Luxury river cruise line AMAWaterways has recently expanded its fleet to 12 ships!

European cruisers can now book sailings on the beautiful new AMABELLA.  This 162-passenger river cruise ship features staterooms with a more square footage than most oceangoing vessels (214, on average) and lavish double balconies.

Additional amenities include an exclusive chef’s table restaurant (seating just 24) with dedicated chef, upgraded “infotainment” system, Wi-Fi, a library and swimming pool.  Thinking about traveling with AMA next year? In 2011 the line will launch MS AmaVerde in Europe.

In Southeast Asia, the brand-new 124-passenger MS AmaLotus will feature gorgeous 226 square-foot deluxe staterooms (82% feature balconies) with the amenities of a fine hotel. The ships Junior suites provide an extra spacious 290 square feet of space and suites, at 452 square feet, provide the ultimate in onboard pampering.  AmaLotus will sail seven-night Mekong river cruises from Siem Reap, Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

A completely refurbished MS AmaKatarina will launch in the spring of 2011 as the most luxurious vessel on the Volga-Baltic Waterway.  The culture-rich cruise from Moscow to St. Petersburg will provide guests with 10 different stateroom categories, and accommodations up to 432 square feet.  This luxurious ship will include an alternative restaurant, conference hall, sauna and solarium.

AMAWaterways is already known for pioneering industry concepts such as French balconies, complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with dinner and a fleet of bicycles for passenger use.   These new vessels continue AMAWaterways tradition of providing the most spectacular and well-appointed vessels to be found on the Mekong River and throughout  Europe and Russia.

Exciting updates on NCL’s newest ship, the Norwegian Epic!!

On June 17, 2010, Norwegian Cruise Line accepted delivery of its fleet’s largest ship, and began the inaugural season!  The Epic, weighing in at 153,000 gross tons, ship sailed on her inaugural cruise on June 21^st, and left  June 24^th on a sold out 7-day transatlantic cruise from Southampton to New York.

The Epic carries on NCL’s tradition of Freestyle Cruising and will be christened on July 2^nd by her Godmother, entertainer Reba McEntire. 

The honors continue as the Epic plays host to the 34th Annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks event taking place on Sunday, July 4.  The event includes a national, one-hour, live entertainment broadcast on NBC-TV beginning at 9 p.m. ET. 

After that, the Norwegian Epic heads to Miami and on Wednesday, July 7 there will be a welcome event held at Bicentennial Park from 2-4 pm. 

Beginning July 10, the ship will sail alternating seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami.  These itineraries are scheduled to continue through April 30, 2011.  

For more information on booking an inaugural cruise, please visit CruiseCompete’s new inaugural sailings page.

 Cunard, one of my favorite lines, has long been renowned for its dining venues and cuisine, and the launch of its new ship Queen Elizabeth, this fall, will continue this beautiful and delicious tradition.

The Queen Elizabeth’s newest venues will feature art deco touches, with marble, rich wood paneling, elaborate mosaics, and luminous chandeliers.

Here’s a peek at what guests aboard this gorgeous new ship can expect: 

Cunard’s luxury-loving guests will love the traditional British Service served in the Queen Elizabeth’s two-deck Queens Room ballroom.  As on Cunard’s other ships, they can expect white-gloved waiters, musicians, finger sandwiches, and scones.

Cocktails will be available in a variety of venues throughout the ship, including the Commodore Club, Café Carinthia, the Garden Lounge, Yacht Club, Midships Bar, and Golden Lion Pub.

Those who yearn for the fine dining experience need look no further than The Verandah, with fine French cuisine.  This renowned cuisine will reflect the flavor of regions such as Périgord, Pyrenees, Alsace, Bresse and Burgundy.

The Queen’s Grill and Princess Grill will be cantilevered out over the side of the vessel and will feature ala carte menus.  French doors will open onto the Courtyard, where al fresco dining will be offered. A quick trip up the stairs will lead passengers to the Grills Terrace, where Grills guests can enjoy sun beds and dedicated wait staff service.

The Britannia Restaurant, Queen Elizabeth’s main two-tiered dining room, will feature a sweeping staircase and a backlit decorative ceiling. Breakfast and lunch will be served by open seating.  

Queen Elizabeth’s Lido Restaurants will include these indulgent options:

- Asado – Serving South American cuisine, Asado will feature the traditional grilled meats such as Roasted Chimmichuri Chicken and Argentinean Lamb Chops with Pistachio.

