There are tours, and there are tours. You can visit a factory where they make wooden things that will be on your mantle for about a week, or you can get on board the world’s largest parabola plane, and know what it would be like to lose all that weight you gained on the ship. Ten times on this trip you’ll bid gravity goodbye as you take “flight” inside the airplane.

Crystal Cruises has outdone the excursion image and is offering Cosmonaut Training on five of its Baltic voyages. You’ll fly from St. Petersburg to Star City, in the secluded forests outside Moscow. Then the adventure(s) begin.

Not interested in weighing nothing? They’ll put you on a centrifuge so you can experience the G-forces of a rocket blast.

My personal advice is to eat nothing that day. Or else you might lose a few pounds in this adventure also.

But wait there’s more! The Final Challenge! You’ll go into Hydrospace. Translated, you’ll be submerged in 54,000 square feet of water. I have no idea how deep that is, but you’ll be wearing an authentic space suit,

and must install a space antenna on a replica of the International Space Station.

Better have fun as this one costs $32,995. Lord knows what they’ll charge you if you don’t get the antenna on correctly.

Cosmonaut programs start at $4359 and include round trip air from St. Petersburg to Moscow, overnight hotel accommodations, and a full-day Moscow city tour, including Red Square and the Kremlin.

An amazing chance to have something to talk about that very few people have ever done, except of course, the Russian Cosmonauts.

Upper-Premium Line To Debut Private Country Estate Aura On Marina

By Avid Cruiser Contributing Editor Susan J. Young, who operates the web site Southern Cruising (full credits and more about Susan at the bottom of this story)

After visiting Fincantieri Sestri Ponente yard in Genoa, Italy, I’ve changed my perspective about what to expect on Oceania Cruises’ new, 66,000-ton Marina. Frankly, I assumed the new design would simply replicate a pampering boutique hotel feel; that’s certainly trendy these days.

But not so, as I learned and as Oceania executives say. On Marina, they’re seeking to re-create the aura of a luxurious private estate.

Suites boast small pampering touches, like well-positioned reading lights and self-closing drawers, yet also have as bigger perks – including a media room in the Owners Suites and an exercise room within the Oceania Suites.

At Fincantieri Sestri Ponente in Genoa: Leading journalists on a tour of Oceania Marina is Frank del Rio, at right, chairman and CEO of Prestige Cruise Holdings, Oceania’s parent.

The overall goal is to assure guests feel they’re at home on their private estate. Frank Del Rio, chairman and CEO of Prestige Cruise Holdings, parent of Oceania Cruises, says the line is aiming for a “residential feel” to the onboard product. Brand-wise, the best word to describe Oceania’s onboard product is “taste,” he says.

We have no doubt that will be the case. But since Marina doesn’t set sail on its inaugural voyage until January 2011, the ship is essentially bare steel at this point. It’s currently undergoing interior outfitting with public spaces, accommodations, design elements and décor being added. But here’s a sneak peak at the Penthouse Suites (from model staterooms at the shipyard) and information about some of the other spaces for suite dreams onboard.

Penthouse Suites (124 accommodations total)

Tranquility Prestige Queen bed in the Penthouse Suites. I sat down and even reclined on it briefly. The bedding was very comfortable. The duo of chairs at the foot of the bed are a nice touch.

Located on Deck 7, 9, 10 and 11, Penthouse suites encompass 420 square feet of space. The bedroom area has a queen bed that can be converted to twins. We loved the “two-sided” duo of chairs and a small table at the foot of the bed. I found the configuration helpful for both relaxing and working on my laptop.

Not on Oceania Marina but at Hotel Bentley in Genoa, where Oceania executives and press stay when in town. Leaves little doubt as to the source of inspiration for Marina’s configuration.

The bed as well those foot-of-the-bed chairs/table face a wall occupied by a dark brown toned armoire and dressing table area.

A curtain separates the bedroom area from the living room area. A nice touch: the additional window next to the sofa.

Wall appointments include a dressing table mirror as well as a flat-screen television. A curtain separates this bedroom area from the living room area.

The living room area for Penthouse suites consists of a couch, table that can double as a dining table and two plush chairs (according to the 3-D mockup the line uses on its Web site – but only one chair was present in the mock-up we toured).

Del Rio pointed out that the line also added a second small window next to the couch. It provides additional natural light and creates a more open feel to the suite.

Penthouse Suite Desk, separate from dressing table.

In addition, the living area features a desk, desk chair and refrigerated mini-bar. Sliding glass balcony doors lead to a private veranda. Most balcony floors including those for suites on Marina are teak.

