From solo piano performances to trios, quartets and full seven-piece bands, the many sounds and styles of jazz will take center stage aboard the award-winning Crystal Symphony's December Jazz theme cruise. As the ship embarks from Miami on this seven-day voyage through the Caribbean, the entertainment lineup features noted jazz performers and five times its usual complement of musicians. Also on board will be noted jazz historian, professor, author and Grammy Award-nominated producer Dr. Robert G. O'Meally.

From December 1 - 8, 2007, Crystal Symphony will call upon Key West, Florida; Puerto Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; and Belize City, Belize. Nightly jazz performances will occur throughout the ship, including intimate venues such as the Avenue Saloon that especially lend themselves to the sultry moods and sounds of jazz. A gala jazz brunch will also offer guests an inviting musical backdrop for creative cuisine, conviviality and conversation.

"Whether you are a jazz enthusiast or an appreciative listener interested in learning more about this ever-evolving American musical tradition, Crystal's roster of inspired musicians and noted experts has designed a thoroughly entertaining and enlightening immersion into the music, history and culture of jazz," says Bret Bullock, Crystal Cruises' vice president of entertainment.

A veteran in orchestrating Jazz tours and cruises worldwide, Jazzdagen Tours has partnered with Crystal Cruises to bring some 25 musicians on board. Joining the cruise is pianist John Bunch, a frequent performer at Carnegie Hall and conductor of the bands of Duke Ellington, Woody Herman, Count Basie, and Buddy Rich. He has also conducted the London Philharmonic and L.A. Philharmonic. On vibes and piano is John Cocuzzi, a regular performer at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Lincoln Center in New York. They will be joined on trumpet by Warren Vache, Jr., who is a charter member of the faculty of the Juilliard Jazz Program and has recorded and performed with jazz legends Benny Goodman, Rosemary Clooney and Benny Carter, among others.

Dr. Robert G. O'Meally is the Zora Neale Hurston Professor of Literature and Director of the Center for Jazz Studies at Columbia University, as well as the author of many books, including Lady Day: The Many Faces of Billie Holiday, The Jazz Cadence of American Culture, and Uptown Conversation: The New Jazz Studies. An expert on jazz music and culture, he scripted the documentary film Duke Ellington: Beyond Category for the Smithsonian and was nominated for a Grammy as co-producer of the five-CD box set The Jazz Singers. Starting fares for this cruise begin at $1,645 per person, double occupancy depending on stateroom selected.

The Crystal Difference

Aboard Crystal Symphony, refined elegance meets casual simplicity. With an emphasis on innovative product differentiation, the renowned Crystal experience is distinguished by classic service, abundant space, extensive choices and quality, providing worldwide vacations that bridge the best of land and sea.

Crystal Cruises enjoys an unparalleled reputation for excellence, anchored in 11 consecutive years of "World's Best Large-Ship Cruise Line" awards by the readers of Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler magazines -- the only cruise line, resort or hotel to have achieved such distinction.

For additional information, please contact a travel agent or call 888-799-4625. Visit the luxury line's website at crystalcruises.com.

Source: Crystal Cruises / PRNewswire

Glide Along The Majestic Rivers of Europe, China, Russia & Ukraine, for $1000 off per cabin on any 2008 Viking River Cruises that are booked and paid for by July 31, 2007!

"Picture yourself gliding along the legendary rivers of some of the world's most fascinating countries, exploring the same waterways adventurers did centuries ago. Maybe one minute you're wandering the cobblestone streets of ancient Rüdesheim, chatting with the villagers about the local wines, and the next you're enjoying a concert in cosmopolitan Vienna. As with travelers of bygone days, you'll discover romantic villages along the Danube, mysterious pagodas clinging to the cliffs of the Yangtze, or the majestic onion-domed churches of imperial Russia."

As the world leader in river cruising and recipients of multiple awards from Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best and Condé Nast Traveler’s "Gold List", you can expect an experience unparalleled by any other. It is a chance to enjoy varied itineraries that takes you right into the heart of many of the country's small villages and immerse yourself in local cultures and traditions.

"You’ll be surrounded by ever-changing scenery right in the heart of your destination. And our intimate ships (averaging just 150 guests) often dock right in the town center—allowing you to walk off your ship into the heart of your destination."

To take advantage of this cruise sale, call your travel agent or Viking River Cruises directly at 1 (877) 66VIKING.

