Each cruise line offers a unique product in terms of atmosphere, service, amenities and overall hardware (ship and cabins). We have categorized
the cruise lines we work with into four distinct classes – contemporary, premium, upper premium and luxury. Your knowledgeable cruise consultant
can help you determine what cruise line will best fit your vacation plans.
Whether it’s the destination that is adventurous like Antarctica or the Galapagos Islands, or you can’t wait to don your hiking boots or your scuba
gear on some thrilling shore excursions – there are a number of adventure cruises that will get your adrenaline pumping.
We offer a number of special escorted cruises throughout the year led by our experienced and knowledgeable hosts. Our hosts will welcome you into our
group for an exciting adventure with new friends.
Stunning scenery, charming towns and villages, and intimate modern river cruise ships are making river cruising one of the fastest growing trends in
travel. A river cruise provides a unique and authentic way to visit and explore Europe, Russia, Asia, America and the Amazon.
While it’s usually best to plan your cruise ahead to get your pick of ships, itineraries and cabin selection, there may be some last minute cruise
inventory available if you have a flexible schedule.
Cruising is a great vacation option for single travelers as it is a safe way to travel on your own while enjoying plenty of opportunities to meet other travelers on and off the ship. Occasionally Cruise Specialists can secure special pricing for single cabins and we want to pass on these savings to you.
Theme cruises allow you to combine your vacation and a passion into one special trip. From food and wine, to art appreciation, dance, bridge,
fitness and more – there’s plenty of theme cruises that will allow you to explore a fun hobby with other travel enthusiasts.
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.
Fifty Cruise Specialists guests with a thirst for new adventures, good wine, and giving back recently set sail on the 2011 California Winemasters Association cruise which helped raise $10,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (the association’s official charity). Cruise Specialists donated a portion of each guest’s reservation to the worthy cause. This year’s cruise is hosted by Justin Baldwin of JUSTIN Vineyards and is sailing on the new Celebrity Eclipse to the Eastern Caribbean. Guests are enjoying private wine tasting events, exclusive winemaker luncheons and much more.
All right, so you’re an experienced Caribbean cruiser.
You’ve docked in places like Phillpsburg and Bridgetown so many times you qualify for frequent visitor status. You’ve slathered yourself in sun lotion on more palm-lined beaches than Columbus ever claimed. But I bet there are still big gaps in your Caribbean life list; places that hardly ever show up in cruise itineraries. Maybe it’s time to look into some islands off the well-churned cruise routes that are places that can only be visited by smaller ships. The experience is sure to be one that won’t have our friends saying “been there, done that.”
We recently sailed from Rome (Civitavecchia) to Athens on the Azamara Quest (30,000 tons with 694 guests and 407 crewmembers) in a Club Continent Suite. We enjoyed the service provided by our excellent Butler and Stateroom Attendant. I was asked what the butler does for you onboard – the welcome letter in our suite gave us some ideas: assistance with unpacking/packing, daily news delivery, in-suite breakfast, lunch and dinner service, evening hors d’oeuvres daily, afternoon tea service, shoe shine service, assistance with reservations for specialty dining, shore excursions, and spa appointments, etc. Our butler, Eyup, also assisted us when we encountered rough seas tendering in Sorrento and our clothes were soaked – off they went to be returned clean and dry the next day!
The Suite Life Comes To the Caribbean On Celebrity’s Solstice-Class Vessels
This winter, Celebrity Cruises has sent not one but all four Solstice-class ships to the Caribbean, offering sailings from Fort Lauderdale, Florida aboard Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox; Miami aboard Celebrity Eclipse; and departures from Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey aboard the new Celebrity Silhouette.
Celebrity’s Solstice-class vessels are truly remarkable ships, and we feel they are some of the best ships afloat for cruising any destination. More than 85 percent of all accommodations feature private balconies, but Solstice-class goes so much further.
Our roving reporter, Ralph Grizzle, sails aboard Silversea Cruises ultra-luxury expedition ship. This video provides you with a detailed look at life aboard the Silver Explorer.
Cruise Specialists is proud to announce their offices raised over $2,000 for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month! The luxury cruise agency raised the money for the foundation by making a $10 donation for each cruise reservation they sold on a Holland America sailing during the month of October. Cruise Specialists also encouraged clients to donate money to take part in special five-kilometer walk onboard any Holland America cruise ship deck this year called “On Deck for the Cure®”
