Star Clippers will drop Antigua as a port of call on five remaining Royal Clipper itineraries through April 10, after a passenger was attacked and killed there on Jan. 19.

The line will substitute Nevis for the scheduled stop at Antigua.

“Star Clippers has called at Antigua for many years without incident, and with its long sailing and yacht history, the island has always been a popular destination with our guests,” Star Clippers CEO Mikael Krafft said in a statement.

“We are taking this decision after much deliberation, and we will continue to monitor the security situation in Antigua and evaluate our options for next winter season regarding returning to the island.”

I personally know someone in Haiti who needs help.

Danita manages an orphanage, school and church plus feeds many others who are in need in Haiti. It’s called Danita’s Children, Hope for Haiti Children’s Center. Many of my friends have visited Danita’s orphanage in Haiti to help with construction, cleaning, cooking, sewing, taking generators and much more from the USA.

I would like to share her story with you. Danita was a model who felt there was a higher purpose for her in this life. She had spent some time in Haiti and, during one of her trips as she dined at a restaurant, her heart was breaking as she watched children rummage through the restaurant garbage for scraps of food. One little boy in particular seemed to make eye contact with her. As she watched him, a man came upon him and began beating him with a whip. She pushed the rather large man away and then began her mission in Haiti.

About Danita………………….and her orphanage. Although the Children’s Center is ok from the earthquake, they plan to take in some of the children who have lost parents in this catastrophe. Her full story is here:  http://www.danitaschildren.org/

Facebook is here. They only have about 800 fans. Perhaps in the next month or so this email will generate thousands for them:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=33191921362&ref=search&sid=713189845.3640803289..1&v=info

Here are ways to give to the people in Haiti who really need our help. CruiseCompete is beginning this assistance with a donation of $1,000 to be sent today.

https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/DanitasChildrenHopeforH/OnlineDonation.html

If you find this meaningful, it would be nice for you to send to some of your friends and ask them to help also.

Thank you for your consideration and warmest regards,

Heidi Allison

Publisher, AllThingsCruise

Discover Scandinavia, Russia and the Baltic this summer and in addition to  all-inclusive amenities, for a limited time enjoy

2-for-1 Fares on Regent Seven Seas Cruise Lines.  Also included are airfare and unlimited complimentary shore excursions, plus savings of up to $1,000 per person.

All Scandinavian and Russian itineraries also feature special business class air upgrades, ensuring you arrive rested and relaxed.

It’s all yours to discover aboard the 700-guest, all-suite, all-balcony Seven Seas Voyager. This offer expires March 21, 2010. For more information, contact your travel agent or go to www.rssc.com. You can get great prices through www.cruisecompete.com.

Norwegian Cruise Line today announced a new partnership with Nickelodeon in which select Norwegian ships will feature Nickelodeon-themed family entertainment and programming all year long.

Beginning in April on Norwegian Jewel and this summer on Norwegian Epic, Nickelodeon and Norwegian experiences for the entire family will include: character meet and greets; interactive game shows; and more. The three-year partnership also includes select specialty Nickelodeon-themed cruises each year, featuring Nickelodeon TV stars, show premieres and continuous themed-entertainment on the ship.

“Nickelodeon is an incredible family brand that is well-known to kids and parents of all ages,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian’s chief executive officer. “Combining its worldwide appeal with our signature Freestyle Cruising will create the ultimate experience at sea for families. For any family considering a cruise vacation, there is no better value and experience than Nickelodeon at Sea on Norwegian Cruise Line.”

“At a time when families are seeking special travel experiences, we see an opportunity to build on the success of our previous Nickelodeon cruises to create a unique family cruise vacation experience with Norwegian Cruise Line,” said Howard Smith, executive vice president, Nickelodeon Recreation. “By partnering with Norwegian, we are now able to offer families Nickelodeon entertainment and programming at sea all year long.”

Nickelodeon at Sea will launch on Norwegian Jewel when the ship begins sailing from New York in late April, and on Norwegian’s latest addition to its fleet, Norwegian Epic, when she launches in July. Each cruise will feature live Nickelodeon-themed interactive shows, including: SlimeTime LIVE! with Nick’s signature slime; Nick Live! Poolside entertainment; character breakfasts and meet and greets; Nick-themed dance parties; and more. Nickelodeon-themed elements will also be incorporated into Norwegian’s Kids’ Crew program.

