Oasis of the Seas will be introduced in Dec. 2009

Central Park
At the center of the ship, the innovative design of Central Park opens to the sky and features lush tropical grounds spanning more than the length of a football field. Elegant and lively, Central Park’s piazza is the ship’s town square, which evolves from a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere during the day to a gathering space for dining, entertainment, and street performances in the evening. Central Park features several alfresco dining options and more than 300 staterooms, which rise six decks to overlook the Park. Quiet reading corners, specimen gardens, and other hidden surprises await guests among the winding paths.

Boardwalk
With a nod to Coney Island, this neighborhood is dedicated to family fun and nostalgia, the new groundbreaking Boardwalk is a slice of old-world charm with a modern twist. With its one-of-a-kind outdoor AquaTheater, the first ever Carousel at sea, and two massive rock-climbing walls, the Boardwalk offers enough games, amusement and attractions to keep everyone entertained. Surrounded by casual restaurants, including Johnny Rockets and the Seafood Shack, a coffee and donut shop, bars, candy shop and more, Boardwalk is the place to be for the entire family.

Royal Promenade
The most expansive promenade at sea - continues to be the heart of the ship. Except now, it’s better than ever. For the first time, the Royal Promenade will have a mezzanine level that overlooks the space below and adds to the excitement of the Promenade. Featuring Rising Tide; a levitating bar that ascends and descends over three decks, and enough shops and restaurants to entertain even the most traveled of travelers. By morning, enjoy a relaxed atmosphere over coffee, and people watch. The ambiance becomes more energetic and vibrant in the afternoon with shopping, lunch, or drinks in the pub. In the evening, the energy rises with parades, nightlife, and entertainment for everyone. It’s a destination unto itself.
 

Pool and Sports Zone
H2O Zone – aqua park for kids and families; Sports Pool – for lap swimming and watersports; Beach Pool – sloped ocean-like entry; Main Pool – perfect for simply sunbathing and taking a dip; Private Cabanas; 10 total whirlpools, eight whirlpools and two cantilevered whirlpools; Solarium – a tranquil adult environment featuring plush seating and loungers, the Solarium pool, two traditional whirlpools and two cantilevered whirlpools.
Sports Deck:
Zip Line – a thrilling experience which takes riders across the open-air atrium suspended nine decks; Miniature golf course; Two huge FlowRider surf simulators; Sports court – for basketball, volleyball, ping pong and more.

With a myriad of cruise ship firsts, and 2,700 spacious staterooms, this 16-deck marvel proves that the impossible, is possible and the unimaginable becomes real. We’ve never seen anything like it, she isn’t just a ship, she’s a collection of amazing experiences that challenge all limitations. 

We can reserve your space - be one of the first to sail on this engineering marvel! You’ll have to see it to believe it.  

Yes, it’s a big country.  As we all know, it is as large as the United States, and oh, so interesting.  I’ve been traveling to Australia off and on for almost 30 years, and have never failed to enjoy my trip.  Here are some of the highlights of my latest trip, which was with other Aussie specialists, to re-investigate the land down under.  Our air was with Qantas Airways, and was excellent in every respect.

SYDNEY is, and always will be, a glorious city with everything to offer.  With water, water everywhere, it’s a sight to behold.  There are many hotels, and there is much to do, so time must be allowed for all.  For the sake of luxury all the way around, consider one of the four following hotels – the Park Hyatt, which is built right on Sydney Harbour; the Observatory, an Orient Express hotel that backs up to Darling Harbour; the Intercontinental, in a wonderful location with excellent views; and the Four Seasons, another lovely place to stay with service at the forefront.  Take a harbour cruise, or perhaps a flight-seeing plane over the harbour and broadwaters.  Walk around The Rocks, the historical section of Sydney.  Take a side trip to the Hunter Valley for a day of wine tasting, or perhaps a jaunt up to the Blue Mountains for a relaxing day or two of pure beauty.  Once you think you have done everything that Sydney has to offer, go for a ride on the back of a Harley Davidson.  Pure fun!

