Travel + Leisure Curated Cruises Featured This Week on American Express' Daily Wish

Each week, American Express cardholders have access to special curated sales dubbed the Daily Wish. Sometimes the items on offer are high-end electronics such as digital cameras or flat-screen TVs. This week, American Express teams with Travel + Leisure magazine to present discounted travel packages, including cruises from Windstar and Lindblad Expeditions. Each of these travel companies have received high ranks in the 2010 T+L World's Best Awards.

Here's what you can expect. Cruise fares are for two people sharing a cabin. Some of the deals are fairly competitive:

Windstar Cruises On Sale Tuesday October 5, 2010

7-Night Wind Surf Holiday Voyage
Ports: Bridgetown, Barbados; Pigeon Island, St. Lucia; Iles des Saintes, Guadeloupe; St. Barts; St. Martin; St. Kitts
$2,298 all-in, cruise-only Category B for two people sharing a cabin
Available dates: December 19, 2010
Note: The total cruise fare for two people is about $950 less than prices I've seen at other online cruise discounters.

7-Night Caribbean Adventure Aboard Wind Surf
Ports: Bridgetown, Barbados; St. Kitts; St. Martin; St. Barts; Iles des Saintes, Guadeloupe; Pigeon Island, St. Lucia
$1,932 all-in, cruise-only category B for two people sharing a cabin
Available dates: November 28; December 12; January 2 & 16
Note: The total cruise fare for two people is about $825 less than prices I've seen at other online cruise discounters.

7-Night Yachtsman's Caribbean Aboard Wind Spirit
Ports: St. Martin; St. Kitts; Tortola; Jost van Dyke; Virgin Gorda; St. Barts
$2,298 all-in, cruise-only category B for two people sharing a cabin
Available dates: December 19; January 8, 15, 22, 29

7-Night Costa Rican Adventure
Ports: Puerto Caldera, San Juan Del Sur, Playas del Coco, Quepos, Bahia Drake, Curu, Tortuga Island
$2,149 all-in cruise-only category B for two people sharing a cabin
Available dates: January 15, 29; February 5, 12, 19; and March 5, 12, 19, 26

Lindblad Expeditions Cruises On Sale Wednesday, October 6, 2010

9-Night Galapagos Islands Cruise Aboard the National Geographic Endeavour
Ports: Bartolome, Santiago, Isabela, Fernandina, Floreana, Espanola, Santa Cruz
$5,690 all-in, cruise-only category 2 for two people sharing a cabin
Available dates: now through March 15, 2011

7-Night Costa Rica & Panama Canal Cruise Aboard the National Geographic Sea Lion
Ports: Panama Canal transit, Lake Gatun, Gulf of Panama Islets, Isla Coiba National Park, Panama; Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica
$6,972 all-in, cruise-only Category 2 for two people sharing a cabin
Available dates: November 1, 2010–March 26, 2011

Be aware that a limited number of cabins are available at the prices listed above and you must pay for the trip with an American Express card.

For more information, visit the Daily Wish website sponsored by The American Express Network.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

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

Galapagos Islands Advice from Expert Santiago Dunn of Ecoventura

Every now and then I post perspective from other experts in the travel field. Today I welcome Santiago Dunn, president of Ecoventura, a private company that maintains a fleet of small, expedition touring yachts. He shares his advice for your next vacation to the Galapagos Islands.


Should I stay in a lodge or hotel and take day tours or select a multiple-night cruise?
Dunn: It’s less expensive to stay at a hotel and take coastal or inland day trips or hop between two or more island lodges; but your touring options will be limited to the central islands: Santa Fe, Daphne, Bachas, Floreana, Bartolome, San Cristobal, and some nearby islands from Santa Cruz. It is difficult for a land tour to visit Isabela and impossible to visit Fernandina or Genovesa. Ironically, people will book a “land based” tour believing they will minimize sea sickness. Lodge-based guests, however, are more vulnerable to sea sickness as they are traveling between islands via a light fiberglass speed boat. On a week-long cruise you visit more islands. Plus, you usually have one morning activity and one afternoon activity—each day, usually at different locations, cruising at night so you wake up at a new island each sunrise.

Does the size of the ship matter?
Dunn: Boats in the Galapagos range in carrying capacity from 16–20 on the small range to a mid-large range of 48–100 passengers. There are over 80 registered tour boats transporting visitors throughout the islands. Large vessels that must anchor in deeper waters require more time getting passengers to and from shore excursions and back to their vessels. Guests on smaller ships have more time to be active on shore. Overall passenger capacity factors into the guide to guest ratio on land excursions. With a 16 passenger vessel you will usually have one guide for 16 passengers. On larger boats you will have several groups of 16 passengers per guide. A 20-passenger yacht has an advantage in offering a 1:10 guide to guest ratio. If prone to motion sickness, some people think a larger vessel is more secure; but the difference is marginal between a 90-foot boat and a 200-foot boat.

