Thank you to AMA Waterways for contributing this lovely cruise to one of our lucky readers.

In Southeast Asia, AmaWaterways’ spectacular “Vietnam, Cambodia and the Riches of the Mekong” itinerary features a 7-night Mekong River cruise on the beautiful new MS La Marguerite.  The new 124-passenger MS AmaLotus will join La Marguerite in offering Mekong River cruises in the fall of 2011.  AmaWaterways also offers a Provencal sojourn on the romantic Rhone River in France aboard the MS Swiss Pearl.  In Russia, AmaWaterways sails a spectacular St. Petersburg-Moscow “Russian Waterways” itinerary.  In 2011 the line will introduce the newly-refurbished 212-passenger MS AmaKatarina, the most luxurious vessel to sail the Volga-Baltic Waterway.

AMAWaterways Ships:

* ms Amadolce, 148 passengers

* ms Amalyra, 148 passengers

* ms Amadante, 148 passengers

* ms Amacello, 148 passengers

* ms Amalegro, 148 passengers

* ms Amadagio, 148 passengers

* ms Amabella, 148 passengers

* msAmaverde (Launching 2011)

* ms Tolstoy, 160 passengers

* ms Swiss Pearl, 125 passengers

* ms Amadouro,   130 passengers

* ms La Marguerite, 92 passengers

* ms Amalotus, 144 passengers

* ms Amakatarina, 212 passengers (Launching May 2011)

AMA Waterway’s mission is to deliver an exceptional vacation experience with everlasting memories onboard their elegant vessels. Their ships are the top river ships cruising Europe’s legendary rivers, Russian waterways and the Mekong.

7^th Anniversary for CruiseCompete – They offer  7 Reasons Why They Have Surpassed 7 Million Quotes to Cruise Consumers

September . 15th, 2010 CruiseCompete, where cruise specialists compete to find consumers the best deal on cruise travel, will  mark two milestones — the company’s 7^th anniversary and the completion of its seven-millionth consumer cruise quote.

“The press and the public have embraced the CruiseCompete concept,” said CruiseCompete CEO Bob Levinstein. “It’s simply the best way for the consumer to get the best deal on a cruise.”

While comparison of prices/amenities is part of what CruiseCompete offers, there are a number of other unique features for the consumer. Following is a list of the top 7 reasons to use CruiseCompete when planning your cruise vacation:

1.      CruiseCompete’s specialists have an unmatched depth and breadth of cruise knowledge. They also have “insider information” on deals, incentives and add-ons that are typically not available to the public on most travel websites.

2.       CruiseCompete has a unique “cruise search tool” that enables consumers to finds their perfect cruise based on ports visited.

3.      CruiseCompete is the only place on the Web where you can find customer reviews/ratings of cruise travel agencies.

4.      CruiseCompete’s “suggest similar sailings” feature is a unique tool to help customers find the other cruise options that meet their preferred requirements.

5. Today’s cruise travel buyers have learned to do their homework and compare pricing and get the best value when buying a cruise–a substantial purchase.  CruiseCompete is the ideal shopping tool to help consumers accomplish this quickly and effectively.

6.      CruiseCompete is continually expanding its cruise offerings and seeing a marked increase in travel shopping, particularly for the ultra-luxury lines, river cruise lines and adventure cruise lines.

7.      The stumbling block for many vacationers is that there is no way to know in advance which agency will have the best deal on any given cruise. Because agencies aren’t allowed to advertise anything but the cruise lines standard retail prices on their websites, travelers need to know which of the thousands of travel agencies are likely to have the best deals. CruiseCompete allows the consumer to review the agent’s different offerings with one easy request.

Launched late in 2003, CruiseCompete’s competitive quote model is the key to their continued success. The site, which works with thousands of member agents, represents many of the largest cruise travel aggregators and agencies in the country.

Many of you have already heard about the fabulous entertainment on NCL’s new Norwegian Epic. But you may not realize that perhaps the very best show on board, for all ages, is free!

That is the dynamic show of The Blue Man Group. They perform eight 75-minute shows during each seven-day cruise and they are not to be missed.

Their shows are dynamic

It is hard to describe these unique performances. Suffice to say, three blue men (yes, their makeup is totally blue (see photo), put on a lively show that features a lot of drumming, a lot of special light effects, some skits, some comedy and lots of paint (which is why children are mesmerized by their antics).