– Aztec –Mexican cuisine at it’s finest; Aztec will showcase dishes such as Chile Relleno de Espinaca and Banana-Wrapped Snapper Veracruzana.

– Jasmine – Tantalizing dishes are inspired by Pan-Asian cuisine, producing dishes that range from Aromatic Crispy Duck to Char Siew Pau.

Some of the fondest memories I have of vacationing with my family are trips when my children were very young.  There is something about watching a small child come to know new experiences and surroundings- it’s an idea that’s very dear to my heart.  Now that my own children are grown and world travelers themselves, I like to think that the travels of their youth sparked their interest and love of different environments and cultures.  A family vacation, regardless of locale, opens so many doors for your children, and cruising is among the best.

If you plan on cruising with a small child in the near future, be sure to read on for information on the cruise lines child policies and programs:

FAMILY VACATION ON THE HORIZON? 

UPDATED Cruise Line Policies FOR TRAVELING with CHILDREN FROM 3 MONTHS TO 8 YEARS OLD

A cruise vacation is a wonderful experience for travelers of all ages.  If you will be traveling with infants or young children, take care to understand the children’s policies before sailing.  Some lines cater to children and families; others do not.  And while a large number of cruise lines offer outstanding children’s programs, many cruisers are unaware that most cruise lines have a minimum age for children to sail.  Ages range from 3 months to 8 years, depending on the cruise line.   

The experts at CruiseCompete offer the following information on the cruise lines children’s policies and programs; be sure to verify this information with the cruise line before booking a cruise.

(For those of you still eagerly anticipating the arrival of your bundle of joy, check out the cruise line policies for mothers-to-be At AllThingsCruise.com: http://allthingscruise.com/cruise-research/niche-cruises/family-cruising/pregnancy-policies-by-cruise-line/.)

AMA Waterways: AMA Waterways cruises are primarily designed for the adult traveler. Children are allowed, however, there are no child-specific programs or child-minding facilities.

Minimum age to sail on AMA Waterways is 4 years.

Azamara Club Cruises: Azamara is primarily designed for the mature guest; so while the cruise line does welcome guests of all ages, no formal children’s programs or facilities are onboard their ships.

Minimum age requirement to sail on Azamara is 6 months old, with the exception of Transatlantic and Transpacific cruises/cruise tours, as well as other select cruises/cruise tours, where the infant must be at least 12 months old.

Carnival Cruise Lines:  Carnival’s Youth Program, Camp Carnival, is designed for 2-11 year olds, but children younger than 2 can play with the toys during designated family play times (parents must be present!). There are babysitting services during limited hours for children younger than two at Camp Carnival; rates are $6 for the first child and $4 for each additional child.

Minimum age for sailing on Carnival is 6 months, with the exceptions of Transatlantic, Hawaii and South American cruises, which are 12 months.

Celebrity Cruises:  Celebrity offers private, in-cabin babysitters. A child must be 12 months old to qualify for this service and no more than two children are allowed per babysitter. Parents should expect to make requests for services at least 24 hours in advance.

Minimum sailing age on Celebrity Cruises is 6 months, with the exception of Transatlantic, Transpacific, and select South American and other cruises, where the child must be at least 12 months old. Associated cruise tours are also subject to the 12 month minimum age requirement.

Costa Cruises: There are no organized activities for children under the age of three, but during the low season/off-peak times families can access the children’s areas. Costa also provides a group baby-sitting service in their “Miniclub” (between 11:30pm-1:30am) so that parents may take part in cruise entertainment. Costa also provides, on request, cribs, high chairs, baby bath, bottle warmers and liquidized food.

Minimum age to sail on Costa is 6 months.

Crystal Cruises:  Crystal does not have a formal program for children under the age of three, but babysitting services are available, and fees start at $10 per hour.  Arrangements can be made through the concierge; parents should expect to provide 24 hours notice and pay a nominal charge for babysitting services.

The minimum age to sail on Crystal Cruises is 6 months.

Cunard Line: On Cunard’s ships, the Queen Mary 2 and the Queen Elizabeth 2, parents will find well-equipped nurseries and children’s centers, featuring toys, games and activities. These children’s areas are supervised by nannies and youth staff, but children must be one year old to participate without parents; children under one are welcome with parental supervision. Both ships offer a family pool area, and there is complimentary group child-sitting available in the evenings.

