Carnival Cruise Lines, the world's largest cruise operator, will introduce the first year-round cruise schedule from Charleston, S.C., with the deployment of the 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy in May 2010.

Carnival Fantasy will operate five-, six- and seven-day voyages to The Bahamas and Key West, Fla., from the Passenger Terminal in historic downtown Charleston beginning May 18, 2010.

On Carnival Fantasy's new Charleston-based cruises, Carnival is expected to carry more than 140,000 passengers annually from the port. Including Charleston, Carnival Cruise Lines will operate from 20 North American homeports in 2010, with 12 year-round departure points - the most in cruising.

The new year-round departures from Charleston dramatically expand upon Carnival's decade-long relationship with the port. Previously, Carnival has operated seasonal voyages from Charleston, including two five-day departures on the Carnival Triumph this year and two on the Carnival Glory next year.

Charleston's centralized location within the Southeastern U.S., as well as the city's strong appeal as a tourist destination, were key factors in the decision to launch year-round service aboard the Carnival Fantasy.

"Charleston is an extraordinary city within easy reach of millions of U.S. residents who will now have convenient access to Carnival's fantastic and affordable cruise vacation options year-round," said Gerry Cahill, Carnival's president and CEO. "Our past experience with the Port of Charleston, which has a very efficient and conveniently located cruise terminal, has been outstanding."

"Carnival and this vessel fit perfectly with the internationally acclaimed Charleston tourism market, which draws cruise passengers from across the Southeast and beyond," said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the South Carolina State Ports Authority. "We have enjoyed a successful, long-standing relationship with Carnival, and we are very pleased to significantly expand that relationship with a year-round calendar. This commitment by Carnival underscores Charleston's cruise development potential."

New Year-Round Departures from Charleston

On its new Charleston-based program, Carnival Fantasy will operate five-, six- and seven-day voyages on a variety of departure days beginning May 18, 2010.

Five-day voyages departing Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays will call at Nassau and Freeport, The Bahamas. Six-day voyages departing Saturdays will visit Freeport, Nassau and Key West, Fla. Seven-day voyages depart Saturdays and will feature Grand Turk, the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay, and Nassau.

Each of these tropical destinations has a character all its own and offers a wide range of snorkeling, fishing and water sports opportunities, as well as beautiful beaches and a distinctive island ambiance.

Carnival Elation to Mobile

Carnival Fantasy is currently based in New Orleans and is scheduled to transfer to Mobile for a program of four- and five-day cruises that will operate from that port from Nov. 10, 2009 through May 10, 2010.

Replacing the Carnival Fantasy in Mobile will be its sister ship, the 2,052-passenger Carnival Elation, which will reposition from San Diego to launch year-round service from that port May 15, 2010. In addition to four- and five-day cruises from Mobile, Carnival Elation will operate a series of seven-day Western Caribbean voyages in spring, summer and fall 2010.

Prior to the start-up of its new Mobile-based program, Carnival Elation will sail on a 15-day Panama Canal cruise departing from San Diego April 30. Guests will have the option of debarking the vessel in Tampa on May 14 or in Mobile on May 15. Featured ports will include Cabo San Lucas and Acapulco, Mexico; and Puntarenas, Costa Rica; followed by a Panama Canal transit; and visits to Cartagena, Colombia; and George Town, Grand Cayman.

Truly a 'Fun Ship'

The namesake vessel in Carnival's 70,000-ton Fantasy-class, the Carnival Fantasy offers a host of on-board amenities and facilities: a 12,000-square-foot health spa, extensive children's facilities for kids in three age groups - Camp Carnival (2-11), Circle "C" (12-14) and Club O2 (15-17), a variety of formal and casual dining options and 12 lounges and bars.

Also featured is Carnival WaterWorks, an expansive, all-ages aqua park featuring a 300-foot-long water slide, 82-foot-long dual racing slides and a splash zone. Carnival Fantasy also offers Serenity, an exclusive adults-only retreat, and a resort-style main pool area.

An Internet cafe with ship-wide Wi-Fi access and cell phone service are also available.

