Fantasy becomes reality for soap fans during the Soap Cruise Fourth Voyage. Celebrity Events Group is pleased to announce the all-star celebrity line-up and who’s who of daytime television who will be vacationing at sea with their fans aboard the luxurious Celebrity Century from Jan 27-31.

Fifteen of daytime’s adored soap stars will be participating in this unforgettable event. ABC stars cruising from General Hospital are Brandon Barash “Johnny,” and Bradford Anderson “Spinelli.” All My Children stars include Walt Willey “Jackson,” Adam Mayfield “Scott,” and Jacob Young “JR,” and from One Life to Live, Mark Lawson “Brody.” CBS stars attending from Young & the Restless are Michelle Stafford ” Phyllis,” Christian LeBlanc “Michael,” and Daniel Goddard “Cane.” From Bold and the Beautiful, Brandon Beemer “Owen” and Don Diamont “Bill” will be on board. The line-up from NBC’s Days of our Lives include James Scott “EJ,” Galen Gering “Rafe,” Eric Martsolf “Brady,” and Nadia Bjorlin “Chloe.”

Celebrity Events Group is offering their fans a chance to vote for the sixteenth actor to join the cruise. Soap fanatics can vote for the soap star they would like to see on the cruise by visiting the Celebrity Events Group webpage at http://soapcruise.com/soapcruise_newactor.asp. Deadline is August 31.

“Soap Cruise is the most anticipated event of the year for soap enthusiasts,” says Michael Gold, president of Celebrity Events Group. “This year we wanted to give the fans a choice as to who their favorite star is and who they want to see on the cruise.”

Devoted fans of daytime will be vacationing at sea with their friends, families and favorite soap stars. Soap Cruise Fourth Voyage will be sailing from Miami to charming Key West and exotic Cozumel. Fans will have plenty of opportunities to experience up close and personal interaction with their favorite soap stars. Not only will there be hugs, autographs and picture-taking, but fans will enjoy partying, dancing and relaxing with their soap idols in the sunny Caribbean.

Other unforgettable activities guests will experience include the beach party at Senor Frogs in Cozumel, multiple meet and greets, question and answer time, soap star talent night, and karaoke. Also aboard will be a director offering a “behind the scenes” workshop and a scene acting session during which fans and actors use real scripts from the shows. Soap Cruise concludes with a special farewell cocktail party. The first 175 registrants will get to attend an exclusive VIP Breakfast with the stars. For additional information please call 1-866-364-0330 or visit www.celebrityeventsgroup.com.

To register, get more details and watch video of last year’s third Soap Cruise Voyage, visit www.celebrityeventsgroup.com or call 1-866-364-0330. Prices begin at $925 (double occupancy) not including gratuities. For family members not participating in Soap Cruise events, prices begin at $475. Valid passport is necessary to travel. For questions about booking cabins or travel logistics, call Lori at Skyscraper Tours at (877) 442-5659.

For those seeking an old fashioned holiday atmosphere, Uniworld’s 2010 Europe Holiday Boutique River Cruises are a great option. Plus, by paying in full by August 31, 2010, with Uniworld’s “Double Early Booking Savings,” couples can enjoy a savings of $600 and solo travelers can save $300.

Imagine storybook villages and majestic cities adorned with thousands of twinkling lights and stars, grand Christmas trees decorated from top to bottom, melodious carolers and choirs with sweet sounding voices, awe-inspiring cathedrals, opulent palaces, medieval castles, and old world holiday markets – all just a stroll away from Uniworld’s luxuriously appointed ships.

Uniworld’s Europe Holiday River Cruises range from 9 to 14 days, and take travelers along Europe’s great rivers – the Danube, Rhine, and Main, and through Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Switzerland. Whether it is traveling through Germany along the Rhine and Main celebrating the origins of centuries-old traditions, discovering the elegant pageantry of four regal countries along the Danube, or welcoming 2011 in regal style in a Viennese palace, there is something unique for everyone.

Uniworld offers five expertly planned and perfectly priced, all-inclusive packages – lavishly appointed river-view stateroom; all meals with complimentary fine European wine, choice of beer, and soft drinks served during dinner; special celebratory dining events; interesting shore excursions hosted by English-speaking local guides; festive onboard entertainment and Signature Lectures; and all transfers on arrival and departure days.

For more information, please contact a travel professional, call Uniworld at (800) 733-7820 or visit www.uniworld.com.

