The word “silhouette” conjures up images of light and shadow, and sleek profiles in the world of design and fashion, so it’s fitting that Celebrity Cruises has named the fourth ship in its stylish Solstice Class fleet Celebrity Silhouette. And what better date to announce it than on winter solstice?

Like its widely acclaimed sister ships – Celebrity Solstice, which was named “Best Premium Ship” and “Best Rookie Ship” in Travel Weekly’s annual awards gala just last week; Celebrity Equinox, which set sail in July 2009; and Celebrity Eclipse, which will enter service in April 2010 – the 122,000-ton Celebrity Silhouette will offer the series of brand-defining, industry-first attributes that guests, travel agents and press have praised about Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox, including a half-acre Lawn Club with real grass, a glassblowing show and studio developed with The Corning Museum of Glass, unrivaled dining venues offering trendsetting cuisine and design, and widely varied entertainment.

Like its sisters, the 2,850-guest Celebrity Silhouette will have larger staterooms – 90 percent outside, and 85 percent with verandas – and spacious bathrooms, as well as several categories of accommodations, including Celebrity’s ConciergeClass and spa-inspired AquaClass staterooms.

“Countless guests and travel partners have asked us to reveal the ship’s name over the past few months, which is yet another indicator of the widespread interest in these stunningly designed ships,” said Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Dan Hanrahan. “The enormous response to our unique new sweepstakes is a powerful indicator, too.”

Cruise lovers interested in being among the very first to see Celebrity Silhouette while under construction in Germany actually have a chance. By entering Celebrity’s “Eclipse of a Lifetime” sweepstakes, running through January 14, 2010, 10 winners and their guests will be the first individuals outside of the line’s employees to board Celebrity Eclipse when it sets sail for the very first time; the first to have exclusive, up-close-and-personal views of the construction process of Celebrity Silhouette at Meyer Werft, one of the most modern shipyards in the world; first to be led and hosted throughout Celebrity Eclipse by Celebrity’s President and CEO Dan Hanrahan; first to nestle into the ship’s AquaClass staterooms; first to sample the ship’s innovative cuisine created by the line’s VP of Culinary Operations and Chef Jacques Van Staden, and the first to have the chance to interact with the ship’s senior officers.

To enter, visit the Celebrity web site, at www.celebritycruises.com and click the “Eclipse of a Lifetime” tab to access the entry form and sweepstakes rules. Or, click www.celebritycruises.com/EclipseSweepstakes. The sweepstakes runs through January 14, 2010. Winners will be announced January 28, 2010. This sweepstakes is open only to residents of the U.S. and Canada. See Official Rules on the site for complete information.

For more information, call your travel agent, dial 1-800-437-3111 or visit www.celebritycruises.com.

After so very much planning and research we decided on French Polynesia. We could not resist just one island so we decided to go to 3 of the Tahitian islands.

Our flight on Air Tahiti was pretty good; try for an emergency exit seat. It was so very long I thought my new husband would go crazy; I should have packed a baby bag for him to keep him busy. If he was good, I could have given him a little gift every hour to keep him happy. In the end to was all worth it and he said he would do it again.

We arrived, tired but very excited in Papeete and were greeted with Leis and a Tahitian Man. We had amazing service, they were so happy to have us at the Radisson Hotel. We choose this hotel due to wanting to see the black sand beach and yes, it was very private. The room was very modern and gorgeous, overlooking the ocean, the views were beyond staggering and the Jacuzzi on the patio was not bad either. We were only there for 1 day – we treated ourselves to massages in their luxurious spa and went out in downtown Papeete to eat at the Roulettes, a well known spot next to the harbor where you eat from travelling restaurants.

We rank this The Radisson Hotel, Papeete, as 7 out of 10.

Next stop – we flew inter- island to Moorea, the hotel staff were there waiting for us, it’s nice not to have to worry about getting there. It’s about a 10 minute drive from the Moorea airport to the Moorea Pearl where we stayed. We arrived to hot lemon scented hand towels, citrus water and an open air lobby, we booked a garden bungalow and after a quick tour of the resort we were guided to our room. It was our own little thatched roof hut, complete with kitchenette, cozy sitting area and a lovely backyard area with a private plunge pool and chaise lounges! The Pearl, unlike a few other resorts is only a 5 min. walk to town, where we bought beautiful souvenirs, stocked up on groceries and filled our stomachs with Pizza from a local restaurant. We rented a car for a day to tour the island, and visited places like the Moorea pinapao jus factory (pineapple juice) and drove up the mountain to the overlook for an incredible view of the two bays.