You can reserve tickets in advance by going online or at the box office when you board. Again, there is no charge for these shows which are in the main Epic Theater. Shows are at 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. and be there early to get a good seat. However, if you sit in the first few rows you will be given a “rain poncho” which gives you an idea of how rowdy this show can be. Oh yes, and you might be pulled on stage to become part of the action.

The blue men never speak… on stage, that is. When I was on the inaugural in July, we writers had the opportunity to interview the three blue men. They explained that this show is the first that Blue Men have ever done on a cruise ship and had to be designed specifically for ship conditions. For example, they had to learn how to adapt to ship movement.

They also explained that while the show has a basic framework they improvise a lot and so no two shows are ever quite the same. They said they enjoy the fact that many passengers notice them around the ship and often come up for a chat. They love to talk about what they do when they are away for the stage…and that usually they don’t have that opportunity to interact with their audience away from the theater. Oh yes, and they told us that some of the blue men are actually women!

All three of the current Blue Men are veterans of the troupe. Currently, Blue Man Group theatrical shows can be seen in New York, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando, Berlin, Tokyo, and the European Tour. In fall 2010, a touring production of the theatrical show will begin its journey around the U.S. If you want to know more about this theatrical group go to www.blueman.com. There is a nifty video there that shows a bit of what their shows are like.

Dee and I with one of the Blue Men

Norwegian has created advanced, online reservations for Blue Man Group, Cirque Dreams & Dinner, Legends in Concert, The Second City Comedy Troupe, Nickelodeon Slime Time Live!, Breakfast with Nickelodeon and the Murder Mystery “Presumed Murdered.” There are extra charges for those shows that include meals.

Booked guests can go to the Norwegian website, www.ncl.com, log in to the “My NCL” section and visit a special entertainment page where they can select and reserve their desired performance. Guests may make a reservation for each show once per sailing. Online reservations for entertainment open 45 days prior to a sailing date.

To book a cruise on Norwegian Epic, visit www.ncl.com; call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784); or contact a travel professional.

I just learned that Cruise West has suspended all bookings and voided all current bookings on their ship Spirit of Oceanus from today.  The company is restructuring its operations, and the first step is the sale of  the Spirit of Oceanus.  CruiseWest is also reporting that other company assets may be sold in the midst of this restructuring effort.

Ticketed passengers for this Saturday need not worry, however.  The company confirms that all CruiseWest departures are operating as normal.  They also say that their “Adventure World [Cruise West’s Australian representatives] team will continue working directly with Cruise West and individual agents on their current and outstanding bookings to ensure the minimal affect of this restructure.”  The line will continue to operate US flag ships and itineraries through October 2010. 

If you have booked Spirit of Oceanus and will be affected by this news, CruiseWest recommends:

1.  If you purchased third party travel insurance, place a claim immediately with the insurer.
2. If you paid with a credit card, a claim should be placed immediately with the card issuer.
3. If you paid with cash or check, and you have no travel insurance, please send an email to info@cruisewest.com

CruiseWest is not conducting media interviews at this time.  More information should be forthcoming, I will keep you up to date on any new developments.

Oceania, one of my all-time favorite lines, has always struck a great balance onboard of food, fitness, and fun.  I love work out on these ships; (is it really a workout if the sea wind is blowing in your hair?) because they have wonderful amenities. 

Oceania’s new ship, the Marina, set to launch in January 2011, will carry on this fine tradition, boasting innovative, broad-spectrum health and fitness facilities, in addition to the requisite sumptuous accommodations and dining (hence the need for workouts…). 

The new ship’s recreational facilities are designed appeal to all guests, with a beautiful pool (the center of the health and fitness core), and two adjoining spas.  It also features the famed Canyon Ranch SpaClub® , with Technogym strength-training machines, cardiovascular equipment, and a free-weight area. The SpaClub also offers group and private yoga, aerobics, Pilates, spinning and tai chi classes.

The Marina also gives a special nod to baby-boomers and seniors:

• Guests can putt 18 holes of golf on the top of the ship, or practice their swing in a caged driving range.
• The Portside Green will host croquet and bocce tournaments.
• A shuffleboard court can be located starboard.
• A fitness track wraps the Marina funnel, perfect for walking or jogging. 

The Marina’s new recreational facilities, in keeping with the rest of the ship, offer options for all its guests.  And for those in Marina’s highest-category accommodations (Owner’s and Vista suites) have an added bonus; they need never leave their rooms to enjoy fantastic health amenities.  These rooms include the convenience of en-suite fitness!