Scammers Targeting Crystal Cruises

I just received this e-mail from Crystal Cruises and feel it's important enough to repost here for those of you who may not be on the cruise line's mailing list.

IMPORTANT FRAUD ALERT MESSAGE FROM CRYSTAL CRUISES

It has come to the attention of Crystal Cruises that fraudulent checks are being issued to various individuals throughout the United States either randomly via mail or through other means including popular Internet websites featuring job postings, Mystery Shopper programs, Sweepstakes/Draw Winner and payment for items being sold. We do NOT believe that any of our customer personal information was used to generate these checks.

These checks look identical to, but are not, Crystal Cruises' corporate checks. These are NOT legitimate checks and this is NOT a Crystal Cruises' promotion. This is an illegal check scam.

The "check scam" is as follows:

1. The perpetrators advise the recipient to cash the alleged Crystal Cruises' check. (Note: They even explain the check is from a "financial sponsor" to try and assure the recipient that it is legitimate).
   
   
2. They then ask the recipient to deposit or send the same amount of money to a third party via Western Union under the guise of a Secret Shopper program (Note: at this time we do not have definitive information as to where the money is being sent).

Again, this is NOT a Crystal Cruises' promotion and we ask for your help in communicating this fraudulent check scam to others. If you have received one of these checks, do not cash or deposit it. These checks did not originate with Crystal Cruises.

Crystal Cruises has notified and is working with the appropriate authorities to investigate this matter. In order to provide the authorities with the additional information necessary to apprehend and prosecute the criminals behind this fraud, we ask that if you do receive a check, or have any information regarding this scam, please email us at fraudalert@crystalcruises.com or fax to 1-310-277-8150 or call 1-310-785-9300 and ask to speak to our Fraud Alert Department.

We appreciate your cooperation in this very serious matter.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Celebrity & Azamara Added to Amex Platinum Cruise Privileges Program

This week I'll be posting more about the new Solstice-class luxury cruise ship from Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Equinox. The ship's naming ceremony last week in Southampton, England was fantastic and Equinox is sure to become a favorite with cruisers from both the United States and Europe.

I personally look forward to sailing aboard Celebrity Equinox again in the future so I was very happy to hear that both Celebrity Cruises and her sister line, Azamara Cruises, are now part of American Express's Cruise Privileges Program exclusively for Platinum cardholders.

New Cruise Privileges Benefits

• Celebrity Cruises: a two-category upgrade or up to $300 per suite shipboard credit (depending on ship and category booked), complimentary dinner for two, and a bottle of champagne
  
  
• Azamara Cruises: a stateroom credit of $300, a behind-the-scenes ship tour, and a complimentary bottle of champagne

To take advantage of these benefits, you must be an American Express Platinum cardholder. You may book your cruise directly through Platinum Travel Service at 1-(800) 443-7672 or book through your travel agent and he or she will arrange for the Platinum Cruise Privileges benefits on your behalf (you will receive a written confirmation of the benefit in your stateroom upon boarding the ship). While you must have an Amex Platinum card, you do not have to pay for your cruise with that card.

Other cruise lines also taking part in this program include Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea, The Yachts of Seabourn, Uniworld River Cruise Collection, and Windstar Cruises. Benefits vary by cruise line and stateroom category booked.

For more information, call Platinum Travel Service at 1-(800) 443-7672 or talk with your travel agent.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Royal Land, what next

The journey of 10 days across the Royal Land that started from Mandwa ended in Jaipur. The exiting moments we had in the different cities of Rajasthan that we passed through was never ending. Each of the cities had their own uniqueness. I have already written about these places in my prvious postings. Just to summerise what we had covered in these places:

Mandwa known for beautiful fresco paintings through out the place. Bikaner, the camel country known beautiful fort - palace and the marble cenotaphs. Kumbalgarh known for biggest fort in India. Jodhpur, the blue city known for hilltop fort and palaces. Jaisalmer known for Golden fort, Jain temples and huge number of palaces. Ranakpur famous for the carvings of Jain temple. Mount Abu the only hill station of Rajasthan and home for famous Jain temple with exquisite carvings. Udaipur known for the fort, temple and the lake palace. Jaipur known for numerous forts and palaces.

After covering more than 80% of Rajasthan there is still more to cover. The next trip to this Royal state would explore some parts of Udaipur and Jaipur that could not be done due to lack of time. Other exiting places in the state to travel would be Kota, Bundi, Ajmer, Pushkar, Chittorgarh, Osian, Alwar, Ranthambore etc.,

But for now I have set my eyes on another beautiful state of India - Madhya Pradesh. Since, I have already done it, I will share with you all my friend very soon.