Staying in New South Wales, consider a trip to Byron Bay.  This small town is a charmer; impossible to not enjoy.  We stayed at the best in the area, and one of the best in the country, The Byron.  This fantastic resort consists of rain forest accommodation in well-appointed one bedroom units, from which you can walk to the beach in five minutes.  A large pool, a Jacuzzi, and wonderful spa await all who stay at the Byron, besides excellent food and drink.  The people who are a part of this community strive to “live off the land” amongst themselves, supporting each other through food and product purchases at their weekly market.  Everything is home grown, and tastes like it.  A meal in this area brings with it a freshness that has almost disappeared from the modern-day table.

A few other quickie notes on Oz…

New properties to be noticed – Qualia, a new island resort on the northern tip of Hamilton Island in Queensland.  The resort consists of 60 villas, private plunge pools, access to personal trainers…and so much more.  A wonderful way to see the reef and surrounding area.

Consider, too, Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island, off Adelaide in South Australia.  This just-opened property simply sparkles.  It is the first luxury accommodation built on Kangaroo Island, and sits on a cliff with magnificent views over the and the Galapagos-like island.

Luxury by sea can be found with an expedition cruise on Orion.  This cruise line is the master of the unusual…consider cruising the top of Australia, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia and Norfolk Island, or any one of many more cruise itineraries. 

…and lastly, for gold-plated luxury on the Gold Coast, try a stay at Palazzo Versace, the first anywhere resort that has been created under the watchful eye of Donatella Versace.  It is beautiful…marble floors, room décor and amenities in the best of Versace, and access to Gold Coast and Surfers’ Paradise activities. 

Now I’m busy formulating plans for my next trip to Australia.  I must warn all who read this, though…it’s habit forming.

Travelled from San Diego to Salt Lake City on Jet Blue to meet my dad for a ski adventure. My parents live in Boston, so it’s great to meet in the middle and spend some time together. The flight arrived on-time and I found my father without any trouble. I decided not to bring my skis with me but instead to demo a new pair for the trip. I love not having to wait for "Oversized Luggage"!

Thankfully, Dad rented a giant SUV (essential for accommodating luggage/equipment and navigating snowy roads) and we are off to Park City!

Location is Key!

After a 45 minute drive, we arrive at our hotel, Park City Peaks Hotel (formerly the Radisson) and are   greeted by a friendly staff in the cozy reception area. This is our second time staying in this hotel. It’s not terribly fancy but it fits our needs perfectly–clean, comfortable rooms, pool, jacuzzi, and restaurant. Most importantly, it is located within 2 minutes of 3 terrific ski resorts (Park City, Deer Valley, and the Canyons) and about the same distance from Historic Main Street.

 A note: I’ve been skiing in Utah 5 or 6 times and have stayed in several different areas. On my first trip, my family stayed at the Park City Resort right on the mountain. It was fantastic being able to ski right to our condo at the end of the day. I would recommend staying at a resort such as Park City of you have small children. However, if you don’t want to be tied to one resort (or pay the premium rates that accompany the convenient location) I would recommend the following option: Stay in the town of Park City (at a place like Park City Peaks) and you will have the freedom to drive to all 3 of the mountains in Park City (Park City Mountain Resort, The Canyons, and Deer Valley). In addition, you can easily make the 45 minute drive to Big Cottonwood Canyon (Where Solitude & Brighton are located) and Little Cottonwood Canyon (Where Snowbird & Alta are located).

Not recommended: staying in Salt Lake City and driving to different resorts every night–there is very little to do in SLC at night.

March 10, 2008 Park City           

Dad and I wake up and go downstairs to enjoy the complimentary hot buffet that the hotel offers. Very tasty and convenient.

We gear up and drive to Jan’s to rent skis. The helpful staff quickly hooks me up with a sweet pair of Rossignols and poles and we are off to hit the slopes.

Parking at Park City is quick and easy. We buy tickets and are on a high-speed lift in no time.

And then I remember why we came all this way. The day is perfect–40 degrees at the base (30 at the top), sunny, with nice snow. The trees glisten with melting ice. We choose an intermediate level trail for our first run–I haven’t skied in over a year and I’ve never been on these skis–and it’s glorious. The snow feels like silk beneath my skis and the sun feels fantastic. We decide that "go big or go home" will be our motto for the trip. We jump on some black diamonds, some double blacks, and the Jupiter Bowl before lunch. With my new, shorter skis, I look like a pro on the moguls and in the back-country and we are flushed and exhilarated when we decide to break.

