You Don't Have to Be a Millionaire to Cruise Like One

You might not have won the Mega Millions lottery on Friday night, but there's no reason you can't cruise like a millionaire. There are some compelling luxury cruises aboard intimate vessels that will make you think you've struck it rich and boarded your very own vessel. Check out these options aboard intimate ships and yachts.

Top Luxury Cruises

Paul Gauguin Cruises – Fiji Eastbound Itinerary

November 20, 2012

The South Pacific bewitched me when I first visited the Society Islands aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin. For my next outing aboard this ship, I'd pick the 12-night Fiji Eastbound itinerary. Embarking from Lautoka, Fiji, the ship calls upon Suva, Viti Levu and Savusavu, Vanua Levu in Fiji before setting a course for Vava'u, Tonga; Aitutaki in the Cook Islands and finally Bora Bora, Taha'a, and Moorea. You'll disembark in Papeete, Tahiti. For more information, contact Paul Gauguin Cruises.

Four Seasons Explorer – Maldives Circuit Cruise

Many departure dates throughout the year.
Four Seasons dubs this Maldivian yacht voyage as the "ultimate marine odyssey" and I can see why. Each day promises amazing dive spots and unexplored reefs of the Baa, Raa, Ari, and North Male atolls. This seven-night adventure is a must-do for all divers since the yacht's onboard marine biologist will guide you on sunrise, daytime, and night dives—each and every day. If you're like me and don't dive, you'll still love this cruise for its visits to secluded beaches. Four Seasons Explorer offers 10 cabins and one suite with a crew of 25. Begin your journey at Four Seasons Maldives at Kuda Huraa and the circuit cruise will take you sail to Four Seasons Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru and back. (Three- and four-night cruises are also on offer.) For more information, contact Four Seasons.

AMAWaterways — Stars of Africa

June 18, July 16, September 3, October 29, December 3, 2012
This summer AMAWaterways launches three itineraries in southern Africa: the 16-day Stars of Africa, the 16-day African Sunsets, and a 19-day Golden Trails of Africa. Each itinerary includes several days aboard the Zambezi Queen, a luxury riverboat that cruises the Chobe River. Personally, I'd select the Stars of Africa itinerary, which includes three nights in Cape Town, three nights on safari in Kruger National Park at either Makalali Game Lodge or Kapama River Lodge, one night in Johannesburg, four nights aboard the Zambezi Queen, and two spectacular nights at famed Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe side. For more information, contact AMAWaterways.

American Safari Cruises — Hawaiian Seascapes

April 9, 17, 25; May 3; November 3, 10, 17, 24; December 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2012
I love American Safari Cruises, part of InnerSea Discoveries, because the line of yachts offer truly unstructured exploration of Hawaii, Alaska's Inside Passage, Mexico's Sea of Cortez, the Columbia & Snake Rivers, and Washington State and British Columbia. The 36-passenger Safari Explorer sails the Hawaiian Islands between October and May each year and calls upon Maui, Lanai, Molokai, and the Big Island. On this seven-night excursion you'll swim and fish off the back deck of the boat, go hiking on land, snorkel and kayak, and take the skiff out for exploratory adventures. You can also arrange for golf outings on the islands and diving excursions. For more information, contact InnerSea Discoveries.

Anantara Cruises — Ayutthaya Thousand Golden Temples Tour

Many departure dates throughout the year.
Here's one on my bucket list: a few days aboard one of Anantara Cruises' restored 100-year-old teak rice barges. The two-cabin Anantara Dream and four-cabin Anantara Song cruise Thailand's Chao Phraya River. Embarking in Bangkok, you'll spend three days enjoying river life; visiting the temples, villages, and museums in the vicinity; and enjoying English afternoon tea and gourmet meals. A personal guide will make sure you see the best of Thailand. For more information, contact Anantara Cruises.

Orion Expedition Cruises — Borneo, Borobudur & Beyond

October 22, 2012 and September 29, 2013

I can't think of a better "starter" cruise for someone who's never been to Indonesia before. This expedition launches in Bali and you'll want to stay a few days on-island pre-cruise. (I vote for a few days at any of the Aman Resorts.) You'll then sail to Semarang for excursions to the city of Jogjakarta for Javanese history and culture and Borobudur, a 9th century Buddhist monument in Central Java. On day five of this ten-night cruise, you'll spend an amazing day at the Tanjung Puting National Park in Kalimantan. It's here that you'll make a trek into the protected rain forest to see orangutans in their natural habitat. Next, you'll spend two days in Pare Pare, Sulawesi for an overnight trip to Tana Toraja. You'll disembark in Bali. Head home via Hong Kong or Singpore for a taste of modern Asian cities. For more information, contact Orion Expedition Cruises.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Photos © Leonard Hospidor

5 Cruise Stories You Don't Want To Miss

Here's a quick look at some of the best cruise writing on the web this week...