Minimum sailing age on Cunard is 6 months on Alaska, Canada/New England, Caribbean, Europe, Mexico, Trans-canal and Australia/New Zealand voyages. All other voyages, including Transatlantic and Transpacific itineraries, require an age of 12 months.

Disney Cruise Line:  Already well-known for being a family-friendly line, this cruise line is also among the best for infant programs. Flounder’s Reef Nursery accepts children from 3 months to 3 years; the counselor ratio is 1:4 for infants and 1:6 for toddlers. Amenities include: baby swings, walkers, books, toys, games, a television and DVD area. There is also a soft play area and separate nursery with cribs. Parents should expect to carry a pager (attendants do not change diapers) and pay $6.00 per hour for the first child, and $5.00 per hour for each additional child.

The minimum age to sail on Disney is 12 weeks old.

Holland America Line:  Holland America Line does not provide children’s programs or babysitting for children under three, but a limited number of high chairs, booster seats and cribs are available to cruisers at no charge. Parents should expect to reserve these items in advance, at the time of booking.

The minimum age to sail on Holland America Line is 6 months, 12 months on transoceanic voyages.
Norwegian Cruise Line: NCL offers youth programs and group babysitting for children ages 2-12, including a ‘FreeStyle Play” period where all age groups play together. Group babysitting outside of the complimentary Kid’s Crew program runs $6 per child per hour, and $4 per hour for additional siblings. NCL does not have programs in place for children under age two, and no private babysitting is available.

The minimum age to sail on NCL is 6 months.

Oceania Cruises- Oceania’s cruises are designed for adults and do not provide care, entertainment, or supervision for children.

Oceania’s minimum sailing age is 6 months.

P&O Cruises:  P&O offers a children’s program- The Reef- starting at age two. Splashers’, for 2 – 4 year olds is a day program filled with activities and designed for young children. In the evening, parents can take advantage of the cruise line’s supervised night nursery. Parents should be aware that this service is operated on a first-come, first-serve basis, and infants must be settled and sleeping before they leave.

Minimum age to sail on P&O Cruises is 12 months.

Royal Caribbean International: Royal Caribbean has a “Royal Babies/Royal Tots” program (6-18 months), developed by experts at Fisher-Price.  These playgroups are 45-minute sessions (parents must accompany the child) that include activities like baby gymnastics and musical inspiration. On the newest ship, Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean also provides a nursery, with child watch options day and night. Children are divided into two age groups within the nursery: Babies (6-17 months) up to and including 1 day less than 18 months, and Tots (18-36 months). Parents should expect to carry a phone, and the charge is $8 per hour, per child. Each session must be a minimum of 1 hour and a maximum of 6 hours.

The minimum age to sail is 6 months on most itineraries, but is 12 months on all Transatlantic, Transpacific and Hawaii cruises. Some South American and other cruises are also 12 months, be sure to check age requirements for your specific cruise.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises:  There are no formal programs for children under age 5 on their sailings, but the line does provide in-suite babysitting services, check with the concierge for fees.

The minimum age to sail on Regent Seven Seas Cruises is 6 months.

SeaDream Yacht Club:  SeaDream does not provide activities/amenities specifically for children.

The minimum age to sail on a SeaDream is 12 months.

Silversea Cruises:  This luxury cruise line’s programs are designed for adults and they do not provide care, entertainment, or supervision for children.  Silversea cannot accommodate infants under one year of age and reserves the right to limit the number of children under age three. 

Minimum sailing age on Silversea is 1 year.

The Yachts of Seabourn:  Tailored for the adult cruiser, there are no onboard facilities for kids, nor does Seabourn offer a supervised children’s program.

Minimum sailing age is 1 year for trans-Atlantic cruises, and World cruises, and 6 months for all other sailings.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection:  Uniworld’s position is that most children -specifically those under 8- do not enjoy or appreciate the river cruise experience. There are no special arrangements, activities or accommodations for children on Uniworld river cruises and tour programs.

The minimum age to cruise on Uniworld is 4 years.

Viking River Cruises:  Viking River does not maintain facilities or services for children due to the nature of their cruises.

Minimum age to cruise on Viking River is 8 years.

Windstar Cruises: Children, especially infants and toddlers, are not encouraged aboard Windstar cruises, and travel for children under two is limited.  Windstar does not provide facilities for children, and does not provide care, supervision, or entertainment of children.

Minimum age to cruise on Windstar is 2 years.

