Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum

The first Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum: The Challenge for Greece, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea will take place on Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd of June 2011 at the recently opened prestigious Onassis Cultural Centre in Athens, Greece.

With the rise in the popularity of the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Black Sea for cruisers and cruise lines, this highly anticipated event should throw up some interesting light on the region.



This is a new Posidonia event that will examine the potential for sea tourism and its significant role in the development of the economies of Greece, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea region.



The event will focus on three different dimensions of Sea Tourism: Cruise, Yachting and Inter-island Passenger Shipping. Issues to be addressed at the Forum will include how countries of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea can benefit through collaboration and by investing in a long-term strategic approach to the further development of sea tourism in the region.



For the programme and further information on the event please visit www.PosidoniaSeaTourism.com

Best Cruise Ships of 2011

Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas have been named on Frommer’s Best Cruise Ships of 2011 list.

In particular, the market leader in travel guides and a branded imprint of Wiley Publishing, Inc. cited Allure of the Seas as the newest and most groundbreaking ship with “undoubtedly the best entertainment ship at sea, with truly exceptional programming for both adults and kids.”

Judges praised the 225,282 gross-registered-ton, 5,400-guest cruise ship and her sister-ship Oasis of the Seas, for "letting light and air into the center of the ships" via a radical new superstructure design.

Allure of the Seas shares the title of the world’s largest and most revolutionary cruise ship with sister-ship Oasis of the Seas. With a cache of distinct onboard activities and amenities, Allure of the Seas offers one-of-a-kind entertainment performances, culinary concepts, retail venues and technology innovations. An architectural marvel at sea, Allure’s neighborhoods are divided into seven distinct themed areas, which include Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone. She spans 16 decks, encompasses 225,282 gross registered tons, carries 5,400 guests at double occupancy, and features 2,700 staterooms. Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas alternates a Western Caribbean with an Eastern Caribbean seven-night itinerary from her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Visit www.royalcaribbean.com or call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN.

For an overview of Royal Caribbean take a look at the PROW'S EDGE CRUISE MAGAZINE CRUISE LINE PROFILE - ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Following our last blog item - and beginning her inaugural Maiden World Voyage, Cunard Line’s newest ship, Queen Elizabeth, made her premier visit to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, yesterday alongside her sister ship, Queen Victoria.

The two luxury cruise liners, who sailed in tandem from New York, are coming off the heels of the historic Cunard Royal Rendezvous that occurred there just three days earlier, when all three of Cunard’s Queens met in New York for only the second time in the Line’s 171-year history. Welcoming Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria to this popular maritime port was the honourable Mayor John P. "Jack" Seiler, along with travel agents, media and local dignitaries.

Upon departing Fort Lauderdale, Queen Elizabeth continues her Maiden World Voyage on to Aruba and then will traverse the Panama Canal to Mexico and ultimately call on the Port of Los Angeles on 29 January. Following this voyage, Queen Elizabeth will spend the remainder of the year in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, calling on exotic and unique ports such as the Norwegian Fjords, St. Petersburg, the Holy Land and Canary Islands.

Queen Victoria will continue on her debut Americas season, traversing between the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts via the Panama Canal, and calling on Los Angeles four times between January and March (30 January, 13 February, 17 February and 3 March). She will sail two roundtrip voyages from Los Angeles to Hawaii, and sail a brief Getaway voyage to Mexico.

For more information about Cunard and to book a voyage aboard Queen Elizabeth or Queen Victoria, consult your travel agent, call toll-free 1-800-7-CUNARD or go to www.cunard.com.

For an overview of Cunard Line take a look at PROW'S EDGE CRUISE MAGAZINE- PROFILE - CUNARD LINE

Cunard Royal Rendezvous in New York

Exactly three years to the day after Cunard welcomed a trio of its Queens in New York, this history-making event takes place again today when Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth call on New York for another spectacular Cunard Royal Rendezvous that includes sail-away fireworks at the Statue of Liberty.