The ship also offers a variety of spacious accommodations, all of which feature the Carnival Comfort Bed sleep system with plush mattresses, luxurious duvets and high quality linens and pillows.

Reservations

Carnival will begin accepting reservations on the Carnival Fantasy's new year-round departures from Charleston on Thursday, September 17. For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.

Source: Carnival

Luxury specialist Crystal Cruises is expanding its innovative Computer University@Sea programming with the brand new Windows 7((R)) operating system, and more options for guests earning college credit during the World Cruise.

This fall, the line will offer classes based on Microsoft's Windows 7((R)), exclusively available on both ships - a month before the operating system will be available to the public. Additionally, guests aboard Crystal Serenity's 2010 World Cruise will be able to earn three transferable college credits for various computer courses, and can learn using two different operating systems, Microsoft and Apple.

The Windows 7((R) )classes will be taught by Crystal's Computer University@Sea instructors, and cover basic computing and valuable tips for mastering the operating system and maximizing ease and efficiency. The collegiate courses aboard the World Cruise, taught by an instructor from Del Mar College, include:

• Components of the System Unit
• Computer Storage Devices
• Database Management
• Privacy and Ethics
  

"Our guests expect sophisticated enrichment that includes progressive programming and the latest equipment," says Thomas Mazloum, Crystal's senior vice president, hotel operations. "We continue to strive to offer the very highest level of curriculum, as well as options to suit virtually any interest."

Every Crystal Cruise offers complimentary instruction on the Windows 7((R)) operating system, e-mail, website design, digital video editing, digital camera orientation, Photoshop, and even surfing the Web. Other topics include Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint, greeting and business card design, and various financial research tools and spreadsheet preparation. Private instruction is also available. There is a nominal fee for those wishing to earn collegiate credit.

Renowned for its onboard enrichment, Crystal also offers varied, comprehensive programming on every worldwide itinerary, including keyboard classes through Yamaha and language classes through Berlitz. World Cruise segments feature expanded options, with additional lectures and classes.

The epic 108-day 2010 World Cruise departs Miami on January 11, and visits such exotic destinations as South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Iran, among more than 40 ports in 37 countries. For terms and conditions and Crystal reservations, contact a travel agent, call 888-799-4625, or visit www.crystalcruises.com.

Source: Crystal Cruises

Over 60 percent of travel agents report their cruise wedding business has increased in the last two years. Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) member lines report increases of as much as 60 percent in the last decade. More and more cruise lines offer shipboard wedding packages, amenities and wedding planning services, including legal marriages performed by ships' captains virtually anywhere in the world.

Couples have gotten the message that a cruise can be the setting for an ideal destination wedding -- an easily planned, fully-personalized marriage ceremony, reception and honeymoon all rolled into one convenient package. The options are boundless: a shipboard wedding on embarkation day followed by a honeymoon for two; a shoreside wedding on a tropical beach; or a sunset marriage ceremony at sea with everyone in the wedding party enjoying the entire cruise are among the many choices.

Whatever the plan -- a wedding close in the Caribbean or Bahamas on one of the newest and largest ships in the CLIA fleet or on an all-suite luxury vessel in Europe or the South Seas -- couples and wedding planners will find outstanding value at every price level, often with costs significantly less than a similar land-based wedding and reception. It is even possible to charter an intimate luxury yacht or elegant river cruise ship and have total control over all the details, even the itinerary. And, besides weddings, many CLIA lines offer honeymoon and vow renewal packages, bachelor and bachelorette parties, even programs for "popping the question" -- the ultimate engagement party at sea.