Note: Old silver mines are visible from many trails at Park City–reminders of its mining past abound–hence trail names like "Silver Queen," "Silver King," and "Lost Prospector."

Dad and I head into the Summit House Restaurant for some delicious veggie chilli and spend the rest of the day on McConkey’s and the Pioneer Lift. Despite Daylight Saving Time most lifts close before 5PM. We could probably ski for another couple of hours but, unfortunately, everything is closed so we head back to the hotel.

On our walk back to our room, we run into the Park City Peaks Hotel staffer that who we affectionately dub "The Cookie Guy." Joy of joys, the Cookie Guy roams the hotel after 5:30 PM with a cart of fresh baked cookies and hot chocolate for weary skiers and riders. Revived by the delicious refreshments, Dad and I head downstairs to the pool and meet some friendly lodgers in the hot tub. We soak our sore muscles for a while and enjoy good conversation. We get the skinny on local conditions and mull over where to ski the next day.

At around 8PM we drive over to Main Street to find some dinner. Historic Main Street is lit up and the quaint stores and restaurants are snow-covered and bustling with activity.

We end up at Main Street Pizza & Noodle. This is definitely NOT my favorite restaurant but it’s late and we’re hungry (I’ll confess I was a bit cranky) and we split pizza and salad. Main Street Pizza & Noodle is not the place to go if you’re looking for ambience–table service is minimal (you order at the counter) and the dining room is set up with long tables cafeteria-style. If you’re looking for an over-priced meal and want to split a pitcher of beer and some mediocre food with friends, this is the place.

  March 11 2008 Snowbird   

After our complimentary breakfast, we jump in the car and drive 45 minutes to Little Cottonwood Canyon where Snowbird, my all-time favorite mountain, is waiting for us. It’s another gorgeous, sunny day and Snowbird comes into view. The mountain is huge and jagged and majestic and I can’t wait to get to the top!

My dad loves Snowbird, too–all the more because they have valet parking. We are up at the peak in no time. It’s very windy up there and the wind has blown the snow into small piles, leaving other areas pretty bare and crusty–not ideal. None of the mountains have gotten snow in about a week and we get a little desperate. We find some glades with plenty of snow and trees. It’s quite steep and the powder doesn’t slow us down at all. Our tired quads are on fire and for unknown reasons my ski boots are killing me. Dad takes a fall and I face-plant a couple seconds later. Somehow, I twist my knee but I’ve fallen plenty of times as a skier and I shake it off–only after I get home do I find out that I’ve sprained my ACL. After a disappointing lunch of some tasteless soup (the kitchen is closed) we head back out. Dad and I are both glad that Warren Miller isn’t around because we are not in our finest form. We end up skiing down to a lift that closed at 4:30 and we have to take a shuttle-bus back to the resort center. Thank goodness for valet–I am so glad that I don’t have to walk an extra foot in my boots.

We get back to the hotel, more grateful than ever to find The Cookie Guy and perform the same routine–but this time I ice my knee and ankles after the jacuzzi. At 25, I am starting to feel old!!

Tonight, we drive to our favorite restaurant in Park City, 350 Main. The menu is eclectic, there are vegetarian options, fish, and meat that all looked tasty. The ambience is cozy and upscale, with fireplaces, warm decor, a friendly waitstaff, and delicious food. Dad and I share the Four Cheese Ravioli appetizer and the Organic Baby Greens Salad–both of which are very good. I enjoy the Jasmine Rice Cakes as and entree and Dad loves his Red Trout.

A word to the wise: if you look anywhere under 35 years old, don’t even attempt to get an alcoholic beverage without ID. Park City is one of the few towns in Mormon-dominated Utah where you will have consistent access to alcohol–but if you don’t bring ID, you will not be served even if your dad vouches for you.