Queen Mary 2 offers 14 spacious decks of opulent public areas, extravagant dining rooms, ballrooms, theatres, lounges, and even the only Planetarium at sea.

Combining the best of a luxury Cunard ocean liner, Queen Victoria, also known as QV, is famous for the dramatic three-tier Grand Lobby with a magnificent grand staircase and eye-catching artwork.

The newest luxury ocean liner, Queen Elizabeth, or QE as she is affectionately known, recalls the rich heritage of the first Cunard ship to bear the name.

This rare maritime event is only the second time in Cunard’s 170-year history that three regal Queens have docked together in New York Harbour. Then, just three days later, on January 16, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth rendezvous again in Fort Lauderdale during Queen Elizabeth’s Maiden World Voyage and Queen Victoria’s debut Americas Season.

For brief overview of Cunard Line visit the updated Prow’s Edge Cruise Magazine Cruise Line Profiles - Cunard Line, or visit the official Cunard web site at www.cunard.com

The Latest in Cruise Food News

Do you know what the Holland America Line Culinary Council is all about? Have you even heard of the Holland America Line Culinary Council?

Do you know about the popular Relais & Châteaux L'École des Chefs interactive cooking school aboard Silversea Cruises?

And do you know about the plethora of new dining options for passengers aboard Oceania Cruises new Marina ?

If not - no need to worry - the new Cruise Food section at Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine includes a page dedicated to the latest news about food on cruises, including news about the latest meeting of the Holland America Line Culinary Council and how they provide guidance on the line’s culinary initiatives; news about the 10 new voyages from Silversea Cruises offering the only Relais & Châteaux L'École des Chefs cooking school at sea; and news about Oceania Cruises’ 10 dining venues, six of which are no-charge, gourmet restaurants aboard the new Marina.

Take a look at CRUISE FOOD NEWS at Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine

Crystal Cruises Sails to Libya

Crystal Cruises is removing the cloak of mystery surrounding Libya as a travel destination by adding its historic capital, Tripoli, to its fall season.

Libya’s doors have been closed to American tourists since the US imposed sanctions on the country almost 20 years ago. With Libyan authorities lifting its ban on tourist visas, Crystal has added Tripoli to its November 16 “Italian Splendor” Mediterranean cruise.

“Libya is enigmatic, exotic, and incredibly rich in history,” says Bill Smith, senior vice president, sales & marketing. “Providing a rare glimpse into this Middle Eastern nation will add tremendous depth to travelers’ experiences of ancient corners of the world. With over a thousand miles of Mediterranean coastline to the north, Egypt to the east, and central Africa to the south, Libya is truly a crossroads of cultures, past and present, which no world traveler should miss.”

Augmenting an itinerary already steeped in wonders of antiquity and cultural immersion, the addition of Tripoli enables travelers to visit what some consider the last unspoiled country in North Africa. Beginning and ending with overnights in Venice and Barcelona, the 11-day voyage also boasts visits to Dubrovnik and Sicily, Naples, Civitavecchia (for Rome), and Livorno (for Florence and Tuscany).

Guests can explore Libya’s largest city, Tripoli; see some of the best-preserved cities and archaeological relics in the world from Roman, Greek, Byzantine, Phoenician, and Arab-Islamic civilizations; mix with local and tribal ethnicities; feast on traditional cuisine; and sift through the sand of the Saharan desert, which covers roughly 90% of the country.

With so many educational opportunities for all ages on this Thanksgiving cruise, families can create once-in-a-lifetime memories -- and enjoy free berths, group perks and family savings via the “Crystal Family Memories Program.”

A “Two-for-One” promotion offers per person, double occupancy, fares starting at $5,470, including $1,000 “All Inclusive–As You Wish” shipboard spending credits and complimentary air transportation from many North American gateways (or cruise-only fare reduction).

Crystal Cruises’ passion for creating unique luxury experiences both on land and at sea have earned the company top service ratings from international travelers for two decades.

For more information and Crystal reservations, contact a travel agent, call 888-799-4625, or visit www.crystalcruises.com.