To gauge the significance of the cruise wedding market and its trends, CLIA recently surveyed those who sell approximately 90 percent of all cruises. More than three hundred travel agents provided their input on who they are booking destination weddings at sea for and what their wedding clients are looking for. Here are the highlights of the findings:

• Almost 40 percent of travel agents have sold shipboard or destination wedding cruises
• Cruise weddings are getting more popular: Travel agents report booking more day-of-embarkation wedding cruises (18.3 percent); more shipboard weddings with guests going along for the cruise (22.1 percent) and more in-port weddings during the cruise (18.3 percent)
• Over 60 percent of agents report their cruise wedding business has increased in the last two years
• The best reasons to have a cruise wedding? Almost 35 percent of agents say their clients want to combine a wedding with a honeymoon; over 23 percent said value offered by cruise lines was the top reason
• For romance, nothing beats the Caribbean/Bahamas: Over 80 percent of agents rank this destination as the overwhelming favorite among cruise wedding clientele
• The typical wedding cruise is a seven-day voyage in the Caribbean and/or The Bahamas, on a large cruise ship with less than ten guests in the group. However, almost 30 percent of agents report booking wedding groups of 10 to 20 guests and over 10 percent book wedding parties of 20 to 30, and some cruise lines have reported wedding parties of as much as 200
• The typical cruise wedding clientele are mid-priced travelers aged 44 or younger who book eight to 10 months ahead
  

Here is a sampling of how CLIA member lines cater to bridal couples and other romantic travelers:

AZAMARA CRUISES

Azamara offers legal, captain-led wedding ceremonies, vow renewals and in-port wedding programs. Partnering with The Wedding Experience, a variety of packages feature everything from private receptions in the ship's specialty restaurant to cake, Champagne and more. Guests should book in advance to ensure processing of legal documents and licenses.

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES

Some 2,300 couples will take advantage of Carnival's all-inclusive wedding packages this year, a 50 percent increase from a decade ago. Carnival's wedding programs include an official civil ceremony, reception and other value-added features and can be tailored to the couple's wishes. Shipboard ceremonies are available on embarkation day in Carnival's U.S. ports and many Caribbean destinations. Vow renewal packages are also available.

CELEBRITY CRUISES

Celebrity's most popular wedding package is the "Nautical Nuptials" program featuring a captain-led wedding ceremony at sea offered on all Celebrity ships except Celebrity Xpedition. Other packages available include a "Bridesmaids' Tea Party," a "Cigar and Cognac Party," a "Test the Waters" package and a "Welcome Reception." Vow renewal celebrations are also offered.

COSTA CRUISES

Costa's cruise weddings take place while the ship is in port, either onboard or on land, with the company's wedding planners taking care of all the details. Couples may invite guests to join the full cruise or simply spend wedding day with the bride and groom. Among the choices are a "Caribbean Island Wedding" in a beach or garden location, or an "Italian Shipboard Wedding" in keeping with Costa's romantic heritage.

CRYSTAL CRUISES

Crystal offers captain-led wedding vow renewal ceremonies and it is rare that one of the company's ships sails without at least one honeymoon couple. Focusing on helping guests plan and enjoy a completely customized honeymoon rather than a pre-packaged program, Crystal offers such romantic options as a candlelight dinner on a suite's verandah, onboard florists, a portrait studio and private shore excursions.

DISNEY CRUISE LINE

Guests on Disney Cruise Line can exchange vows onboard the ship or step ashore for a romantic beach-side ceremony on the line's private island paradise, Castaway Cay. With a magical Fairy-Godmother functioning as wedding planner, Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings handles all the details, including floral arrangements, elegant cakes and Champagne toasts. For many couples, Disney is also the ultimate honeymoon experience.

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE

Holland America offers a Wedding Package as part of its Group Advantage Program (GAP). The wedding couple enjoys a free stateroom upgrade and a commemorative wedding cake with at least eight staterooms booked and the entire group enjoys numerous amenities, including a Pinnacle Grill lunch, private wine tastings, and chocolate-covered strawberries and Chase Limogere Brut in their staterooms.

MSC CRUISES

MSC offers a variety of amenity packages to enhance cruise honeymoons and other romantic occasions. These range from a bottle of Asti Spumante and a special fruit basket or a bottle of Ferrari Perle and cold canapes, to a "Romantic Sunrise" -- Champagne in commemorative flutes, orange juice and pastries -- to a "Romantic Sunset" -- Champagne in commemorative flutes and chocolate-covered strawberries.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE

Norwegian offers two wedding packages -- "Onboard Aisles" and "On Shore Aisles" -- available in ports in the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico and Bermuda. Both include a ceremony conducted by a local official plus all the features of a wedding, from music to wedding cake and sparkling wine. Norwegian also offers vow renewal packages and an "Engagement Aisles" program for the ultimate proposal at sea.