Avid Cruiser correspondent Wallace Immen on AMA Waterway's new southern Africa itineraries


Writer Liz Fleming writes about one of my favorite Caribbean islands, Guadeloupe, for Cruise and Travel Lifestyles magazine


Cruise Critic announces the winners of the 2012 Cruisers' Choice Awards


Editor Paul Motter's step-by-step guide at CruiseMates for complaining to a cruise line and getting results


Cruise Diva, Linda Coffman, talks about new muster drill policies


What travel stories did you bookmark this week?

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

What Luxury Cruise Lines Should Say to Lure Younger Travelers

It's been five years since I first set foot on a luxury cruise ship. I was still in my thirties then and was struck by the fact that my husband and I were the youngest travelers on board the ship. We couldn't understand why.

The itinerary was fantastic—visiting unusual ports of call—and the value was clear. We enjoyed a spacious, well-designed suite, attentive service, inclusive food and wine, and a cadre of entertainment options for less than a comparable vacation at a five-star resort on land.

Since that first experience, we've been on dozens of luxury cruise ships and yachts and we're still often among the youngest cruises aboard. All the cruise lines are reaching out to a younger crowd, and here's what they need to be saying to all those professional thirty- and forty-something's who've yet to set sail...

Our itineraries fit perfectly within the structure of your vacation time. Many luxury lines are now offering more 7-, 8-, and 9-night sailings. This makes it easier for a young professional to commit without tapping out his or her allotted vacation time. SeaDream Yacht Club has excellent offers in this regard as does Azamara Club Cruises.

We go to the destinations you want to visit. From close-to-home regions, like the Caribbean and Mediterranean, to more exotic locales such as French Polynesia and Southeast Asia, luxury cruise lines program compelling itineraries all over the world. Cruises enable the traveler to sample many ports across a region in a relatively short amount of time. For the Caribbean, thirty-somethings should check out Windstar Cruises, Compagnie Du Ponant Yacht Cruises offers excellent options in the Med, Paul Gauguin Cruises is the way to go in French Poly, and Crystal Cruises is excellent for Asia.

We offer active expeditions and wildlife-centric adventures. People often joke that cruises are for the newly wed and nearly dead, but that's just not true. More and more companies are offering expeditions that offer active adventures including hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, diving, and more. American Safari Cruises, part of InnerSea Discoveries, has excellent itineraries in Alaska's Inside Passage, Mexico's Sea of Cortes, the Hawaiian Islands, and more. Australia outfit, Orion Expedition Cruises, hits far-flung destinations like Borneo, Papua New Guinea, and Micronesia. And, of course, Silversea's expedition ship, Silver Explorer, is one of the best ways to visit polar bears in the Arctic.

No matter what your age, consider sailing with a luxury cruise line in 2012. It's one of the best vacation values available these days.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Photo © Leonard Hospidor

Luxury Cruise Bible’s Gift Guide for Cruise Travelers

This time of year, every blogger posts his or her own “gift guide” for the holidays. Here’s my take on fun—and useful—gifts for cruise travelers…


Must-Have Memberships

Global Entry
My best investment of the year was enrolling in Global Entry. This is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program that allows members to speed through Customs when returning to the United States from overseas. Simply apply, pay a $100 fee (which will be refunded if you use your American Express Platinum card), and attend a short interview at your local airport. After that you’ll spend far less time in line when returning from a cruise. In fact, on our last trip from Singapore, we spent a mere 45 seconds at the U.S. Customs kiosk when we returned to Newark Liberty Airport!

MedjetAssist
I’ve renewed my annual MedjetAssist membership every year for the past five years. Access to competent global travel assistance and medical evacuation gives me peace of mind at a very affordable price. (I had to medevac my father from Jacksonville to Boston last year and it cost $16,000. How I wish I had gifted him a MedjetAssist membership before he went on that trip.) Annual MedjetAssist memberships start at $250 and short-term memberships start at $95. This is the perfect gift for a loved one who travels.

InterContinental Ambassador Membership
We find this annual membership quite useful since we often stay at InterContinental hotels pre- and post-cruise. Benefits include guaranteed room upgrades (no matter what rate code you book), fresh fruit and mineral water upon arrival, one complimentary weekend night (buy one, get one), 4pm late check-out, complimentary pay TV film per stay, instant check-out, and a bonus points “accelerator” (earn 20,000 bonus points for every 15 qualifying nights). Ambassador membership costs $200 per year (or 32,000 Priority Club points).




