P&O Cruises new Ventura heads for Britain

P&O Cruises brand new ship Ventura will dock at it’s home port Southampton Sunday 6 April. The 115,000 ton, 3100 passenger ship began it’s journey home from Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone on Sunday.

Partnering up with some of Britain’s favourite names, Ventura will offer something quite special for all ages. Tate Modern, will be bringing their expertise on board selected cruises, presenting ‘Tate Talks’, Noddy will be livening up playtime through themed activities and a giant 14.5 metre Scalextric track will provide fast pace fun for all ages. Michelin star chef Marco Pierre White, is creating Ventura’s unique fine dining venue, The White Room, plus a number of her other menus.

At 290 metres in length Ventura is 22 metres longer than Tower Bridge and has an impressive 15 passenger decks. Arriving into Southampton Ventura will pass her sister ship Aurora in the Solent and will arrive into the Mayflower Cruise terminal at approximately 11 am.

If you are interested in catching a glimpse of Ventura dig out your digital camera and go to any of the following viewing points –

8:55 a.m. - Ryde and Portsmouth
9:05 a.m. - Lee on Solent
9:05 a.m. - Hill Head
9:20 a.m. - Cowes
9:35 a.m. - Calshot
9:45 a.m. - Hamble
9:55 a.m. - Passing Victoria Country Park
10:05 a.m. - Hythe/Dock Head
10:15 a.m. - Mayflower Park
11 a.m. - Mayflower Cruise Terminal

Ventura’s staff and crew will be busy putting the finishing touches together enroute so that the ship is ready for it’s arrival ceremonies and ten days of ensuing events once it reaches Southampton.

The ship’s christening will take place on Wednesday 16 April and actress Dame Helen Mirren will be doing the honours (with the help of the SAS Marines to ensure the champagne bottle smashes!). Ventura is due to embark upon her maiden Mediterranean voyage on Friday 18 April, with a spectacular sail away for the first to ever sail on her.

Crystal Cruises Wine & Food Festival

The world’s greatest chefs and wine experts join Crystal Cruises on their popular Wine & Food Festival sailings, a total of 14 carefully designed voyages this summer. Guests can savour fresh oysters in Dubrovnik, enjoy a private cooking instruction in the South of France or maybe just watch as chefs prepare their signature dishes for the dinner menu.

In addition, distinguished wine experts are on hand to provide insight and education on the endlessly fascinating world of wine, offering once in the lifetime opportunities to experience side by side tastings of select vintages from Crystal Cruises extensive wine list, including their famed “C” vintages.

The cruises will take in a marvellous tour of coastal France, Italy, Spain, Greece and Croatia, regions known for their abundance of delicacies. World renowned Italian chef Gualtiero Marchesi, the first chef in Italy to be awarded three coveted Michelin Stars, will be show casing cooking demonstrations and a chef’s dinner. Master Sommelier Robert Bath and wine educator Philip di Belardino will be aboard for wine tasting and further wine education.

The Wine & Food Cruise travels from Monte Carlo to Venice, stopping in seven ports along the way for farmhouse visits in the breathtaking Tuscan and Roman countryside. There will be tapas tours, lesions in traditional Spanish cooking in Barcelona and other wine and food-themed adventures.

Held in a lively and convivial atmosphere, these events offer a heady blend of entertainment and learning and the chance to really immerse in the rich flavours and culinary heritage specific to each region.

There will be more than 90 different shore excursions on offer during the voyage, offering something for every interest from history, art, architecture, culture, sight seeing, shopping, culinary pursuits and new active outdoor adventures.

Ruby Princess to sail ahead of schedule

Princess Cruises have announced that their new ship Ruby Princess will be sailing the seas ahead of schedule this winter.

The brand new Ruby Princess will include a dramatic piazza-style atrium featuring small bite eateries and performing street entertainers. Passengers will also enjoy a huge choice of dining venues, including the signature Sabatini’s Italian Restaurant and the Crown Grill steak and seafood restaurant, plus a relaxing oasis just for adults called The Sanctuary.