The walk-in closet is adequate with plenty of hanging space, plus a dark brown chest of drawers, a safe, and rack for hanging items but not ties (see Ralph Grizzle’s Q&A with Frank del Rio about the casual atmosphere of the ship).

Partial View of the granite and marble bath

Comprised of granite and marble the Penthouse Suite bathroom has one vanity with sink (as shown at left*). This bathroom also boasts a full-sized soaking tub, and a separate shower with a rainforest showerhead.

Colors in the Penthouse suite? We found them soft and cool in shades of light blue, gold and tan/brown.

You won’t find bold, in-your-face bright colors as seen on some cruise ships. Bright colors, at times, can hide dirt. Del Rio wants guests on Marina to feel they’re in a private home and to know immediately their suite’s carpets are clean and fresh.

Oceania Suites

Twelve Oceania suites of more than 1,000 square feet await guests; they’re offered both forward and aft on Decks 11 and 12. Each will offer a living room and dining room, walk-in closet, expansive private veranda and separate bedroom area with a king-sized Prestige Tranquility bed.

The suite also includes a Master Bath with all the bells and whistles, plus a second, guest bathroom. Those booked in this suite will enjoy both a private whirlpool overlooking the sea and a whirlpool tub in the master bath.

Perhaps most innovative is a state-of-the-art media center, which will include a 50-inch flat-screen television. “It will have everything you’d have in a home theater,” Del Rio says.

While the mock-up on the Web site shows a couch facing the screen, Oceania’s President Bob Binder talked of soft reclining chairs for viewing, so the interior appointments for this suite apparently are still under discussion.

Vista Suites

Marina’s eight 1,200-to-1,500 square-foot Vista Suites overlook the bow and feature wraparound teak balconies. Guests might watch movies on a 42-inch LCD flat-screen television, enhanced by Bose surround sound. The bedroom, with a king-sized bed, also offers as second LCD flat-screen television.

Owner’s Suites

There are three 2,000-square-foot Owner’s suites, the first accommodations at sea totally furnished with the furniture, fabrics, lighting and bedding of the Ralph Lauren Home collection.

Three opulent, elegant 2,000-square-foot Owner’s suites are located aft on Decks 8, 9 and 10; they span the entire “beam” or width of the ship.

Designed by New York-based Tocar Interior Design, these will be the first accommodations at sea totally furnished with the furniture, fabrics, lighting and bedding of the Ralph Lauren Home collection.

Entering the suite’s ivory marble foyer and music room, guests will discover walls of inset Georgian wood paneling finished in an ivory gloss.

On either side, art niche are framed with polished stone; mirrors reflect the statues. Black and camel mosaic tile insets are surrounded by plush black carpeting trimmed with a polished nickel metal edge.

Design features include a mahogany gloss bar with three ivory leather and chrome stools; armchairs covered in faux crocodile and brown-and-white faux zebra skins; and an ivory brocade and black satin chaise. The focal point, though, will undoubtedly be the ebony baby grand piano.

Beyond the foyer/music room, this suite boasts a large living room and private dining area. The suite also includes a marble-and-granite-clad bathroom; walk-in closet; spacious bedroom with a king-sized Prestige Tranquility Bed; a private fitness room; and a second bathroom for guests.

Three LCD flat-screen televisions and a Bose sound system are provided as well as two laptops with wireless access.

Bob Binder, Oceania’s president and CEO, sat next to me at dinner in Genoa last week, and talked about what type of exercise equipment was being considered. Fitness equipment has to be the latest and greatest but it also must be easily operable so guests don’t hurt themselves.

This is a private exercise facility within the guest’s own quarters so no trainer will be present most of the time. At present, the line is still evaluating what equipment to utilize.

In terms of the Ralph Lauren design detail for the suite (beyond the foyer/music room described above), the detailed design press release is so trendy it lost me in translation at times.

Let’s just say it’s clear this category of top-end suite will be opulent and elegant.

Suite Perks

All suites feature 24-hour butler service, plus many other perks. Those include

• exclusive access to an executive lounge staffed by a concierge;
• the Prestige Tranquility bed with 1,000-thread-count linens;
• private veranda;
• welcome bottle of champagne;
• refrigerated mini-bar with free and unlimited soft drinks and bottled water replenished daily;
• full-sized bathtub in Penthouse suites;
• whirlpool tubs in Owner’s, Vista and Oceania Suites;
• priority check-in and early embarkation;
• priority luggage delivery;
• and priority restaurant reservations in Toscana, Polo Grill, Jacques and Red Ginger.

