PINK RIBBON CRUISES TO HELP RAISE CASH FOR THE NATIONAL BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION

In this time of greed and "self" here's a great chance to do something for others at the same time as indulging yourself in a great vacation.

Grab your girlfriends, okay guys too, for a weekend away on Captain Cook Cruises ‘Pink Ribbon Cruises’ and help raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF)! Money from each weekend cruise departing October 9, 16 and 30 will go to breast cancer research. To help get the party started every booking of four or more adults will get a free bottle of champagne per cabin.

The ‘Pink Ribbon Cruises’ will feature Captain Cook Cruises normal cruise itinerary plus exciting extras including a beautician onboard so passengers can be pampered, raffles with great prizes to be won, an NBCF guest speaker, a pink party and formal dinner and NBCF pink ribbon merchandise will also be sold on board.

All monies from raffles and merchandise and a proportion of money from cruise fares and beauty treatments will be donated to the NBCF.

The two night cruise onboard the “MV Captain Cook’s Explorer” kicks off on Friday night with a breathtaking sunset over the sails of the Sydney Opera House, marking the start of the welcome Pink Party where anything pink goes from clothes, cocktails to top hats.

Saturday it’s time to walk off breakfast with an early morning stroll around the Botanic Gardens before cruising up the Parramatta and Lane Cove Rivers. Another dining delight awaits with a seafood buffet lunch, followed by a leisurely afternoon of retail therapy at The Rocks Markets.

Tonight’s Individually Formal Captains Dinner has no strict dress code – from haute couture to that favourite little black dress, passengers can wear whatever makes them feel special and enjoy an a la carte three-course meal followed by live music and dancing with the city skyline as the perfect backdrop.

Sunday passengers can do as little or as much as they like. Join one of the headland walks, visit beachside Watson’s Bay, relax and take in the views or indulge in one of the optional beauty therapies. After lunch disembark at Darling Harbour at 3.00pm.

The two night ‘Pink Ribbon Cruises’ departs Friday October 9, 16 and 30 at 6.00pm, with boarding from 5.00pm from No.1 King Street Wharf, Darling Harbour.

Fares start from $470 per person twin share and mention NBCF when booking and receive 10% off. Fares include all accommodation, meals and most activities.

For further information and bookings, please contact Captain Cook Cruises toll free from Australia on 1800 804 843; Int +61-2-9206 1100, or visit www.captaincook.com.au.

HOW SAFE IS CRUISING - PIRACY AT SEA

Most of us aren’t worrying too much about pirates at sea, unless it’s part of your costume for the fancy dress night on board. But is this a case of sticking your head under the sand? Should we we concerned about piracy at sea?

Pirate attacks on cruise ships are actually very rare.

The first reported attempt of piracy involving a cruise ship was in November 2005 when a Seabourn ship was attacked while sailing off the Somalian coast of eastern Africa.

In December 2008, Oceania Cruises’ M/S Nautica escaped an attack by six pirates in 2 speedboats in the Gulf of Aden. Hapag-Lloyd took precautionary measures that same month by disembarking 246 passengers on the M/S Columbus while it passed through the troubled region.

March of 2009 saw another unsuccessful attack, this time on the Fred Olsen British liner Balmoral, and in April 2009, MSC Cruises’ Melody was fired at as she sailed north of the Seychelles, off Africa's east coast.

Other incidents involving smaller vessels in other regions, like the “robberies” involving the luxury Amazon cruise ship, m/v Aqua last week, are less assiduously covered by the media.

So, is this something to worry about?

Some experts tells us that it is inevitable that piracy attacks on cruise ships, large and small must increase. The fact that cruise lines, especially the smaller ones in isolated areas like the Amazon are reluctant to report many of the incidents is also worrying.

If this issue is a concern for you, it may perhaps be an idea to:

1: Avoid cruise areas popular with pirates. Government alerts and travel advisories will keep you informed. Piracy prone areas include Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malacca Straits, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore Straits, Vietnam, some parts of northern South America, and around Africa:Tema (Ghana), Lagos & Bonny River (Nigeria), Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania), and the Gulf of Aden.

2: Choose a larger cruise ship as these are less prone to attack for obvious reasons.

In the grand scheme of things, however, considering the number of cruises taking place each day in all parts of the world relative to the number of incidents, cruising is still one of the safest forms of vacation.

As a frequent visitor to Prow’s Edge Cruise Magazine told us once - “What’s the point of worrying about absolutely everything? It can get to the point where you will cancel your holiday anywhere tropical because you’re afraid a coconut will fall on your head!”

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Competes For the Title of Europe’s Leading Cruise Line

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is thrilled to announce their nomination for a 2009 World Travel Award (WTA), in the "Europe's Leading Cruise Line” category. The World Travel Awards, a travel industry awards program, has been dubbed by the Wall Street Journal as the ”Oscars of the Travel Industry.” Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ fleet of four, offers ships with their own unique character, hundreds of destinations, on-board and on-land programs, attractive travel combinations, short trips to get a feel for what’s offered and long passages for travel enthusiasts.

MS EUROPA, the fleet’s flagship, sets international standards: it is the only cruise liner to have been awarded the coveted 5-star plus distinction by the Berlitz Cruise Guide from 2001 to 2009 and the only cruise ship worldwide to be honored with a "Six Star Diamond Award" by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences. MS HANSEATIC and MS BREMEN, their exploration ships are both designed for travel in polar-regions and for destinations “off the beaten track.” The MS HANSEATIC is the only 5-star exploration ship in the world, the MS BREMEN offers 4-star comfort, and the MS COLUMBUS is a 3-star-plus ship.


All four ships offer selected bilingual cruises (German/English) ensuring English-speaking passengers feel comfortable from the moment they step onboard. For more information on the fleets 09’-10’ bilingual itineraries visit www.hl-cruises.com.

The WTA were launched in 1993 to acknowledge and recognize excellence in the world's travel and tourism industry. Now celebrating its 16th anniversary, the awards are regarded as the very highest achievement that a travel product could ever hope to receive. 
Thousands of votes are cast by travel professionals from 167,000 travel agencies, tour and transport companies and tourism organizations in over 160 countries across the globe.
 Votes are cast globally by fellow industry professionals in 919 different categories. 
The World Travel Awards Europe Gala ceremony will take place in Obidos, Portugal on October 17, 2009, during which the winners of the European categories will be announced. For a complete list of nominees visit www.worldtravelawards.com

TRAVEL AGENTS CAN WIN A TRIP TO THE MEKONG

Exotic Southeast Asia is the newest destination in the award-winning AMAWATERWAYS river cruise vacation lineup and now agents have an exciting opportunity to sample a 7-night Mekong river cruise aboard the brand-new MS La Marguerite, with a new “Learn, Book and Win” contest.

Details as follows:
THE PRIZE:
Win an unforgettable 7-night cruise for two aboard the brand new MS La Marguerite, the most luxurious vessel on the Mekong River. Cruise from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Siem Reap with calls at Sa Dec, Tan Chau, Phnom Penh, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang and the Tonle Sap River. Experience the richness of life on the great Mekong River, from small rural villages to vibrant capitals. Visit temples, floating markets and much more along the way during your Mekong River odyssey.

HOW TO WIN: 

Each “Vietnam, Cambodia & The Riches of The Mekong” booking made between now and September 28, 2009 entitles the booking agent to one chance at the drawing. It’s simple. The more an agent BOOKS, the more chances to WIN.

For information agents can log on to www.amawaterways.com

DRAWING DATE:
September 30, 2009. Winner will be notified shortly thereafter.