiheke Island, New Zealand; Saqqara, Egypt; Lassen Volcanic National Park, California; Istanbul, Turkey; Civil Rights Trail, USA; Cartagena, Colombia; Cape Town, South Africa; Berlin, Germany;  Belfast, Northern Ireland; Angkor Wat, Cambodia; Waterton National Park, Alberta, Canada

According to TripAdvisor, the top three predicted hot spots for North America travel are Florida, North Carolina and Alaska.

At Atlas Cruises & Tours, we are seeing a number of trends. Italy continues to be very popular. Consumers are booking specialty travel packages including river cruises, cooking and wine vacations, as well as religious travel. Several dates for the 2010 Passion Play are already sold out. We have been doing several blogs about sustainable travel in the past 6 months, as we are finding consumers more concerned in traveling with suppliers that are environmentally conscious, as well as the desire to visit destinations threatened by climate change such as Antarctica, Alaska, Galapagos and Machu Picchu. Cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska and South America are up, and we except a surge in Europe cruises, as air prices should be coming down considerably, and cruise lines are offering aggressive fares. For those staying close to home, National Parks, Canada & Hawaii are up as well.

Where are you planning to travel in 2009? We’d love to hear your top 3 list!

Want to get a great look at the Norwegian Pearl? The Travel Channel is featuring the Norwegian Pearl as a great alaska cruise during a 1 hour special. The show, filmed in high-definition during a seven-day Alaska cruise aboard Norwegian Pearl, will premiere during the network’s Alaska-themed night on Sunday, December 21, 2008 at 10 p.m. EST. The show will also air on Dec 22nd at 2 a.m., Dec 27th at 12 p.m., Jan 16th at 10 a.m. & Feb 12 at 10 p.m.  so set your Tivo!

You’re sure to enjoy the revolutionary Freestyle Cruising concept that Norwegian Cruise Line has pioneered. It’s all about freedom of choice. Choose from pasta or sushi, resort casual or formal wear. You can dine when you want, and with whomever you want. It’s up to you! Plus, Norwegian’s entertainment can’t be beat, and the Mandara Spa is sure to melt all of your cares away while your kids enjoy the complimentary Kid’s Crew™ program.

In 2009, Norwegian Pearl sails seven-day Alaska cruises through Glacier Bay round-trip from Seattle. NCL’s seven-day Alaska cruises are priced from $699 per person. The Pearl also sails the Caribbean in the winter months.

Now is a great time to book, with the NCL’s Freestyle Resolution sale. All new bookings receive ship board credits (up to $500 per cabin!)

I sailed on the Pearl in November of 2007, and loved it! You can take a look at some great pictures of the Pearl on my Flickr account