March 12 2008 Deer Valley  

After breakfast, we load ourselves into our giant SUV and drive two minutes over to Deer Valley. Parking is a hassle (as it always is at Deer Valley) and we buy tickets and jump on the Empire Express and take the Sultan Express to the top of Bald Mountain and stick with some tough stuff in the morning. Legs are starting to feel like jell-o but once we get warmed up everything falls into place. For lunch, we go to the Silver Lake Lodge–it is a delicious and varied as I remember.  As a skier, another perk at Deer Valley is that snowboarders are not allowed on the mountain!

Note: Deer Valley does not skimp on amenities: the food is fabulous and even the restrooms are posh. The famous Stein Eriksen Lodge is located here–replete with spa & fine dining.

After we eat a light lunch of tasty salads and sandwiches we head out for a couple more hours. At the end of the day, we discover our perfect run. The bottom of Oblivion is bumped up nicely–it’s not steep and we eye it from the lift and head over. After several days of steeps and oddly-formed moguls, we are thrilled to look like rockstars as we fly over the bumps with perfect form. Dad and I hang out on this run, whooping congratulations to each other, until the lifts close. Dad leaves me with the skis while he hikes across the parking lot (10 minutes each way in ski boots) and we head back to Park City Peaks hotel for a cookie and a soak. And ice. Lots of ice.

We decided to make reservations for 350 Main again–it was that good!

Before dinner, we go back to Jan’s to look at skis. It’s the end of the season and everything is 50% off–definitely the best time to buy new equipment. Fortunately, Dad agrees and hooks me up with a gorgeous pair of Rossignols. They’re shorter than my old skis which will give me a lot more control and a little less stability. We decide to buy the bindings in Boston–Dad’s going to keep them in the family ski closet until I move back to Boston this summer. I love my new skis! I can’t wait to get on them next season.

At 350 Main, Dad has a well-seasoned, tender filet mignon and I have a delicious veggie platter of black truffle mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. We laugh and chat. It’s so great to catch up with him–as much as I love skiing, the best part of this trip is hanging out with my Dad.

March 13 2008 Park City/Departure  

We wake up early to get in a solid half day of skiing before we have to catch our 5 PM flights. I feel great–then I get out of bed. Every muscle, tendon, ligament, is aching. We get breakfast, pack most of our stuff, and head to Park City. The conditions are less than ideal (windy, cloudy, and snowy) but we’re not complaining because we’ve had 3 great days of weather. At this point, I’m skiing on Advil and a prayer–3 and a half days is definitely enough skiing for me.

We finish packing up our stuff–including my new skis–and head for the airport. Returning the car is simple and check-in occurs without a hitch. Dad’s flight back to Boston leaves on time. My flight is delayed for 3 hours; which is tedious but, due to the sorry state of air travel, typical. When I finally arrive home in San Diego, wind-burned and exhausted, I am ready to climb unto bed. But, as I begin to unpack I feel my soreness evaporating and I can’t wait to get back on the slopes next year!

 Park City Activities:

Skiing, Snowboarding (everywhere but Alta & Deer Valley), Snowmobiling, Snowshoeing, Ice skating, Cross-Country Skiing

Shopping & Dining on Historic Main Street

Summertime activities include Hiking, Fishing, Hunting, Hot Air Ballooning, Horseback-Riding, Golfing

Utah is truly a sportsman’s paradise!

 Resources:

http://www.parkcityinfo.com/

http://www.parkcitymountain.com/winter/index.html

http://www.snowbird.com/

http://www.deervalley.com/

http://www.jans.com/skirental.html

http://www.350main.com/

http://www.sundance.org/festival/

Is Cabo worth the cost?
I hadn’t had much desire to go to Cabo, one, because it’s overpriced considering what little it has to offer for me; two because there isn’t a wide diversion of things to do there unless you’re a serious golfer, sports fisherman or after a world class spa vacation (if that’s your thing, it’s Palmilla). There is the desert, constant sunshine & beaches of course but with the majority of beaches unsafe to swim, the sun & sand didn’t seem a sole reason to go, especially when you consider the price tag.

