NCMA Unique Holiday Sailings 2010

NCMA MEMBERS CELEBRATE WINTER HOLIDAYS UNIQUELY

SEATTLE, WA. July 8, 2010 – Niche Cruise Marketing Alliance member lines celebrate the winter holidays in unique ways. These observances include:

Cruise West

Many of Cruise West’s clients find that the best way to enjoy the holidays is to escape the chaos they create. And their warm weather cruises can make that happen… in style.  The adventures below offer chances for discovery, relaxation, and rejuvenation in some of the most beautiful and fascinating places on earth. Christmas Dinner is served on any cruise happening on December 25. A celebratory toast and late night dinner buffet is available for guests who are on board on New Year’s Eve. And children under 18 always travel at half price, so holiday time can still be family time. 

Baja Wilderness, Round trip from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico,

7 Nights, Departures on December 24 and 31, 2010

Panama City to Costa Rica (or reverse*)

9 Nights – Departures on December 18* and 27, 2010

Auckland, New Zealand to Sydney, Australia

17 Nights, December 15, 2010 – January 1, 2011

Sydney to Darwin, Australia

19 Nights, December 31, 2010 – January 19, 2011

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

Whether clients are eager to fully embrace the holiday season this

year, or, they want to run away from it, Fred. Olsen has the perfect

holiday cruise for them. Two departures call at historic European ports

that are positively magical with holiday shopping markets, candlelit

cathedrals, traditional food and drinks, special events, and other

seasonal enjoyments. The Fred. Olsen collection of holiday cruises also

includes itineraries in warmer destinations featuring the Canary Islands

and the Caribbean. Warm weather departures sail on: December 20, December 21,

and December 23.

Copenhagen is featured on both European cruises; travelers will have a chance to visit

the world famous Tivoli Gardens. This amusement park reopens for

Christmas, turning into a spectacularly illuminated winter wonderland of

colorful stalls selling locally produced goods, arts and crafts. The

gardens are filled with excellent restaurants and friendly bars, with

musicians and dancers performing throughout the park.

November 29, 2010 - Balmoral: Gothenburg, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark;

Cruise Kiel Canal; Hamburg, Germany; Amsterdam, Netherlands. Oceanview

cabins start at $1,176 per person, plus $75 onboard spending per cabin.

December 10, 2010 - Black Watch: Ljmuiden, Netherlands; Cruise Kiel

Canal; Copenhagen, Denmark; Travemunde, Germany; Ostend, Belgium. Oceanview cabins start at $1,073 per person.

Both cruises depart Southampton and cruise for eight days.

Hurtigruten

Home to 90 percent of the world's ice and nearly as many penguins, Antarctica is as unique a destination as can be found to exchange gifts and celebrate the holidays -- with its pristine environment, sunlight polar nights and abundant wildlife.  And Hurtigruten is delivering an early gift -- offering a 50% discount (savings of $4,254 to $9,182) on the companion's fare on its 17-day "Shackleton's Christmas Voyage."  The festive December 17 sailing follows much of the same path as Shackleton's original Endurance Expedition of 1914 -- considered one of history's greatest survival stories -- visiting the Falkland Islands, South Georgia Island and South Orkneys before heading to Antarctica. 

Guests are treated to traditional carols, Norwegian glogg (mulled wine), Santa Claus, and a special Christmas breakfast.  Cocktails set the stage for a New Year's Eve dinner followed by a midnight celebration.  Of course, this is all mingled with the sight of blue whales and orcas feeding mere feet from the passenger's perch aboard the MS Fram - and penguin populations numbering in the tens of thousands. 

The voyage must be booked by September 15; regular fares are $9,863 to $19,720 per person, double and include all meals onboard, the services of expert naturalist guides, noted guest lecturers, round-trip air between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia (air not included in the discount), PolarCirkel boat landings, and port fees. 

Louis Cruises

Louis Cruises presents two special holiday itineraries in the Western Mediterranean onboard the Louis Majesty -- featuring Smart Rates savings that invite travelers to book early to get the best deals. The nine-day Christmas Cruise will depart from Genoa, Italy on December 19, 2010 and visit Marseilles in France, then Tangier and Casablanca in Morocco, before sailing to Malaga, Spain where an overnight stay in included, then sail on to Barcelona, Spain and return to Genoa – Smart Rate starting at $830 (down from $1670).  On December 27, 2010 Louis Cruises’ New Year’s Cruise will depart from Genoa, Italy and visit Marseilles in France; Tangier and Casablanca in Morocco; then Malaga, Alicante and Barcelona in Spain – Smart Rate starting at $990 (down from $1990).  The Christmas Cruise and New Year’s sailings can be combined for a spectacular 18-day combination cruise. Travelers will enjoy the splendors of the holiday season enhanced by the traditions of each local culture, plus onboard celebrations with festive menus, holiday-themed entertainment and decor throughout the vessel. Smart Rates are commissionable to travel agents. 

Star Clippers

Travelers can pack their bags, leave the chill behind and celebrate the winter holidays on board a glorious tall ship. Royal Clipper brings sandy beaches and sunshine to the holidays with a special eight-night Caribbean cruise sailing round-trip Barbados departing December 18, 2010. The ship sails a seven-night cruise, also round-trip Barbados, departing December 26 for those that want to ring in the New Year on board. Star Clipper’s seven-night holiday cruises in the Caribbean depart December19 and 26, 2010, and sail roundtrip St. Maarten. For a touch of the exotic, cruisers can join Star Flyer on its first holiday season in Costa Rica. The ship sails seven-night, round-trip Puerto Caldera cruises departing December 19 and 26.

Star Clippers decorates its ships and has special holiday dinners on the menu, and sometimes Santa makes an appearance, coming on board via the ship's zodiac! The line endeavors to be in port on New Year's Eve so guests can enjoy a fireworks celebration.

Voyages of Discovery

Destination specialist Voyages of Discovery will be celebrating the Winter 2010 holidays at sea on board the 650-guest mv Discovery. The “Tales of the Old Spanish Main” itinerary departs Belize City, Belize on December 23, 2010.

This 11-night cruise visits Puerto Cortés, Honduras; Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; Cartagena, Columbia; and Maracaibo, Venezuela. The cruise ends in Bridgetown, Barbados on Jan. 3, 2011. Minimum inside fares start at $2,949 per person and include Free Air* from select Voyages of Discovery gateway cities.

M/V Discovery will be festively decorated for the holidays. Special onboard events are planned to celebrate Christmas and usher in the New Year.

All Voyages of Discovery itineraries feature comprehensive programs of informative talks by port lecturers and guest speakers, including enrichment lectures. Rollo Burgess and Robin Mina are the featured lecturers for this holiday itinerary.

Special rates for single travelers are also available. Discovery Club members enjoy an additional five percent savings.

*Air rates do not include airline and government fees and fuel surcharges.

NCMA member cruise lines include American Cruise Lines, Cruceros Australis, Cruise West, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Galapagos Explorer II, Hurtigruten, Imperial River Cruises, Louis Cruises, Star Clippers and Voyages of Discovery.

NCMA Executive Director Lawrence Dessler can be reached at nichecruise@msn.com, by phone at 425.867.0399 or by fax at 425.867.0589.

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For further information, please contact Steve Kravitz at 305.932.4785 or stevekravitz@gmail.com