Moorea, French Polynesia

Our favorite night in Moorea we went to eat at a small local restaurant, Te honu iti, The Little Turtle, which sat right on the bay so as we ate the most amazing meal of our lives we were kept entertained by the stingray and sharks that swam right along the edge of your table.

We rank the Moorea Pearl Hotel as 9 out of 10.

Our last 4 days in Tahiti brought us to Bora Bora, after an hour flight we finally landed on this tiny little strip of land. The airport is completely surrounded by water and only accessible by boat. Our hotel staff greeter from the St. Regis met us with yet other lei and helped us aboard our boat for a 10 min boat ride to the resort. Our arrival at the St. Regis Bora Bora was unlike anything we had ever experienced, a row of hotel staff each one with a specific job to get you checked in and comfortable. Once checked in, our “butler” took us on a golf cart tour of the resort and property, ending at our room, a deluxe overwater bungalow. This bungalow was mind-blowing, glass bottom floors in each room, our own private deck with access right into the sparkling blue waters, a living room that was the size of a normal hotel room, bathroom with all the amenities and a view from our king size bed that was unbeatable.

The Private Lagoonarium at St. Regis, Bora Bora

Every night at 6pm a boat arrives at the resort to take you to the main land of Bora Bora if you want to dine or shop. The gourmet food at our resort was to die for, however the cuisine and atmosphere at the main island restaurants was remarkable. The St. Regis boasted the most wonderful natural lagoon for guests to snorkel and swim, snorkeling in the lagoon was our favorite thing to do, especially when the sea turtles were active and swimming around us. The Islands are known for their collection of black pearls, I of course had to do a bit of negotiating, but my husband finally gave in and we purchased a beautiful pair of black pearl earrings, STUNNING!

We rank The St. Regis Hotel as 10 out of 10. If we had it to do over again we would fly straight to the St. Regis and skip the other islands. However this was a very expensive hotel and the same one that is used for the movie Couples Retreat! It’s actually more beautiful than in the movie.

Leaving the French Polynesian Islands was bitter sweet, but my husband and I made memories there that will last a lifetime. It was truly the perfect paradise to start our new life together.

My doctor, who is a favorite friend as well, recommends the “New” Global entry program, to expedite getting thru customs and immigration – this costs around $100, but well worth it.

Rx  1. Global Entry is a pilot program managed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection which allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers expedited clearance upon arrival into the United States. Although this program is intended for “frequent travelers” who make several international trips per year, there is no minimum number of trips an applicant must make in order to qualify.

The process requires participants to present their machine-readable U.S. passport or permanent resident card, submit their fingerprints for biometric verification, and make a customs declaration at the kiosk’s touch-screen. Upon successful completion of the Global Entry process at the kiosk, the traveler is issued a transaction receipt and directed to baggage claim and the exit, unless chosen for a selective or random secondary referral.

Travelers must be pre-approved before they can participate in the pilot program. All applicants will undergo a rigorous background check and be interviewed by a CBP officer before they are enrolled. Automated enforcement checks will occur each time the member uses the kiosk to enter the United States. Although pre-approved for the program and determined to be low risk, members of Global Entry may be examined at any time when entering the United States.

http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/travel/trusted_traveler/global_entry/global_entry.ctt/global_entry.pdf

He is a devout cruiser, however, his devotion lies solely with Oceania…and he is just one of many I’ve spoken with who sings their praises.  It seems that many cruisers are instant converts; once they cruise on Oceania, they never want to cruise on another line.

So why the unwavering loyalty to this particular cruise line?  The staff and the warm hospitality cruisers receive is absolutely outstanding on each and every cruise.

Oceania’s lovely staterooms and suites may be another reason.  They have some of the nicest linens Butler service, private verandas some cabins are 2,500 + square feet.

Another well-loved aspect of the Oceania cruises is the dining.  Oceania reputation for fine cuisine is oft-repeated among its dedicated cruisers; the legendary Jacques Pepin serves as Ocean’s Executive Culinary Director.  A wide variety of offerings is available aboard each ship, and the venues, ranging from casual to “5-star restaurant”

Lastly, the passenger’s services and activities on Oceania’s ships, offerings include fine salon and spa services, along gym facilities, Aromatic Steam Room, a Thalassotherapy Pool, and Asian therapy treatments.