Just for Fun

Scratch-Off Map of the World
I’ve already ordered a bunch of these from Uncommon Goods for my friends with wanderlust. This 32-by-22-inch world map has a “scratch off” component so you can scratch off the areas you’ve visited in order to “color in” the globe. I've never seen this particular item in stores before so I thought it would make for an unusual stocking-stuffer. $24

Vintage Cruise Ship Posters
Art.com has a nice selection of vintage-style cruise ship posters. I’ve got several of these in my office and they look fantastic.

Cruise Ship Ornament from Kyle Design
This is a nice-looking two-sided, engravable holiday ornament with a cruise-ship motif. This would be a great way to invite a loved-one on a Christmas cruise! $19.95




Cruise-Inspired Jewelry

Sextant Pendant from Dolphin Designs
This sextant pendant with an 18-inch box chain can be made with a variety of semi-precious stones, including lapis lazuli (shown), amethyst, turquoise, amazonite, malachite, aventurine, rose quartz, mother of pearl, onyx, and jade. $113.99

Propeller Cuff Links from Cuff Daddy
These three-blade propeller cuff links come in a variety of finishes, including sterling silver and gold. $28.99–$119.00

Have you stumbled upon any cool gifts for cruise travelers? Let me know! I've got many of them on my holiday shopping list this year!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Art at Sea: From Auctions to Appreciation

My latest contribution to Cruise Critic -- "Art at Sea: From Auctions to Appreciation" -- is now online. The story will interest you if you've ever considered purchasing a work of art aboard a cruise ship. Even if that's not your thing, I also discuss other ways in which cruise lines are incorporating art appreciation into their voyages. I hope you enjoy the story!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Global Entry Makes International Arrivals to the US a Breeze

If you travel internationally a few times a year, do yourself a favor and enroll in the Global Entry program. Sponsored by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, participation in the Global Entry program allows you to skip the line when returning to designated airports in the United States. No more waiting in that huge line and no more filling out those U.S. Customs forms!

All you need to do is fill out the application at the Global Entry website and pay a $100 application fee. (If you have the American Express Platinum card, Amex will refund the $100 application fee. This is a new benefit of cardmembership.)

Once your Global Entry application is reviewed, you'll be invited to make an appointment at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection office at an airport near you.

The application process took about four weeks in our case and we went to Newark International Airport for our interview with U.S. CBP. The agents played a short video explaining how to use Global Entry and then took our photo and fingerprints. That was it. We were barely in the office for five minutes.

Now, when we re-enter the United States all we need to do is bypass the huge line and look for the Global Entry kiosks. Insert our passports, type in some information, verify our fingerprints and then we'll be on our way!

Global Entry Airports

Boston – Logan International Airport (BOS)

Chicago – O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport (DFW)

Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport (DTW)

Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

Houston – George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)

Hartsfield – Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

Honolulu International Airport (HNL)

New York – John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

Las Vegas – McCarran International Airport (LAS)

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

Miami International Airport (MIA)

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

Orlando International Airport (MCO)

Orlando – Sanford International Airport (SFB)

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

San Juan Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU)

Seattle – Tacoma International Airport Sea-Tac (SEA)

Washington-Dulles International Airports (IAD)

For more information, visit the Global Entry website.

Travel Insurance Primer for Cruise Travelers

Last month I wrote a piece about travel insurance for Cruise Critic and it's now live. If you've ever wondered whether or not to purchase trip coverage, head over to CC and read "Travel Insurance Primer for Cruise Travelers." 

You'll read about the disasterous end to one of our Hawaii trips and why we are now much more likely to buy insurance for all future vacations.

We will also never let our annual Medjet Assist medical evacuation membership lapse. In January my father suffered acute kidney failure while vacationing in Florida with my sister's family. It cost over $16,000 to medevac him back to a hospital near his home in Massachusetts.

If he had a MedJet membership, this incident would have been covered and we wouldn't have had to scramble to arrange the medical evacuation ourselves. My husband and I have kept our annual membership for years and we're now making sure all of our friends and family sign up as well. It's worth the price for the increased peace of mind.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Clean Water Project: We're More Than Halfway There—Thanks to You!

I am so pleased to tell you that — thanks to many readers of Luxury Cruise Bible — we are more halfway to our goal of raising $5,000 to build a clean water project in a village in an under-developed country. Thank you all so much!

We've raised $3,005 and need just $1,995 more in the kitty by March 31st. That's when the nonprofit charity: water will take our contributions and select the location of our fresh water project. The village may be located in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, India, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nepal, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, or Uganda.

While we don't get to select the location ourselves, I do hope the project is located in a country that cruise ships and river boats call upon (like Cambodia, Honduras, India, Kenya, or Tanzania.)

Once the project begins, we'll be able to track the progress through special reports and photos from the field. Learn more about the 18-month charity: water process.

