LESS THAN 2 WEEKS LEFT TO SAVE BIG WITH CRYSTAL’S BIRTHDAY BONUS

50% Future Savings Ends December 31

The deadline is fast approaching for guests to book their 2010 birthday Crystal cruise, and save 50% on a second cruise before their next birthday. In celebration of its 20th Anniversary in 2010, Crystal’s Birthday Bonus promotion presents guests who book a cruise for their 2010 birthday by December 31, 2009 with a certificate for 50% savings on another voyage before their 2011 birthday, even 2011 World Cruise segments.

Birthday guests in 2010 will also enjoy a special champagne breakfast and a Captain’s Quarters birthday party, in addition to the pampering Crystal experience.

“For many of our guests, a Crystal vacation is an ideal way to celebrate special occasions with friends and family. This offer makes the incentive to celebrate with us even sweeter, and adds tremendous value for future celebrations,” says Bill Smith, senior vice president, sales and marketing.

The Birthday Bonus promotion is among a host of special values Crystal is featuring for 2010, along with two-for-one cruise fares; complimentary air for most destinations – business class air for penthouse guests in Europe; up to $1,000 per person All Inclusive – As You Wish shipboard credits; and Crystal Family Memories group incentives, including complimentary berths.

Crystal’s award-winning ships, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, offer cruises to six continents ranging from seven to 108 days. Among the highlights of the year is the World Cruise, which can be taken in individual voyages of 12 to 21 days, and the annual Presidents’ cruise, which in 2010 travels from Dubai to Piraeus. Additionally, several cruises honoring the line’s anniversary dates will feature special programming and events, including dinners with original 1990 wine prices, Vintage Room experiences with 1990 cuvees and Crystal trivia contests with commemorative prizes.

Crystal’s 2011 voyages are now listed on the line’s website. For more information and Crystal reservations, contact a travel agent, call 888-799-4625, or visit www.crystalcruises.com.

SUPPORT NEEDED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CRUISE VICTIMS ASSOCIATION

Our blog team has brought you the news about the struggle for safety at sea and the push for critical legislation for the safety of Americans on board cruise ships. Our Safety at Sea section of Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine showcases the issues involved, and tells you more about Kendall Carver and the International Cruise Victims Association (ICV).

If it had not been for the efforts of Kendall Carver and the ICV, and members who have traveled to Washington and performed other services (often paying their own expenses) to promote the ICV cause, cruise passengers today would not be able to look forward to a safer cruise experience for all of us.

Now the ICV needs our help and contributions.

ICV is a 100% volunteer organization and 100% of donation will go toward the work of the organization.

Any donation ($25 dollars or more) will be helpful and is tax deductible since ICV qualifies as a 501 C3. Also, if your employer has a matching gift program, please let us know. Or to help enable their work with legislators, please consider making a separate contribution to help defray the lobbying expenses on behalf of ICV.

Says Kendall Carver, President of the ICV, "This coming year will be most important as we move to actually finalize passage of our legislation in the U.S. Senate to change the cruise line
industry. At that point in time, our work will just begin. Some of our members are already starting this process in other countries."

MAKE YOUR DONATIONS HERE at http://www.internationalcruisevictims.org/Donations.html – or send a check to:

INTERNATIONAL CRUISE VICTIMS
704 228th Avenue NE - PMB
525, Sammamish WA 98074 USA

More information about the ICV can be found at their web site at http://www.internationalcruisevictims.org/

IT'S DEFINITELY NOT ABOUT SLEIGH BELLS IN THE SNOW...

Traveling to Sydney is, for most of us, something new and spending Christmas in a hot climate is a sure fire novelty - but to add to the mix, here's a further idea in the same train of thought - how about Christmas Day on Sydney’s magnificent Harbour, enjoying delicious food and Christmas festivities with Captain Cook Cruises Christmas Day Lunch cruises.

There are four fantastic lunch cruises to choose from and the prestigious three level MV Sydney 2000 will host three of the Christmas Day lunches including the deluxe Sky Deck menu and the Club Deck and Show Deck Christmas buffet, while sailing catamaran Aussie Legend hosts a Premium Christmas buffet lunch.

The Sky Deck lunch offers a five course premium menu with premium wines and is the ultimate Christmas Day lunch. Situated on the first class upper deck level, the Sky Deck lunch also includes an open bar of spirits, premium wines, beers and soft drinks and a live band will entertain guests as they dine, dance and take in the beautiful sights of Sydney.