Ruby Princess will also feature Movies Under the Stars, an array of entertainment options, Personal Choice Dining featuring traditional or anytime seating, Lotus Spa fitness centre and an extensive children and teens centre. There will be nearly 900 staterooms with private balconies, perfect for enjoying the beautiful sights of the Caribbean.

Originally Ruby Princess was due to set sail on her inaugural cruise on 15 November 2008, however there will now be a voyage on 8 November which will precede this.

Princess Cruises have confirmed that passengers who were booked on the maiden voyage 15 November will have the opportunity to bring their cruise holiday forward to the earlier cruise date or if they prefer they can remain on the second sailing.

Carnival Cruises Elvis Presley cruise

The King is alive and kicking!

Well he will be onboard Carnival Fantasy which will be hosting a special Elvis Presley cruise this summer. This will be Carnival Cruises second themed cruise dedicated to the blue suede shoes musical achievements of Elvis.

The four day Elvis Cruise is scheduled to cruise from New Orleans, visiting Cozumel in Mexico on 28 August 2008. The entertainment onboard Carnival Fantasy will include the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist contest, along with live shows from artists who have performed with Elvis. Some of the other activities planned include autograph sessions with musicians, an Elvis Cruise T-shirt party and Elvis-themed bingo.

The Carnival Fantasy, one of Carnival Cruises “Fun Ships” has an amazing array of onboard activities to make your cruise one you won’t forget in awhile. These include music and dancing in the Piano Bar, Lounge, dance club, a casino, art auctions, golf lessons, bingo, late night comedy shows – the list goes on. Or you may enjoy revitalising mind, body and soul in the Spa Carnival.

Murder Mystery Carnival Cruises

If you are someone who enjoys trying to guess who killed the victim in any of televisions latest detective programmes, then you will certainly enjoy the chance to take part in Carnival Cruises latest venture. A series of ‘Whodunit Cruises’ have been organised in conjunction with Whodunit Productions, the leading organiser of mystery cruises at sea. ‘Whodunit Cruises’ are to be onboard the 2,052 passenger “Fun Ship” Carnival Paradise on a selection of dates this year and 2009 sailing from Long Beach, California.

“Whodunit Cruises” on board Carnival Paradise will include a variety of puzzling activities set to take place throughout the public rooms and areas aboard the 70,000 ton ship, the objective being to solve the mystery by the end of the voyage. Guests participating will be given their own role to play upon embarkation and will be encouraged to use their characters personality traits to find out “Whodunit”.

Guests will also interact with professional actors hired specifically to enhance the atmosphere of suspense and intrigue. There will be a variety of secret clues, maybe a note slipped discreetly under a stateroom door with elusive instructions for a top secret meeting throughout the cruise. “Whodunit Cruise” participants will also enjoy a Super Sleuth cocktail party at the end of the cruise to announce the winner.

Celebrity Cruises Top 10 dining aboard Celebrity Solstice

This December Celebrity Cruises launches their new ship Celebrity Solstice. Onboard this ship is expected to be 10 of the hottest new restaurants you are likely to ever find in one location. Celebrity Cruises have partnered with some of the world’s best designers in the hospitality business to create the new restaurants on board Celebrity Solstice. Among them was Adam Tihany who has created such famous restaurants as Montes, Mandarin Bar at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London, Per Se, Jean Georges, Le Cirque in New York and Aureole, Bouchon and Seablue in Las Vegas.

Celebrity Solstice features a dramatic two-level dining room to be named the Grand Epernay, a classic steakhouse Tuscan Grill and the casual yet stylish Oceanview Café and Grill on the lido deck. Celebrity’s Vice President of Food & Beverage Jacuqes Van Staden, Celebrity’s consultant Blau & Associates, together with Celebrity’s highly experienced Food and Beverage team are busy creating menus for each restaurant. Based on thorough studies of guest’s culinary preferences and the latest dining trends around the world the menus are sure to fantastic. The team will take their creations into test kitchens later this month to ensure each meets the standards of culinary excellence required for Celebrity’s guests.