We'll be sure to share this project's progress with you all. And, of course, we'll gladly accept additional donations. Even $5 makes a huge difference and $20 can provide clean water for one person for 20 years.

Visit our website for more information about the importance of clean water for every man, woman, and child on the planet or click here to donate to our charity: water campaign.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

---

We're bringing clean water to a village in 2011.
Learn more about our clean water project.

We're Bringing Clean Water to a Village in an Undeveloped Country

In 2011, my husband Leonard and I are committed to bringing clean water to a village in an undeveloped country.

Our goal is to raise $5,000 by March 31, 2011 and we kicked off the campaign by personally donating $1,000.

When all is said and done, this charity: water project will provide clean water to 250+ men, women, and children.

* * *

For years, I’ve peppered my conversations with too many “when” statements…

• "When I have more time, I’ll help someone in need."
  
  
• "When the economy picks up I’ll donate more money to the causes closest to my heart."
  
  
• "When I retire, I’ll really be able to do some good in this world."

Lately I’ve been saying to my family and friends, “Imagine all the good I’ll do when I win the lottery! I’ll start by funding a clean water project in a village in an undeveloped country.”

Noble sentiment, right? The thing is, I don’t buy lottery tickets and while I have a career that I love, I’m no Fortune 500 CEO weighted down with a diamond-studded salary package.

Still, I am wildly lucky. I’ve had the chance to live the life of my choosing. I’ve chased all my dreams and realized most of them. Forget about having everything I need to live a healthy life. I also have the things I merely want.

Millions of people around the world dream about finding a way to provide the necessities—like clean water and nutritious food—for their families. What do I dream about? Front row concert tickets and luxury vacations. Those things will never ever cross the minds of those living in the third world.

“When I win the lottery…” Guess what? I already did.

Today, my husband Leonard and I pledge to make a difference. In conjunction with charity: water, we plan to raise $5,000 in three months to build a clean water project in an undeveloped country. It will improve the health and lifestyle of 250+ men, women, and children who currently rely on water from polluted sources.

Read more about this clean water project and about how it will improve the health of the community.

Watch this video that shows a charity: water project in action.

Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” We’re taking that step today. Will you join us?

—Andrea M. Rotondo, travel writer/book editor
Leonard Hospidor, recording engineer/photographer

2012 Escorted Trip to Antarctica Aboard Silversea Prince Albert II

Ngaire Keene and Ken Hutyra of Brown & Keene Travel will escort a group to Antarctica in January 2012 aboard Silversea's expedition ship, Prince Albert II. The cruise, from January 13–30, 2012, will visit the Falkland Islands, South George, and Antarctica.

Leonard and I traveled to South Africa with one of Ngaire and Ken's groups and it was fantastic! Browne & Keene are luxury cruise experts and have sailed aboard Prince Albert II several times. They can offer expert advice if you plan to book this itinerary or wish to join their escorted trip.

Their website contains tons of useful information, like cabin reports and photos, advice on what to wear, deck plans, flight information, Zodiac landing reviews, and more. Read about Browne & Keene's 2012 escorted Antarctica trip aboard Silversea's Prince Albert II.

Other Browne & Keene Escorted Trips

Regent Seven Seas Voyager Sydney to Beijing (February 23–March 20, 2011)

South Africa ROAR II Luxury Safari (May 18–June 3, 2011)

Regent Seven Seas Voyager Athens to Istanbul (June 17–29, 2011)

AMA Waterways Amakatarina Russian River (August 6–17, 2011)

Regent Seven Seas Voyager Southampton to Monte Carlo (August 19–September 2, 2011)

Regent Seven Seas Navigator Montreal to Fort Lauderdale (October 13–28, 2011)

Regent Seven Seas Voyager Rome to Fort Lauderdale (November 20–December 4, 2011)

Egypt Nile II land trip and river cruise (March 9–20, 2012)

All escorted trips are eligible for BK Rewards, a cash-back reward for booking with Browne & Keene Travel. The amount varies depending on the trip booked.

For more information, visit Browne & Keene's website or call 1-(800) 856-1155 or (972) 701-9292.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Two More Cruise Lines Join Twitter: American Safari Cruises and InnerSea Discoveries

Here's a quick tip for those of you on Twitter. American Safari Cruises and InnerSea Discoveries are both now tweeting! Follow @AmericanSafari and @InnerSeaD.

American Safari Cruises is a small ship yacht line sailing itineraries in Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico's Sea of Cortez, and the Columbia and Snake Rivers. The line's three yachts include the 12-passenger Safari Spirit, the 22-passenger Safari Quest, and the 40-passenger Safari Explorer.

Beginning in October 2011, American Safari's Safari Explorer will offer 7- and 10-night inter-island cruises of Hawaii.