The Corridor
The "Cabo corridor" runs along 25 miles of desert coastline between the charming old town of San Jose Del Cabo, (closest to the airport) and Cabo San Lucas, where you’ll find the marina, nightclubs & modern new shopping mall. Cabo was possibly first made famous by hard rocker Sammy Hagar’s nightclub, Cabo Wabo. Since then it has become a playground for those who seek championship golf and world class spas, not an unintentional plan by the government. If you’re a night club enthusiast (a big draw for Cabo) you may want to stay close to Cabo San Lucas, the cab fare here will run about double what you would expect to pay in major US cities. If you stay further east down the corridor be sure to check that your hotel offers complimentary shuttles into town, as many do have pre-scheduled transfers with the last return usually no later than 11pm.

Hotel site inspections - anyone can find the stats & location on each hotel, here’s what stood out to be remembered after a quick tour.

Palmilla - hands down, my favorite. Tropical oasis, beachfront & all oceanview, lush gardens, secluded & exclusive, dream weddings & honeymoons. Stunning oversized rooms with amazing balconies & beautiful day beds, luxuriously appointed, seperate areas for families and couples seeking childless experiences. Last but far from least what will be remembered is the SPA. A wide variety of unique and new spa rituals are offered here including bathing rituals and spa suites. The suites can be booked for one or two people starting at 80 minutes. They are beautiful, lush, totally private indoor/outdoor bungalows with treatment beds and full baths indoors, outdoors a resting bed, jacuzzi tub and a relaxing foot bath area in a tropical setting.

Total indulgance & absolute pampering. Custom designed meal menus. There is no need to worry about straying from your usual meal regimen just because you’re on vacation. From food allergies to Kosher meals in all of it’s variations to low carb, low sugar or completely organic…you name it & the chef will design a menu to suit your epicurean tastes.

Esperanza – Beautiful, rustic entrance that we couldn’t get beyond due to movie filming on property. The staff looked dressed to offer a luxurious experience. In the airport heading home, we noticed an Esparanza staff member (the white outfit & Mexican cowboy hat gave her away), was escorting a guest to the airport check-in counter with luggage assistance. She waited until they had their boarding passes and I have to assume she then escorted them to the gate security…I hadn’t heard of that as a hotel service before, so it must be an impressive experience.

Las Ventanas - stark, serene, beautiful, Santa Fe architecture, couples, quiet…we couldn’t see any rooms as they were at 100% occupancy. The inside scoop is that as Las Ventanas is building more & more units for time share sales without expanding the public & restaurant areas. The service is suffering and the property is getting more & more crowded, leaving Las Ventanas die hards looking elsewhere for their high end getaways. A growing problem in Cabo with a booming & lucrative time share business.

Casa Del Mar Golf Resort - Lovely Mexican casita, very pretty, romantic, very friendly staff. Fiesta Americana - construction going on all over the hillside the hotel sits up against. It looks like a major construction undertaking…poor people booked into the rooms against the hill!

Dreams Los Cabos - If I ever have a huge group with moderate means I will think of Dreams. Noisy and chaotic, kids & motor coaches, and this was slow season!

The hotel we experienced…We stayed at the all-inclusive Melia Cabo Real Resort, located about halfway between the two towns, a 4 star hotel belonging to the popluar sol-melia group. We were upgraded to a bright, airy & spacious ocean-view room overlooking the lagoon style pool & beach that seemed to go on forever.

Luckily it was slow season between Thanksgiving and the Holidays so it was pretty quiet and the service very good. Really friendly staff, huge deserted partly swimmable beach, a large pool complete with swim up bar, and more than enough activities on property. With this type of mid-range, all-inclusive hotel they offer organized activities like aqua aerobics, pool volleyball, stretching, salsa lessons, rock wall climbing and so on… They had what reminded me of cheery camp counselors welcoming you to join in the days upcoming activities, very cute. There was a familiar cruise ship camaraderie where you see the same people repeatedly, mostly Americans, some European and Mexican Nationals as well. Also much like a cruise ship you felt as though you could do as much or as little as you wanted. Great restaurants, four to choose from, two of which are a la carte and very good. The Japanese restaurant, Kujira would make any sushi loving foodie very happy. I can imagine that the experience here could go either way, especially with the all-inclusive alcohol flowing during busy season.