The Grand Epernay is set to be an epitome of old Hollywood glamour meeting with stunning contemporary design, with a breathtaking two-storey glass wine tower. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, serving such mouth watering courses such as peppered bison fillet with red onion preserve and smoked fillet with lentil stew, sultana caper and beef jus.

The Tuscan Grill is traditional old world charm of Italy, entering through an archway it will give guests the impression of a fine Napa Valley wine cellar. There guest can enjoy Caesar salads prepared table side, antipasti bar, Kobe beef and a selection of steaks. Pair this with one of their full flavoured Italian wines and guests will feel they are truly enjoying a taste of the Riviera.
Silk Harvest is a contemporary, exotic Asian themed restaurant with a casual atmosphere. The menu will be a fusion of hot and cold, spicy and mild Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese and Indian selections. All served with Asian-influenced Martinis and beers, cocktails with ginger root and acai berries.

This is just a taste of some of the culinary delights that can be found on Celebrity Cruises new Celebrity Solstice ship, for more information about cruising on this amazing new ship contact Jetline Cruises.

Cunard Order New Queen

Cunard Cruises are well known for their comfort, style and tradition of elegance and grandeur. This is gracefully blended with every conceivable modern luxury you have to come to expect from modern day liners.

A new ship has been commissioned to be built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. The 92,000 ton liner is to be named ‘Queen Elizabeth’, quite fitting with Queen Elizabeth 2 currently on her farewell season this year. The cost of building the new Queen Elizabeth is estimated to be in the region of $500 million and will be the second largest Cunard ship ever built after the Queen Mary 2.

The new ship will be typically Cunard styled, with her black hull, gleaming white superstructure and distinctive red funnel and will ultimately echo the classic features of the company’s individual liner heritage. The new 2092 passenger liner is scheduled to enter service in the autumn of 2010.

MSC Fleet Expansion

MSC Cruises continued fleet expansion ensures they will have one of the world’s most modern fleets with a total of 12 ships by 2010. The construction of four new ships progress at a rapid pace at Akers Yard in St. Nazair, France.

Technical float outs have recently been completed for the MSC Splendida and MSC Magnifica. This encompasses a complex technical transfer to new basins where the construction of the ships will continue. The basins were filled with water and then the ships were transferred by a system of cables to their final position.

MSC Splendida will be the sister ship to MSC Fantasia, which is due to launch in December this year. The new ships will be the largest ever built by a European ship owner and each will weigh 133,500 tonnes, offering a new concept for cruising with a reserved VIP area and a 24 hour butler service. MSC Splendida will be delivered in June 2009.

The fourth ship in the Musica class is the MSC Magnifica which will be the twelfth vessel in the MSC Cruises fleet. Built in the same style as the other three ships in this class, she will have 1,275 cabins, 80% will be external cabins and 65% of these will have a balcony, plus 22,000 square metres of public space. MSC Magnifica will be joining the fleet in 2010.

MSC Poesia is one of the two further ships which are currently under constructed at St. Nazaire, France. The third ship in the Musica class will be delivered on 2 April 2008 and is to have a spectacular pier-side christening event in Dover on 5 April 2008. To celebrate the launch MSC have launched a special ‘Christening Countdown’ promotion which offers a free one category upgrade if booked before the christening.

Also under construction is MSC Fantasia, the first of the large ships to be delivered, boasting a new VIP area – the “MSC Yacht Club”. She will be delivered and then christened at an impressive ceremony in Naples on 18th December 2008.

Princess Cruises announce 2009 Alaska Cruise Schedules

In 2009 Alaska will celebrate it’s 50^th Anniversary of statehood. Princess Cruises are celebrating this with a total of 130 Alaska sailings with cruise itineraries to the best the state has to offer, including the truly breathtaking Denali National Park and Glacier Bay National Park.

Throughout the May to September Season Diamond Princess, Sapphire Princess, Coral Princess and Island Princess will be travelling on Princess Cruises signature Gulf of Alaska sailings. Golden Princess, Star Princess and Sea Princess will be sailing the Inside Passage routes from Seattle and San Francisco, while Pacific Princess takes the lines small ship experience on a 14 day Connoisseur voyage to some of the state’s less visited ports.