Do itineraries vary by vessel?
Dunn: Of course. But another consideration is that the companies licensed with the newest vessels such as the two-hull catamarans may also have the less desirable itineraries. Companies with vessels that have been around for 20+ years are grandfathered in with the most comprehensive itineraries available. This leads to an overall better quality experience.

How many days should a visitor spend in Galapagos?
Dunn: Perhaps the question should be rephrased to ask: How does a traveler get best value for the vacation dollar? Many companies offer traditional seven-night cruises with the option of three- or four-night cruises. The downside is that passengers on the full week itinerary must return to port in the middle of the cruise to pick-up and drop-off the shorter-stay passengers. This ultimately breaks up the continuity and spirit of camaraderie between the passengers on board. Of course if you are on a tight budget or limited in time a shorter trip can be a viable option.

Does a higher price tag on a cruise mean a better experience? Dunn: Like the old song, isn’t it truly “a gift to be simple?” How important is luxury in a fragile ecosystem? You’ll probably spend most of the week in T-shirts, bathing suit, and sandals. How sustainable are the Jacuzzis and monogrammed bathrobes? Galapagos is the type of place where nature and simplicity rule and less is often more. The high-end, ultra-soft, 16-passenger yachts and a handful of the larger luxury vessels charge $5,000 or more per person for a one week cruise. The budget-minded, larger capacity ships, half that. For 2010, Ecoventura’s rates are $3,225 to $3,925 per person with discounts for children age 7-17 on designated family departures, early bird booking discounts and other promotions.

Are there ecological considerations to staying on land or taking a cruise?
Dunn: A cruise actually leaves a smaller ecological footprint because you are not contributing to the construction of hotels, bars, roads, and restaurants on these fragile islands. The United Nations and the government of Ecuador have both recognized that growing land-based tourism is a threat to the islands and their delicate eco-systems. In the fall of 2008 Ecoventura launched the first hybrid-energy vessel in the Galapagos, the M/Y Eric. The installation of 40 solar panels and two wind turbines now provide enough power to replace approximately 18 percent of the energy previously produced by two diesel generators. We look for more of this “greening” to take place within the cruise industry.

—Santiago Dunn, President of Ecoventura

About Ecoventura: Ecoventura is a family-owned company based in Guayaquil, Ecuador, with sales offices in Quito and Miami. In operation since 1990, the Galápagos cruise company transports 4,000+ passengers annually aboard a fleet of three expedition vessels; identical, superior first-class 20-passenger motor yachts with 10 double cabins. The company also operates the Sky Dancer, a 16-passenger dedicated dive live-aboard offering 7-night weekly itineraries visiting the northern islands of Wolf and Darwin. All of its vessels have been purposefully retrofitted to meet or exceed the highest possible environmental standards. In 2009 Ecoventura was the recipient of Travel + Leisure’s Global Vision Award for Green Cruising and Conde Nast Traveler’s 15th Annual World Savers Award in the category of Cruise Lines.

To reserve a cabin or private charter, or to receive a copy of Ecoventura’s 2010 catalog please call 1.800.644.7972, or e-mail info@galapagosnetwork.com. To access current rates, schedules and itineraries you can log onto http://www.ecoventura.com/.

Photos courtesy of Ecoventura

Yachting the Galapagos Islands with Galapagos Odyssey

When most of us begin researching a high-end vacation to the Galapagos Islands, we tend to look toward either Lindblad Expeditions or Celebrity Xpedition. But, there are many other possibilities, including the newly built 16-passenger Galapagos Odyssey yacht.

Offering 3-, 4-, and 7-night itineraries, you'll spend your cruise with like-minded eco-adventurers in an intimate environment.