The BEST of it:The really yummy fresh made salsa fresca that we managed to incorporate into nearly every meal including breakfast. The lobby was the the most welcoming and relaxing I’ve ever seen. It was a huge, open-air lobby with a bar and pool table, decorated in a modern Mexican style decor with very simple furniture and large Mexican vases. Most of the seating space throughout the lobby consisted of large Queen-sized cushions with extra long rolled pillows on them. After an afternoon of exploring the property when we first arrived we couldn’t resist & found ourselves lounging in the lobby for hours, we weren’t counting. After a few hours of lieing there chatting, in otherwise complete silence, the bar eventually opened and the pre-dinner crowd slowly filled the place. As the afternoon dissappeared into night it was packed with couples, families and friends sitting on beds, chatting & laughing before the evening’s meal. Everyone looked as comfortable and relaxed as you would expect them to be in their own living rooms. We realized that it was THE meeting and hang out place after sun goes down. It was really something of a lobby!

The worst of it:Wearing the plastic bracelets that entitles you to all-inclusive. Sleeping with it and showering with it was less than enjoyable. Was it worth the convenience of the all-inclusive and ordering whatever you wanted without a thought to the bill? Yes it probably was, but it did really irritate and we became more and more aware of it after a couple of days.The SPA left a lot to be desired. We couldn’t find it on the main property map, we walked around in circles looking for it. Finally we decided to go into the fitness room, and there it was. Four or five tiny treatment rooms stuffed in back of the sweaty workout area and steam room. The treatments were a steal at $70 for a 55-minute massage. Due to the lack of ’spa atmosphere’ we opted for ‘massages under the stars’, offered poolside just before the sunset. As the 55 minutes came to an end the women disappeared without a word or assistance, we were naked, in public, without help getting up with any coverage, we were on our own. All I can say is that you get what you pay for and it was definitely a bargain.

Cabo is no great bargain & it doesn’t offer the shopping deals in Mexico that you might be used to. There are so many Americans visiting, buying time shares and purchasing homes there that it is not a struggling Mexican port where great vacation value & shopping deals can be found. It was a great trip for a change of scenery and only a short distance away, making it a great choice for a long weekend getaway. As it turns out Cabo is PERFECT if you want to get away to a beach resort without the imagined pressure to shop & sight-see and take in all that a destination has to offer. In Cabo, thankfully, to us there is nothing worth doing that was better than relaxing, chatting & laughing with a friend.

 

Cruise In Luxury Experience Luxury The Only Ultra-Luxury Cruise Ship In Alaska This Summer: Silversea’s Silver Shadow will be offering land packages that enable you to see not only Denali National Park and the Canadian Rockies while providing luxurious amenities in Alaska, the Land of the Midnight Sun. Ultra Luxury Reinvented: Silversea Cruises, one of the world’s premier cruise lines, has ordered a fifth luxury ship (540 person occupancy) that is set to debut in late 2009.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises Voted the "#1 Small-Ship Cruise Line" by Condé Nast Traveler’s 2007 Readers’ Choice Awards poll. The 2008 and 2009 worldwide itineraries will offer shoreside explorations and a wide variety of modes of transportation including rail, kayak, catamaran, jet boat, mountain bike, helicopter, and even hot-air balloon rides. Catch some waves in Maui while learning to ride the pipe on a surfboard, travel by canoe across Helsinki’s placid sounds, deep-sea raft near the Arctic Circle, or enjoy a drink at Honningsvåg’s famous Ice Bar. Vacationers can opt for an escorted tour through historic Berlin via Rolls-Royce or rev a Harley-Davidson around sunny St. Maarten. You can also take a more rustic approach and explore the vivid wildlife of the African landscape atop the backs of elephants on safari, participate in evening game drives, take bush walks, and bird watching. Travel lightening speed from Tokyo to Osaka aboard Japan’s Shinkanse (bullet train). For a more leisurely voyage, opt for a 19th century Victorian railway ride though Kent, England or take the famous Viceroy railway across scenic Sri Lanka. Airborne adventurers can drift 1,000 feet over historic Stockholm or soar above Kenya’s Masai Mara national reserve in hot-air balloons. Helicopters provide travelers with breathtaking views of Central American waterfalls and rainforests, as well as Italy’s stunning Amalfi coast.