PAUL GAUGUIN CRUISES

French Polynesia in the South Seas is the setting for "A Lifetime of Memories" as the staff of Paul Gauguin create an unforgettably romantic event for honeymooners or those celebrating an anniversary. Among the features are a celebratory bottle of Champagne, a Polynesian blessing ceremony performed by Les Gauguines, an exclusive pillow gift and a photo portrait.

PRINCESS CRUISES

Princess pioneered weddings at sea more than a decade ago, and since then ship captains have married thousands of couples while sailing in locations around the globe. The unique "Tie the Knot at Sea" program offers ceremonies in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Alaska and other exotic locales, which couples can customize with live music, flowers and reception options. In addition, a harborside option enables couples to be married in port, and ashore weddings are available in a variety of scenic ports.

REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES

Guests wishing to make customized wedding plans in conjunction with a Regent Seven Seas cruise may use the services of Royal Ocean Events, which can handle all the details and requests. A honeymooner package features a letter of congratulations from the captain, Veuve Clicquot Champagne and caviar, in-suite canapes every afternoon, a miniature wedding cake and Leonidas chocolates and more.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL

In addition to a "Royal Romance" package featuring a one-hour wedding ceremony onboard ship or on shore on embarkation day, couples on Royal Caribbean can exchange vows while climbing the ships' rock walls or ice-skating or even catching the waves on the shipboard Flowrider. Shoreside wedding venues include the glaciers of Alaska, European castles, rainforests and an Italian vineyard.

SEADREAM YACHT CLUB

SeaDream offers two wedding vow renewal ceremonies -- one designed for couples only, the other for as many as 12 guests -- and both conducted by the yacht's captain. Iced Champagne and canapes, a cake and flowers add special touches to the elegance of an elegant luxury yacht experience. SeaDream points out four couples who have completed the legal process at home, the shipboard vow renewal ceremony can serve as a wedding.

UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER CRUISES

Offering an intimate and elegant atmosphere, Uniworld's boutique hotel-style ships provide the ideal situation for couples to charter the vessel and create the wedding of their dreams. Uniworld can accommodate 82 to 160 guests, depending on the ship, and offers flexibility to customize itineraries and inclusions. Short of this, Uniworld river cruise itineraries are perfectly suited for honeymooners whether they want to explore Europe or even the treasures of the Nile in Egypt.

WINDSTAR CRUISES

Windstar invites couples celebrating honeymoons, renewing wedding vows or honoring a special anniversary to discover romance at sea. Chilled Champagne, chocolate-dipped seasonal fruit, breakfast in bed, "Time for Two" massages and elegant dinners for two at sunset are among the amenities featured on the line that has been named "Most Romantic Cruise Line" by Porthole Magazine.

Please visit CLIA's Website at www.cruising.org for more information on weddings at sea and to find a CLIA-certified travel agent near you.

SOURCE Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)

5+design was a key player on the design team behind the recently launched Celebrity Equinox, the second vessel in the Celebrity Class, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines' largest and most innovative ships. When the Celebrity Solstice first launched in November of 2008, the new class quickly became the new benchmark for the industry.

With the design of the Equinox's retail armature, the main spine of the ship, which includes the Fortunes Casino, the Galleria Tastings wine and aperitif venue, the Art Gallery featuring an extensive on-board collection, and a two-level retail arcade, the 5+design team drew on their experience designing Solstice, observations on how people use the spaces, and guest feedback. Yet, as designer Sharon Huang notes, "People are always excited to see new things on the next ship, our Equinox design reflects that understanding."

For Celebrity the Solstice Class of ships represents the most sophisticated and elegant manifestation of their brand, offering an exceptional range of services and amenities that bring the highest level of luxury, style, comfort and choice to its 2,850 guests. That intense focus on the on-board guest experience is what shaped the design for 5+design as they collaborated with Celebrity's in-house team and five other internationally recognized design firms.

