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Cunard Transatlantic Cruises 2009

Thursday, January 08, 2009

Cunard cruises just announced a series of guest speakers for their 2009 Transatlantic season. See story below:

Cunard’s Storied Transatlantic Crossings to Feature Literary Luminaries

Guests aboard select 2009 Queen Mary 2 voyages will get up-close-and-personal with award-winning authors, playwrights and poets

January 7, 2009 - In 2009, guests sailing a Transatlantic Crossing aboard Cunard’s flagship ocean liner Queen Mary 2 will have an opportunity to meet and mingle with some of the literary world’s most fascinating personalities. Among the best-selling authors and playwrights scheduled to sail are E.L. Doctorow, Erica Jong, Amy Bloom, John Guare and Susan Cheever. They are among several celebrated, award-winning authors who are set to infuse Cunard Insights, the line’s top-rated onboard enrichment programme, with a dose of literary lore from April through September, 2009. Guests can look forward to engaging Q&A discussions, lectures, book signings and readings with select titles to be featured in the Cunard Book Club.

“Our Transatlantic Crossing is a most storied voyage and therefore it is quite fitting to feature these literary luminaries to engage and delight our guests,” said Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line. “Queen Mary 2 is the only ocean liner in the world providing regularly scheduled service between New York and Southampton. A Cunard voyage across the Atlantic truly epitomizes the new Golden Age of Ocean Travel, and the addition of these renowned authors will further enhance an experience that is already considered one of the most thrilling journeys in the world.”

Among the authors scheduled to sail are:

Kathryn Harrison - April 20, 2009 (Southampton to New York)
A prolific author, Harrison has published six novels, three memoirs, a travelogue, a biography and a book of true crime. A frequent reviewer for The New York Times Book Review, Harrison also writes personal essays that have been included in many anthologies and have appeared in The New Yorker, Harper’s Magazine, Vogue, O Magazine, More, Bookforum and other publications.

Oscar Hijuelos - May 8, 2009 (New York to Southampton)
American novelist Hijuelos is the first Hispanic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. His first novel, Our House in the Last World, was published in 1983 and received the 1985 Rome Prize, awarded by the American Academy in Rome. His second novel, The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love, received the 1990 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. It was adapted for the film The Mambo Kings in 1992 and as a Broadway musical in 2005.

Rita Dove - May 25, 2009 (Southampton to New York)
An American poet and author of American Smooth, Dove was the second African American poet to win the Pulitzer Prize (1987). From 1993 to 1995, she served as the second Black and the youngest Poet Laureate of the United States and Poetry Consultant to the Library of Congress. Her next book, Sonata Mulatica, will be published in April.

E. L. Doctorow - May 31, 2009 (New York to Southampton)
Doctorow is the author of several critically acclaimed novels that blend history and social criticism. Although he had written books for years, it was the publication of The Book of Daniel in 1971 that earned him notoriety. His next book, Ragtime, was a commercial and critical success. As of 2006, he held the Glucksman Chair in American Letters at New York University. His personal papers are held by the Fales Library at NYU.

Erica Jong - June 13, 2009 (Southampton to New York)
Erica Jong is a poet, novelist and essayist best known for her eight best-selling novels, including Fear of Flying and her mid-life memoir Fear of Fifty. She is also the author of six award-winning collections of poetry. She is a frequent lecturer in the US and abroad.

Susan Cheever - June 25, 2009 (Southampton to New York)
Daughter of John Cheever and sister of Benjamin Cheever, Cheever is an author whose books include My Name is Bill - Bill Wilson: His Life and the Creation of Alcoholics Anonymous, a biography of Alcoholics Anonymous cofounder Bill Wilson; Home Before Dark, a memoir about her father, John Cheever; Note Found in a Bottle, a memoir of her own alcoholism and recovery; Treetops: A Memoir; as well as five novels: Looking for Work, A Handsome Man, The Cage, Doctors and Women and Elizabeth Cole.

Amy Bloom - July 6, 2009 (New York to Southampton)
An American writer, Bloom has been nominated for the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. In addition to novels Away and Love Invents Us, Bloom has written articles in periodicals including The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic Monthly, Vogue, Slate and Salon.com. Her short fiction has appeared in The Best American Short Stories, The O. Henry Prize Stories and several other anthologies, and has won a National Magazine Award.

Brad Gooch - July 30, 2009 (New York to Southampton)
Gooch is an American writer and current Professor of English at William Paterson University in New Jersey. His novels include Zombie 00, Billy Idol and Scary Kisses.

