April 2009 Archives

Prestige Yacht Charters, a premier luxury-yacht charter company serving New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, today announced Mother's Day cruises departing from the Yonkers Municipal Pier on May 10, 2009.

Guests will board the luxury yacht "Atlantica" for a trip down the Hudson to see the New York City skyline. The brunch cruise will start boarding at 10:30 AM for a trip from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM to the Statue of Liberty and back. The dinner cruise will start boarding at 4:30 PM for the same journey from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Both cruises will include elegant buffet dining, a live DJ, dancing and a cash bar.

David Hackert, President of Prestige Yacht Charters, said, "What better way to honor your Mom than to treat her to the aura of a luxury yacht with all the amenities and pampering typically reserved for the rich and famous. It will make a Mother's Day she'll always remember and at an affordable price to boot!"

The cruises are priced at $50 per person for brunch and $85 for dinner. Kids under 12 cost $30 and $50 respectively. The cuisine includes preparations from an acclaimed gourmet chef for both events. The brunch menu offers seasonal fruits and croissants, followed by a carving station with turkey and ham in a variety of sauces, chicken/apple sausages, hickory smoked bacon and fruit blintzes.

The Mother's Day dinner cruise offers similar five-star cuisine. Hors d'oeuvres are passed butler style followed by sesame crusted chicken with Asian ponzu, crab cakes with smoked jalapeno and lime aioli, and mozzarella and roasted pepper skewers with balsamic glaze. Entrees, served buffet style, include a widely acclaimed specialty, grilled marinated flank steak, as well as whole roasted turkey breast with country gravy and cranberry relish. Assorted cakes and Italian cookies conclude the repast.

Prestige offers safeguards in case of inclement weather. The Atlantica is climate-controlled with enclosed decks, and the route traverses calm waters.

SOURCE Prestige Yacht Charters

Sunsail are delighted to again be extending their fleet, with the launch of the new Sunsail 384 catamaran in destinations across the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Asia.

The Sunsail 384 is the newest generation of cruising catamarans, focusing on performance, comfort and offering an abundance of outdoor space to capitalize on sailing in the warm breezes of the Tropics or Mediterranean. Offering high performance including a generous sail plan, this catamaran is a market leader yet also is highly practical and easy-to-use, making it an ideal entry level catamaran.

The Sunsail 384 has been specifically produced for Sunsail, with the design completed by Morrelli and Melvin and the build by Robertson and Caine. Superb performance from the Sunsail 384 is guaranteed, with the large sail area combining with a high-volume hull that offers both improved pitch resistance and load carrying capacity. The balanced spade rudders, with their Edson wire and chain steering, plus the centralized sail control system ensure simple and comfortable helming.

"The Sunsail 384 catamaran is yet another example of our commitment to investing in our high quality charter fleet. By commissioning the best designers and builders, we have been able to produce a supremely comfortable and easy to sail catamaran that puts sailing performance and customer comfort at the forefront," comments Lex Raas, Sunsail President and CEO.

Inside, comfort as ever remains a top priority. The spacious four double cabin, two head layout gives plenty of room for groups or families, plus an additional forepeak berth is ideal for children or simply extra storage. Generous headroom of 1.95m/6ft 5in throughout plus substantial storage capacity as a result of under-bunk lockers in each cabin gives even more space for onboard relaxation.

The exterior of the Sunsail 384 is equally well thought out, with a large cockpit hardtop providing excellent shade and weather protection and a powerboat-style stepped transom enabling easier boarding. The vertical front windscreens give superb panoramic visibility, more effective use of interior volume and also sun protection. Environmental considerations were also central to the design, with solar panels installed on the helm hardtop that are able to charge the onboard batteries; giving an estimated 20 per cent saving on engine hours and therefore increasing the lifespan of the onboard batteries by up to five years.

In 2009 Sunsail celebrates its 35th anniversary, offering a wide choice of sailing vacations for all skill levels, with nearly 1,000 yachts in over 29 locations worldwide. In addition to bareboat and skippered yacht charter, Sunsail provides social flotillas, sailing school courses, beach resorts, corporate and team building events.

SOURCE Sunsail

Windstar Cruises, which operates a three-ship fleet of luxury yachts that explore hidden harbors and secluded coves of the world's most sought-after destinations, releases its 2010 and Winter 2011 season with new itineraries, additional sought-after ports, and a captivating Signature Collection line-up.