InnerSea Discoveries, operated by the principles of American Safari Cruises, dubs itself the "un-cruise adventure company." It operates two 49-passenger ships: the Wilderness Discoverer and Wilderness Adventurer. Both ships offer action-packed itineraries along Alaska's Inside Passage.

For more information about these cruise lines, talk with your travel agent or contact the cruise line's directly.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of American Safari Cruises

New Paul Gauguin Ship Review—Sailing French Polynesia

During the past five years, we've been lucky enough to cruise all over the world aboard dozens of luxury cruise ships. There are so many places we still need to check off our "must visit" list. Even so, French Polynesia is one destination that we both agree that we'd return to again and again.

If you're thinking about visiting Tahiti and the Society Islands, we whole-heartily recommend Paul Gauguin Cruises. You can read my review of the rebranded m/s Paul Gauguin at CruiseCritic.com.

"Paul Gauguin is not just a ship passing in the night. It calls upon these islands each and every day of its life. A cruise aboard PG will unlock the secrets of French Polynesia for you in ways that no other mode of travel can."

—from Andrea M. Rotondo's Paul Gauguin ship review for Cruise Critic

If my review piques your interest in Paul Gauguin Cruises, you may wish to sign up for the cruise line's December 14, 2010 live webinar.

Topic: Behind the Scenes of Paul Gauguin Cruises

Date: December 14, 2010

Time: 8pm Eastern • 7pm Central • 6pm Mountain • 5pm Pacific

Register for the Paul Gauguin Cruises webinar now.

We can't wait to return to the islands of French Polynesia!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of Paul Gauguin Cruises

Congratulations, Richard Bailey of Paul Gauguin Cruises!

Congratulations to Richard Bailey, CEO and President of Paul Gauguin Cruises! Today at the Luxury Travel Expo in Las Vegas—a trade show produced by Luxury Travel Advisor and Travel Agent magazines—he'll be named the Cruise "Leader in Luxury" for 2010.

I was lucky enough to dine with Mr. Bailey on "Tahitian Night" during our 7-night Tahiti & Society Islands cruise last May. His dedication to the m/s Paul Gauguin and his hotel interests (InterContinental Tahiti, Moorea, and two properties in Bora Bora as well as Le Maitai Tahiti and Le Maitai Rangiroa) was impressive. His love of French Polynesia is infectious. I'm so happy that the luxury travel industry is commending Dick for his service to travelers from all over the world.

“Our Leaders in Luxury Awards Class of 2010 truly represent excellence in luxury travel service,” said Ruthanne Terrero, Vice President-Content/Editorial Director for The Travel and HotelWorldNetwork Group. “They are deserving recipients whose leadership, hard work, and dedication are unmatched while continually exemplifying innovation in their respective travel sectors.”

Richard Bailey and his company, Pacific Beachcomber, have 25 years of experience in the French Polynesian travel industry and the company is, in fact, the region's largest luxury hotel and cruise operator.

“At the end of the day, it’s about smiling faces," Bailey admits. "We at Pacific Beachcomber and Paul Gauguin Cruises strive to achieve luxury in a remote, authentic, and well-preserved environment here in the South Pacific, weaving in the Polynesian way of life.”

Paul Gauguin Cruises recently celebrated its one-year anniversary as part of the Pacific Beachcomber portfolio. Bailey has rallied the company to improve services aboard m/s Paul Gauguin and the ship recently received its highest survey results in its 14-year history, scoring 98.9% in excellence by guests of the August 7, 2010, sailing to Tahiti and the Society Islands.

Kudos to Richard Bailey and to everyone at Paul Gauguin Cruises and Pacific Beachcomber!

For rates and reservations for Paul Gauguin Cruises, contact your travel agent or PGC directly at 1-(800) 848-6172.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of Paul Gauguin Cruises

Tuesday Tip: Twitter Handles for Cruise Lines & Travel Experts

This holiday season, it pays to follow as many travel twitter pages as possible. These travel websites and travel providers run contests from time to time. In the past year on Twitter I've won items ranging from lightweight luggage to guidebooks to American Airlines Admirals Club lounge passes.

Even when tweeters aren't giving away swag, you're sure to benefit from useful information, links to cruise and resort reviews, and inside access to bonefide travel tips.

Here's a list of the best travel tweeters on Twitter these days.