John Guare - September 8, 2009 (New York to Southampton)
An American playwright, Guare is best known as the author of The House of Blue Leaves, Six Degrees of Separation and Landscape of the Body. His style, which mixes comic invention with an acute sense of the failure of human relations and aspirations, is at once cruel and deeply compassionate.

In 2009, Queen Mary 2 marks her fifth year of service with an extended Transatlantic season including more than 20 classic six-day voyages between New York and Southampton, two voyages between New York and Hamburg and two voyages between Boston and Southampton. Cunard’s iconic Transatlantic Crossing offers guests the classic ocean travel experience with an abundance of sea days affording guests the luxury of time to enjoy myriad leisurely, health & wellness, gourmet dining and intellectual pursuits.

Cunard has long been synonymous with onboard enrichment and was the first company to install a library aboard a passenger vessel - on the Bothnia in 1874. Queen Mary 2 continues this tradition with the largest library at sea filled with more than 8,000 books.

Delving deeply into a variety of compelling and relevant topics, Cunard Insights introduces guests to stimulating experts and accomplished visionaries who reflect the line’s heritage of adventure and prestige. Through a series of lectures, Q&A’s, debates, social gatherings and workshops, guests connect with personalities who have achievednotable distinction in areas including history, world affairs, science, politics, arts and literature. The Insights programme underscores Cunard’s longstanding view that onboard entertainment should afford guests a provocative and rewarding cerebral experience.

Cunard’s Storied Transatlantic Crossings to Feature Literary Luminaries
By Cunard Line

Oceania Cruise Deals

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Oceania Cruises has Announced their best deals ever beginning January 7, 2009. Oceania Cruises® is the world’s only upper-premium cruise line and offers a unique combination of the finest cuisine at sea, luxurious accommodations, exceptional personalized service and extraordinary value. As the leader in destination cruising, Oceania Cruises sails to more than 180 ports in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, South America, and the Caribbean. Featuring three intimate and elegant mid-sized ships, Regatta, Insignia and Nautica, the line will introduce two new mid-size Oceania Class ships to its award-winning fleet in 2010 and 2011.

In celebration of the completion of its fifth year of business, the line is offering exceptional savings on its most alluring voyages in Europe, Asia, Australia & New Zealand, South America, and the Caribbean. With savings of up to 72%, travelers can enjoy the Oceania Cruises Experience for as little as $1,249 per guest.

In addition, solo travelers may enjoy the Oceania Cruises Experience for a single supplement of only 25% and 3rd and 4th guests in a stateroom will receive an additional 50% reduction off of their cruise fare.

2009 European Collection
On select 2009 European Collection voyages, guests will receive Free Airfare, 2 For 1 Cruise Fares and an additional Price Reduction of $2,000 per stateroom on accommodation in categories G through A.

Applicable Sailings:

April 4, 2009 – Barcelona to Istanbul, 14 Days
May 31, 2009 – Rome to Istanbul, 12 Days
June 5, 2009 – Athens to Rome, 12 Days
July 23, 2009 – Athens to Istanbul, 12 Days
July 26, 2009 – Venice to Barcelona, 14 Days
August 4, 2009 – Istanbul to Rome, 12 Days
August 16, 2009 – Rome to Athens, 12 Days
August 23, 2009 – Istanbul to Athens, 12 Days
September 4, 2009 – Athens to Rome, 12 Days
September 9, 2009 – Istanbul to Athens, 12 Days
September 28, 2009 – Venice to Barcelona, 14 Days
October 12, 2009 – Barcelona to Athens, 10 Days
October 17, 2009 – Athens to Venice, 12 Days
October 17, 2009 – Venice to Istanbul, 14 Days
October 22, 2009 – Athens to Venice, 12 Days
October 29, 2009 – Athens to Istanbul 12 Days
November 3, 2009 – Venice to Rome, 12 Days
November 15, 2009 – Rome to Barcelona, 10 Days

2009-2010 Winter Collection
For the 2009-2010 Winter Collection, guests will receive the following Price Reductions in addition to Free Airfare and 2 For 1 Cruise Fares along with amenities valued at up to $1,500 per stateroom.

10 Day Voyages: $500 per Stateroom Price Reduction, $500 Per Stateroom Shipboard Credit and FREE Prepaid Gratuities.
12-24 Day Voyages: $1,000 per Stateroom Price Reduction, $500 Per Stateroom Shipboard Credit and FREE Prepaid Gratuities.
25-40 Day Voyages: $1,500 per Stateroom Price Reduction, $500 Per Stateroom Shipboard Credit and FREE Prepaid Gratuities.