Featured Destinations Hot Spots 2008: Dubai & India Dubai’s world-renowned mix of cosmopolitan culture and warm desert atmosphere have made it a one-of-a-kind destination where visitors can place bets at the Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest horse race, or watch a camel race after debarking in Dubai’s architecturally astounding port. More adventurous types can take an overnight safari and sleep in a Bedouin tent. Unveil the mystery of the Near East during a cruise to India aboard a Seabourn yacht, where ports of call provide an up close look at fabled cities such as Casablanca, Morrocco; Carthage, Tunisia; Hanoi, Vietnam; the Arabian Sea; Djibouti, Djibouti; Goa, India; and La Digue, Seychelles.

2008 is the perfect time to take a cruise, and with these hot tips, your vacation is sure to be everything you imagined - and more. Cruise insight can provide valuable information about unique destinations, shore excursions, ship amenities and onboard activities.

A New Experience
More and more cruise ships are expanding the onboard experience with offerings such as yoga classes, private training sessions and boxing rings. The focus on well-being and health continues as many cruise ships now offer onboard spa resorts for the ultimate in relaxation and decadence.

A "Royal" Debut
The news in cruising does not stop there. The largest ship to be positioned in Europe will debut this May in the United Kingdom. Her name is Independence of the Seas from Royal Caribbean and her deck will feature a new state of the art H2O Zone® waterpark complete with sculpture fountains, ground geysers and a cascading waterfall. The ship also boasts full size sports courts and each stateroom comes with a full size flat screen television.

Hot Destinations For 2008
Destinations on the rise for 2008 include Asian ports such as Singapore
Kuala Lumpur, Vietnam and Hong Kong. These highly accessible cities are burgeoning centers for entertainment and awe-inspiring beauty. Royal Caribbean chose the grand city of Singapore to unveil the Rhapsody of the Seas last year and Princess has chosen to keep their new Diamond Princess in nearby ports in Asia. Princess also features an extraordinary 3-day land tour from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City that includes a flight to Cambodia where one can visit the world heritage site of Angkor Wat.

Antarctica
Another destination that is exploding in popularity is scenic Antarctica. A cruise to Antarctica will leave you breathless with spectacular views of snow-covered glaciers, floating icebergs and perhaps a glimpse of the elusive emperor penguin.

Eastern Mediterranean
On a warmer note, cruises to the Eastern Mediterranean provide a stop in Croatia’s Dubrovnik where cruisers can see some of the most beautiful beaches in the world - not tourist-packed like many Caribbean destinations. Heading southwest, cruisers can delight in a 12-night Western Mediterranean cruise departing from Barcelona on luxury cruise line Azamara who this month announced a variety of new itineraries for the year. Those in need of a serious vacation should be on the look-out for Azamara’s world cruise that will be unveiled in 2010.

New: "The Lawn Club"
In other cruise news, one of the most unique and innovative onboard experiences is sure to tickle your toes. Celebrity’s Solstice ship will introduce "The Lawn Club," a country club with real growing grass 13 stories above the sea! The over half acre of luscious green grass plays host to a hot glass blowing studio and the relaxing "Sunset Bar" that offers breathtaking views.

Singles Cruises
If you want to travel solo, yet not feel alone while on a cruise, a singles cruise could be your best bet. Singles cruises are a great way to meet fellow travelers through private meet and greet events, cocktail gatherings and themed parties aboard the cruise ship. Check out Crystal Cruise Lines’ singles packages for the cruise adventure of a lifetime. Book Singles Cruises

Luxury Cruises
For those looking for an all-inclusive luxury cruise, Regents Seven Seas has some truly one-of-kind cruises with shore excursions such as a three-night exploration in Patagonia, hot air ballooning over the Egyptian pyramids, private Regatta sailing in Melbourne or an exclusive luncheon at l’Hotel de Paris. Aside from unique shore excursions, Regents Seven Seas offers luxury and pampering like no other cruise line. Book Luxury Travel