mercedes

Great pictures, thanks for sharing.

Ideal weather year-round, dozens of picture-perfect tropical islands, incomparable beaches, boundless shopping bargains and easy proximity to a growing number of cities on America’s coastlines have made the Caribbean the world’s biggest, most popular cruise destination. As many Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) members showcase their newest ships on appealing Caribbean itineraries this winter and throughout 2010, vacationers have numerous opportunities to take advantage of unbeatable last minute bargains, early booking savings and some of the best year-round vacation values anywhere in the world, across all price categories of cruising. With Port Everglades, Port Canaveral and Miami at the top of the list, CLIA members offer Caribbean itineraries from easily reached embarkation ports on the East Coast and Gulf Coasts. Among the newer places to board a spectacular cruise ship to the tropics are Baltimore, Charleston, Mobile and others. For West Coast residents, a Caribbean cruise is just a short flight away. A growing number of ports in the Caribbean region also offer the opportunity to visit as many islands as possible – in some cases, seven in seven days. Here are some of the newest developments in Caribbean cruises: AZAMARA CRUISES - Azamara Journey will sail a variety of Caribbean, Panama Canal and first-ever Sea of Cortez voyages between November 2010 and April 2011. The season features 23 ports in 13 different countries. The 12-night Caribbean itineraries are roundtrip from Miami, visiting ports in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, St. Martin, St. Kitts, Guadeloupe, St. Barts, St. Lucia and Dominica. Sixteen-night Panama Canal voyages sail between Miami and San Diego. CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES - The largest Carnival ship ever constructed, the 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream launches year-round Caribbean service from Port Canaveral in December. Carnival also is increasing its capacity from Mobile, Alabama by 42 percent with the deployment of the Carnival Fantasy in November (to be replaced by Carnival Elation in May 2010) and by 34 percent from New Orleans when Carnival Triumph begins new Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises in November. And, beginning in May 2010, Carnival Fantasy will launch the first year-round cruise schedule from Charleston. CELEBRITY CRUISES - The 2,850-passenger Celebrity Equinox, the company’s newest arrival, makes her debut in the Caribbean this winter with 10- and 11-night cruises from Port Everglades. Celebrity guests also have more East Coast ports to choose from, including Baltimore, Charleston and Bayonne (for Bermuda cruises) and can take advantage of lower airfares to San Juan where Celebrity Summit visits no fewer than five ports in a week. Celebrity Solstice will sail year-round in the Caribbean starting this winter. COSTA CRUISES - With sailings from Fort Lauderdale, Costa Atlantica returns to the Caribbean with new, exclusive spa accommodations that feature personalized wellness consultations, complimentary spa treatments, fitness or meditation classes, complimentary access to the Wellness Restaurant and more. Guests on Costa Atlantica and Costa Fortuna can also take advantage of “Italy in the Tropics” with a “Free Upgrade” promotion and the popular “Kids Sail Free” program. CUNARD LINE - Cunard is looking ahead to the 2010 Caribbean season and the arrival of its newest ship, the Queen Elizabeth, which will offer a debut 22-day Caribbean voyage roundtrip from Southampton departing December 14. The itinerary includes inaugural calls in Madeira, Tortola, Dominca, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua and the Azores. Queen Mary 2’s 2010 season will feature three different itineraries, all roundtrip from New York and varying in length from 10- to 15 days. HOLLAND AMERICA LINE - Offering diversity and a breadth of itinerary lengths from seven to 14 days, Holland America Line has nine ships sailing the Caribbean on 126 cruises from January to May and October to December. The line's newest ship, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, will offer seven-day western and eastern itineraries. Homeports are Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa. Some cruises include the Panama Canal and nearly all include the line's award-winning private island of Half Moon Cay, Bahamas. MSC CRUISES - Vacationers have until October 31 to take advantage of MSC Cruises’ “Last-Minute” deals on select Caribbean cruises aboard the MSC Poesia. The five- and ten-night itineraries from Fort Lauderdale feature the southern or eastern Caribbean or Panama. For bookings made by October 16, complimentary balcony stateroom upgrades are available on select voyages. This year marks the Caribbean debut of the 1,275-passenger Poesia, which will offer cruises of three- to ten nights. NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE - Next year marks the arrival of Norwegian Epic, Norwegian’s largest and most innovative ship, which will begin her inaugural Caribbean season in July with alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries available as seven-day individual sailings or 14-day combined sailings and offered through April 2011. Norwegian also will seasonally homeport the 1,936-passenger Norwegian Sun in Port Canaveral beginning October 2010 for seven-day eastern and western Caribbean itineraries. OCEANIA CRUISES - Three of Oceania’s seven Caribbean itineraries for 2010/2011 will be new, including a 10-day “Mayan Mystique” voyage of the western Caribbean; a 14-day “Southern Treasures” cruise featuring overnights in Bermuda and Charleston; and a new springtime Panama Canal sailing. In addition, there will be two departures –November 27 and March 19 – for the 24-day “Amazon Adventure” and a 12-day holiday voyage. An introductory offer expiring March 31 includes free air and two-for-one pricing. PRINCESS CRUISES - Princess will sail six ships on 13 Caribbean itineraries ranging from seven to 14 days this winter, with 129 departures visiting more than 25 ports in these fabled islands. Ruby Princess will take over the line’s 10-day eastern and southern Caribbean itineraries, offering some of the less-visited ports in the region. Crown Princess’s western Caribbean itinerary will feature Roatan, Honduras. Grand Princess returns with an extensive 14-day Caribbean Collection route and Sea Princess will again sail on 14-day voyages from Barbados. REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES - Regent will be offering a full season of Caribbean cruises from December to April this winter aboard the newly-refurbished Seven Seas Navigator. During the 2009 refurbishment the ship received two brand new restaurants (Prime 7 and La Veranda) as well as a Canyon Ranch SpaClub®.All roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, the cruises feature 2-for-1 fares, free air from 22 North American gateways, free Unlimited Shore Excursions and government fees and taxes included in the fare. ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL - Royal welcomes the largest ship in the world, the 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas, to Fort Lauderdale in November when the ship begins year-round Caribbean cruises. Looking ahead, sister ship Allure of the Seas joins the company’s Caribbean fleet for the 2010-11 Caribbean season, which will feature year-round voyages from such ports as Port Everglades, Port of Miami, Port Canaveral, and San Juan, Puerto Rico; seasonal voyages from ports ranging from Cape Liberty to Galveston; and over 20 short itineraries to 15 ports in the Caribbean. SEABOURN CRUISES - Seabourn is canceling a planned five-month deployment of Seabourn Legend in the Indian Ocean late next year. Instead, after summering in Europe, the 208-guest, all-suite Legend will return to the Americas and sail to Seabourn’s “Uncommon Caribbean” in late 2010 and early 2011, making seven- to 14-day voyages from Fort Lauderdale and St. Thomas. With “Yachting Collection Savings,” all- inclusive fares will start at $1,999 for a 277-square foot ocean-view suite. SEADREAM YACHT CLUB - As in previous years, 2009 and 2010 will find the small, 56-couple, mega-yacht cruisers SeaDream I and II sailing in the Caribbean in the winter months, calling not only at vibrant port cities, but at small and exclusive seaside towns and villages where the big passenger ships can’t go. The ships will sail the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico’s Virgin Islands; French West Indies, Netherlands Antilles and the Windward and Leeward Islands, with convenient Caribbean embarkation and debarkation ports. SILVERSEA CRUISES - Travelers should plan ahead for the 2010 Caribbean season of Silversea's brand new vessel, Silver Spirit. Beginning with a 7-day day round-trip voyage from Bridgetown, Barbados, visiting Dominica, St. Bart's, St. Kitts and Bequia, the ship, will five additional voyages, ranging in length from 9 -14 days. Silversea also offers a variety of golf programs on Caribbean/Mexico itineraries as well as culinary theme cruises featuring celebrity chefs and cooking demonstrations. WINDSTAR CRUISES - Windstar Cruises premieres a new 7-day St. Martin roundtrip itinerary this season on the 148-guest Wind Spirit. Each week from December through March, Wind Spirit will sail roundtrip from St. Martin offering guests pristine beaches, lively island culture, lush tropics and additional daytime sailing. Port of calls include St. Kitts, Tortola, Jost Van ######, Virgin Gorda and St. Barts. The 312-guest Wind Surf offers 7-day roundtrip sailings from Barbados.

