Photographed Tuesday, Silver Shadow (in the distance against the mountains) anchored in Akaroa, New Zealand, with no other cruise ships in sight. The day before, two ships disgorged a few thousand passengers into this town of 700. Why the Steinlager sign? It was my favorite beer when I traveled the north and south islands more than 20 years ago. It is good to be back in New Zealand.
This week, we pose a question: Are you a big-ship cruiser or a small-ship cruiser?
In October my friend Leah and I traveled to Manhattan, New York to board the Silver Whisper, one of many beautiful ships from the luxury cruise line, Silversea. Aboard this all-inclusive cruise ship we had many delightful experiences during our 10-days travelling from New York to Barbados. Upon checking in we were greeted with a very friendly and personal welcome from the Hotel Director, Norman Rafelson and the Cruise Director, Don Fluke.
Our Voyage Ambassadors, Kevin LaGraff and Susan Atkins are currently circling South America on a 72-night journey aboard the luxury cruise line Regent Seven Seas. Their cruise began just two and a half weeks ago and they have already had so many incredible adventures. This week they passed through the man-made Panama Canal.
It’s tougher than getting into Harvard (statistically speaking), but somehow Cruise Specialists Founder Janet Lanterman has managed to remain on Condé Nast Traveler magazine’s coveted annual list of Top Travel Specialists for 12 consecutive years. Lanterman earned the prestigious Top Travel Specialist designation for her expertise in planning multi-generational cruises.
“When you need the clout and wisdom of a longtime industry insider and the warmth of an understanding friend, look no further than Lanterman, whose creativity and reach translate into special treatment for your family—private shipboard celebrations, priority check-in and disembarkation, and access to club lounges, top tables, and superb guides—and who will ensure that your onboard experiences and private shore excursions are, in a word, priceless,” said Condé Nast Traveler’s Consumer News Editor Wendy Perrin.
In collaboration with Slow Food Italy, Silversea Cruises has designed an exclusive three-night program that will highlight the culinary and cultural traditions of Tuscany and introduce participants to local wine producers and products that adhere to the Slow Food philosophy of preserving biodiversity and gastronomic traditions.
It often pays to plan ahead, and for those who heed such advice, now may be a good time to begin planning for 2013. One compelling reason is a new offer by Silversea Cruises. Make a deposit on a 2013 sailing by February 15, 2012, and save an additional 10 percent on a selection of 2012 voyages. On top of this are attractive savings incentives in 2013 that include almost double the number of Free Air gateways available (on select sailings) to travelers departing from the U.S and Canada, and Onboard Spending Credits of up to $1,500 per suite on all voyages (with the exception of Silversea Expeditions).
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.”
- St. Augustine
As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and such is the case today aboard AmaWaterways’ beautiful AmaLyra as we disembarked in the wonderful Hungarian city of Budapest and begin our long journey back to Canada.
During the first few weeks of January, a wave of ships will soon be departing from a variety of ports to take eager passengers on an adventure of a lifetime around the world. As most people are preparing for the busy holiday season, some of our Cruise Specialists travelers are also busy preparing for their long awaited world cruise.
Things aren’t going well for the euro, which has lost 3 percent of its value against the U.S. dollar in the past couple of days. This morning, the common currency of 17 European nations hit an 11-month low of $1.29. Some analysts suggest the beleagured euro could hit $1.25 — possibly lower — in the coming months.