In addition, suite guests also receive:

• complimentary use of laptop computer with Internet access (extra charges for usage may apply);
• complimentary 24-hour room service;
• Bvlgari toiletries in Owner’s, Vista and Oceania suites;
• L’Occitane toiletries in Penthouse suites;
• thick cotton robes, slippers and a cashmere lap blanket for use while onboard;
• LCD flat screen television (s);
• Grohe hand-held shower heads;
• security safe;
• handheld hair dryers;
• direct dial satellite phone and cellular service;
• and 110/220 volt outlets.

Owner’s, Vista and Oceania Suites also have a CD/DVD player with an extensive media library.

Other Accommodations

In addition to its selection of pampering suites, Marina will field 200 Concierge staterooms, 244 Veranda staterooms, 20 Oceanview staterooms and 18 Inside staterooms.

In Veranda staterooms, additional space has been added between the bed and closet in response to guest feedback. And, the cabin is 282 square feet, one third larger than balcony cabins on the line’s other ships.

Crew Accommodations

Crew quarters are designed for privacy, with private baths and private storage facilities.

An international crew of 800 serves guests onboard Marina. A happy crew leads to better service for guests, so Del Rio says the line has taken great care to utilize crew feedback and ideas for design of crew cabins.

During our time at the shipyard, we got a sneek peak at a mock-up of one crew cabin!

Each crew cabin has a private bathroom. Crew members also have a private closet for storing their personal belongings and clothing.

Florida-based Susan J. Young is a contributing editor for Avid Cruiser. A 20-year travel and cruise industry veteran, she’s the editor and publisher of SouthernCruising.com, a robust consumer Web site covering cruising from ports within the southern United States.

Young also serves as senior contributing editor-tours and cruises for a major U.S. travel trade publication. A member of the Society of American Travel Writers, she’s sailed on 70+ cruises within the past decade.

This article is reprinted with permission from SouthernCruising.com, which retains all rights to this story.

With his family booked on a March 2010 cruise on Carnival Dream, Avid Cruiser reader Scott W. writes to say he’s worried about a potential foul odor on the ship. Scott worries that the odor could jeopardize his family’s ‘Dream’ vacation.

We’ve had several reports from readers since who noticed no foul smell, but today, Bob K. commented that his family did indeed notice an unpleasant odor. You can read all comments, including Bob K’s, on the Carnival Dream page.

I’m successful, well-educated (go Tar Heels!), well-traveled, have fulfilled most of my dreams, parent two lovely children and enjoy a good lifestyle. But despite all of those trimmings of a happy life, I’ve decided that I no longer want to be me. No. I’m finished with this persona. From now on, I want to be Frank Del Rio.

FDR, of course, is the out-spoken Chairman and CEO of Prestige Cruise Holdings, parent of Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. I say outspoken because FDR, with all respect, has no filter. He says what’s on his mind, and most times that’s refreshing and insightful, as you’ll read in the Q&A below.

He has made a fortune, rising from the ashes of Renaissance Cruises, which, in failing financial health, ceased operations on September 25, 2001. Like the mythical Phoenix, FDR flapped his expansive wings (with two former Renaissance vessels tucked underneath) and launched the upper-premium brand Oceania Cruises in 2002. It was pure genius.

FDR and company had found an untapped niche tucked between the premium brands and the luxury brands. Oceania’s positioning of upper premium not only had marketing cachet, but also appealed to a whole lot of people, which is why eight years later, Oceania’s three vessels still have a huge and loyal following, and why the company is building not one, but two, new ships.

The reason I want to be FDR is not because he’s rich (though I wouldn’t mind having a bulging wallet) but because of his passion and commitment. FDR knows what his brand stands for, and equally important, what it does not. I only wish I had such clarity of focus.

Thinking about it, it’s probably a good thing I do not inhabit FDR’s persona, because let’s be frank (ha!), I would have done something really dumb, like positioning the company as ”lower luxury” instead of “upper premium.” And that would have never worked. Or would it? Let’s leave that for contemplation and go have a chat with the chief.

Q & A With Oceania’s Frank Del Rio

During a walkthrough of Oceania Marina, under construction in Genoa, Italy, Frank Del Rio, Chairman & CEO of Prestige Cruise Holdings, talked with the Avid Cruiser about the new ship, the Oceania brand and the line’s upper-premium positioning.

Ralph Grizzle: With Marina, you’re nearly doubling the capacity of your existing ships. What impact will that have on the guest experience?

Frank del Rio: There is an 80 percent increase in passenger capacity on Marina, but a 120 percent increase in the size of the ship, so the size makes for a more comfortable ship. The guest-to-space ratio is much higher on Marina than on our existing vessels.