When Royal Caribbean International officially names Oasis of the Seas - the world's largest and most revolutionary cruise ship - on Nov. 30, 2009 from Port Everglades Cruise Terminal in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the renowned cruise line will be doing more than making wishes come true for vacationers, it will be granting wishes for children across the country through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Royal Caribbean will be hosting an inaugural celebration-fundraiser onboard Oasis of the Seas and has donated 100 percent of the sales from 1,000 of the ship's staterooms for this once-in-a-lifetime event to the non-profit Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Tickets for the event begin at $750 per person. Guests who purchase one of the staterooms and wish to continue their adventure onboard will receive an exclusive discount price, beginning at $650 per person, on a four-night cruise package sailing to the cruise line's private beach destination, Labadee, departing the morning following the event on Dec. 1 (rates based on double-occupancy and stateroom package). Wish kids and their families will participate in the onboard festivities during the celebration on Nov. 30, including the official naming ceremony of Oasis of the Seas, and will enjoy the ship's world-class entertainment amenities during the spectacular inaugural event. Onboard amenities for guests' enjoyment will include two rock-climbing walls, two FlowRider surf simulators, four unique types of pools in the Pool and Sports Zone, spa treatments at the Vitality Spa and Fitness Center, and an acrobatic diving show in the AquaTheater. Additionally, guests will enjoy a special dinner featured in the Opus Dining Room after which they can catch side-splitting comics in Comedy Live, relax in one of the ships many lounges, or join in world-class gaming in the Casino Royale. The Make-A-Wish celebration-fundraiser is part of Royal Caribbean's ongoing support of the organization. Since 2000, the cruise line has hosted more than 1,300 children who wished to go on a cruise to destinations around the world and has contributed more than $2.8 million in in-kind services and $372,000 in discount savings through its Wishes at Sea program. Through employee and guest fundraising efforts, Royal Caribbean has also raised more than $480,000 and 460,000 frequent flier miles, used to secure airline tickets for children's wish travel and help the Make-A-Wish Foundation conserve critical financial resources. "The generosity of sponsors like Royal Caribbean has greatly enhanced our ability to grant life-affirming, world-class wishes and is critical to the mission of the Make-A-Wish Foundation to bring hope, strength and joy into the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions," said David Williams, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and chief executive officer. "We hope that people across the nation will support the Foundation by joining us for this special inaugural cruise celebration and fundraising effort, enabling us to bring smiles to the faces of even more children - children who are waiting for wishes." Anyone interested in attending the Nov. 30 festivities and/or booking the exclusively discounted four-night cruise to Labadee departing Dec. 1 should contact Cynthia Paez, Royal Caribbean International, at (877) 202-1520, ext. 12751, or cpaez@rccl.com, Monday - Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST.