Princess Cruises own wilderness lodges will be featured, with Direct to the Wilderness rail travel combined with sailings through the state’s dramatic glacier rimmed Gulf Coast. All cruises will include at least two nights stay in the Denali area. Denali National Park encompasses six million acres and is home to Mt. McKinley, North America’s highest peak soaring an unbelievable 20,320 feet into the sky. The park hosts an array of wildlife - from moose, caribou, Dall sheep and grizzly bears to gray wolves and red foxes. Located only one mile from the Park's entrance, Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge is the premium riverside accommodation in the area.

Princess will also be taking more passengers then any other line to the wonders of Glacier Bay. The marine wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve includes tidewater glaciers, snow-capped mountain ranges, ocean coastlines, deep fjords, and freshwater rivers and lakes. This diverse land and seascape hosts a mosaic of plant communities and a variety of marine and terrestrial wildlife and presents many opportunities for adventuring and learning about this unique and powerful place.

Search for a British Godmother for Independence of the Seas

Royal Caribbean has launched a nationwide search for a British Godmother to reign over their newest and largest ship, Independence of the Seas, when she launches in Southampton in April.

The role of Godmother is typically reserved for dignitaries or celebrities. Past Royal Caribbean Godmothers have included Her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway, Lauren Bacall, Whoopi Goldberg, Gloria Estefan, Steffi Graff and champion wheelchair marathoner Jean Driscoll. Unusually Royal Caribbean is looking for an ordinary British woman who has done extra-ordinary things to become Godmother to the brand new Independence of the Seas. The person who is chosen to become Godmother would have demonstrated how she has gone above and beyond the call of duty to improve the well-being and future of young people under 18 years old in her community.

Sir Steve Redgrave, Five time Olympic gold medalist, will front the cruise line’s search for Independence of the Seas Godmother. The search has begun working with ITV, the UK’s biggest commercial television station. Sir Steve Redgrave has commented that he is honoured to have been given this role and is pleased at the increase in awareness this will create for all the fantastic work with young people that is done by hundreds of individuals around the country.

Independence of the Seas will launch in Southampton April 2008 weighing in at 160,000 GRT, with a capacity of 3,634 guests. The third in Royal Caribbean International's Freedom-class of ships, Independence of the Seas features a FlowRider surf simulator; an ice-skating rink, an interactive H20 Zone water park for families; cantilevered whirlpools suspended 112 ft. above the ocean; a rock-climbing wall; and the Royal Promenade - an entertainment boulevard stretching across the length of the ship.

Historic meeting of Cunard Queens

Tuesday 22 April 2008 will go down in British maritime history as the last time three queens will meet in Southampton.

Cunards three queens will meet in their hometown port of Southampton in another historic first for the company. Queen Mary 2, the largest ocean liner in the world and Queen Victoria, the newest Cunard queen currently on her maiden season, will salute Queen Elizabeth 2 as she celebrates the 39^th anniversary of her official entry into services in 1969.

QE2 is the most famous and beloved ship in the world. She is currently on her farewell season, but will always be one of the undisputed legends of the sea.

Just after 1700 hours Queen Mary 2 will leave her berth at the Queen Elizabeth II terminal and sail up river to get as close as possible to Queen Victoria and QE2.

Cunard have advised that those who wish to see the three Queens should use vantage points such as Mayflower Park and Town Quay car park located at the end of the pier.

All three ships will sound their whistles in salute before Queen Mary 2 departs for her first transatlantic crossing and Queen Victoria embarks on her first voyage to Iberia and the Canaries.

Royal Caribbean Cruises

Royal Caribbean is an award winning cruise fleet, with 21 magnificent ships and a choice of over 250 exciting destinations. They are one of the worlds youngest and most innovative cruise fleets, with ships having amazing onboard experiences such as rock-climbing, ice-skating rinks and Flowrider, a spectacular onboard surf park to name but a few.

They offer a huge selection of cruises covering most parts of the world and a choice of 5 ship classes - Freedom, Voyager, Radiance, Vision and Sovereign. Each class provides a uniquely different type of cruise experience, so whatever type of person you are you can be sure that Royal Caribbean have the cruise for you.