[Editor's note: Oceania's newest ship will have similar capacity to Holland America Line "S Class" vessels, such as Maasdam, but Marina will have 25 percent more space.]

Also, we will have a higher crew-to-passenger ratio than we have on our existing ships [800 crew to 1,258 guests]. We’re elevating the Oceania experience by improving everything that we can — entertainment, the number of restaurant offerings, the guest-to-space ratio and so forth.

Q.How involved are you in Marina’s design?

FDR: Short of having a hammer in my hand, I am involved. It’s Bob [Binder, Oceania's president] and me. He’s been alongside every step of the way. We happen to have common tastes, so it’s not often that he wants green and I want blue. You can see our fingerprint in every room on the ship.

Q. Marina is the first ship to feature suites appoint with furniture and fabrics from Ralph Lauren’s Home Collection. How did that relationship come about?

FDR: We wanted a signature stateroom, and we thought about which American designer best represented what the Oceania brand stands for —casual, timeless elegance. Ralph Lauren was it.

Q. You pointed out in one of the walk-in closets there was no tie rack. Why not?

FDR: There’s no tie rack purposely. We make it a point that we offer a country club casual ambience where tuxedoes and suits are never required. I would be going against my own brand identity if I told you to bring a tie. I don’t want you to bring a tie. You’re on vacation. I want you to relax. I want you to be casual and comfortable.

Q. As we were looking at the space where the Terrace Cafe will be, you told me that one of your pet peeves is standing in line. How have you handled that on Marina?

FDR: We’ve eliminated it on all of our ships. If there is a line, we’ve failed miserably.

Q. The ship designers joke that you’re not building a ship, but a floating galley. How do you respond to that?

FDR: For fine cuisine you need three ingredients: a good chef, good natural products and a good galley, and you can see we’ve done that by creating a very large, well-built galley.

Q. Other cruise lines are sourcing passengers from Europe, but not Oceania. It seems to be a very American product. Why?

FDR: It’s not that we’re an American cruise line; it’s that there is so much demand for our product on our own shores. And it’s so efficient to source from the United States that up to now we have not needed to do a whole lot of sourcing offshore. However, about 15 percent of Oceania’s business comes from outside the U.S. and Canada, with Australia and New Zealand being our number-one, non-North American market.

Q. One reporter said that the closest competitor that comes to mind for this size ship (1,258 passengers) and quality of product offered is Crystal. How do you respond to that?

FDR: We don’t target Crystal. We don’t target their product. We don’t target their guests. In reality, we don’t target any other cruise line. We are what we are. I believe the majority of our new customers that will come to Marina will not come from Crystal. They’ll come from Holland America, they’ll come from Celebrity, they’ll come from Princess. If you take the upper suites on board Princess, Celebrity, Holland America and Cunard, just the upper suites, do you know what percentage of those customers I need to fill Marina? 1.2 percent. So why bother targeting Crystal? 1.2 percent of the upper suites [on the premium lines] fills Marina.

Q. Tell me about some of the enrichment programs on Marina.

FDR: We’ll have the Bon Appetit Culinary Center, created in conjunction with Bon Appetit magazine. Unlike many cruise lines that have some sort of cooking demonstration, which is a look-but-don’t-touch experience, this is a hands-on cooking school. People will pay similar to what they would pay for a shore excursions to attend classes that are taught by top chefs who we’ll bring on board as guest chefs.

You’ll go ashore to a market, bring back fresh vegetables and meats and fish, and the chefs actually teach you how to cook. There’ll be 24 individual work stations with your own cook tops, your own ovens, your own pots and pans and knives to slice and dice, and you’ll actually learn to cook. You can take one course, or you can take a series of courses throughout the voyage, so that by the end of your voyage, you are a seasoned chef or at least you’ve learned how to boil water.

Across the hall from the Culinary Center is the Artist’s Loft. The idea is that we will always have a resident artist on board. On one cruise there could be a resident oil painter who will teach you to paint with oil. On the next cruise there could be someone who teaches you how to do sculpture or some kind of crafts.

Oceania has longer itineraries than most cruise lines, and people want to make sure they have plenty to do. We think the idea of the Culinary Center and the Artist’s loft resonates with our customers, who are into enriching themselves. They’re way past accumulating things. They’re into experiencing things. They want to learn.

Q. So Marina will not be offering a seven-day itinerary?

FDR: The shortest itinerary Marina will offer is 10 days. Her sweet spot is 10 to 14 days. Why would you want to leave the ship after seven days?