Cruise Line Twitter Handles

Abercrombie & Kent - @AKTravel_USA
Aqua Expeditions - @AquaExpeditions
Azamara Club Cruises - @AzamaraVoyages
Carnival Cruise Line - @CarnivalCruise
Celebrity Cruises UK - @CelebrityUK
Crystal Cruises - @crystalcruises
Cunard - @cunardline
Disney Cruise Line - @DisneyCruise
Holland America - @HALcruises
Lindblad Expeditions - @LindbladExp
MSC Cruises - @MSCCruisesUSA
Norwegian Cruise Line - @NCLFreestyle
Oceania Cruises - @CruiseOceania
Paul Gauguin Cruises - @PaulGauguin
Princess Cruises - @PrincessCruises
Royal Caribbean - @OasisandAllure
SeaDream Yacht Club - @seadreamyc
Silversea - @silversea
Uniworld - @UniworldCruises
Viking River Cruises - @vikingriver
Windstar Cruises - @cruisewindstar
Yachts of Seabourn - @SeabournCruise

Travel Magazines, Websites, & Newspaper Coverage

About Cruises - @AboutCruises
Afar - @AfarMedia
Avid Cruiser - @AvidCruiser
Cruise Critic - @CruiseCritic
Cruise Diva - @CruiseDiva
Cruise International - @cruisemag
Cruise Passenger - @CruisePax
Islands Magazine - @islandsmagazine
Porthole Cruise Magazine - @PortholeCruise
USA Today's Cruise Log - @CruiseLog

Luxury Travel Experts

Andrew Harper Hideaway Report - @HarperTravel
The Gallivanter's Guide - @Gallivanters

Hotels & Resorts

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts - @FourSeasons
Hilton Hotels & Resorts - @HiltonOnline
Hyatt - @HyattConcierge
InterContinental Hotels Group - @IHG_Deals
Mandarin Oriental - @mo_hotels
Marriott Resorts - @MarriottResorts
Priority Club - @priorityclub
Ritz-Carlton - @RitzCarlton
Starwood Hotels - @StarwoodBuzz

Travel Accessories

First Ascent/Eddie Bauer - @FirstAscent
Magellan's Travel - @magellanstravel
ScotteVest Travel Clothing - @scottevest

Who are your favorite travel tweeters? Post a comment and let me know.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Review of Cathay Pacific First Class Service (YYZ to DPS)

We're back from a fantastic trip to Bali, Indonesia and Hong Kong and we have a new favorite airline for long-haul trips to Asia: Cathay Pacific. I loved the excellent service, from super-fast check-in to comfortable airport lounges to caring stewardesses in the air—I'd rank the experience a solid A.

We weren't able to get first class award seats on the JFK to Hong Kong flight on the day we wanted, so we flew out of Toronto instead. Since we had a layover of a few hours, we booked a day room at the Sheraton Gateway Toronto that's attached to Terminal 3 of Pearson International Airport. It was so nice to be on-site, get a few hours sleep, grab drinks in the Club Lounge, and then check-in for our Cathay flight, which was taking off at 1:30am.

Cathay doesn't have its own lounge at the Toronto airport, but first class passengers do have access to the KLM lounge. The lounge is fine; nothing special. The staff seemed quite tired. When I asked for the wi-fi password, the receptionist handed me the tiniest slip of paper with a code on one side. She didn't say a word; just slid the paper (blank side up) across the desk to me. Odd.



Upon boarding Cathay's 777, we were pleasantly surprised by the six spacious first class suites. It was just us and one other passenger. We knew we'd be comfortable for the 15-hour flight. We also decided to try transition to Hong Kong time, so we stayed up and enjoyed a lovely meal.

The list of complimentary beverages was extensive:

Champagne
Krug Grand Cuvee Champagne

White Wines
Hardy's Heritage Reserve Bin Chardonnay 2008
Bouchard Pere & Fils Meusault Les Clous 2006

Red Wines
D'Arenberg The Galvo Garage Cabernet Blend 2008
Sebastiani Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Chateau Lynch Bages 2003

Port
Ramos Pinto Quinta da Ervamoira 10-Year-Old Tawny Port

Aperitifs and Cocktails
Campari • Martini Rosso • Martini Extra Dry • Tio Pepe Sherry • Harveys Bristol Cream Sweet Sherry • Gordons Dry Gin • Bacardi Rum • Absolut Vodka • Bloody Mary • Screwdriver

Whiskies
Chivas Regal 12 Years Old • Johnnie Walker Blue Label • Canadian Club • Gentleman Jack Bourbon • Glenfiddich Ancient Reserve Single Malt Whisky

Cognac
Tesseron Lot 76 XO Tradition

Liqueurs
Cointreau • Drambuie • Kahlua • Bailey's Irish Cream

Beer
International selection

CX Signature Drinks
Oriental Breeze—A sour-plum tea and cranberry juice based non-alcoholic drink with honey and fresh lemon juice and a hint of rose water.

Cloud Nine—A refreshing combination of vodka, Cointreau, and Sprite with a refreshing touch of lemon flavor.