Overall it seems to be the county club atmosphere that keeps Oceania lovers coming back for more.

The recent launch announcement of Oceania’s new ship, Marina, in winter 2010, holds some additional clues.  (See the full announcement here.)

Marina, the newest member of the Oceania Cruises fleet, will be open for reservations in mid-January.

Oceania Club Members may make their reservations during an Exclusive Five Day Members-Only Reservation Period from January 13th through the 18th by calling 800-531-5658.

Itineraries and Fares will be available on OceaniaCruises.com beginning January 18th when Marina opens for reservations to the general public.

If you are interested in the Marina, please send an email to hshane@CruiseCompete.com put Oceania Marina in the subject and include your name, Past Passenger number is imperative, email address and phone number.  We will put you on the list to be contacted when we have more information.

This is the time of year when most of us give some serious thought to doing good. We try to help others as best we can either through donations or actions.

The cruise lines also do a lot of good through their various philanthropic programs. My good friend, cruise writer Marcia Levin, compiled the following list of what various member lines of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association Foundation (FCCA), do to help others:

• As one of South Florida’s largest employers, Carnival Cruise Lines believes being a member of a community means giving something back. As such, the company and its employees have supported a variety of charitable, philanthropic and arts-related organizations, primarily in the state of Florida, since Carnival’s inception in 1972.

This support is made through both the Carnival Foundation, which coordinates the company’s philanthropic efforts, as well as its volunteer service group, the “Friends Uniting Neighbors (F.U.N.) Team,” comprised of employees who work with local charities.

In the past five years alone, Carnival and its employees have contributed more than $30 million to many of South Florida’s leading charities, including the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Diabetes Research Institute, the Wellness Community, and the March of Dimes. Carnival also supports numerous organizations that benefit children, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Miami Children’s Museum, Safe Space, Florida Literacy Coalition, and the Children’s Home Society; and cultural organizations such as the New World Symphony, National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, the Miami Art Museum, Miami Children’s Museum and many more.

• Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s top three charities are the United Way, Make-A-Wish of America and City Year. For all three of these organizations they provide in-kind resources: their employees volunteer, assisting the charity in various capacities; the company uses its ships for fundraising events, hosting Wish Children in a Wishes at Sea program; and it donates cruises on all three brands (Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara) for charitable partners to auction.

• For the past 42 years, Norwegian Cruise Lines has been committed to delivering dream vacations and creating memories of a lifetime. NCL supports local charities through cruise donation programs. The company donates more than 100 cruises a year to organizations that have a broad, community-wide appeal in the areas of health and welfare, children’s issues, arts and culture and civic programs.

NCL also works with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. When a Make-a-Wish child chooses a cruise as their wish, NCL aids the Foundation in booking the family’s cruise and trying to make it an unforgettable experience. For example, one child loved to cook so the line set up a special opportunity for the child to assist an executive chef. The wish family then got to enjoy the special meal they prepared.

• The cast and crew of Disney Cruise Line support many charitable organizations that nurture the lives of children and enrich their environment. Outreach programs help children in the port communities Disney Cruise Line visits, as well as in Central Florida.

Crew members volunteer with children in Nassau and St. Thomas as a part of the Reading Together program. Volunteers have donated books, computers, school supplies and holiday gifts to children in the ports of call. The crew has also given their time cleaning up beaches and making very special visits to deserving children.

Other activities include participation in the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund Add-A-Dollar program onboard both ships, as well as in Disney’s Environmentality Challenge, which encourages youth in the Cayman Islands to take an active part in protecting the environment.

• Holland America Line has raised more than $1 million in less than two years through On Deck for the Cure. The company also donates hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in cash sponsorships, reduced rate cruise donations and in-kind shipboard events to a broad range of charitable organizations internationally, nationally and in key ports. Through company-sponsored events, members of the Holland America Line family are involved with non-financial community programs such as Toys for Tots, the Union Gospel Mission, United Way, New Beginnings, Puget Sound Blood Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, American Lung Association, Ronald McDonald House and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. In addition, Holland America Line’s innovative Ship to Shelter program – the first of its kind – collects shipboard items such as toiletries, cookware, dishes, televisions and mattresses and donates them to local charities. By partnering with local non-profit organizations such as relief agencies, missions and shelters, items that would otherwise be thrown away are shared with those in need.