The entire family can enjoy the Caribbean during the holidays on 7-night cruises onboard MSC Poesia and save with MSC Cruises’ Family Plan offer for four guests on an affordable family vacation through December 31, 2010.

Guests who book a balcony stateroom during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Eve Caribbean cruises can save up to 50 percent off a connecting balcony stateroom for an affordable family vacation.

This special Family Plan offer applies for adjoining Category 9, 10 or 11 Balcony Superior staterooms (accommodating up to four guests) on 7-night, Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises departing from Ft. Lauderdale. These cruises sail November 21 (Thanksgiving), December 19 (Christmas), and December 26 (New Year’s). Family Plan rates for four begin at $697 per person plus $81.35 per person government fees and taxes (GFTs).

Destinations on the Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises including ports like Key West, Florida; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Georgetown, Grand Cayman; Cozumel, Mexico; St. Thomas, Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Nassau, Bahamas.

Family-friendly activities to enjoy during this affordable family vacation include miniature golf, tennis and basketball. MSC Poesia features a pool for children and outdoor play area. MSC Cruises also offers a complimentary kids program filled with entertainment, fun, and games from crafts to treasure hunts. Children’s programs are available for children 3-17 years old and are divided into age-specific groups.

Not only does MSC Cruises offer authentic Italian favorites like pasta and pizza, but also All-American kid-friendly staples like hamburgers, hot dogs, and delicious pastries and desserts.

Rates are cruise only, and subject to availability. For more information, call (877) 665-4655, or contact a local travel professional.

Norwegian Cruise Line and Nickelodeon are offering  two family “Nickelodeon All Access Cruises” setting sail in 2011. These special Nickelodeon-themed cruises give guests access to seven days of slime-filled entertainment all day, every day aboard Norwegian Jewel, sailing from New York on February 20, 2011, and the Norwegian Epic, sailing from Barcelona on July 24, 2011.

Families who book an All Access Cruise between August 23 and September 13, 2010 will receive up to $250 in on-board credits, based on stateroom category; and half off the deposit (excluding the Garden Villa and other suite categories).

Exclusive Nickelodeon family programming featured on the two “Nickelodeon All Access” cruises includes:

· Ultimate sliming experience offers a chance for the whole family to get slimed together.

· Meet & greets with the stars of Nickelodeon’s hottest live-action shows. Special cruise guests have included stars from iCarly, True Jackson VP, and the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants.

· Special viewings and premieres of never-before-seen episodes of Nickelodeon’s hit TV shows like iCarly, Victorious and SpongeBob SquarePants.

· Meet & greets with some of your favorite Nickelodeon characters including SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, Aang the Last Airbender and many more!

· Nickelodeon’s signature messy game shows like Slime Time LIVE! and poolside events.

· Breakfast with Nickelodeon characters every day of the cruise.

The non-stop excitement  of the “Nickelodeon All Access Cruise” are only available on: Norwegian Jewel sailing President’s Day holiday, February 20, 2011, round-trip from New York to Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida; Nassau, Bahamas; and Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island or Norwegian Epic departing on July 24, 2011, from Barcelona with ports of call including Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Rome (Civitavecchia) and Naples, Italy; and Palma, Majorca, Spain. Starting rates are from $899 per person double occupancy on Norwegian Jewel and from $1299 per person double occupancy on Norwegian Epic.

The on-board credit limited time offer includes $250 per stateroom when sailing in a Garden Villa, available on Norwegian Jewel; $150 for suites; $100 for mini-suites and deluxe balcony staterooms; $75 for balcony staterooms; $50 for ocean view and $25 for inside staterooms.

To book one of the only two “Nickelodeon All Access Cruises” in 2011, call Norwegian at 866-770-NICK (6425), visit www.ncl.com/nickallaccess, or contact a travel professional. Get the latest updates, play interactive games and connect with other families on the Nickelodeon All Access Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/nickallaccess.

Carnival Cruise Lines and Razorfish tohave announced the launch of a groundbreaking new social commerce Facebook application that allows users to easily view, compare, select and share Carnival cruises with their Facebook friends.

The application, the first of its kind in the cruise industry, allows users to engage their social network in their vacation planning through personalized newsfeed updates and even invite friends to book the same trip.

The application, available on Carnival’s official Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/carnival), enables the user to explore all available Carnival cruise options without leaving Facebook by providing the functionality to sort cruises by date, duration, port of call, and accommodation type. Once users decide on a particular cruise, they can share the detailed cruise information with their Facebook friends by simply clicking a button. Users can also customize their newsfeed messages, which include a link to the cruise, to invite friends to book the trip as well.