Dinner itself was very good as well.

A couple can comfortably dine together in Cathay Pacific's 777 first class suites.

We skipped the first course of caviar and Balik salmon and the soup course (roasted red pepper) and instead began with a smoked duck breast over salad and...

...grilled prawns over salad.

The main entree, pan-fried U.S. beef tenderloin, was quite tasty.

The in-flight cheese course was surprisingly good...

...but dessert could have been better. The ice cream was rock solid and the chocolate lava cake was also colder than I would have wished. Perhaps Cathay should stick with something that's a bit easier to prepare at 30,000 feet?

Once dinner was over, I got comfortable in the lie-flat bed and watched a few DVDs on my laptop before drifting off to sleep.


We arrived in Hong Kong at about 5 o'clock in the morning and were still groggy. We went directly to The Wing, Cathay's first class lounge, and headed for the showers. Once we felt a bit more human, we checked e-mail, made a few calls, had a traditional Chinese breakfast, and then boarded our next flight to Bali.

I was dead tired at this point and pretty much slept through the entire five-hour flight. When the flight attendants roused me for landing, I was feeling pretty punk. We had flown from New York to Toronto to Hong Kong and were finally nearing our destination of Jimbaran Bay, Bali. I don't know how anyone could make this trip in economy. I loved having the additional space to stretch out in first class and the priority access to the lounges and aircraft itself made a huge difference.

I had heard horror stories about DPS, but we sailed right through the airport...first getting our visitor's visa and then going through passport control.

Upon exiting the airport, our driver from the InterContinental Bali Resort was waiting for us with cold drinks and a nicely appointed—and air-conditioned—Mercedes. The transfer to the hotel took less than 20 minutes. As we drove up to the InterContinental Bali and past a gorgeous lily pond holding court in front of the hotel, we knew we had made the right decision about which accommodations to book. We were ushered to the Club Lounge, where we checked in and enjoyed a refreshing drink or two.

We were in our room, a Club Duplex, within minutes. Our plan had been to stay up late in order to get our bodies on Bali time. We threw that plan right out the window since we were both so tired. We enjoyed a few more cocktails in the Club Lounge, along with some snacks and then headed back to our room where we fell into a wonderful night's sleep.

Stay tuned for the next blog post about our stay at the InterContinental Bali Resort on Jimbaran Bay.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos © Leonard Hospidor

Trusted Adventures Consortium Presents Extraordinary Active Vacations

If active travel is your thing, it's time to get acquainted with Trusted Adventures. This alliance, headed up by executive director Brad Moss, is made up of like-minded travel providers that focus on cruise and yacht vacations, eco trips, biking and hiking getaways, rafting adventures, and more.

Read about the group and explore each member's website. I guarantee they'll be a few trips you bookmark for future reference.

American Safari Cruises—focus is on active and luxurious yacht cruises in Alaska, Mexico's Sea of Cortez, the Columbia and Snake Rivers, and Hawaii.

Austin-Lehman Adventures—specializes in adult and family vacations around the world, including Yellowstone, Bryce/Zion, Grand Canyon, Costa Rica, the Canadian Rockies, the Galapagos, South Africa, and several western European countries.

Ciclismo Classico—offers expertly designed biking expeditions in many locations, including Croatia, Norway, Italy, Vietnam, and New Zealand.

Great Alaska—this is the place to find sport fishing and wildlife adventure trips to Alas.ka, Costa Rica, and Mexico.

InnerSea Discoveries—this is the sister company to American Safari Cruises (mentioned above); InnerSea offers active cruise adventures at a more affordable price in Alaska.

Myths & Mountains—unusual excursions to Asia (Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Tibet), Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam), and South America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Galapagos Islands, and Peru).

ROW Adventures—from Idaho rafting adventures to the Galapagos Islands and everything in between...ROW offers whitewater rafting, kayaking and canoeing, fly fishing, barge and yacht cruising, biking and hiking trips, and much more.

The Wayfarers—unique walking tours in the British Isles, South Africa, New Zealand, India, and Alaska.

Western River Expeditions—looking for a rafting adventure? Western River Expeditions offers trips in the Grand Canyon, Utah, and Idaho.

Wildland Adventures—Wildland has a varied list of itineraries that feature the best of wildlife viewing and active pursuits in the United States, Africa, Central and South America, the Antarctica, and the Far East.

For more information about these travel companies, visit their websites, call your travel agent, or do some research at Trusted Adventures.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Snag a Seat on a Private Jet for the Cost of Commercial Business Class

Maybe you've looked into fractional jet ownership before and couldn't quite justify the expense. Now a new company called WannaJet wants a crack at your business. The idea they're floating is this: share a private jet flight for the price of a business class ticket on a commercial flight.