Holland America Line's ms Volendam is set to cruise to Australia and New Zealand in early 2011 with 14- and 18-day voyages to the lands of kangaroos, kiwis, the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef and exotic Asian ports. The ship also will sail a 14-day exploration of the South Pacific to island jewels known for their powdery beaches and turquoise waters. In the spring, Volendam will uncover the mysteries of the Far East with 17- and 18-day voyages throughout the Orient, and then take a trans-Pacific journey that will cross the International Date Line on the way back to North America. "Exotic cruises to destinations such as Australia and the Far East remain high on the wish-list of many travelers, and we've developed our itineraries to showcase the best of each region," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs, for Holland America Line. "We pride ourselves in offering comprehensive experiences around the world, and these itineraries are sure to impress any cruise enthusiast." 14-Day New Zealand Discovery - Both the North and South islands of New Zealand with their beautiful natural landscapes will be explored on the 14-day round-trip Sydney, Australia, sailings departing Jan. 2 and 30, 2011. The ship will make a total of eight calls at ports in New Zealand, including Wellington, Napier, Christchurch, Tauranga and a full day at Auckland. The itinerary also features extensive scenic cruising in Fiordland National Park -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site -- as well as Milford Sound. Guests can take in the breathtaking views of the region's extreme scenery, ranging from glaciers to mountain ranges and sandy beaches to volcanic plateaus. 14-Day Pacific Treasures - Volendam departs Jan. 16 on a 14-day round-trip Sydney cruise to the islands of the South Pacific and through some of the most pristine waters in the world. Three ports of call in New Caledonia allow guests to dive and snorkel along the region's coral reef and in the largest lagoon in the world. The ship also calls at the island of Vanuatu with its potpourri of cultures and magnificent natural harbor, as well as two calls at the island of Fiji, known for its sun-kissed beaches and crystal-clear seas. 14-Day Australia and New Zealand - Departing Feb. 13 from Sydney and Feb. 27 from Auckland, these spectacular cruises between Auckland and Sydney were created for travelers wishing to discover the diverse scenery and rich culture Down Under. This itinerary also features extensive scenic cruising in Fiordland National Park, as well as Milford, Dusky and Queen Charlotte sounds. Holland America Line is one of the few premium cruise lines calling at Picton, the gateway to the South Island and the hub of Marlborough Sound's thriving wine country, a certain highlight for wine connoisseurs. Guests can experience the Maori culture when the ship calls at Tauranga and experience the novelty of less-visited ports such as Burnie, Australia. For those looking for a more in-depth experience, pre- or post-cruise land tours take guests to the Great Barrier Reef or Alice Springs. 18-Day Great Barrier Reef Explorer - Volendam's 18-day itinerary departing March 13 from Sydney to Singapore enables guests to enjoy four days of cruising the Great Barrier Reef, including two days of daylight cruising through the world's largest coral reef system. Scenic highlights include an overnight anchorage in the reef near Sherrard Island and calls within the Whitsunday Island group. Several interesting ports also will be visited in Indonesia, including Komodo Island, part of the Komodo National Park -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site -- as well the beautiful islands of Bali and Java. An overnight call at Singapore at the end of the cruise enables guests to explore the bustling city and return to the comfort of the ship before disembarking the next morning. 18-Day Asia Explorer - Sailing from Singapore to Kobe (Osaka), Japan, Volendam is set to explore all corners of the Orient including Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China and Japan on its April 14 departure. The 18-day itinerary is filled with plenty of time to explore the palaces and tombs that dot the ancient lands, take in the tranquility of the temples and gardens, and sample the unique flavors of Asian cuisine. Three overnight stays ensure that guests are able to explore Bangkok with it's abundance of palaces and Buddhist wats; the cosmopolitan city of Hong Kong with its tea shops and street markets, and Shanghai with its soaring skyscrapers and unforgettable Yuyuan Gardens. 17-Day Japan and Alaska - In the spring, Volendam repositions back to the waters of Alaska with a 17-day trans-Pacific journey from Kobe to Vancouver, British Columbia. Departing May 2, the ship visits the ports of Yokohama, Hakodate and Kushiro, Japan, before crossing the International Date Line over to Alaska and kicking off the season with calls at Kodiak and Sitka, and scenic cruising of the Inside Passage.