"We have been fortunate to work with Celebrity as they endeavor to refine their product by fine tuning and upgrading their design," says Tim Magill, who led the 5+design team. "As they continue to build all five of the ships of the series, Celebrity has asked us to take additional spaces on the ship up to an even higher level of experience, unlike anything that is currently offered in the cruise ship industry."

5+design's goal is not only to emulate the best of land-based resorts, but to surpass the typical five star experience in terms of architectural design, quality of materials, and overall atmosphere. Combine the design with Celebrity's service and the beauty of their sea routes -- the result is an unforgettable vacation experience.

5+design is an international design studio offering services in architecture, urban design, planning and interiors. With offices in Hollywood, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Dubai, the firm is working on mixed-use, retail, entertainment and residential projects globally. For more information visit: www.5plusdesign.com.

Holland America Line's ms Zaandam is set to discover the Hawaiian Island chain in 2010 with Circle Hawaii itineraries that offer guests the best of both worlds: luxuriously relaxing days at sea and exotic islands to explore. The 1,432-passenger ship will sail five 14-day roundtrip San Diego, Calif., cruises and one 15-day voyage from Vancouver, British Colombia, to San Diego. The sailings are from October through December.

Nestled between two stretches of sea days are back-to-back calls at Hawaii, Oahu, Kauai and Maui -- plus a call at Ensenada, Mexico -- before returning to San Diego. Included in the Hawaii cruise roster is a holiday sailing departing Dec. 19.

"Our Hawaiian itineraries combine the appeal of warm-water cruising and a port-intensive Pacific island experience," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs, Holland America Line. "Guests will have time to enjoy our shipboard amenities and activities, and the convenience of visiting four ports in four days without multiple flights or the packing and unpacking associated with island hopping."

Departing Sundays from San Diego, guests will have several relaxing days at sea before arriving at Hawaii. During this time, they can enjoy a day at the Greenhouse Spa, channel their inner chef at the Culinary Arts Center for a hands-on cooking class or attend a Digital Workshop powered by Windows(R) to learn how to share memorable photos taken on the voyage. The Speaker Series offers exciting insights into upcoming ports and includes destination-related topics such as Polynesian music and dance traditions.

The first port call is to Hilo on the big island of Hawaii where guests can visit one of Hawaii's best-known landmarks -- Kilauea Volcano -- with its impressive molten lava flows. Other highlights include world-class botanical gardens and the awe-inspiring Akaka Falls. As Zaandam makes its way to Honolulu, the state capital, guests can enjoy an evening at the Polynesian Cultural Centers or other Hawaiian must-dos: whale watching, a traditional Hawaiian luau, a stroll down Waikiki beach or even surfing. For a more reflective view into Hawaii's past, guests can visit the USS Arizona Memorial from World War II.

On route to Nawiliwili, Kauai, cruisers are in for spectacular views as Zaandam sails along the island's dramatic Na Pali Coast. Upon reaching Nawiliwili guests can visit Waimea Canyon (the Grand Canyon of the Pacific) or get an aerial view of the island on a helicopter tour. Thrill-seekers can book a zipline tour through the forest canopy for a unique perspective of the island's inspiring natural setting.

At Lahaina, Maui, guests can explore the stunning beaches and a magnificent volcano, or spend the day shopping at chic boutiques and galleries.

Those sailing on the 15-day voyage departing Oct. 2 have an added call at Kona, once known as the playground of Hawaii's royalty. Kona is synonymous with the famous coffee that grows on the slopes of dormant Hualalai volcano, a definite must-see for coffee aficionados. Another highlight of this longer voyage is an evening scenic cruise past the famous Kilauea volcano.

Cruise fares begin at $1,499 per person for the full 14-day Circle Hawaii and $1,699 per person for the 15-day voyage.

For a cruise brochure or for more information on Holland America Line's Grand Voyages, consult a professional travel agent, call 1-800-522-3399 or visit www.hollandamerica.com.

Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook and the Holland America Blog. Access all social media outlets via the Online Communities quick link on the home page at www.hollandamerica.com.

