Ventura’s Final Production Show ‘Masquerade’ by Andrew Lloyd Webber

P&O Cruises brand new ship Ventura now has only 15 days to go until her maiden voyage.

Ventura’s final production show has now been confirmed as ‘Masquerade’ the music Andrew Lloyd Webber. The show will be presented by Jean Ann Ryan in association with Musical Associates (UK) Ltd by arrangement with The Really Useful Group Limited.

Masquerade will be a concert of the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber including hits from his highly successful musicals, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats, Starlight Express, Phantom of the Opera, Whistle down the Wind and Aspects of Love.

There are Junior Mini Suites still available on a number of sailings.

In Ventura’s Junior Mini-Suites passengers will discover a chilled bottle of champagne on arrival, a box of handmade truffles, a fresh flower arrangement as well as a fruit basket which will be delivered during their cruise. Passengers will also have wi-fi, their very own high-powered binoculars and world atlas. In the bathroom passengers will be treated to a luxury pamper pack and super soft bathrobes and slippers.

Ventura's Junior Mini-Suites with balcony have the following facilities:

* Bathroom with full size bath, sink vanity unit, WC and separate shower
* Two lower beds convertible to a king size bed
* Wardrobes and drawer space
* Lounge, sofa, chairs and table
* Vanity/writing desk
* 2 x 20 inch Flat panel TV
* Radio
* Safe, hairdryer and fridge
* Tea/coffee making facilities designed by Nick Munro
* Direct dial telephone
* Furnished balcony
* Magazines
* Umbrella
* Nightly turndown service
* Blacony Alfresco dining
* Canapes - 2 formal nights during cruise

Carnival Cruises new Eastern Caribbean cruise

Carnival Cruises has added a new 8-day eastern Caribbean cruise option from New York aboard the 2,124-passenger Carnival Miracle.

Carnival Miracle offers a host of on-board facilities and features: 16 lounges and bars, four swimming pools, an expansive 13,500-square-foot Spa Carnival facility, indoor and outdoor promenades, a wedding chapel, ship-wide Wi-Fi Internet access and cell phone service. Dining options include a two-level formal restaurant, a 1,200-seat casual poolside eatery with a 24-hour pizzeria, and an elegant reservations-only supper club. Three different youth programs – “Camp Carnival” for ages 2-11, “Circle C” for 12- to 14-year-olds, and “Club O2” for older teens – with facilities, activities and counselors specific to their age group are included.

Their new eastern Caribbean Cruise will feature port calls to Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos, the private island of Half Moon Cay, Nassau and The Bahamas. The new cruise route will be offered approximately once a month from May through September 2009 and will complement the ship’s existing eastern Caribbean cruise schedule from New York featuring stops at San Juan, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., Tortola and the British Virgin Islands.

Half Moon Cay offers a variety of exciting activities to choose from while exploring this privately owned paradise. Guests can enjoy horseback riding through the sand and surf, visit the Half Moon Lagoon Aqua Park, hike on the nature trail or simply relax in a private beachfront cabana.

One of the Caribbean’s newest ports, Grand Turk has quickly earned the reputation as a guest favorite. In addition to numerous historic attractions and palm tree-lined powdery beaches, Grand Turk is considered one of the world’s best spots for snorkeling and scuba diving. Cruises stop at the new Grand Turk Cruise Center, which features an 800-foot-long private beach, a swimming pool, and the Caribbean’s largest Margaritaville themed restaurant.

The Bahamian capital of Nassau is an idyllic place with stretches of white-sand beaches and warm, turquoise waters teeming with marine life. In addition to a multitude of water-based options, guests can spend the day shopping for duty-free gifts or take a carriage ride past the city’s historic pastel-colored buildings.

Carnival Miracle also offers hundreds of staterooms with private balconies – perfect for scenic Caribbean cruising. The ship also offers a variety of accommodation categories, all of which feature the Carnival Comfort Bed sleep system, with plush mattresses, luxurious duvets and high quality linens and pillows.

Princess Cruises exclusive ‘Opera Under the Stars’ Event

Princess Cruises will be the first cruise ship ever to broadcast a live performance from the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

In an industry first, the special The Met: Live on the High Seas presentation of Puccini’s La Boheme will be held on the 5^th of April. The special will be part of the Met’s series of eight opera performances that are transmitted live via satellite to movie theatres around the world.