Now cruisers can explore Holland America Line's newest ship, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, through a new microsite located on www.hollandamerica.com in the Quick Links area of the homepage. The site allows visitors to experience the beauty and features of Holland America Line's newest Signature class ship through interactive videos, photographs, animation and renderings that bring the ship to life. "We are using the latest technology to present our new ship's diverse amenities in a way that informs, engages and inspires our guests," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales, and guest programs. "We look forward with great anticipation to the launch of this beautiful ship next July. Until then, this new site allows us to share all the wonderful details with cruisers who are anxious to experience the Nieuw Amsterdam." When first arriving at the page, a vibrant animated invitation to explore the Nieuw Amsterdam greets visitors. From this aerial, 360-degree view of the ship, visitors can then enter into public areas of the ship to visually explore staterooms, the grand atrium, entertainment and dining venues, and other locations. Site content is arranged according to Holland America Line's five brand pillars essential to the guest experience -- spacious, elegant ships and accommodations; gracious, award-winning service; worldwide itineraries; extensive activities and enrichment programs; and sophisticated five-star dining. Ship renderings and animation are used in combination with photos and narrated videos from other Holland America Line ships, including sister ship ms Eurodam, to give visitors an idea of what it will be like to sail aboard the 2,104-guest Nieuw Amsterdam. Visitors will also find helpful links to connect to the Find Cruises tool on Holland America Line's website and the Holland America Blog -- a fleetwide weblog that highlights all 14 existing ships, including the latest news and photographs on the progress of Nieuw Amsterdam and a wide array of topics. It's also easy to share the site with a friend via email. Nieuw Amsterdam's inaugural cruise sails July 4, 2010 10-days roundtrip from Venice to ports in Croatia, Greece, Montenegro and Italy. After several Mediterranean sailings, Nieuw Amsterdam embarks on a fall crossing of the Atlantic as she heads to warmth of the Caribbean for the remaining winter months.