Source: Holland America Line

Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises announced the winners of their annual environmental awards. For Royal Caribbean, Liberty of the Seas was selected as both the Environmental Ship of the Year and the Environmentally Innovative Ship of the Year. For Celebrity Cruises, the Celebrity Mercury was selected as the Environmental Ship of the Year, and the Celebrity Infinity was selected as the Environmentally Innovative Ship of the Year.

"Competing for these awards encourage and reward crew members who progressively advance their ships' environmental performance in ways that go above and beyond regulatory compliance," said Jamie Sweeting, vice president of Environmental Stewardship for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "I congratulate our winners and thank all of our crew members for doing so much to protect the oceans in which we sail," Sweeting said.

In its tenth year, this annual fleet-wide competition underscores Royal Caribbean and Celebrity's long-standing commitment to environmental innovation and improvement. For the first time, a panel of judges conducted the impartial evaluation for the award. The panel was comprised of leading oceanographic, marine biology, and policy experts, who reviewed the information provided by Royal Caribbean's 20 ships, Celebrity Cruises' nine ships and Azamara Cruises' two ships to determine the award winners based on their comparative performance.

The ships were judged on five rigorous environmental criteria established by Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises. These included environmental performance, timeliness and effectiveness of corrective actions related to audit findings, reports of near incidents and nonconformities, submission of environmental status reports, performance of environmental equipment and innovative thinking. For each of these criteria, ships were scored individually and then ranked against one another to determine the winning ships in each fleet.

This year, Royal Caribbean International's Liberty of the Seas won both the Environmental Ship of the Year and Environmentally Innovative Ship of the Year Awards for its excellent overall performance, having one of the most thorough and wide-ranging environmental programs of the entire fleet. The crew members demonstrated an exemplary level of commitment to saving energy, reducing waste, and increasing their amount of recycled materials. There was a particular emphasis on learning and continuous improvement that included establishing a water and energy savings team, as well as educating staff on how freshwater is produced onboard and how wastewaters are treated.

For Celebrity Cruises, Mercury received top honors in the Environmental Ship of the Year Award for its energy conservation, recycling efforts and reuse initiatives. The Mercury was bestowed the award most notably for its compliance and waste management, especially in the face of a challenging itinerary. The ship's staff worked to establish recycling in numerous countries along its cruise track. Celebrity Infinity was awarded the Environmentally Innovative Ship of the Year Award for effectively demonstrating how day-to-day operational changes can be coupled with smart onboard insight and engineering to produce an innovative approach to energy savings in cooling the ship. Adding to their improvement is their continued strong efforts in recycling, management of waste streams, and the environmental honors received.

The winning ships receive an award they can display year-round, and get to select a non-profit organization that will receive a cash donation on their behalf. The organizations selected by the Environmental Ships of the Year received a $10,000 donation, and $5,000 goes to the organizations selected by the Environmentally Innovative Ships of the Year.

SOURCE Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Crystal Cruises is unveiling its first ever Crystal Overland Adventures from Ashdod on its Holy Land cruise this fall. A choice of three three-night journeys transport travelers to such revered sites as the 2,000 year old Rose City of Petra, the Pharaohs' tombs in Luxor's Valley of the Kings and the Dead Sea, among other astonishing destinations where Christian, Jewish and Islamic civilizations took root. The 12-day cruise sails from Athens to Venice October 8 aboard Crystal Serenity, with visits to Santorini, Rhodes, Corfu and Dubrovnik.

"With more than five millennia of history to explore, guests are able to lose themselves in the rich culture of these destinations with completely authentic experiences, and three full days to soak it all in," says John Stoll, director, land programs.

Rejoining the ship in Alexandria, Egypt, all three of the new programs feature the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem's Time Elevator and Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Sphinx and Great Pyramid of Giza, plus Cairo's Egyptian Museum, with more than 100,000 relics. Attractions specific to each program include:

• NEW! Israel, Petra & Cairo - Jordan's Petra, the archaeological site hidden for thousands of years, and whose only entrance is through the Siq, a narrow gorge of spectacular beauty;
• NEW! Israel, Luxor & Cairo - Luxor's Valley of Kings, where Tutankhamen's tomb was unearthed; and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the only female pharaoh in history; and
• NEW! Israel In-depth & Cairo - Masada, a fortress built by King Herod; and the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth with more salt and minerals than any other body of water in the world.

shown above: Petra archaeological site in Jordan

The cruise features an Ancient Civilizations Experiences of Discovery focus with guest archeologists and experts providing regional background on board, as well as during select excursions ashore. More than a dozen partial- and full-day excursions from Ashdod are also offered, several of them brand new.