• Costa supports a series of initiatives and research projects by means of donations and in-kind, particularly for the sick and for people with disabilities. In 2006, €220,000 was set aside for these projects, excluding the value of the cruises offered as prizes and the cost of the events hosted on board.

Charitable work carried out during the year includes  work in the field of health and scientific research such as teen drug use, down syndrome, multiple sclerosis, local charities in Genoa and a variety of Italian social and cultural programs. Costa also supports the Komen for a Cure foundation on a national level and Amigos for Kids in South Florida.

Costa supports the World Wildlife Foundation for the protection of three of the most endangered marine ecoregions in the world including areas of the Mediterranean Sea, the Greater Antilles and Northeastern Brazil.

• Charities MSC Cruises has contributed to this year include the International Golden Compass Award Dinner-Seafarer’s House, Kids in Distress, National Italian American Foundation, Camillus House and United Way, Hats Off 2 Kids-Pediatrics Leukemia, Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, Urban League of Broward County and a variety of charitable golf tourneys.

Oceania Cruises has commissioned Lalique, the fabled French artists of jewelry and crystal to design a grand stairway for the reception area of its new Marina, currently under construction in Italy.

The stunning Lalique Grand Staircase will feature double curved staircases and balcony with balustrades of crystal medallions and scrolled iron. Six crystal pillars rising from the landing adorn the two-story, glass elevator surround. A brass banister is complemented by a mahogany handrail.

At the base – as a dramatic centerpiece – is Lalique’s highly prestigious Cactus table surrounded by etched crystal screens and flanked by newels capped with prominent crystal finials. An exquisite and striking Lalique vase, with fresh flower display, will sit atop the table.

“The Grand Staircase is an icon aboard all the ships of Oceania Cruises and a signature element of our brand. It is only fitting that Marina, being the design masterpiece that she is, will welcome her guests with this magnificent two-story display of the world’s finest artistry and craftsmanship,” stated Bob Binder, president of Oceania Cruises.

Lalique sculptures and crystal accessories will also be displayed throughout the ship as part of Marina’s multi-million dollar art collection.

“We have designed Marina with the same superior craftsmanship and finite attention to detail that you would find in the finest designer homes and Lalique has been a fixture of timeless, elegant design for over a century,” added Binder.

Oceania Cruises previously announced that its palatial Owner’s Suites would be furnished exclusively in Ralph Lauren Home. Additional design elements will be unveiled over the next month.

The 1,258-guest Marina has been purposefully designed to carry discerning travelers to the world’s most alluring ports in elegance and style. Crystal, rich woods, marble and granite, wool carpets and lustrous leathers adorn public rooms. Facilities include 10 dining venues – six of which are open-seating gourmet restaurants, an array of bars and lounges, a full-service Canyon Ranch SpaClub and fitness center, outdoor swimming pool and hot tubs.

Inaugural itineraries for Marina will be revealed in the coming weeks. Reservations open in January 2010. For more information or to order a brochure, contact a travel agent, visit OceaniaCruises.com or call Oceania Cruises toll-free at 800-531-5658.

Cunard Line’s youngest ship, Queen Victoria, will be making her maiden call to San Francisco on  January 27, marking her only U.S. inaugural call in the next year. Queen Victoria will stop in the City by the Bay as part of the first segment of her 2010 World Voyage, before continuing across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii.

“We were elated by the welcome our flagship Queen Mary 2 received from San Franciscans in 2007, and have been eagerly anticipating Queen Victoria’s arrival to this illustrious city since the ship entered service,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. “We look forward to a warm welcome during this historic port of call.” Read the rest of this entry »

Norwegian Cruise Line spread holiday cheer by taking part in The Ellen DeGeneres show’s 12 Days of Giveaways with a huge surprise for the entire audience: a seven-day Freestyle Cruising vacation for two.

Norwegian Epic

Airing today,  on day 11 of the 12-day series on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” the cruise giveaway to more than 300 in-studio audience members was also in celebration of Norwegian declaring 2010 as “The Year of the Freestyle Vacation.”

The audience cheered and jumped up from their seats as Ellen announced that they would all receive a cruise for two aboard Norwegian Cruise Line while four ship officers distributed the bright yellow cruise packets to the audience. A video clip of the giveaway can be seen at www.ellentv.com.