In addition to the year-round programming on Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Epic, special Nickelodeon-themed cruises will be offered annually where families can immerse themselves in everything Nickelodeon all day, every day. These unique cruises will include: special appearances by the Network’s live talent; show premieres; more live game shows; even more opportunities to visit with kids’ favorite Nick characters; and much more. The first of the Nickelodeon-themed specialty cruises is scheduled on Norwegian Jewel later this year. More details and an on sale date will be released soon.

To book a cruise on Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Epic or any of Norwegian’s ships, go to www.ncl.com, call 800-327-7030 or contact a travel professional. You will find your best rates through www.cruisecompete.com.

For a vacation that offers the opportunity to engage with a new culture, see new sights everyday and experience all of the comfort and ease of a “floating hotel” more travelers are turning to river cruising. With the cruising industry’s busiest booking period quickly approaching at the start of the New Year, Viking River Cruises is pleased to announce its suite of upcoming discounts for cruises and cruisetours in Europe, Russia, Egypt and China and highlight the positive booking trends, new itineraries and announce once-in-a-lifetime destination happenings coinciding with Viking’s 2010 season.

Viking River Cruises is currently offering the  following promotions, applicable for travel to some of its most popular itineraries and the world’s “hottest” destinations:

v Europe – 2-FOR-1 cruising plus $300 off international air per couple and complimentary wine with dinner. Offer code is “05P” and must be booked and paid in full by March 1, 2010.

v Russia & Ukraine — 2-FOR-1 cruising plus $400 off international air per couple and complimentary wine for all onboard dinners. Offer code is “08P” and must be booked and paid in full by March 1, 2010.

v China – 2-FOR-1 cruisetours, complimentary wine with onboard dinners, plus special international air offers:  2-FOR-1 international air for those booking stateroom categories B or higher on the Imperial Jewels of China and Roof of the World itineraries.  All other stateroom categories on the Imperial Jewels of China and Roof of the World itineraries and all stateroom categories on the Yangtze Explorer and China’s Cultural Delights itineraries receive international airfare at $300 off per couple.  Offer code is “06P” and must be booked and paid in full by March 1, 2010.

v Egypt – 2-FOR-1 cruising plus $300 off international air per couple and complimentary wine with all on-board dinners. Offer code is “05P” and must be booked and paid in full by March 1, 2010.

Completely new for 2010 Danube Waltz is an 8-day,  itinerary sailing through four of Europe’s most enchanting countries—Germany, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia—along the storied Danube River, which includes a tour of the 900-year-old baroque Benedictine abbey at Melk and an all-day excursion to the scenic city of Salzburg.

Itineraries that were launched late in the 2009 season that will continue into 2010 include:

v  Nile Explorer, a  nine-day itinerary that showcases the highlights of Cairo and features a five-day Aswan-to-Luxor cruise rich with tours and experiences that bring Egypt’s ancient world to life for passengers

v  Rhine Serenade, an eight-day cruise passing through Switzerland, Germany, France and The Netherlands, which includes tours of many of the landmarks along this  legendary river such as medieval castles, Cologne’s inspiring Dom, and the windmills and waterworks of Holland

v   Vineyards & Vistas, an eight-day cruise along the Moselle, Rhine and Main Rivers features hillside castles and the sites, and gustatory delights of German wine country.

v  Lastly, Imperial Danube will take guests on and eight-day voyage along the Danube visiting Germany, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia.  Offering a more Eastern European flair than the Danube Waltz itinerary, this is a round-trip journey from Passau including excursions to unique Hungary’s largest Cathedral in the city of Esztergom and the tiny town of Visegrád, a former royal retreat, home to no less than three castles.

On Viking’s Eastern European Odyssey itinerary two new lectures on the Balkan conflict from the standpoint of two Serbian and Croatian lecturers as a component to the line’s 2010 Culture Curriculum^SM, its onboard, multi-media lectureship program offering a rich line-up of topics such as the Dutch Masters, the importance of China’s dynasties while sailing down the Yangtze, or a practical lesson on key words and phrases in the local language of the country or region travelers are in.

Offer restrictions apply for all Spring Sale promotions. Call 1?877?66VIKING for details.

Star Clippers announced that its tall ship in Asia will relocate to the Caribbean for the 2010 winter season due to increased piracy in the Far East.

Following its summer sailings in the Eastern Mediterranean, Star Clipper will reposition to St. Maarten in November for seven-night roundtrip cruises. The company has deployed a ship to the Far East during the winter for more than a decade. The Far East itineraries, featuring Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, have been well received, but owner Mikael Krafft said geopolitical conditions, not related directly to the destinations themselves, dictated this decision.