Q. What was the response on the opening sales day for Marina?

FDR: In the first 24 hours, all of the owner’s suites, all the vistas, all the oceania suites, all the penthouses went. In one day, 53 percent of the inventory sold [Marina's inaugural season is sold out.]

Q. Will Marina offer open-seating dining?

FDR: Yes. Even if everybody decides to come to dinner at the same time we can handle it. The maximum guest count is 1,258. We have 1,577 seats in all of our dining rooms. The idea is that no dining room will ever fill crowded, the waiters won’t be rushed. Now obviously, not everybody can dine in Polo at the same time, because there are only 134 seats. But there will always be a seat for you at one of our restaurants at any time.

Q. When did the idea come about to build Marina?

FDR: During the inaugural of Nautica, November of 2005. It was obvious by that time. Oceania had three ships, the demand for the product was overwhelming, and there were no more R ships to be had. To grow the business, I had to order another ship. So we were planning everything — the design, the architects, the shipyard — and when we became associated with Apollo, we had the financial wherewithal to actually pull the trigger. Within 60 days of closing our transaction with Apollo, we placed the order.

Q. What was the first design element that went down on paper?

FDR: If you really drill down, the first thing we thought of in building the ship was the cabins. And the one thing in the cabins that we designed first, that we said everything had to be designed around, was the bathrooms.

The building of Marina has always been a collaboration between Bob [Binder] and I and Robin [Lindsay] and Franco [Semeraro, senior vice president hotel operations]. We’re very close. We’re not just colleagues, we’re friends. We sat around the campfire, and we asked when we build our next ship, what do you want? Everybody had a list. Maybe we’re boring, but we don’t have many disagreements. We all know what we want. We know what the brand stands for and what it doesn’t. One of the things I think we do well is that we know what we are and what we’re not. We don’t try to be everything to all. You can’t please everybody all the time.

Q. What does Oceania stand for?

FDR: We are primarily a destination-oriented, foody-lover’s cruise line, and if you can stay within those parameters and execute flawlessly, we think the market is huge.

Everyone, from crib to coffin, pedals a bike in Amsterdam.

Cruising to or from Amsterdam? Why not do what the Dutch do and straddle a saddle? Hop on a bike and pedal your way through Amsterdam and the beautiful countryside.

Everyone, from crib to coffin, pedals a bike in Amsterdam. The entire country of the Netherlands is mostly flat and ideal for cycling, but the best part is that cyclists pedal along roads either with no cars at all (with tiny traffic lights for bikes) — or with drivers who actually pay attention to cyclists.

That is why Dutch cyclists are 30 times less likely to be killed than their stateside counterparts, according to Bicycling magazine. And that is why for tourists, cycling is a match made, well, in the Netherlands.

You can pedal in the city center, of course, but the real pleasure comes in getting out in the countryside. During my visit to Amsterdam, the rental agency, Mac Bike, recommended a route called “The Great Waterland Bicycle Tour.”

I followed the route, well described on the map, through Amsterdam, riding past charming canals, beautiful architecture, past pedestrians (and nearly over one or two who stepped in front of the bike) and alongside other cyclists and eventually found my way to the train station and the ferry across to Waterland, north of Amsterdam.

Join other cyclists on the free ferry toward Waterland.

The ferries are free and transit every five minutes or so. A ramp lowers and you push your bike on.

In fact, I don’t think there is any public facility that hasn’t been set up for bikes. Even outdoor stairways, have a steel gutter to accommodate the bike’s wheels.

The ferry transit is only a couple of minutes, and I stood there among a throng of other cyclists waiting to reach the other side.

Once on the other side, I and the others pedaled off. After about an hour of pedaling past attractive countryside, I stopped for lunch in a beautiful seaside village, where I dined on a plate of mussels, french fries, salad, bread, applesauce and cole slaw.

It’s hard to imagine a better meal or a more deserved one — after cycling.

Fortified, I pedaled again. I rode along a dyke through Uitdam and to the charming village of Marken, where the fishermen’s houses were built on poles.

Precious cargo!

The town is a tourist attraction, where all the homes are painted a dark green with red tile roofs.

During my ride, I learned at least two things about cycling in the Netherlands. The first was how to carry three ice cream cones on a bike. I saw a girl doing just that.

To carry three, she turned one cone upside down on top of the other so that she had only to contend with two cones in one hand. Smart.

I also learned how to carry twins. I saw a woman riding a bike with the front end having two wheels and a cart in between. Up front were the twin girls. I learned that this is quite common in the Netherlands.

I continued to ride to Monnickendam, a charming village, then to Zuiderwoude, where I could see the “Welcome to the town limits” and “You Are Leaving the town limits” signs as I pedaled in. There was a wonderful teahouse there.