“We are thrilled to present Ellen’s audience members with a cruise on one of our signature Freestyle Cruising vessels as part of our ‘Year of the Freestyle Vacation’ promotion,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer. “Ellen is one of the funniest, most engaging personalities on television today. We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate 2010 as the year to take a Freestyle vacation than by giving away cruises to Ellen’s entire audience so that they can experience Norwegian’s signature Freestyle Cruising for themselves.”

With Freestyle Cruising, Norwegian provides a more flexible cruising experience, so guests have the freedom to enjoy their cruise with a variety of choices. Sailing to destinations in the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, Alaska, Bermuda and Mexican Riviera, Norwegian Cruise Line offers up to 20 dining options, luxury accommodations,  nightlife, and a variety of family activities, including the only bowling alleys, first rappelling wall and largest bowl slide at sea.

The company is preparing to welcome its largest, most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship to date, Norwegian Epic, next summer.

Norwegian is offering at-home viewers the opportunity to book a Freestyle vacation similar to the one provided to Ellen’s audience. For more information and to book a Freestyle vacation, fans of the Ellen show should visit www.ncl.com/ellen.

Norwegian’s “Year of the Freestyle Vacation” promotion offers up to a six-category upgrade and on-board savings certificates of up to $400 for bookings from now until March 14, 2010 on any of the line’s 10 Freestyle Cruising ships.

In addition, bi-weekly promotions will feature special offers on select ships and destinations. The first offer from January 4-17, 2010 includes reduced deposits and kids from $249 for bookings on Norwegian Epic‘s seven-day cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

For further information on Norwegian Cruise Line, visit www.ncl.com, call (866) 234-7350 or contact your preferred travel agent.

AARP and MSC Cruises today announced a new relationship giving AARP’s nearly 40 million members access to a discount and other great benefits on Caribbean, Mediterranean, Northern European and transatlantic cruises.

Exclusive pricing reflects a $50 per person/$100 per stateroom discount off the price of MSC Cruises’ Early Booking rates and up to a two-category upgrade.

AARP member rates and upgrades can be combined with MSC’s Kids Sail Free promotion (kids traveling with two adults in same stateroom pay only government fees and taxes, as applicable). Member benefits also include a reduced deposit rate of $100 per person and special pricing for members traveling solo.

“Family travel is on the rise, as is the popularity of multi-generational cruises like grandparents cruising with their children and grandchildren,” said Tim Fitzgerald, senior director of the AARP Travel Program, a member benefit program managed by AARP Services, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of AARP. “We are pleased to make available to our members a discount that not only fits older Americans’ active lifestyles, but also offers the flexibility to bring younger family members along.”

MSC Cruises is a privately-held, family owned and operated cruise line offering more than 125 itineraries including exotic destinations worldwide.

“We’re in the business of creating memories, and MSC Cruises has provided more than a million guests with the experience of a lifetime on board our ships,” said Richard E. Sasso, President and Chief Executive Officer of MSC Cruises (USA), Inc. “We look forward to the opportunity to reach even more guests through this relationship with AARP.”

To celebrate the new relationship, MSC Cruises is making a special offer available to AARP members. The offer is valid for new bookings made through January 31, 2010 and includes additional savings on balcony staterooms with up to a five-category upgrade on select sailings to various ports in the Eastern and Western Caribbean, Mediterranean and Northern Europe. Certain restrictions apply.

To take advantage of these offers, AARP members can call their preferred travel agent or MSC Cruises at (800) 666.9333.

Listen up, single cruisers. Here is a deal for you:

Single travelers can experience the beauty and tranquility of the Caribbean with special rates for MSC Cruises’ 7-night sailings on the new MSC Poesia.

Single guests can book an interior, oceanview, or balcony stateroom for one on select MSC Cruises’ 2009-10 Caribbean itineraries with rates starting at $649. This limited-time offer expires on January 31, 2010.

This special single promotion offer is applicable for Categories 1, 4, and 6 on the following MSC Poesia itineraries from Fort Lauderdale:

· 7-night-”Island Treasures & Ancient Temples” on February 13 and March 13 to Key West, Florida; Playa del Carmen, Mexico; Georgetown, Grand Cayman; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and Nassau, Bahamas; single rate begins at $749 and $699, respectively;

· 7-night-”Eastern Caribbean Enchantment” on February 20 and March 6 to San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas; single rate begins at $699 and $649, respectively;

Rates are per person, cruise only and subject to availability; government fees and taxes are additional.  For more information, visit www.MSCCruisesUSA.com or contact your preferred travel agent.