"We are thrilled to offer our guests this exciting new season," said Diane Moore, President of Windstar Cruises. "Windstar Cruises is committed to offering outstanding itineraries, unforgettable experiences, and exceptional value to those who sail with us."

Windstar's Signature Collection Host Series offers the opportunity to cruise with distinguished hosts including top chocolate artisan Fran Bigelow of Fran's Chocolates; renowned winemakers Jay Schuppert of Cuvaison Estate Wines and Eric Dunham of Dunham Cellars; San Francisco area restaurateur, author, national radio and television personality and host, Narsai David; authors and photographers Roger Paperno and Joe Wolff; and acclaimed restaurateurs Chef Don Curtiss and Michelle Quisenberry of Seattle's Volterra Restaurant and Chef Keith Luce of celebrated northwest restaurant, The Herbfarm.

In the fall of 2010, after round-trip sailings from St. Thomas in January through March, Wind Spirit will begin a new sailing round-trip out of St. Martin. This new sailing includes some afternoon disembarkations to allow more daylight sailing time and evenings in port, in response to guests' requests. Guests will also be able to enjoy sunset dinners alfresco at our poolside restaurant, Candles (now available on both the Wind Spirit and Wind Star). Wind Surf offers 7-day sailings roundtrip from Barbados and many other colorful ports of call. Guests will find ports full of charm, soothing waters, and vivid exotic surroundings on 7-day Costa Rican sailings roundtrip from Puerto Caldera. Wind Star's 14 and 15-day cruises feature a transit through the Panama Canal with ports of call in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean Islands.

European cruises offer guests the sophistication and refinement of some of the most historically significant places in the world on an assortment of 6-, 7- or 8-day cruises aboard Windstar's luxury yachts. In summer through early fall, Wind Star and Wind Spirit return to the Greek Isles where guests will revel in the beauty of the stunning blue waters, perfect white-sand beaches, and breathtaking architecture. Windstar's captivating new ports for 2010 and 2011 include Cagliari, Italy; Carloforto, Isola di San Pietro, Italy; Le Lavendou, France; Pylos, Greece; Zakynthos, Greece; Opatija, Croatia; Trogir, Croatia; Bastia, Corsica; Falmouth, Antigua; and Palau, Italy.

Windstar's Connoisseur Collection offers back-to-back itineraries allowing guests a decadent two-week sailing that rarely repeats a port. Guests looking for the soothing sounds of the sea and to get away from the hectic pace of their lives will be eager to book one of Windstar's 14-day transatlantic voyages.

A leader in defining the small ship luxury cruise experience for more than 20 years, Windstar has won the allegiance of a new generation of contemporary travelers who appreciate the line's luxurious accommodations, alternative dining venues, diversity of shore excursions, complimentary water sports program, deluxe spa facilities, and casual elegance. The recently completed multi-million dollar Degrees of Difference enhancements on all three ships focused on structural and technical operations along with upgrades to guest areas, remodeled bathrooms in staterooms and an expanded beauty salon and spa. In order to take the ship's comfort level to a new degree of luxury, Apple iPod Nanos and Bose SoundDock speakers, wireless Internet, flat screen televisions, luxury linens and mattresses as well as L'Occitane bathroom amenities were added in each stateroom across the fleet.

Windstar's award-winning reputation for sophisticated, yet casual elegance has been recognized by some of the most notable names in the travel world. Windstar was recently awarded "Favourite Small-Ship Cruise Line" in the U.K.'s Conde Nast Traveller's 2008 Readers' Travel Awards. Windstar received the highest score of any cruise line in the poll and was also only one of three cruise lines in Conde Nast Traveller's list of the "Top 100 of the Best the Travel World has to Offer." Celebrated Living, American Airlines' prestigious publication for first class passengers, named Windstar Cruises "Best Small-Ship/Mid-Ship Cruise Line" on their 2008 Platinum List for the second time in a row. Readers of Porthole Cruise Magazine awarded Windstar "Most Romantic Cruise Line" and "Best Tall Ship" in the 2008 10th Annual Readers' Choice Awards. Windstar has also earned top honors in Travel + Leisure's World's 2008 Best Awards and was lauded among "The World's Best Small Ships" by Conde Nast Traveler.

SOURCE Windstar Cruises