Accommodation is divided into four main types of staterooms and suites - interior, ocean view, balcony and suite. Every one of the staterooms is designed to be a comfortable and relaxing place to rest after your adventures.

Royal Caribbean also offer amazing shore excursions which can either be pre-booked before your cruise so as not to miss out or onboard with the 'Exploration' team of staff who will be happy to help you. Excursions could include white water rafting in Costa Rica, 'vine swinging' through rain forests in Jamaica, cave kayaking in San Diego, a 4x4 adventure in Madeira - the list is endless.

There are some incredible innovations that you will find onboard Royal Caribbean cruises that set them apart from other cruise lines. They ensure an absolutely fun packed cruise that's for sure. You could check out the full size sports court with a game of basketball or volleyball, shows of your moves on the ice-skating rink, work up a sweat on the in-line skating track or practice your swing on the 9-hole miniature golf course.

There is so much to do your only worry should be how you are going to fit everything in before the end of your cruise!

Adventure Cruises

Cruising needn’t be a sedate way of seeing the world – an adventure cruise could take you anywhere from the Amazon to the Antartic.

If you are one of those people who still think a holiday at sea is just a pastime for the over-the-hillers with plenty of money, then think again. Adventure lovers can have fun in Alaska, discover there is more to the Persian Gulf than Dubai and visit the Viet Cong tunnels in Vietnam. You can cruise to little-known places such as Trabzon and Batumi in Turkey and Georgia in the Black Sea, Benghazi and Al Khums in Libya and Mangalore or Trivandrum on India’s west coast.

Cruising is an excellent way to get to know remote places in a short space of time. You can get right of the beaten track to remote places such as Antartica, the Arctic and Galapagos. This is not for the faint hearted though as there are no ports at the destinations, definitely meaning no coach loads of tourists, so the only way on and off your ship is by an inflatable boat.

Cruise lines such as Silver sea are investing massively in the exploration side of cruising. Expedition ships are generally smaller but this is because they are able to get into and out of remote ports. But if you book for the places you will see rather than the facilities aboard the ship you will not be disappointed. Having said that, Silversea’s newest addition the Prince Albert II will be the epitome of luxury, you can enjoy the thrill of true expedition whilst also enjoying the privileged lifestyle that is part and parcel of cruising.

Jetline are the cruise holiday specialists. We have all the best advice and superb cruise deals to make your cruise holiday an adventure you will never forget.

Cruising with the family

If you still think cruises are for the very rich or the very old then think again. Cruising is one of the fastest growing and fastest changing areas of the travel industry. One of the most major changes at sea has been the increasing popularity of family cruising. To be honest it’s not difficult to see why when you take a look at some of the state of the art and incredibly innovative super-liners around.

A cruise is a perfect holiday for a family. Unlike self catering holidays no one has to prepare food, cook or clean up and if you decide to go for a no-fly cruise then there is no struggling through airports weighed down with luggage and pushchairs. Plus you only have to unpack once but with an amazing array of shore excursions you can visit as many or as little exciting ports of call as you like.

Onboard family friendly cruise ships there is a wide range of activities for children. Some ships have highly imaginative programmes of activities, including specially formulated children’s shore excursions. Some of the new cruise ships have waterpark areas, rock climbing walls, ice skating rinks, mini golf, roller blading...

Nowadays cruises are styled around the needs of a modern family; some provide discounted child fares and real value for money. Jetline can provide all the best advice relating to your cruise and can point you in the right direction depending on your family requirements.

Family holidays will never be the same again after you have discovered the joys of cruising.

Calling all you cruise virgins!

Cruising is the fastest growing sector of the holiday industry with more than a million people in the United Kingdom taking a cruise each year.

However lots of people take their first cruise in trepidation with lots of misgivings only to discover they are not true. Most people then get the cruise bug and begin a lifetime of exciting cruise adventures.

So what is the best advise for those of you considering a cruise but still a little unsure? Well making the transition from being a non-cruiser to a cruiser is something of a leap of faith. Unlike the traditional land based holiday where you stay in hotels or resorts and can go and try different restaurants or bars, on a cruise ship you are committed to life on board until you disembark.