MSC Cruises is making available to AARP members savings of more than 50 percent with rates from $859 per person on select itineraries in its Distinctive Collection featuring repositioning sailings from various locations around the world.

Repositioning itineraries depart from and arrive in different ports and offer an array of cities in many countries typically unavailable on cruises.

Children 11 and younger cruise free when sharing a stateroom with two adults. These AARP member rates are available on select sailings. Positioning cruise itinerary highlights include:

17-night cruise from Genoa to Cape Town or 16-night Barcelona to Cape Town on MSC Melody and calling in Barcelona, Cadiz, Tenerife, Mindelo, and Walvis Bay. December 1 or December 2; rates from $859;

18-night cruise from Kiel or 17-night from Copenhagen to New York on MSC Poesia and calling in Southampton, Le Havre, Vigo, Lisbon, Ponta Delgada, and King’s Wharf. September 4 or 5; rates from $1,149;

16-night cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Barcelona or 17-night to Genoa on MSC Poesia and calling in San Juan, St. John’s, Port Castries, Funchal, Malaga, and Alicante. March 6; rates from $949;

18-night cruise from Venice to Rio de Janeiro or 19-night from Rio de Janeiro to Venice on MSC Musica and calling in Dubrovnik, Valletta, Malaga, Funchal, Tenerife, Fortaleze, Recife, and Salvador de Bahia. October 31 or March 29; rates from $919;

17-night cruise from Genoa to Santos or 19-night from Santos to Kiel on MSC Orchestra and calling in Barcelona, Lisbon, Casablanca, Tenerife, Recife, Salvador de Bahia, and Rio de Janeiro (Funchal, Vigo, Southampton and Copenhagen on 19-night). November 11 or April 12; rates from $999;

18-night cruise from Venice to Santos or 17-night from Santos to Southampton on MSC Opera and calling in Katakalon, La Valetta, Malaga, Casablanca, Agadir, Arrecife, Recife, Salvador de Bahia, and Rio de Janeiro. November 25 or April 20; rates from $919;

Restrictions apply. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion including standard AARP member offers.

or more information, visit http://www.msccruisesusa.com/aarp/, call 877-665-4655, or contact a local travel professional.

Fiji’s iconic Blue Lagoon Cruises is offering a 30 percent discount off all seven-day Yasawa Island cruises booked before August 31, 2010, for travel until March 31, 2011.

The special offer means pricing for a seven-day cruise now starts from just $1,063 per person twin share in a Hibiscus class cabin – a saving of $490 per person.

This includes all onboard accommodation, all main meals, morning and afternoon tea, cruise and cultural activities.

Cruise activities include daily shore excursions and water-based activities ranging from snorkeling safaris, fish feeding, fishing and glass bottom boating.

Cultural experiences include a ‘Lovo’ feast, visits to remote villages, Kava ceremonies and a day spent at Blue Lagoon Cruises’ private island of Nanuya Lailai.

The seven-day cruise departs Blue Lagoon Cruises’ home port of Lautoka in Fiji every Monday, returning the following Sunday.

For cruise reservations telephone Blue Lagoon Cruises in Lautoka, Fiji, on +679 666 1622, facsimile +679 666 4098, via email on reservations@blc.com.fj or online at www.bluelagooncruises.com.

*Conditions apply. Please note prices do not include international airfares or beverages (other than tea or coffee).

Hey guys, here are some more good deals for you solo cruisers…and to a very exotic destination. Do take advantage.

P&O Cruises is offering solo cruisers the opportunity to sail the South Pacific for a fraction of the usual fare on selected cruises.

The specials are ideal for mature travelers looking to enjoy holidaying with friends, with the added luxury of their own cabin.

The fares are available on a range of cruises departing from Sydney, Brisbane and Newcastle,  Australia, and sailing to some of the South Pacific’s most spectacular ports. Deals include:

A 10-night cruise from Sydney onboard P&O Cruises’ newest addition, Pacific Jewel. Departing August 17, the cruise visits five popular South Pacific ports including Mystery Island. Fares start from $1799* per person complete single. (Cruise No. J026.)

A 7-night cruise from Brisbane onboard P&O cruises’ Pacific Dawn. Departing August 21, the cruise visits South Pacific ports in New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands and Vanuatu. Fares start from $1199* per person complete single.  (Cruise No. W030)

A 10-night cruise from Newcastle on board P&O Cruises’ Pacific Sun. Departing September 8 and 18 and October 8 and 18, the cruise visits three South Pacific ports, including the Isle of Pines and Emerald Bay. Fares start from $1299* per person complete single.