Opera lovers and newcomers alike can enjoy Puccini’s famous love song on the giant poolside LED screens while sailing in locations such as Mexico, Caribbean, or Hawaii as well as exotic locations such as Cape Horn and Egypt.

This unique ‘Opera Under the Stars’ experience will be offered across Princess’s 16 ship fleet on vessels equipped with Movies Under the Stars. Other vessels will show the broadcast in the Princess Theatre.

La Boheme is Puccini’s most famous masterpiece and tells the story of a community of artists in Paris and is the opera that inspired Broadway’s hit musical RENT. Acclaimed soprano Angela Gheorghiu and tenor Ramón Vargas star as Mimi and Rodolfo in Italian director and designer Franco Zeffirelli's iconic production. Nicola Luisotti conducts.

Princess Cruises ‘Movies Under the Stars’ is no ordinary television. It has a 300 square foot screen with a 69,000 watt sound system and is well equipped with enough lighting power to be seen clearly day or night. It offers an amazing experience for guests to watch family films, concerts, sporting events and many other broadcast entertainments whilst floating in the pool, sunbathing, or by comfortable chaise lounges which can be reserved complimentary for evening viewings.

At evening viewings comfortable cushions and blankets are placed on the lounge chairs. Additionally, cocktail specials are available as well as free popcorn and other movie munchies. The unique screen shows up to seven movies or events daily, so you can be sure there is something for all the family to enjoy.

The Met: Live on the High Seas is one of many special events and features shown daily on Princess' giant Times Square-style ‘Movies Under the Stars’ LED screens. Movies Under the Stars is featured on Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess, Emerald Princess, Grand Princess and Sea Princess.

Regent Seven Seas 2009 Antartica Cruises

Regent Seven Seas will be offering two Antartica cruises onboard their top rated expedition cruise ship Minerva in 2009.

Minerva, formerly Explorer II, will be sailing the Falkland Islands, Drake Passage and Antarctic Peninsula. Guests will be accompanied by respected naturalists, geologists, zoologists, historians and ornithologists. The journey will be highlighted by complimentary Zodiac tours and enlightening shore excursions featuring abundant glacier and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Specifically designed for cruising through icy waters, Minerva is an exploration ship that can accommodate up to 300 guests. But in Antarctica she has been limited to a maximum of only 198 guests. Fewer guests mean more excursions each day and a higher crew-to-guest ratio (1 to 1.5). The ship is stylish, yet unpretentious. With her gleaming brass, polished wood and works of original art, she's often likened to a country house hotel, and she brings a rare touch of comfortable, informal refinement to Antarctica travel.

Explorer II will be re-named Minerva (after the fabled Roman goddess of poetry and wisdom, and inventor of music), following a summer 2008 dry-dock, during which the ship will receive new furnishings, carpeting and additional amenities. Minerva offers a degree of comfort unmatched in Antarctic cruising. A strong steel foundation, including an ice-strengthened hull, ensures safe navigation through these waters. Inside, Minerva offers all oceanview suites and staterooms, two open-seating restaurants, a full-service health club and a salon.

The two voyages will be setting sail on January 14 to 25 and January 25 to February 8, 2009, both voyages begin with visits to the Falkland Islands’ wildlife-rich shores and the quaint village of Port Stanley. Minerva then cruises to the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula (with opportunities for disembarkation and exploration as weather permits), followed by a transit of the Drake Passage. Before returning to Ushuaia, Argentina, Minerva will sail along Cape Horn, at the confluence of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The 14-night cruise on January 25 adds a call at South Georgia Island, featuring large colonies of king penguins, fur and elephant seals.

Both itineraries include a one-night, pre-cruise stay in Santiago, Chile; roundtrip charter flights from Santiago to Ushuaia; a city tour and Patagonian lunch on embarkation day in Ushuaia; and a complimentary backpack and parka. All Zodiac excursions are also included.