For an overview of Crystal Cruises take a look at the PROW'S EDGE CRUISE MAGAZINE CRUISE LINE PROFILE - CRYSTAL CRUISES

Oceania Cruises offers options for food lovers

Good news for food lovers and epicureans everywhere, as Oceania Cruises’ new Marina will be offering her passengers a wealth of dining options with six, open-seating gourmet restaurants, two private-dining venues and two casual eateries.

The ship’s eight no-charge dining venues and two exclusive options:

1. The Grand Dining Room – Tuxedo-clad wait staff serve a six-course menu in a classic setting reminiscent of a five-star restaurant at one of Europe’s grandest hotels. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

2. Toscana – Three, illuminated etched-glass panels provide a dramatic backdrop to savory specialties, many of them family recipes handed down from Oceania Cruises’ staff and crew. Open for dinner, reservations suggested.

3. Polo Grill – Plush and supple leather upholstery, a rich palette of crimson, gold and green, and gold-edged mahogany wall panels evoke the glamour of a vintage Hollywood steakhouse. Fine cuts of Prime, dry-aged beef, as well as chops and fresh seafood, are featured. Open for dinner, reservations suggested.

4. Jacques – The first-ever restaurant at sea for its renowned namesake, Jacques Pépin, draws inspiration from fabled brasseries of Paris and his hometown of Lyon. Open for dinner, reservations suggested.

5. Red Ginger – Thai, Japanese and Vietnamese flavors are showcased in a contemporary setting that features three Buddhas carved from a single piece of backlit glass as a dramatic centerpiece. Open for dinner, reservations suggested.

6. Terrace Café – Shades of burgundy, burnt orange, gold and lemon create a bright and pleasant ambiance or guests may dine al fresco. Regional delicacies and sumptuous buffets are served for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

7. Waves – This relaxed, open-air bistro serves gourmet burgers, swordfish, chicken and other grilled items, and features a salad bar and homemade ice cream bar. Open for lunch, weather permitting.

8. Baristas – This coffee bar adjoining the library is the place throughout the day to enjoy Illy espresso and cappuccino, plus homemade biscotti and coffee cake.

Two other exclusive options include:

1. La Reserve by Wine Spectator – This intimate venue hosts tastings and seven-course pairing dinners with premium wines selected in consultation with Wine Spectator editors. Extra charge for wines; reservations required.

2. Privée – This posh private dining room offers the ultimate Chef’s Table. Eight fortunate guests can create a personalized menu featuring such specialties as Kobe beef, Brittany lobsters, foie gras, caviar and truffles. Room charge is $1,000. Open select evenings, reservations required.

For more information about Oceania Cruises visit their web site at www.oceaniacruises.com and be sure to keep to date with the latest in cruise food news at the CRUISE FOOD section of Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine.

Photo: Oceania Cruises

Alaska Cruises still top the bill for Princess Cruises

With New Year’s resolutions fresh in consumers’ minds, Princess Cruises fielded a poll to its Facebook fans to learn which destinations and travel experiences top their bucket lists in 2011. And respondents decisively answered that their number-one destination choice for the coming year is Alaska.

One-fourth of respondents resolved to travel to the 49th state in the coming year. Other questions revealed that most are looking for a relaxing vacation and plan to travel with their spouse or significant other – but would be quite willing to travel with Oprah as their choice for celebrity travel companion.

Princess’ own Essential Experiences blog also offered travelers inspiration for their bucket lists, with most respondents eager to try dog sledding on an Alaskan glacier or to plan a visit to the “lost city of the Incas,” Machu Picchu, in Peru.

“Most people have a travel bucket list,” said Princess executive vice president, Jan Swartz, “and with New Year’s resolutions top-of-mind right now, we wanted to learn which destinations and experiences our fans are most excited about this year.”

For a brief overview of Alaska cruises, take a look at the Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine information page on Alaska Cruises.

For news about Princess Cruises in Alaska, see their official web site at http://www.princesscruises.com