Fares for the Israel and Egypt Crystal Overland Adventures start at $3,679 per person; cruise fares start at $4,940 per person, both double occupancy, including $1,000 per person All Inclusive - As You Wish onboard credits.

For terms and conditions and Crystal reservations, contact a travel agent, call 888-799-4625, or visit crystalcruises.com.

Source: Crystal Cruises

Fall in love with Europe and Cruising Italian Style this autumn on a cruise with Costa, Europe's Number One Cruise Line. Incredible fares for 7-night sailings beginning at just $449 per person come complete with visits to some of the old world's most celebrated destinations including Venice, Rome, Barcelona and Naples. Travelers may choose from sailings on the Costa Pacifica, recently inaugurated in June; new sister ships Costa Serena and Costa Concordia; Costa Fortuna, Costa Victoria and Costa Romantica. Attractive fares are available throughout September, October and November.

Seven-night sailings aboard the Costa Fortuna, feature fares as low as $449 on November 9 from Venice with stops in Bari, Katakolon (Olympia), Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes and Dubrovnik. Costa's newest ship, the Costa Pacifica features fares as low as $779 departing on September 27 from Civitavecchia (Rome) with stops in Savona, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Tunisia, Valletta and Palermo. This innovative new ship is inspired by music and features its own recording studio as well as an exclusive soundtrack created for it by one of Italy's most famed composers.

"In-the-know travelers have long realized that fall is one of the best times for European travel with its lower airfares, fewer crowds and mild temperatures," said Maurice Zarmati, president and ceo of Costa Cruise Lines--North America. "To top it off, these cruises average around $56 per day per person and come complete with accommodations, meals and entertainment. You simply can't find a land-based vacation that comes near the value."

Costa offers a "true European experience" to travelers, combining the charm of the old world with incredible innovations of today. This special brand of Italian warmth and European sophistication makes cruising with Costa much more than a voyage to a new and exciting destination - it's an experience that creates lifetime memories that linger and make guests smile at unexpected moments. From delectable fresh pastas, warm cappuccinos, international guests who become friends from around the world and charming Italian greetings travelers hear such as "buongiorno" and "buonasera," sailing with Costa brings the passion and vitality of Italy to sea.

For complete information regarding Costa's autumn European cruise specials, guests may contact a travel agent, call (800) GO-COSTA or visit www.costacruises.com. Guests in North America may also find Costa on facebook at www.facebook.com/costacruises.na.

Source: Costa Cruises

Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK) announced today that members of the Arison family and certain related entities, including trusts organized by members of the Arison family, have advised Carnival Corporation that they plan to sell up to 8.5 million shares of Carnival Corporation Common Stock in market sales, representing up to approximately 1% of the total combined voting rights of Carnival Corporation & plc.

Of the shares planned for sale, up to 5 million shares are held either directly or indirectly by Micky Arison, the company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. If all the shares covered by the sales plan are sold, the Arison family and related entities will remain beneficial owners of approximately 220 million shares, constituting approximately 28% of the total combined voting rights of Carnival Corporation & plc.

The sellers have advised Carnival Corporation that they are selling for tax planning, estate planning and diversification purposes. In connection with the sales, the sellers are expected to enter into one or more sales plans under Rule 10b5-l. Rule 10b5-l permits the creation of written plans for buying or selling stock at a time when insiders are not in possession of material non-public information. Once a plan is established, the insider does not retain or exercise any discretion over sales of stock under the plan and the preplanned trades can be executed at later dates as set forth in the plan, without regard to any subsequent material non-public information that the insider might receive.

Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest cruise vacation group in the world, with a portfolio of cruise brands in North America, Europe and Australia, comprised of Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, The Yachts of Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Ibero Cruises, Ocean Village, P&O Cruises and P&O Cruises Australia.