“A Carnival cruise is a very social experience and this application is a natural extension of our efforts to engage our nearly 250,000 Facebook fans in a unique and exciting way,” said Jim Berra, Carnival’s chief marketing officer. “By allowing our customers to share their cruising plans with Facebook friends, we are making it easier for them to plan group trips and encourage others to join in the fun.”

Once users have taken advantage of the Facebook application to choose and share their Carnival cruise plans, they will be directed to the appropriate shopping cart page on Carnival.com to finalize the transaction.

European Waterways, Europe’s largest luxury hotel barge cruising company, is offering discounts of $1,000 to $2,100 per cabin on select late summer and fall 6-night barge cruises if booked by Aug. 31, 2010.

The discounted fares apply to cruises on the 12-passenger La Belle Époque and 8-passenger Renaissance, in Burgundy, Gascony and the Midi regions of France, as well as on the Upper River Thames in England, in August, September and October.

The all-inclusive 6-night cruises include transfers to and from the barge, meals prepared by a master chef onboard, open bar, excursions and admittance to scheduled attractions. Whole boat charters are also available at 25% off for select cruises through the end of October in Burgundy, Gascony, the Scottish Highlands, England, and Ireland.

For more information, call (800) 394-8630; www.gobarging.com.

No one wants to cancel a reservation for a cruise, but sometimes things happen and it’s just unavoidable.  The cruise lines have made provisions for these cancellations, and Royal Caribbean recently made some changes to their policy.

All reservations made after August 1^st, 2010 are subject to the new rules, and these are some of the highlights:

•  You will get a full refund if you notify Celebrity Cruises® or Royal Caribbean International® in writing at least 75 days prior to your sailing date (60 days for 3 & 4-night cruises or 90 days for holiday sailings).

•  No refunds will be made if you do not show up for your cruise or if you interrupt or cancel your vacation once it has begun.

•  Cancellation fees are determined by calculating how far in advance you cancel your cruise.  When calculating the days prior to sailing, the day of sailing should not be considered as one of the days. The day of sailing is considered the first day of the cruise, therefore, the penalty period will commence one day prior to the day of sailing.

•  Final payment for all sailings 6 nights or longer will now have a final payment option at 75 days prior to sailing (excluding holiday sailings, which is 90 days prior.)

•  The cancellation schedule for reservations made prior to August 1st will  remain with Royal Caribbean’s old policy.

I love to cruise on Crystal; the line attends to every detail and whim, and always does so with a sense of genuine thoughtfulness and class.

It’s no surprise, then, that Crystal has improved on what was an already well-thought out process.  They’ve now launched their new Priority Check-In and Planning Center on July 29^th as a valuable tool for their sea-faring guests.  The Planning center can be used prior to sailing to complete a number of tasks, such as submitting immigration information, airport/ship transfer requests, and booking spa treatments and shore excursions.  They also offer a day-by-day Cruise calendar to organize your travel plans once these reservations and requested have been submitted.

The line details this new service with the following information:

Priority Check-in Checklist - Once guests make an initial deposit, they have
access to check-in center, available at https://checkin.crystalcruises.com.
Here, they or their travel agents may submit required information:
* Immigration forms
* Credit card information for onboard charges
* Onboard preferences, such as bed configurations
* Air itineraries for transfer arrangements

Planning Center - Once guests have completed the check-in process and paid in full, they have access to the Planning Center, which allows them to plan their Crystal vacation far ahead of time, at their convenience, by confirming reservations for:
* Crystal Spa & Salon appointments,
* Crystal Dining Room reservations (through Open Dining by ReservationR, beginning in 2011),
* Specialty restaurants, and
* Crystal Adventures ashore

Guests can also request reservations (to be confirmed on board) for:
* NEW Tuxedo rental service,
* The Vintage Room winemakers’ dinners, and
* Creative Learning Institute and Computer University@Sea classes

Cruise Calendar - Once made, all reservations for spa and salon appointments, specialty restaurants, Crystal Adventures and tuxedo rentals are displayed on guests’ personal Cruise Calendars in a convenient day-by-day layout.  The Cruise Calendar also advises dress codes, docking times and port locations for each day of the voyage, and will alert guests to any conflicts between their planned flight itineraries and embarkation/disembarkation schedules.  Travelers simply print their completed itineraries and present them at embarkation for priority boarding.