This is really not true. Today’s cruise ships are being built bigger and bigger – typically the length of four football pitches and twice the size of the Titantic. There is so much to see and do that quite often people disembark at the end of their holiday without having seen the whole ship.

The other misconception that most cruise virgins have is that a cruise is too expensive and out of their price range. This is simply not true with Jetline Cruises; we have been at the leading edge of the cruise industry for many years. After taking a brief look through our special offers you will soon find that cruises are totally affordable, with a 9 night Caribbean cruise costing anything from £699pp.

There are cruises to suit all type of people. Some are formal, others casual. Some are targeted at families and young couples, offering lots of activities and kid’s clubs. You can be sure that whatever type of cruise you are looking for we can point you in the right direction.

One of the most popular ways for first-timers to get a taste of cruising is to embark on a mini cruise. You get a couple of nights on board which is ample time to taste the delights of cruising. Most mini-cruise first timers are soon booking their full length holidays at sea!

So go on…take a leap of faith and book your cruise today. We promise you will soon be hooked!!

P&O Cruises to launch new children's clubs

Noddy and Mr Bump are to take to the seas this summer with P&O Cruises. Noddy will be joining two to four year olds and the one and only Mr Bump will be entertaining the four to seven year olds. The two characters are from the timeless classic children’s show The Mr Men Show which will be returning to Channel 5 this month.

P&O Cruises already have very popular on board children’s clubs. The children’s clubs on the family friendly ships such as the Aurora, Oceana and Ventura are being given a refresh with a unified brand to be used across all of P&O ships. This base will be known as ‘The Reef’, with the central theme based around the ocean for all children and teenagers for the duration of their P&O cruise holidays.

The 2 to 4 year olds will be able to participate in exciting fun and games and will be known as ‘Splashers’, 5 to 8 year olds will be having fun as ‘Scubas’, 9 to 12 years will be playing around as ‘Surfers’ and cool 13 to 17 year olds will be able to enjoy their independence being part of H2O.
Mr Bump and Noddy will be on board playing games and joining families for breakfast.

P&O Cruises are keen to make sure that younger passengers are able to make the most of all the clubs have to offer and believe that having their own dedicated group names will enhance this. It will be encouraged by the fact that children will continue to see the familiar faces of Mr Bump and Noddy throughout their cruise holiday.

Children and teenagers are sure to be enjoying the experiences of the new clubs aboard Ventura on her maiden cruise this month and the new personas will be on all P&O Cruise family friendly ships from July.

Silversea Cruises Named Number One Luxury Cruise Line

Silversea Cruises has been named number one overall luxury cruise liner by consumers in the 2008 Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI) survey, topping 19 other well known cruise companies.

The survey was carried out by independent New York based Luxury Institute who have reported that consumers would recommend Silversea as it is “by far the best in cuisine, service and luxury” and they have commented on the “classy personalised experiences”.

Silversea Cruises create exceptional ocean journeys with unique opportunities to explore remote ports of call from an intimate haven of incomparable luxury, each voyage is a unique masterpiece. Silversea are currently expanding the fleet to include it’s first luxury expedition ship. The Prince Albert II is scheduled to join the fleet in June 2008. Also under construction is Silver Spirit, a 540 guest all-suite liner due to join the fleet in December 2009.

QE2 Farewell Voyage Staterooms Still Available

Cunard’s Queens Elizabeth 2 is a legendary liner and all were sad to hear the news last year of her retirement. The QE2 is an iconic favourite, an undisputed legend of the seas with a history that spans forty years.

There were many people who watched her set sail from Clyde almost 40 years ago who are now among her biggest fans. She’s been a troop carrier, hostess to royalty and witness to history. Nelson Mandela famously described sailing on her as an unforgettable honour and pleasure.

Many of the final sailings sold out immediately but Cunard have now confirmed that there are still a few sailings available for those who wish to sail on the legendary ship for the final time.