In the countryside, take a break at the teahouse in Zuiderwoude.

I rode along the Amstel, past barges and boats to the small village of Ouderkerk ann de Amstel, older than Amsterdam. I stopped there to have an apple shortcake from a century-old bakery and a Witte beer at a restaurant dating back to 1624.

Older than Amsterdam, Ouderkerk ann de Amstel makes for a good stop to have a beer.

I picked my way back to the ferry. The complete circuit took more than six hours and was so enjoyable. I hope to do it again one day.

Everyone cycles in Amsterdam. I was told the SH on the bike pictured indicated that someone with a hearing handicap was the owner.

With his family booked on a March 2010 cruise on Carnival Dream, Avid Cruiser reader Scott W. writes to say he’s worried about a potential foul odor on the ship. Scott worries that the odor could jeopardize his family’s ‘Dream’ vacation.

I cruised Carnival Dream for a few nights out of New York and noticed no such odor. I should also note that Avid Cruiser contributor Geoff Edwards mentioned no such smells during his weeklong Dream voyage late last year. You will find Geoff’s account on on Avid Cruiser’s Carnival Dream page. But perhaps Avid Cruiser readers could help out.

Have you cruised Carnival Dream? If so please share your experience by commenting on Avid Cruiser’s Carnival Dream page, where you can read Scott’s comment or below. Anyone is welcome to comment.

Update: And someone did comment. Wayne Miller just returned from Carnival Dream and did a thorough olfactory inspection. Putting all areas to the smell test, he found no foul odors. In fact, Miller even went so far as to call his vacation on Dream, the best of seven cruises. Thanks Wayne!

Cruise ships, such as Silversea’s Prince Albert II, calling on Leixões in 2010 will allow passengers to explore beautiful European cities such as Oporto, Portugal, situated on the Douro River.

The North American cruise industry has reaffirmed its faith in Europe by placing much of its crop of new ships in 2010 on the Continent.

The largest North American brand newbuilds, the 150,000-ton Norwegian Epic and the second Oasis-class ship, will be based in the Caribbean. But much of the rest of the industry’s new tonnage will be based in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, at least for its inaugural season.

The third ship in Celebrity Cruises’ Solstice-class series, Celebrity Eclipse, will launch service this summer out of Southampton. Holland America Line’s new ship, the  Nieuw Amsterdam, is slated for a summer delivery, and will spend its maiden season in the Mediterranean. It is one of six Holland America ships based in Europe this year.

Queen Elizabeth, Cunard Line’s new ship, will begin its cruising life in both the Mediterranean and Northern Europe from Southampton. Seabourn Cruises’ second Odyssey-class ship, Seabourn Sojourn, will enter service in London this June, and will spend its summer in Europe as well.

Europe is also getting more tonnage from Alaska, which has lost several ships for the 2010 season, as cruise operators cite the high cost of doing business there.

Richard Meadows, Holland America Line’s executive vice president of marketing, sales and guest programs, said in a statement that it was increasing its Europe presence in response to increased demand. “Our guests are finding a cruise to be the best value for their money in Europe, and interest in Mediterranean and Northern European itineraries continues to grow,” Meadows said.

This is also the year that Disney Cruise Line will spend its first summer in the Baltic, with the Disney Magic offering four, 12-night Northern European Capitals itineraries, roundtrip Dover, England, with calls at Oslo, Copenhagen, Warnemunde, Germany, (for Berlin), overnighting in St. Petersburg, then cruising to Helsinki (alternating with Tallinn, Estonia), Stockholm and back to Dover.

Crystal Cruises has new itineraries on the books, including a new seven-day British Isles cruise.

Competitor Silversea calls on Le Verdon, near Bordeaux on the west coast of France. Prince Albert II will sail from Lisbon, Portugal on April 28, with stops in Leixoes (Oporto), Portugal; La Coruna, Spain; Bilbao, Spain; overnight in Bordeaux, France; Nantes, France; Saint-Malo, France; Guernsey, Channel Islands; Honfleur, France; and ending in Portsmouth, England on May 10.

Regent is dedicating more beds to Europe for 2010. Regent Seven Seas Voyager will continue to offer Northern Europe sailings.

Princess Cruises has quite a lot of diversity on the books next year, with 39 European itineraries, 96 departures and visits to more than 130 destinations. For the 2010 season, Princess added 11 destinations, including seven maiden calls and four where Princess ships are returning after an extended absence. Ocean Princess will kick off a series of new seven-day Interlude itineraries that include Scandinavia, Norway or Ireland and Scotland.