First, decide where you wish to fly within the United States or Europe. Then go to WannaJet's website and either post your travel plans or join an existing group that's going your way on the appropriate date. At least four travelers must request the same route.

Once a full complement of travelers is formed, the itinerary is confirmed and WannaJet contacts its partners that operate private jets and charters one that is appropriate for your travel plans.

The fixed price is provided via the site's online booking engine so you'll know the per seat fee before locking into the itinerary. Figure on an average of $820 per hour in the air. For example, a flight plan that's currently posted on WannaJet's site departs from Westchester County Airport in New York and lands at DeKalb Peachtree Airport in Atlanta for $1,719 per person (one way).

Sixty domestic business routes are available and service onboard the jets rivals or exceeds top first-class offerings—professional attendants, multi-course meals, in-flight entertainment—from the commercial airlines.

What happens if the other passengers drop out at the last minute? Will you have to foot the bill for the entire jet? No. As long as four people are confirmed on your flight, you're good to go. If for some reason the passenger count drops below the required four passengers within 72 hours prior to take off, the company will offer to rebook you on a comparable commercial flight for the same price you agreed upon. That gesture doesn't quite hit the mark though if you've had your heart set on a private jet experience.

For more information, visit WannaJet.com.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Three Must-Have Travel Accessories for Your Next Trip

If you travel a lot, you probably have a few "can't live without" items permanently stowed in your luggage. Maybe it's a multicolored scarf that accents almost any outfit, a pair of polarized sunglasses, or set of electrical plug converters. For me, there a few travel accessories that I don't leave home without.

Don't Leave Home Without These Travel Accessories

See No Vino—I can't tell you how many times there's been a wine "incident" on an airplane or cruise ship. And, of course, the spill always seems to be red wine and not white! Magellan's sells a product called See No Vino that has saved several pieces of our clothing. This two-ounce bottle is filled with a biodegradable citrus spray that helps to dissolve stains while they're still wet. It's definitely worth it to have a bottle of this on hand!




Joby Gorillamobile Tripod—If you've got an iPhone or other mobile device, the Joby Gorillamobile tripod is a must. You'll use this on the airplane, in your hotel room, and on the road. We use it to hold our iPhone while we watch movies or set the phone to clock mode in our cruise cabin. The tripod will also accommodate a small camera, like my Canon PowerShot S800 (although Joby sells a variety of these tripods that are meant for cameras of all types). The tripod's legs are bendable, so you can set it up almost anywhere—even wrap it around a tree branch!


Chimes Ginger Chews—If my travel plans include a cruise, I also throw a bag of Chimes all-natural ginger chews. These bite-size candies are both spicy and sweet (they're covered in fine powdered sugar). These are a refreshing pick-me-up and the ginger settles the stomach when sea sickness comes calling. These Indonesian candies—which are available in the United States at stores like Whole Foods, Longs Drugs, and Walmart—come in a variety of other flavors too. Try peppermint, mango, orange, and peanut butter.

What are your can't-live-without travel accessories? Let me know!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos courtesy of Magellan's, Joby, and Chimes.

An Easy Way to Snag 100,000 British Airways Miles

I've talked about my frequent flyer mile obsession in the past and will admit that my fervor usually peaks this time of year. Year-end is when I review all the miles in each account and create my strategy for the coming year.

A few weeks back I sat down and wrote out my comprehensive plan for 2010, but then today British Airways and Chase made me slam on the brakes.

They've announced what, to me, is an unprecedented bonus mile deal: earn 100,000 miles with a new British Airways Visa Signature Card from Chase.

Card Benefits

• receive 50,000 miles after your first purchase
  
  
• spend $2,000 within three months of opening your card and receive an additional 50,000 miles
  
  
• earn 1.25 miles for each $1 spent
  
  
• earn 2.5 miles for money spent on BA purchases
  
  
• spend $30,000 in a calendar year and you'll receive a 2-for-1 companion award certificate
  
  
• $50 off a British Airways flight if booked before December 31, 2009 (for travel before the end of 2010)

This promo is especially enticing since British Airways offers what they call "Household Accounts." This means you can combine miles with anyone living at the same address. That makes managing miles SO much easier! You'll retain your own Executive Club membership but your mileage balances will be combined.

You may use British Airways miles on any OneWorld airline, including:

British Airways
American Airlines
Cathay Pacific
Finnair
Iberia
Japan Airlines
LAN
Malev
Quantas
Royal Jordanian

Other British Airways partners also include:

Aer Lingus
Alaskan Airlines
Brussels Airlines C
aribbean Airlines
Mexicana

This British Airways/Chase Visa promo is definitely something to look into. I'm already figuring out where we'll travel with our newfound cache of British Airways miles! Apply for the card now.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com