The Club Deck, Show Deck and Aussie Legend Christmas buffets offer a fabulous festive Christmas feast including Virginia baked leg ham, roast turkey, Sydney rock oysters, king prawns, smoked salmon, a wide selection of salads, plum pudding and mince pies.

The Club Deck Christmas buffet is situated on the spacious restaurant deck of the MV Sydney 2000 and includes the house selection of wines, beers and soft drinks, the Show Deck Christmas buffet is situated on the main deck of the MV Sydney 2000 and includes a welcome drink and a premium Christmas buffet lunch is hosted on Aussie Legend and includes still and sparkling wine and local and imported beers.

The MV Sydney 2000 departs 12 noon on Christmas Day, Friday 25th December, from No.6 Jetty Circular Quay and returns at 2.45pm. Pricing starts from $249 per person for the deluxe Sky Deck experience, $179 per person for the Club Deck buffet and $129 per adult for the Show Deck Buffet. Children and concession pricing is available.

Aussie Legend departs 12 noon on Christmas Day, from Pier 26 Aquarium Wharf Darling Harbour and returns 2.45pm and is priced at $199 for adults and $99 for children aged 3 - 14 years.

For more information about Captain Cook Cruises see the Prow's Edge cruise line profile at http://www.prowsedge.com/cruise-lines-captain-cook-cruises.html or visit the official Captain Cook Cruises web site at www.captaincook.com

WARNING ABOUT PHISHING SCAM

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has received reports of fraudulent emails (phishing) referencing a CDC sponsored State Vaccination Program for H1N1. The messages request that users create a personal H1N1 (swine flu) Vaccination Profile on the CDC.gov web site.

An example of the phishing email is below:



Users that click on the embedded link in the email are at risk of having malicious code installed on their system. CDC reminds users to take the following steps to reduce the risk of being a victim of a phishing attack:

Do not open or respond to unsolicited email messages.
Do not click links embedded in emails from unknown senders.
Use caution when entering personal information online.
Update anti-virus, spyware, firewall, and anti-spam software regularly.

Saying Goodbye to the Artemis

The final cruise of P&O Cruises Artemis went on sale at 10am yesterday and sold out in just 17 minutes.

The 14 night, Artemis Farewell Voyage departs from Southampton on 12 April 2011, and calls at Gibraltar, Alicante, Palma, Sorrento, Rome (from Civitavecchia), Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Southampton.

“This is the fastest selling farewell voyage I have ever known," said P&O Cruises managing director, Carol Marlow. "It is fantastic to see how much Artemis is loved by our passengers, and to know that her final send-off will be a truly memorable experience. I hope to join our passengers on board for what will be a very special cruise, giving passengers and crew the chance to bid arewell to a dear friend and remember happy times on board.”

The cruise will include a special jazz and classical Music Festival at Sea, commemorative memorabilia, surprise guest entertainers and passengers will enjoy champagne sailaways. Prices started from £1,100 per person based on two sharing.

For more information about P&O Cruises visit the Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine P&O Cruises profile at http://www.prowsedge.com/cruise-lines-p-and-o-cruises.html or visit the official P&O Cruises web site at http://www.pocruises.com

Photo Courtesy P&O Cruises

New Private Resident Cruise Ship Coming Up

Samsung Heavy Industries and Utopia Residences have agreed to go ahead with plans for a 105,000-ton luxury residential ocean liner - and the superlatives are already rolling out!

“This ocean liner will be the most luxurious ship in the world, and the largest passenger ship ever built on the Asian continent,” comments JW Kim, the the Vice Chairman of Samsung.

David Robb, the Chairman of Utopia Residences adds, “This will be the grandest ship in the world and will be a center for learning, cultural exchange and philanthropy unlike any platform ever created.”

The new ship will have 200 private residences, as well as 204 staterooms intended for sale to cruise guests. The residences range from 1,400 to 6,600 square feet and cost from $4 million to $15 million each. Owners will have their own private club and facilities onboard, including their exclusive own pool and sun deck area, gym, bar and restaurant, in addition to six private elevators.

The ship will also be family-oriented and feature a rock-climbing wall, water slide and outdoor theater.

"Itineraries will be event-driven," says Captain Ola Harsheim, senior vice president of shipbuilding and operations, " The ship will spend 250 days a year in port while tracking events around the world. " The ocean liner will carry its residents and guests on a perpetual tour of ports hosting world-famous cultural and sporting events.

Already there has been a strong interest in the ship and many reservations for residences. The new cruise ship is expected to hit the waters in 2013.