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If you are planning a meeting for your company or your association or a big family reunion, should you consider chartering a ship?

It is a growing trend, and gives the group a meeting to remember.

What kinds of groups charter ships?

Companies and associations of all sizes, says Shirley Linde, editor of www.SmallShipCruises.com, the popular website about small ships. "Companies charter ships for meetings at sea, while clubs and associations usually charter for locations. Birders might charter to go up the Amazon, a wine club might charter a river boat for a week to visit vineyards in France."

Linde says that SmallShipCruises.com is also getting more and more requests to charter ships for housing at special events such as the Cannes Film Festival, Monaco Grand Prix, or Mardi Gras. Many families are booking charters for wedding, birthday or anniversary celebrations. Non-profit organizations are booking charters for fund-raising.

"Whatever the purpose, you can tailor programs for any interest, combining retreats and meetings with wine seminars, golf excursions, scuba diving, or other special interests." In the U.S. most popular charters are to see wildlife in Alaska, to meander on the Mississippi on a paddlewheeler, do wine cruises along the California coast, cruise the Great Lakes, or cruise along the East Coast between Maine and Florida. The Caribbean, Greek Islands and barges in Europe are the other top charter destinations. Is chartering a boat right for you? Advantages: When you charter the ship, you have complete control over activities, and usually can choose port stops. The boat is yours, without any other passengers. You have no distractions, just bonding with group companions, being inspired by the sea, and being able to think with a clear head. You get out of a sterile hotel atmosphere onto the deck of a ship.

Disadvantages: Even though you may not fill the ship to its full capacity, the price will be based on the entire capacity of the vessel.

Tips: Try to charter a ship that already will be in the area that you want and has an itinerary that you like. Otherwise there may be additional delivery or port charges. Charters require a substantial deposit up front so be certain of your intent before you sign a contract. Make arrangements as early as possible, preferably a year or more ahead.

About the Author
Shirley Linde is editor of the popular website SmallShipCruises.com, author of three cruise guides and award-winning medical books. She lives in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Thank goodness for the internet, or we would still be picking up the phone and calling agency to agency looking for the best cruise rates. Don't you think it is just much more easier to log in to your computer and visit your favourite cruise booking agents such as Travelocity or Expedia to see which cruise vacation is perfect for your budget? Or even just search through Google to see what is hot and new in the world of cruising. I just love this idea of "convenience at your fingertips".

Another way to find out which cruise line has the hottest cruise deals is to get it straight from the horse's mouth - the cruiselines themselves! Almost all cruise lines will give you an option to subscribe to their hot deals newsletter. This is a nicely added convenience because you can get up-to-the-minute cruise specials like 2 for 1 cruise sales delivered directly to your email as they become available. The only catch is, you might have to navigate each site to find the form that will let you subscribe, and sometimes depending on the cruise line, you might have to dig around through a lot of pages before you'll find it.

I find that a little bit strange actually, so I have decided to put together a list that you can go to directly to sign up to receive email specials from your favourite cruiseline. Just a quick note, some might ask you to register before you can start receiving the newsletter. Feel free to bookmark this list and share it with your friends!

Carnival Cruise Lines
Celebrity Cruise Lines
Costa Cruise Lines
Crystal Cruises
Cunard Line Ltd
Discovery World Cruises
Disney Cruise Line
Holland America Line
Norwegian Cruise Line
Oceania Cruises
Orient Cruise Lines
Princess Cruises
Regent Seven Seas
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
Seabourn Cruise Line
Silversea Cruises
Star Clippers
Viking River Cruises
Windjammer Barefoot Cruises
Windstar Cruises

And last but not the least, don't forget to grab our newsletter because not only do we have fantastic cruise deals come our way, we also have specials on everything else related to cruising like cheap air, hotel and independent shore excursion rates.

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As the cliché goes, if you fail to plan, your plan to fail. There is little worse for one's morale than a holiday going wrong. In the event of a holiday mishap, it is important not to panic and to act responsibly and effectively to make the best of a bad situation. This guide details some of the most common holiday mishap and provides advice on the appropriate actions for preventing a holiday mishap becoming a nightmare.

Make copies of your insurance documentation and keep them separate from the originals. Carry a copy of your insurance documentation on you at all times, including the Emergency Assistance phone number and your policy number.