Celebrity shuffled ships for the coming summer. Constellation takes over Century’s 2009 itineraries, sailing 12-night Scandinavia and Russia. Also, on May 9, Constellation will sail a new, one-time, seven-night Norwegian Fjords voyage roundtrip out of Amsterdam. And she will offer a one-time, 12-night cruise to the Arctic Circle on June 21, roundtrip out of Amsterdam. Celebrity also is revisiting Hamburg, Germany, last visited in 2002.

Azamara Cruise Club sends both ships to Europe for the third consecutive summer, with a total of 93 ports visited throughout 39 sailings. Azamara will visit nine European ports for the first time in 2010, including Liverpool, England. Azamara also will offer 53 overnight stays in 13 ports across 33 of its 39 sailings. Fourteen sailings include more than one overnight stay. Overnight stays will be offered in St. Petersburg, Russia; Stockholm, Sweden; Edinburgh (Leith), Scotland; and London (Greenwich), England.

Additionally, the line will stay overnight in four European ports for the first time in 2010, including Bordeaux, France and Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany. Azamara’s Europe sailings will be based out of six turnaround ports, including Copenhagen, Denmark.

Royal Caribbean will base Independence of the Seas year-round in Southampton, England, the company’s first ship to homeport full-time in the U.K. In 2008, Brilliance of the Seas became the first Royal Caribbean ship to operate year-round in Europe, sailing out of Barcelona.

Holland America Line will make 11 maiden calls, including Isle of Man, United Kingdom. Also new for 2010: Eurodam and Westerdam will offer departures from Rotterdam and Dover that will feature the Baltic, Norwegian Fjords and Northern Europe.

Seabourn will call at new ports in 2010, including Szczecin, Poland; Torshavn, Faroe Islands; and Trondheim, Norway.

For more information on cruises in Europe, contact your cruise seller or leave a comment below.

A Kid’s View Of The Great Land: Seeing Alaska through the eyes of my 10-year-old son.

[Story was originally published in 2007.]

‘Dude! Alaska is soooooooo awesome!’

These were the words uttered by my 10-year-old son on our first morning in that most majestic of American states, Alaska. We had sailed from Seattle two days before, and on this morning, I awoke early, peeked out the curtains and nudged Alex awake.

I told him that we had arrived in Alaska and waited for him to wipe the sleep from his eyes and pull back the still-drawn curtains. I positioned myself so that I could see his face when he peered out the window at the rocky shoreline and snow-capped peaks we were passing.

His response made worthwhile all of the planning, the long flight across the country and the expense of this trip. Eyes wide and bright, he exclaimed with gusto, ‘Dude! Alaska is soooooooo awesome!’

In Awe Of Alaska

We dressed and went for breakfast, taking a seat at a table outside so that we could admire the sights and breathe the fresh, crisp Alaskan air. Without asking, an older woman plopped down with us, as if she had not seen us sitting there. She looked up somewhat surprised and said with some effort: ‘I don’t know how to describe the feeling. I’m just in awe.’

We were all in awe. Holland America Line’s Amsterdam was sailing toward Juneau, and on this bright morning, colorful fishing boats were motoring in the opposite direction out of the Gastineau Channel to the open sea. The busy channel, the blue sky, the mountains on both sides of the ship, the snow-capped peaks — it was indeed beautiful and moving.

The older woman told us that she was from Gloucester, Virginia. This was her first trip to Alaska, and she said that walking out on the open deck and seeing the wide expanse of beauty had made her feel queasy. She was so overwhelmed that she had to sit down.

That day was the first of several days of inspiring landscapes. Alaska’s natural beauty was stunning. When, at the end of our trip, I asked Alex to recount the images of Alaska that were in his mind, he said: ‘Whales, eagles and glaciers.’ We had seen lots of whales during a boat excursion in Sitka. Whales were so abundant, in fact, that we even saw three fluke their tails in succession. Eagles were perched on rocks and on tree limbs. We saw eagle nests and one eagle with a salmon in its talons. It was all so wonderful and wild.

In Juneau, we visited Mendenhall Glacier (paying $6 each way for the 20minute transfer on a Juneau Tours converted schoolbus). In the streams fed by the glacier, salmon were spawning.

Cruising With Kids

The great thing about cruising with kids is that as a parent, you can give the little ones a long leash. Cruise ships are relatively safe environments for kids, and it’s not likely they will get lost. I allowed Alex to hang out with other boys he met on the cruise.

He and Seth (pictured, Seth, left, Alex, right), 9 years old, from Santa Barbara, became best friends. I gave strict orders for Alex to rendezvous with me at certain times on the ship, and he was always there.