7-Night Itinerary
Sunday – Bachas (Santa Cruz)
Monday – Bartolome and Sullivan Bay (Santiago)
Tuesday – Sierra Negra Volcano and White Tipped Reef Shark Canal (Isabela)
Wednesday – Highlands and Charles Darwin Station (Santa Cruz)
Thursday – Leon Dormido - Interpretation Center and Loberia (San Cristobal)
Friday – Gardner Bay and Punta Suarez (Espanola)
Saturday – Punta Cormorant and Post Office Bay (Floreana)
Sunday – North Seymour

4-Night Itinerary
Sunday – Bachas (Santa Cruz)
Monday – Bartolome and Sullivan Bay (Santiago)
Tuesday – Sierra Negra Volcano and White Tipped Reef Shark Canal (Isabela)
Wednesday – Highlands and Charles Darwin Station (Santa Cruz)
Thursday – Leon Dormido (San Cristobal)

3-Night Itinerary
Thursday – Interpretation Center and Loberia (San Cristobal)
Friday – Gardner Bay and Punta Suarez (Espanola)
Saturday – Punta Cormorant and Post Office Bay (Floreana)
Sunday – North Seymour

According to Marcel Perkins, owner of Latin Trails, “Our guides are natives to the Galapagos Islands. We have built our itineraries with the help of the Galapagos National Park to include the best wildlife trails and most sought after visitor sights.”

For a full list of 2010 departures, visit www.galapagosodyssey.com.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Dive into Natural Wonders in Ecuador

Note: Luxury tour operator Ker & Downey sent in the following information about their Ecuador and Galapagos Islands vacations. Enjoy!

Tired of living in a concrete jungle? Long to be surrounded by the sounds of nature rather than the cacophony of the city? Envelop yourself in a tapestry woven from the spectacular biodiversity of animal and plant life in the Ecuadorian Amazon and the Galápagos Islands.

You can explore these natural wonders without giving up modern comfort when you visit one of the luxury eco-lodges in the area and choose a smaller, but well-appointed cruise ship tour.

Ecuador’s tourist destinations are uniquely built to preserve the fragile rainforest ecosystem, to support the local people, and encourage the continuation of indigenous cultures. Once you’re in the Amazon, expect to be dazzled with the immense variety of trees, butterflies, birds, and monkeys.

Bird-watching is a special treat on the many canopy tours offered. Suspended 40 or more feet in the air, you’ll have an eye-level view of exotic birds wheeling and cavorting in the forest. You will also want to go to the magical Butterfly Farm, where you can see a multitude of native butterflies at various life stages.

Eco-lodges and river cruise ships often employ local people as expert guides. These guides offer an insider’s view of the area’s natural wonders, culture, indigenous groups, and geography.

There is a wide variety of types of boats, accommodations, and lengths of river cruises to choose from. Smaller vessels will allow you access to narrower rivers, or if you choose to be on a larger boat, you can take a canoe trip up smaller streams. A cruise of the Galápagos Islands will truly take you to another world. Again, your choices abound in what kind of vessel to take.

One of the most intimate options is boarding the M/Y Grace, an elegant yacht named for its late owner, Princess Grace of Monaco. With only nine cabins, you’ll enjoy a serene escape from city overcrowding, as you’ll be sharing the cruise with a maximum of 17 other guests. With this intimate setting, you receive personal attention and service from the staff. Also, the vessel’s small size allows you to visit areas of the archipelago that are inaccessible by larger cruise ships.

You can see the Galápagos’ remarkable tortoises, land and marine iguanas, the Galápagos penguin, frigatebird, Galápagos sea lion, blue-footed booby, finches, the flightless cormorant, and the Galápagos hawk in their native environment.

Snorkeling is especially inspiring in this fascinating habitat. Based on your preferences, your cruise can focus on family-friendly activities, varying levels of naturalist excursions, or active adventures including spectacular diving.

Ker & Downey offers several cruises in Ecuador varying from three to seven nights.

—This post is courtesy of luxury tour operator Ker & Downey.

Lindblad's Nat'l Geographic Explorer Charts European Adventures This Summer

Sven-Olof Lindblad, president of Lindblad Expeditions, writes compelling letters. Like many of you, I'm on Lindblad's mailing list and every so often I receive a brochure with a letter penned by Mr. Lindblad himself. His missives are always persuasive and he crafts the letter to dovetail with a special offer that makes it really difficult to say "no" to an upcoming expedition adventure.

His May 15th letter introduces us to the 148-passenger National Geographic Explorer and her summertime European itineraries. He talks about visiting Europe "through the front door" from the sea. I agree when he says that it's a magical way to see Europe.

"It's different sailing into a harbor, watching a city's skyline unfold in front of you, than entering by bus from the airport."

That is so true!

Lindblad goes on to say that "at the end of the day, what's perhaps most important is the camaraderie that so naturally develops on the National Geographic Explorer between, frankly, the most intersting guests on the planet, a most engaging staff of historians, naturalists, and just plan raconteurs, and a crew that is really enjoying their new ship and would love to have you join them."

If only I had some more time to devote to vacations this year! Lindblad is promoting two excellent European itineraries right now that include free air and $2,000 in cruise fare savings.