Carnival Cruise Lines has modified the Carnival Miracle’s seasonal Caribbean cruise schedule to include a 10-hour stop in Aruba, one of the region’s most scenic and charming destinations with beautiful beaches and a distinctive Dutch ambiance. The island will be featured on the ship’s eight-day voyages from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., operating October 2010 to March 2011. Other ports on the itinerary include Grand Turk, La Romana/Casa de Campo, and Curacao, each of which offers magnificent beaches and a diversity of landside experiences. Carnival Miracle operates a seasonal schedule of eight-day Caribbean voyages from Fort Lauderdale in the winter and eight-day Caribbean voyages from New York in the summer.

This November, just in time for Thanksgiving, Royal Caribbean International will unveil their newest and most innovative cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas. ABC's "Good Morning America" will be there to welcome Oasis of the Seas into her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and give viewers an exclusive first glimpse of the highly anticipated ship during a special live broadcast. GMA fans across the country can tune in on Friday, November 20, 2009, from 7:00 am - 9:00 am (ET) on ABC to join "Good Morning America" for a never-before-seen sneak peek at the seven distinct neighborhoods and many spectacular elements and features onboard Oasis of the Seas. Some of these unique features include Central Park, the first park at sea with nearly 12,000 plants and trees; Boardwalk, a family oriented environment with a hand carved carousel; a thrilling zip wire ride that races diagonally over Boardwalk 90 feet above the deck; 28 multilevel loft suites boasting floor-to-ceiling windows; and the AquaTheater - an amphitheater style space that serves as a pool by day and a dazzling oceanfront theater by night. "We couldn't think of a better way to launch Oasis of the Seas than by partnering with "Good Morning America" to show her off on morning television for the very first time," said Adam Goldstein, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. "Oasis of the Seas is our most innovative and imaginative ship yet, and we are confident that the millions of viewers will be wowed by what they see." In addition to the live broadcast, and in the spirit of giving and sharing, Royal Caribbean and "Good Morning America" are working with ABC affiliate stations in six markets - Hartford, Miami, New York, Orlando, San Francisco and Seattle - to execute a contest/search for people who have done something extraordinary for their community, making friends and neighbors thankful for the effort. Three deserving individuals (plus guest) in each market will win a trip to join GMA for the live broadcast onboard Oasis of the Seas, and will enjoy an exclusive pre-inaugural cruise following the show.

Cunard's Queen Mary 2 will make her maiden call to Greenock and the Clyde on Monday 19 October 2009 during a special 'lap-of-honour' to mark her fifth birthday. Queen Mary 2 will be the largest ship ever to have sailed up the Clyde, a river which has binding and historical ties to Cunard as over 120 Cunarders have been launched there since 1839. Cunard Line is also celebrating the 170th Anniversary of its founding in 2009, so a double celebration for the company and its flagship. The 151,400-ton Queen Mary 2 will arrive at Greenock at 0800 hours on 19 October and remain at the Greenock Ocean Terminal until 1830 hours. To mark the call there will be a firework display immediately before her departure. Commenting on the visit, Cunard's Managing Director Peter Shanks, said: "Most of Cunard's great ships, including Cunard's first ship Britannia, and Lusitania, Aquitania, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, Caronia and QE2 were all built on the Clyde. As a proud Scotsman myself, born in Glasgow and having spent my early years in Troon, I can say just how proud we are of our associations with the river. It is appropriate for our flagship Queen Mary 2 to pay tribute to her Scottish forbears and this visit during Queen Mary 2's birthday celebrations is very fitting". Queen Mary 2 will make a maiden call to Liverpool on Tuesday 20 October 2009 thus becoming the largest liner ever to sail up the Mersey. Cunard and Liverpool have shared a long and eventful history: the company was founded in the City in 1839 and had its office there for almost 130 years. Cunard Line celebrates the 170th Anniversary of its founding in 2009, so a double celebration for the company and its flagship. Queen Mary 2 will also make a maiden call to Cobh on Wednesday 21 October 2009 thus becoming the largest liner ever to visit Ireland. The voyage commemorates the introduction into service of Queen Mary 2 five years ago in January 2004. She is still the largest, longest, tallest, widest, most expensive ocean liner ever built and, since the retirement of QE2, the fastest passenger ship in the world. Queen Mary 2 entered service just four days after being named by Her Majesty The Queen during the most spectacular naming ceremony Southampton, her home port, had ever seen. Since that historic entry into service Queen Mary 2 has sailed almost 750,000 nautical miles, completed over 120 Atlantic crossings (the route for which she was specifically built, the first passenger ship to be built for that trade in 35 years), and made calls to 115 ports in 45 countries.