All fares include accommodation, main meals and entertainment. For more information and bookings contact a  travel agent or book online at www.pocruises.com.au.

SeaDream Yacht Club believes that romance and yachting go together like love and marriage and has launched a honeymoon contest for those couples planning to be married this summer.

The winning couple will receive a $20,000 honeymoon sailing in the Greek Isles aboard the ultra-luxurious, mega-yacht cruiser SeaDream I.

Applicants are invited to seek the support of friends and family in promoting them through various social media including Email, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and personal blogs. A jury selected by SeaDream will review all applications and comments of friends and family and then choose the winner.

The seven-day, luxury honeymoon voyage, September 11-18, includes such romantic ports-of-call as the Greek Islands of Sifnos, Itea, Mykonos and Santorini.

Entries must be received from May 26 through July 30. The winning couple will be announced early August.

Some Conditions apply.

Details and applications are available on SeaDream’s website—www.seadream.com or www.win-a-honeymoon.com. It is also possible to follow updates at www.facebook.com/SeaDreamYC or at www.twitter.com/SeaDreamYC.

In addition to offering guests world-class entertainment options on board Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Cruise Line has announced a partnership with Gibson Guitar to let guests discover and explore their inner rock star – in the privacy of their stateroom.

The “Check-In-Rock-Out” program gives guests the opportunity to borrow a Gibson guitar, companion pod, and a private amplifier with headphones to take to their staterooms and rock out without disturbing other guests.

Guitars, pods and accessories will be available to guests at a cost of $10 per day rental every day except on embarkation/disembarkation. The Check-In-Rock-Out program will be available in Norwegian Epic’s Fat Cats Jazz and Blues Club. Each pod includes controls and special effects so that guests can select the type of sound they want to create, from classic rock to heavy metal, blues, classic and country – and then choose their own song to play. The pods are supplied by Line 6 and the headphones and cables are supplied by Monster Cable.

“We are so excited about this program,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer. “We’ve brought world class performers to our guests on Norwegian Epic. Now, we’re letting our guests be the superstars and play on world class Gibson guitars. Whether you’re an expert guitarist or an air guitar fan like me, the ‘Check-In-Rock-Out’ program will let you play like a rock star, in the privacy of your stateroom.”

“Our partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line will offer fans from around the world the opportunity to experience music like never before on the high seas,” said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. “We are delighted to be part of the global excitement surrounding the launch of Norwegian Epic and share in our mutual goals for world class entertainment.”

For more information about Norwegian Epic, call Norwegian at 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784), visit http://epic.ncl.com, or contact a travel professional.

A keel-laying ceremony to mark the start of construction for Oceania Cruises’ 1,258-guest m/s Riviera was held June 3 at the Fincantieri shipyard near Genoa.

At the ceremony Frank Del Rio, the line’s founder and chairman and CEO of its parent company, Prestige Cruise Holdings, and Oceania Cruises President Bob Binder, welded four U.S. silver coins onto the keel. The welding of coins into a ship’s keel is an age-old maritime tradition believed to solicit good fortune for the ship, its crew and its passengers.

The four coins – dated 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2009 – represent the years when keels were laid for the four other vessels in Oceania Cruises’ upper-premium fleet: Insignia, Regatta, Nautica and Marina, respectively.

Once the coins were welded, the first of 55 steel blocks that will eventually comprise Riviera was lowered into the dock, thus marking the official start of the building process. The ship is scheduled to debut in April 2012.

“Today is a special day for Oceania Cruises,” stated Binder. “We are grateful to Fincantieri, our loyal guests and travel partners, and the entire Oceania Cruises team at sea and shore-side for all of their efforts to make this new ship come to fruition.”

Riviera is a sister ship to Marina, which launches in February 2011. She will feature 10 dining venues – six of which are open-seating, gourmet restaurants – including one by Master Chef Jacques Pépin. Facilities will also include a Canyon Ranch SpaClub® and gym, Bon Appétit Culinary Center, swimming pool and hot tubs.

Interior design highlights include a Lalique-designed grand lobby, luxurious accommodations by Dakota Jackson as well as Owner’s Suites furnished exclusively in Ralph Lauren Home.

The preliminary cruise schedule for Riviera will be released in the coming months. For more information, call a travel professional or Oceania Cruises toll-free at 800-531-5658 or visit www.OceaniaCruises.com.