If you are in any doubt over what to do in an emergency situation abroad contact the Emergency Assistance number provided by your insurer - they are there to help you

Remember on most travel insurance polices there is a time limit for submitting your claim. This is usually around 28 days after your return from holiday. The sooner you submit the documents the sooner your claim will be dealt with.

Accident or become ill abroad

If you need medical treatment as an out-patient

1. Seek medical attention 2. If your treatment is likely to cost more than approx. £200 you must contact the Emergency Assistance number provided by your insurance provider. 3. Pay for the treatment and retain receipts 4. On your return home contact your insurance provider for a claims form to claim back your medical costs. 5. If you are in any doubt contact the Emergency Assistance number provided by your insurer - they are there to help you.

If you require medical treatment as an In-patient at a hospital

1. Seek Medical Attention 2. Give the hospital details of your insurance cover (some hospitals won't treat you if you cannot show that you are insured). 3. The hospital should contact your insurance provider for payment of bills. 4. On your return home contact your insurance provider for a claims form, you may be able to claim hospital benefit.

In the eventuality that a close relative is taken and you urgently need to return home.

1. Contact the Emergency Assistance Service provided by your insurer 2. The Emergency Assistance Company will have many local contacts and will be able to arrange transport home on your behalf. 3. If you arrange the transport yourself with out contacting them you may not be able to claim your costs back.

*you will need to check the definition of close relative in your policy wording.

If a you or a member of your party is ill and you need to return home.

1. You will need to obtain a medical certificate to state that it is medically necessary for you to return home. 2. Contact the Emergency Assistance Service provided by your insurer 3. The Emergency Assistance Company will have many local contacts and will be able to arrange transport home on your behalf. 4. If you arrange the transport yourself with out contacting them you may not be able to claim your costs back.

If you are the victim of a robbery e.g. Pickpocket

1. You must get a report from the local police within 24 hours 2. Always keep the receipts from withdrawals of replacement cash or replacement items. Your insurance company may require these of evidence that you needed to get replacement cash or items. 3. It can often help if you are able to provide the original receipts or cash withdrawal slip for lost items when making a claim. 4. If you have had your wallet stolen, remember to contact your bank or credit card provider to cancel all your cards. 5. On your return home contact your insurance provider for a claims form.

If your luggage is lost on outbound journey from the UK

1. Notify the airline 2. Obtain a Property Irregularity Report from the airline 3. Retain your flight tickets and baggage receipts 4. Check the terms of your travel insurance - you may be covered for essential emergency purchases. You will need to keep the receipts for these purchases. You should also check if there is a limit on cover e.g. £50 per day. 5. If the airline finds your bag and returns it to you - you should contact your insurance provider for a claims form on your return and submit a claim under the delayed baggage section. 6. If your bag is not found - you should notify your insurance provider straight away on your return from holiday. 7. You will also need to obtain a letter from the airline confirming that your bag is irretrievably lost - you may need to wait 21 days for the airline to declare your bag as lost. 8. Once this have been dealt with, your will be able to make a claim for your bags contents.

If your luggage is lost on your inbound journey to the UK

1. Notify the airline 2. Obtain a Property Irregularity Report 3. Retain your flight tickets and baggage receipts 4. Ensure that your contact and inform your policy provide as soon as possible upon your return. 5. You will need to obtain a letter from the airline confirming that your bag is irretrievably lost - you may need to wait 21 days for the airline to declare your bag as lost. 6. Once this have been dealt with, your will be able to make a claim for your bags contents.

If you are delayed for more than 12 hours

1. If you are delayed for more than 12 hours you may be able to claim a fixed benefit - check your policy wording for details. 2. This is in addition to any compensation that the airline provides. 3. You will need to obtain a letter from the airline stating the scheduled departure date and time as well as the actual departure date and time, as well as the reason for the delay. 4. Contact your insurance provider for a claims form on your return from holiday.

If you are delayed for more than 24 hours on your outbound journey

1. If you are delayed for more than 24 hours you can choose to abandon the holiday and claim back the full cost - check your policy wording for details. 2. You will need to obtain a letter from the airline stating the scheduled departure date and time as well as the actual departure date and time, as well as the reason for the delay and the time of the next available flight. 3. Ensure that you call your insurer immediately.

About the Author - by Katie Brown
Go Travel Insurance has a policy to suit all types of holidays and travel, including Backpacker Insurance, ideal for students or anyone planning a long stay abroad. for more details.