Together, these brands operate 92 ships totaling approximately 177,000 lower berths with 13 new ships scheduled to be delivered between September 2009 and June 2012. Carnival Corporation & plc also operates Holland America Tours and Princess Tours, the leading tour companies in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Traded on both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation & plc is the only group in the world to be included in both the S&P 500 and the FTSE 100 indices.

Source: Carnival Cruises PLC

The Voyages of the Great Explorers - the Cruise West yearlong world cruise that launches in March 2010 -- will feature lectures and presentations by noted travel experts from the Smithsonian Journeys on select segments of the epic world voyage.

Cruise West and Smithsonian Journeys will develop the lecture series for 10 of the 24 distinct itineraries of the yearlong cruise highlighting such exotic locales as Singapore, Rome, Alexandria, Istanbul and Mumbai. Smithsonian Journeys experts will lead in-depth discussions and presentations on each region's rich history and culture.

The Voyages of the Great Explorers is a collection of distinct voyages that reflects the exploits of the legendary seafarers. Booked separately or as a complete journey, each segment offers historical insights into the sea commanders who first made history along the same routes.

"A world journey deserves world-class lecturers and guides," said Dietmar Wertanzl, president and CEO of Cruise West. "We recognized early on that a lecture series provided by Smithsonian Journeys would be a perfect complement for our adventure, given their long experience with onboard enrichment augmented by speakers recognized as authorities on our destinations. Working together, we can better achieve our mutual objective -- to educate people in the arts, history, sciences and culture through rich travel experiences."

Smithsonian Journeys, the Smithsonian Institution's educational travel program, feature top experts who are passionate about their subjects and delight in sharing their knowledge in lively, informative lectures and informal discussions.

Specific voyages featuring the Smithsonian Journeys' Lecture Series include:

-- Voyage 2, 16-nights Song of India Chennai to Mumbai departing March 20, 2010, starts at $9,995

-- Voyage 4, 18-nights Pharaohs and Prophets Muscat to Alexandria departing April 17, 2010, starts at $10,695

-- Voyage 5, 14-nights Isles of the Turquoise Coast Alexandria to Istanbul departing May 4, 2010, starts at $11,595

-- Voyage 6, 14-nights Echoes of Odysseus Istanbul to Venice departing May 17, 2010, starts at $11,595

-- Voyage 7, 12-nights Pax Romana Venice to Valetta departing May 30, 2010, starts at $9,995

-- Voyage 8, 13-nights, Romans & Carthaginians Valletta to Rome departing June 10, 2010, starts at $9,595

-- Voyage 18, 9-nights Sojourn to Easter Island Guayaquil to Easter Island departing October 24, 2010, starts at $3,895

-- Voyage 22, 17-nights Discovering the Maori Coast Auckland to Sydney, December 15, 2010, starts at $14,395 (also a holiday cruise)

-- Voyage 23, 19-nights, The Land Down Under Sydney to Darwin December 31, 2010, starts at $10,695

-- Voyage 24, 16-nights Dragons and Spice Darwin to Singapore, January 18, 2011, starts at $10,995

Prices per voyage include a hotel night pre-cruise. For maximum savings, guests can book and pay in full by October 15 and save up to 21 percent. Guests who book more than one voyage save an additional five percent. For guests who book the entire voyage starting at $230,295, Cruise West will include first class airfare.

Other features of the partnership include select books and DVD's provided by Smithsonian Enterprises and a sweepstakes for a cabin for two on the Voyage Three, 14-nights Treasures of Persia traveling from Mumbai to Muscat, April 4-18, 2010. Sweepstakes information is listed in the September issue of Smithsonian magazine and online at www.Smithsonianmag.com/winatrip.

Departing Singapore on March 5, 2010, Cruise West's flagship -- the 120-guest, all-suite Spirit of Oceanus -- will sail westward to return to Singapore on February 3, 2011. For further details on The Voyages of the Great Explorers itineraries, visit www.CruiseWest.com, call 800-296-8307 or a travel professional.

Source: Cruise West