Applicable Sailings: All Winter 2009-2010 Collection voyages to Australia and New Zealand, Asia, South America and the Caribbean and Panama Canal.

With Free Airfare from 20 North American Gateways and Bonus Savings on top of 2 For 1 Cruise Fares, the Oceania Cruises Experience represents the greatest vacation value ever. The Celebration of Savings officially kicks off on Wednesday, January 7th and these historic savings are certain to generate extraordinary demand.

Fares quoted are per guest based on double occupancy, are subject to availability and are capacity controlled. Fifth Anniversary Fares are available only on select sailings and in select grades of accommodations. Certain sailings may be excluded or withdrawn at any time without prior notice.

Call 1-800-846-7912 for more details

Burt Wolf - River Cruises through Europe

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Burt Wolf to travel on a series of 10 river cruises with Avalon Waterways to raise money for PBS. All itineraries include special events and lectures conducted personally by Burt throughout the cruise such as wine tastings, introduction to architecture and classes on pairing food and wine.

Burt Wolf, the host of the public television series Travels & Traditions, invites you to join him on one of these Avalon Waterways’ river cruises.

A message from Burt Wolf:

Dear Members of Ensemble Travel Group,

I would like to personally invite your valued clients to join me as we navigate the rivers of Europe in a series of 10 cruises aboard Avalon Waterways. Together we will visit my favorite places, have a beer or a glass of wine with friends who own unusual pubs and famous vineyards, taste the regional delicacies, and generally "hangout" with my pals.

Ensemble Travel Group has been given an exclusive opportunity to sell these outstanding European programs. This is a unique chance for your clients to travel with me, see the sights, and experience the places where my television shows were filmed.

And the best part: A significant donation will be made to help support your client's local Public Broadcasting Station.

BURT WOLF CRUISES FOR 2009
For full trip details on all of the Burt Wolf 2009 cruises, please call us at 1-800-942-3301.

TULIP TIME CRUISE
March 28 to April 5, 2009
Holland & Belgium
Cruise priced from $2,859 to $3,378 pp (plus airfare).

RHINE RIVER CRUISE
April 18 to 26, 2009
France, Germany, Holland
Cruise priced from $3,131 to $3,650 pp (plus airfare).

CRUISING THROUGH FRANCE
May 24 to June 4, 2009
Nice to Paris, France
Tour/Cruise priced from $3,959 to $4,608 (plus airfare).

CRUISING THE DANUBE
June 18 to July 1, 2009
Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic
Tour/Cruise priced from $4,179 to $4,828 (plus airfare).

CRUISING THROUGH FRANCE
July 11 to 22, 2009
Paris to Nice, France
Tour/Cruise priced from $3,909 to $4,558 (plus airfare).

CRUISING THE DANUBE
July 29 to August 9, 2009
Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary
Tour/Cruise priced from $3,799 to $4,448 (plus airfare).

CRUISING THE DANUBE
August 12 to 23, 2009
Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary
Tour/Cruise priced from $3,799 to $4,448 (plus airfare).

RHINE RIVER CRUISE
August 22 to 30, 2009
Holland, Germany, France
Cruise priced from $3,339 to $3,988 (plus airfare).

CRUISING CENTRAL EUROPE
October 15 to 27, 2009
France, Germany, Czech Republic
Tour/Cruise priced from $3,909 to $4,558 (plus airfare).

CHRISTMAS TIME CRUISE
December 10 to 19, 2009
Austria, Germany, Czech Republic
Tour/Cruise priced from $2,934 to $3,490 (plus airfare).

ABOUT BURT WOLF
Since 1982, Burt Wolf has written and produced over 4,000 segments for Cable News Network (CNN), 800 segments for ABC (the American Broadcasting Company), 125 half-hour programs for the travel division of The Discovery Channel, 26 half hours for the Family Channel and 250 half hours for Public Broadcasting. During his 30 years as a journalist, he has written or edited more than 60 books and for a number of years authored a weekly column for The Washington Post. He has been nominated for two Cable Ace Awards and a national Emmy in connection with cultural history.

Burt's shows have been translated into Russian, Polish, Mandarin and Korean and reach a worldwide audience in Europe, Latin America and Asia. Burt's relaxed and personal style make both his programs and his role as "host" informative and entertaining.

INQUIRIES
The Atlas Staff, as well as the team at Burt Wolf's office are there to answer any questions you may have prior to actually traveling on the cruise. They are equipped to answer all your questions, whether it concerns a passenger's mobility or food allergy or even bringing children along!

Tags: avalon river cruise , avalon river cruises , burt wolf river cruise

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