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HOT CRUISE & TRAVEL DEALS - WEEK OF JUNE 4
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Crystal's Caribbean Jazz Cruise Serves Up Hot Brass and Cool Blues
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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
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Save $1000 Per Cabin On Any 2008 Viking River Cruises
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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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Ships Are The New Hotels - Is A Ship Charter Right For Your Group?
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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.
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