All of the QE2 final voyages in her ‘Farewell Celebration Season’ depart from and return to Southampton which means no flying. The voyages with space on include 8 nights Iberia in Bloom, 16 nights Mediterranean Adventure, 13 nights Land of the Midnight Sun and 20 night voyage Autumn Colours.

Major Refurbishments Planned for Silversea

Silversea Cruises have just announced that they will be carrying out major dry-dock refurbishments on the Silver Cloud and Silver Wind. These 296 guest capacity ships are to be refurbished to make the interiors equivalent to that of the Silver Spirit. The 540 guest Silver Spirit is the newest ship in the Silversea Cruises fleet and is scheduled for delivery in December 2009.

Upgrades will include new bathrooms, carpets, flat screen televisions and balconies are also going to be revamped. It is believed that all of the public spaces and corridors will receive substantial enhancements with new furnishings and carpets.

The Silver Cloud and Silver Wind will also be receiving new ocean view spas and fitness centers, a new observation lounge, eight new large suites and a new guest elevator. Silver Wind’s month long refurbishment will take place this November and Silver Cloud’s in May 2009.

Silversea’s president has said these projects indicate the firms commitment to making sure Silversea is at the forefront of ultra-luxury cruising.

Crystal Cruises 2008 Ultimate Vintage Room Dinner

Crystal Cruises are looking to cater for the discerning palate this spring. They will be featuring some of the world’s rarest and most prominent wines in two 2008 Ultimate Vintage Room Dinners.

The Spring dinners will be for only 12 guests and feature culinary specialities from Piero Selvaggio of the famous Valentino restaurants. There will be 13 vintages from the chef’s private collection, including a “Super Tuscan” 1997 Sassicaia, a Piedmontese 1964 Barolo Riserva Granbussia Aldo Conterno and Tenuta San Guido.

The Ultimate Vintage Room Dinners were introduced in mid 2007 and sold out in a matter of hours. They have been a huge success and guests are able to share in Piero Selvaggio’s private world of the finest wine in the world from his personal selections, added with his incredible expertise.

The amazingly lavish dinner will be held aboard Crystal Symphony’s March 30^th voyage from Beijing to Hong Kong. The second of the incredibly exclusive dinners is scheduled aboard Crystal Serenity later this year. Ultimate Vintage Room Dinner reservations must be made on board with the Crystal Dining Room maitre d'.

Cruisers call for a no smoking ban

A recent TravelMole online poll has found that 68% of 5,500 people would like to be able to sail aboard a cruise liner in a completely smoke free environment.

The survey showed that cruisers are concerned for the welfare of cruise ship staff. It was interesting to find that 74% of cruisers that took part in the survey would like smoking to be banned in bars in order to preserve the health of the workers there.

Sukie Rapal is Head of Marketing at the website which conducted the survey, she says that the research shows the apparent need for consistent smoking policies across all cruise operators so that confusion amongst passengers can be reduced.

Couples to tie the knot at sea

Couples can now get married at sea by ship Captains onboard Celebrity cruises. These ceremonies have been launched to run alongside existing vow renewal and in-port wedding services.

Celebrity Cruises can now offer the option for Captains to perform legal marriages at sea following the recent re-registration of seven of its eight ships in Malta where government regulations have changed to allow this. Celebrity is in partnership with The Wedding Experience and guests married at sea will be offered a variety of packages. These packages include private receptions in the ship’s speciality restaurant to cake and champagne.

It is believed to be especially lovely for guests to either get married or renew their vows in the breathtaking scenery of Alaska, amidst the hanging glaciers of the Girdwood Valley. The ceremonies can take place from June to September as part of a Celebrity cruisetour.

How wonderful to be able to sail off into the sunset on your honeymoon aboard a Celebrity cruise ship, with the Captain the person that has married you!

JTA 'AGENT OF THE MONTH' - FEBRUARY 2008

There are so many of you that deserve this award for all of your hard work and effort, however as always there can only be two winners. This month's deserved winners are:

England & Wales - Jetline Cruise. This is due to their fantastic all round team performance and excellent support towards JTA.

Scotland & Northern Ireland - Ramsay Lochee, for their tremendous support towards JTA.

Congratulations to both agencies and thank you to everyone for supporting JTA!