One night, I let him stay up until midnight with Seth, and the next morning he slept late. When I finally woke him, I thought he would be upset that he had missed the morning. ‘Alex, you’ve slept until 11:30,’ I said. ‘Really?’ he responded. I waited for some regret. ‘Great!’ he says. ‘That means I can stay up later tonight!’

Alaska is a place where you want to stay up late. The sun sets late, and the sunsets can be stunning. Occasionally, I would see Alex and Seth on the outer decks. Once, they were peering out to sea. ‘What’s going on guys?’ I asked. ‘We’re looking for whales.’Alex had learned to look not for the body of a whale but for the blow, just before the whale expels air, fully surfaces and dives again.

The real pleasure of this trip for me was the gift that I was giving Alex. He would return home with a few souvenirs, material possessions, some of which would be tossed aside and forgotten within a few weeks. These, of course, were trite and mostly meaningless. The real gifts were the indelible images that would stay with my son, forever — at least that is my hope.When we set out on our journey to the Great Land, Alex kept looking up at me and saying, ‘I’m so happy dad.’ I was too.

The day before he flew home to his mom, he was still happy. ‘It was my favorite trip ever,’ he said to me as I loaded him on the plane. To my ears those words were ’soooooooo awesome.’

Departing Seattle, our Alaskan Explorer cruise on Holland America Line’s Amsterdam took us to Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan, plus Victoria, British Columbia. We also cruised scenic Tracy Arm and Frederick Sound.

How do you keep more than 6,300 people fed, housed and having the time of their life while floating in the middle of the ocean?  Read the Wall Street Journal’s Running the World’s Biggest Cruise Ship .

Sure, Amsterdam’s Bulldog Cafe has a sign indicating that it is a coffee shop, but coffee is not the main fix you’ll find here.

Unlike our dear former president, I inhaled. And while I did so intentionally and without apology, I also did so, as I do many things in life, with some degree of discomfort. Please, stay with me a moment. I promise I am not stoned as a I write these words.

Obliged by journalistic duty to explore one of the reasons that some travelers visit Amsterdam, I set out one afternoon in search of a coffee house. Not the type of establishment where you buy coffee (wink, wink), but the type where you can “Bogart” a joint. Chalk it up to curiosity.

My quest, however, was not without a couple of false starts. The barista at the first coffee shop I walked into gave me a puzzled look, when I cowered up to the counter and asked for marijuana.

I half expected a SWAT team to descend on me after I had intoned the words. “I’m sorry,” she replied. “This is not the kind of coffee shop you’re looking for.” I gathered my composure and said brightly, “Then, I’ll just have a cappuccino.” I was somewhat relieved of the image of being handcuffed and hauled away.

Caffeinated, not stoned, I continued my quest, and I was soon to be rewarded. Not far from Amsterdam’s red light district was my Shangri-La. I knew well that the leaf emblazoned on the window was not basil or cilantro or parsley. That leaf, I recognized, was the holy grail of my quest.

Crossing the threshold of the establishment sheepishly, I walked up to the counter and eyed the clerk behind the counter with a conspiratorial look. “Marijuana,” I asked. “Yes,” he replied. “What type of seed would you like?” Eureka! “Whatever you recommend,” I said, with a bring-it-on look. He reached under the counter and returned with a package of seeds.

“How do you smoke it?” I asked, dazed as well as confused. “Well, you have to grow it first,” he replied, explaining that I had stumbled into a seed shop. He had no license for consumption on premises.

Happily, he informed me that I could go to the Bulldog Cafe for what I was seeking. And boy was he right. The moment I opened the door to the Bulldog, I knew I had hit the jackpot. The air was thick with smoke, and everyone appeared carefree and happy. For a moment, I thought I saw Jimmy Hendrix through the purple haze.

At the counter, I was presented a menu. There were two columns of weed, categorized, as the clerk explained, from mild to heavy. Seeing all this intimidated me a bit, and then something happened. I am not sure if it was the vision of the SWAT team, my Southern Baptist upbringing, or Jimmy Hendrix in the corner, but I lost my courage. “Thank you,” I replied. “Just looking.” After a moment, I turned on my heel to leave.

It took an eternity to reach the front door. The smoke was so thick that I could have cut it with a knife. The aroma was pleasant, and I began to enjoy it as I continued the long, long walk to the front door.

People were smiling at me. I smiled back. I thought I heard Hendrix ask if he might be excused to kiss the sky.

I finally reached the front door, but before exiting, I turned to take in the happy scene of people legally toking. And then I did something that I had wanted to do from the beginning. I took a long and deep breath. Yes, I inhaled.