European Odyssey: A Passage Through Centuries of Culture & History
September 27, 2009 aboard the National Geographic Explorer

• 9/27: depart the U.S. for Copenhagen, Denmark
• 9/28: arrive in Copenhagen
• 9/29: Lubeck, Germany
• 9/30: Transit the Kiel Canal
• 10/1: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• 10/2: Oostende, Belgium (Bruges)
• 10/3: Bayeux, France
• 10/4: Cherbourg, France (Normandy D-Day Beaches)
• 10/5: St. Malo and Mont-St. Michel, France
• 10/6: at sea
• 10/7: Ile D'Aix and La Rochelle, France
• 10/8: La Cote Basque, France
• 10/9: Bilbao, Spain
• 10/10: La Coruna/Santiago De Compostela
• 10/11: Islas Cies and Bayona
• 10/12: Oporto, Portugal
• 10/13: Lisbon, Portugal

Exploring the Baltic's Historic Waterways
September 5 and 13*, 2009 aboard the National Geographic Explorer
*travels from St. Petersburg to Copenhagen

• Day 1: fly to Copenhagen, Denmark
• Day 2: Copenhagen
• Day 3: Lubeck, Germany
• Day 4: Christianso & Bornholm Islands, Denmark
• Day 5: Gdansk, Poland
• Day 6: at sea
• Day 7: Riga, Latvia
• Day 8: Visby, Gotland, Sweden
• Day 9: Stockholm, Sweden
• Day 10: Stockholm Archipelago
• Day 11: Tallinn, Estonia
• Day 12: Helsinki, Finland
• Day 13–15: St. Petersburg, Russia
• Optional Moscow extension is available

If you book the September 5th Baltic voyage, you'll sail with Gil Grosvenor, chairman of the National Geographic Society, and his wife Wiley.

For more information about these voyages, talk with your travel agent or contact Lindblad Expeditions at 1-(800) 397-3348.

—Andrea M. Rotondo

Photo courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions and copyright Sisse Brimberg & Cotton Coulson

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Lindblad Webinars: Galapagos & Alaska

Have you ever attended a "webinar"? It's an interactive online conference where you can see photos and/or video and hear audio. You can often ask questions of the moderator and panelists via a dialogue panel on your computer screen.

On Wednesday night I attended just such a webinar presented by Lindblad Expeditions. Elizabeth Crabill aptly hosted the evening that focused on the company's Galapagos Islands cruise packages and Peru land journeys.

Elizabeth kicked off the 30-minute webinar by introducing expedition leader Lynn Fowler. (Yes, she is related to zoologist Jim Fowler who hosted Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. Jim is her uncle.)

Lynn has been with Lindlad for decades and has spent over 30 years in the Galapagos Islands. It was refreshing to hear her enthusiasm for this very special archipelago at the Equator. Lynn's credentials speak for themselves:

• B.A. in Biology from Earlham College, Richmond, VA
  
• M.A. in Zoology from the University of Florida
  
• In 1978, she was one of the first female naturalist guides in the Galapagos National Park
  
• Doctorate from the University of Florida, based on giant tortoise research
  
• Elected to the Charles Darwin Foundation's General Assembly

Lynn took webinar viewers on a virtual journey to the year-round destination of the Galapagos Islands, explaining what visitors can expect to see on these volcanic islands—sea lions, seals, giant tortoises, sea turtles, crabs, stingrays, iguanas, penguins, comorants, the waved albatros, frigatebirds, red- and blue-footed boobies, and finches.

Lindblad's two Galapagos ships—the 48-passenger National Geographic Islander and the 110-passenger National Geographic Endeavour—were also discussed. Itineraries are 10 days; 16 if you also book the Peru land add-on.

After Lynn's slideshow, participants were introduced to Lynda Prono. Lynda is a reservations specialist for Lindblad and she discussed the Galapagos options as well as the add-on land package to Peru and Machu Pico.

In addition to Lindblad's current 25% off cruise fares for certain dates in 2009, webinar guests were also offered $250 off per person if they booked within a week.

If you're thinking of traveling with Lindblad, definitely invest the time and attend one of their webinars. Check Lindblad's website for the full webinar schedule. The next event, focusing on Alaska vacations, takes place on March 25 at 7 pm EST. Sign up for the Alaska webinar now!

For more information about Lindblad Expeditions and their partnership with National Geographic, talk with your travel agent or visit Lindblad's website.

Photo courtesy of photographer Michael S. Nolan and Lindblad Expeditions.

For the latest cruise news and unbiased reviews, please visit LuxuryCruiseBible.com.