“Ensuring the safety and security of our guests and crew is our highest priority, and that is what we have considered in taking this difficult decision,” Krafft said. “Due to the rise of piracy in the Strait of Malacca, Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, and the increasing boldness of the pirates, we believe it is not prudent to transit those areas between our cruising grounds in the Mediterranean and the Far East. The future stability of the region is too unpredictable at this time. It is our sincere hope that the piracy situation can be alleviated, and when that happens, we plan to return to Thailand and Malaysia.”

Next winter, the Star Clipper instead will sail alternating Caribbean itineraries from St. Maarten to ports where large cruise ships typically don’t call. The Leeward Islands itinerary will call at Nevis, Dominica, Iles des Saintes, Guadeloupe, Antigua and St. Barts. The Treasure Islands route will call at Anguilla, Virgin Gorda, Norman Island, Tortola, Jost van Dyke, St. Kitts and St. Barts.

“This region of the Caribbean has proven very successful with our guests in the past, providing an interesting mix of the colonial heritage of the British, French and Dutch,” Krafft said. “And St. Maarten has excellent airlift from both the United States and our markets in Europe. Plus, having two ships in the Caribbean provides an opportunity for Royal Clipper and Star Clipper to easily rendezvous off Dominica for tall-ship racing, which is an amazing thrill and was always much appreciated by our guests.”

The Star Clipper will sail two Panama Canal cruises in early 2011 season. “Star Clippers’ Panama Canal cruises have always been very popular, with the spring 2010 Star Flyer sailing selling out in record time,” Krafft said. Prices will be published and reservations will open for the next winter Caribbean season later this month. For more information, call 800-442-0551 or visit www.starclippers.com.

Norwegian Star is sailing next month to its ultimate port of call — the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

After a four-night repositioning cruise from Los Angeles, the Star will be berthed in Vancouver where it will become a four-star hotel throughout the Games.

Newwest Special Projects, an Edmonton-based company, has partnered with Norwegian Cruise Lines to dock the deluxe cruise ship at Vancouver Wharves near the Lions Gate Bridge. That’s just 10 minutes from downtown and across from Stanley Park with a stunning view of the Coastal Mountains and the city.

Businessperson Dennis Laliberte helped to boost the options for accommodation at the Games by chartering the ship that becomes a 1,119-room floating hotel handling 2,240 guests.

Calling it the “largest hotel” in Vancouver during the Games, Laliberte said the ship will offer many of the usual enticements enjoyed while at sea. Read the rest of this entry »

Crystal Cruises is planning festive Passover seders in 2010 as Crystal Serenity sails to Ashdod, Israel, and Crystal Symphony cruises New Zealand. In keeping with Jewish tradition, there will be a seder plate blessed by a rabbi, along with a participatory recitation of the Passover Haggadah, sing-a-longs and a four-course holiday feast.

Crystal Serenity guests will celebrate Passover March 30 on the “Modern & Ancient Marvels” voyage of the World Cruise from Dubai to Athens, while Crystal Symphony guests celebrate April 1, at the start of their “Vineyards and Fiords” cruise from Auckland to Sydney. To accommodate Jewish guests disembarking Crystal Symphony’s previous cruise on the first day of Passover, a ceremony and feast will also be offered on March 29.

The celebration, which typically draws more than 100 participants, is executed authentically and in Crystal’s signature six-star fashion. The holiday meal will begin with gefilte fish accompanied by horseradish, followed by chicken soup with matzoh balls. Roasted chicken will be the featured entrée, complemented by carrot tzimmes, roasted artichokes, potato latkes and cranberry sauce. For dessert, a rich honey nut raisin cake will be served with wine sabayon, fruit sorbet with berries and coconut macaroons.

In addition to the March 29 and 30 dinners, kosher food selections are available throughout the Passover holiday. Although Crystal does not have a separate kosher kitchen, the guest rabbis may supervise the food as it is prepared in the galley. In keeping with kosher standards for food service, Crystal Cruises will sterilize plates, silverware and glassware upon guests’ arrival, and guests may utilize the same dishware throughout the cruise.

Crystal Symphony’s 12-day voyages sail between Sydney and Auckland on March 18 and March 30, while Crystal Serenity sails from Dubai to Athens on March 15 on a 19-day cruise. Two-for-one cruise fares respectively start at $6,530 and $12,425 per person, double occupancy. For more information, call 800-446-6620 or visit www.crystalcruises.com. For great rates, go to www.cruisecompete.com.