Celebrity Cruises 2009 Alaska Season

Guests on three Celebrity Cruises ships in 2009 will have the opportunity to see Hubbard Glacier, the reigning beauty spot in Alaska, where the breathtaking rugged splendor of the natural world meets the comfortable sophistication of a premium cruise. Hubbard Glacier is the only advancing glacier in Alaska and is one of the countless must see sights in the region. Celebrity’s 2009 season features much of Alaska’s coastal magnificence with unique cruise tours affording guests the opportunity to experience inland Alaska, the Canadian Rockies, Whistler and British Columbia.

Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Mercury, and Celebrity Millennium will sail Alaska in 2009, from a total of five ports. Celebrity Mercury is offering a 14 night Ultimate Alaska sailing, taking in five Alaska ports as well as Seattle, Washington and Victoria and British Columbia. Celebrity Millennium will sail the lines first 10 night round trip from Vancouver, visiting six Alaska ports and one Canadian port. Celebrity Millennium will cruise between Seward, Alaska and Vancouver, British Columbia, calling at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, and cruising the Inside Passage.

Combining a cruise with a multi-night, land-based journey enhances the Alaska experience. In 2009, Celebrity is increasing its cruise tour offerings.

There will be a total of 21 Alaska cruise tours available to guests sailing seven-night voyages on Celebrity Millennium out of Seward and Vancouver. In 2009, these offerings include a new seven-night post-cruise tour through Seward, Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali National Park and Fairbanks, Alaska.

Three Canadian cruise tour journeys (two Canadian Rockies and one Whistler) are available to guests sailing seven-night voyages on Celebrity Mercury out of Vancouver. A five-night Canadian Rockies package featuring rail travel on Rocky Mountaineers’ RedLeaf will visit Calgary, Banff and Vancouver. A three-night Whistler package features rail travel on Rocky Mountaineers’ Whistler Mountaineer Coast Classic and visits the 2010 Winter Olympics sites of Vancouver and Whistler.

Island Cruises Offers Singles Special

Cruises are notoriously expensive for guests traveling alone. Island Cruises have just made it cheaper for those people by reducing the single supplement by 50% on all Mediterranean cruises in April, May, June, October and November this year.

Island Cruises offers cruising with a relaxed dress code and dining as you want it along with luxurious surroundings and helpful and courteous staff. Travelling with Island Cruises gives you the chance to visit far out destinations such as the Mediterranean from its home port of Palma and Brazil to see Christ the Redemeer one of the world’s new 7 wonders. An Island cruise offers all this at an affordable price that is within even the most stringent of budgets.

Guests travelling along can enjoy themselves by doing as much or as little as they like. For those looking for a little company from fellow guests travelling alone there is a ‘Solos lunch’ held at the beginning of each cruise, offering the perfect opportunity to make acquaintances to enjoy throughout your cruise. Guests cold enjoy a lavish cocktail party by the pool, joining in with any number of the activities on offer or making the most of the extensive entertainment on board.

Win a Cruise on MSC Fantasia

MSC Fantasia is MSC Cruises brand new ship due to launch December 2008. To promote this MSC Cruises have launched an online competition with the chance of winning one of five cruises on MSC Fantasia.

MSC Fantasia is one of two ships due to join the fleet that will offer passengers a chance to enjoy the MSC Yacht Club. The Yacht Club includes a special VIP area with a restricted access and personal service. There are 99 spacious suites (from 193 to 700 square feet) and a butler for every five staterooms. The butler will assist guests at check-in, offer a 24-hour room service, pre-book excursions and transfers, choose wines, champagne and cigars, plus oversee an English high tea service. MSC Yacht Club will offer other special areas, including a bar, solarium, two hot tubs, a pool with a retractable sky dome, and an observation lounge with its own bar, concierge and panoramic views over the bow of the ship.

If you would like to be in with a chance of winning you will need to visit www.mscfantasia.com where you will meet the ‘Virtual Butler’. The butler will ask you questions which you need to answer correctly to receive entry into the fantastic prize draw for a 7 night cruise for two.

MSC Fantasia will be 133,500 gross tons, 1,092 feet long, 124 feet wide, and almost 196 feet tall – six times as tall as the Tower of Pisa, almost 30 feet taller than the Eiffel Tower, and as high as a 23-story building, a maximum speed of 23 knots, and propulsion of 40 Mega Watts, the equivalent of 120 Ferrari.