Norwegian Cruise Line ushers in 2010 with a special “Year of the Freestyle Vacation” limited time offer on all new Norwegian Epic bookings made through January 17. The offer includes 50 percent reduced deposits and third through eighth guests in the same stateroom from $249 on the ship’s alternating seven-day cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

In addition to this special offer, guests can also take advantage of Norwegian’s “Year of the Freestyle Vacation” promotion that includes up to a six category upgrade and on-board savings certificates of up to $400 for all new reservations made through March 14 on any of the line’s 10 Freestyle Cruising ships. More information can be found on Norwegian’s web site.

This summer, kids and their parents can experience innovative Freestyle Family Fun on Norwegian Epic, the line’s largest ship to date. Family-friendly accommodations adjacent to Norwegian’s popular complimentary Kid’s Crew make it easy for both parents and kids to have fun along with an expansive Aqua Park with the only tube slide and largest bowl slide at sea – The Epic Plunge; a 33-foot high, 64-foot wide extreme rock climbing wall and the first ever rappelling wall at sea; the most bowling lanes at sea with six; a mixed-use sports deck with the ability for guests to engage in eight different athletic activities; as well as three separate kids’ and teen activity areas.

A multitude of varied Freestyle dining and entertainment will keep families busy each evening. The wildly popular Blue Man Group will perform for the first time ever at sea in the ship’s Epic Theater. The only “big top” at sea – the Spiegel Tent – will be home to Cirque Dreams and Dinner, a one of a kind interactive theatrical dining experience performed in the air, while juggling dinner courses, with music, mayhem and acrobatic imagination. During this two-hour show, guests will marvel in amazement and become part of a celebration of spectacle and fantasy. The entire experience will be unlike anything else at sea.

Also, Legends in Concert, the original and world’s greatest live tribute show, will be featured for the first time at sea in more than a decade on Norwegian Epic. A staple on Las Vegas’ center strip for the past 25 years, Legends in Concert is known as the pioneer of live tribute shows and has assembled the greatest collection of live tribute artists and celebrity look-alikes in the industry. Norwegian Epic will also be home to Howl at the Moon, the world’s greatest rock ‘n roll dueling piano show that encourages audience participation, and The Second City, the Chicago-based improv comedy troupe which has fostered the careers of many Saturday Night Live comedians.

The first cruise on July 10 to the Eastern Caribbean includes stops in Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas. The Western Caribbean cruise sails to Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico.

For more information on Norwegian Cruise Line and to book a cruise, call 866-234-7350, visit www.ncl.com or contact a travel professional.

Princess Cruises is ringing in the new year with two ways for passengers to save on this summer’s vacation during the annual “Wave Season” booking period through February 28. Travelers can choose to enjoy their own private balcony for the cost of an oceanview stateroom with the “Balcony Bonanza” promotion, and those planning travel to Alaska can save up to 25 percent on a land and sea cruisetour with the “Denali on Sale” event.

“The beginning of the year is a favorite time for making travel plans, so we’re offering our customers some great reasons to book now,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “Denali National Park is a highlight not to be missed on a trip to Alaska, so with the Denali on Sale cruisetour promotion, it’s the perfect time to plan a vacation to the Great Land. And a private balcony adds so much to a cruise, so we’re offering a free upgrade to a balcony with our Balcony Bonanza deal.”

Balcony Bonanza – Passengers will discover just why a balcony stateroom is the only way to travel for many cruisers. For the price of an oceanview stateroom, cruisers can enjoy the fresh air and sweeping ocean vistas of a private balcony on select summer 2010 cruises and cruisetours to Europe, Alaska or the Caribbean. Balcony Bonanza pricing begins at just $899 per person for a seven-day Caribbean sailing, with balconies on a 12-day Europe sailing starting at $2,799.

Denali on Sale – Travelers who book their Alaska vacation with Princess can now can save up to 25 percent off select Alaska cruisetours featuring the state’s spectacular Denali National Park. All Princess cruisetour itineraries include at least two nights in the Denali area, with lodging at Princess’ own wilderness lodges, plus a cruise featuring the dazzling ice of Glacier Bay National Park. The promotion features a variety of 10- to 15-night itineraries, including the popular Direct to the Wilderness rail service, which gets travelers to the wilderness faster, plus options in the Kenai and Copper River areas. Passengers can also take advantage of Princess’ special roundtrip packages that include air from Seattle or Vancouver, and two family cruisetour options with special amenities and tours included just for family groups. Cruisetour fares for a 10-night vacation begin at $1,274 per person.

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting www.princess.com.