Cheryl, Greg, Chris and Jessica, have a safe and wonderful cruise.

http://www.carnivalbookofdreams.com/

More than 1,310 cruise-selling travel agents are holding events this week as part of World's Largest Cruise Night -- the industry's annual selling extravaganza. A line-by-line list of sales and special offers that cruise lines are offering in conjunction with the events: - Amawaterways. The river cruise line is offering up to $1,000 per cabin discounts on select November and December cruises; up to $500 per cabin off on select April and May sailings. Valid on new bookings made between October 1-31. - Avalon Waterways. The river cruise line is offering 50%-off airfare on all 2010 air-inclusive European river cruise vacations. Booking window is October 1-31. - Azamara Cruises. New bookings for individual travelers on 2010 European sailings made today through Friday are eligible for onboard credits of $300 to $500 per cabin, depending on cabin category. - Carnival. The industry giant is offering "cash back" of $70 to $200 per cabin on bookings for select 2010 voyages from a variety of North American homeports. - Celebrity Cruises. New bookings for individual travelers on select sailings made today through Friday are eligible for onboard credits of $50 to $200 per cabin, depending on length of sailing. - Costa Cruises. Passengers receive a $50 onboard credit per cabin on Caribbean and European sailings through December 2010 booked today through Oct. 31. - Crystal Cruises. Vacationers will receive a $100 per person discount on most 2009 and 2010 departures booked today through Nov. 7. - Cunard Line. Passengers will receive onboard credits of $50-$300 per cabin, depending on sailing and accommodations, plus a waiver of the deposit on a second person in the booking. - Disney Cruise Line. Passengers will receive $50 to $100 onboard credits when booking sailings that take place between Jan. 3 and Dec. 19, 2010. - MSC Cruises. Passengers booking select sailings in the Caribbean on MSC Poesia will receive shipboard credits of up to $200. - Norwegian Cruise Line. Passengers will receive onboard credits of up to $250 per cabin, depending on cabin category, on more than 300 sailings around the world. - Regent Seven Seas Cruises. The luxury line is offering $100 per passenger in shipboard credits for seven-night or longer cruises in 2009 and 2010 with bookings made between now and Nov. 14. - Royal Caribbean. The mass-market line is offering travel agents a choice of offering their customers up to $200 off per cabin, onboard credits of up to $100 or special amenities. Bookings must be made by Friday. - SeaDream Yacht Club. Passengers who book during the month of October will receive a $100 per cabin spa credit. - Silversea Cruises. The luxury line is offering a $100 per passenger shipboard credit (maximum $200 per cabin) for new bookings made between today and Nov. 14 for seven-night or longer sailings in 2009 and 2010. - Uniworld Boutique River Cruises. Passengers will receive a $100 savings on all 2009 and 2010 cruises when booked between today and Oct. 21. - Windstar Cruises. Passengers booking today through Nov. 14 will receive a $50 per person shipboard credit for selected sailings on Wind Surf, Wind Star and Wind Spirit between January and March, 2010.

Always wanted to see Australia's Great Barrier Reef? You might want to take a look at the latest itinerary rolled out by Holland America -- an 18-night voyage that includes two full days of daylight cruising along the world-famous coral complex. The Great Barrier Reef Explorer cruise, as it's being called, will take place in early 2011 on the line's 1,432-passenger Volendam. The voyage departs out of Sydney on March 13, 2011 and also includes an overnight anchorage along the Great Barrier Reef near Sherrard Island and calls within the Whitsunday Island group. The trip ends in Singapore after additional stops in Indonesia that include Komodo Island, Bali and Java. A company spokesman notes Holland America is the only major line to offer cruises that sail through the entire Great Barrier Reef during daylight hours (something it began doing just this year). The new itinerary is one of several in the region the line unveiled this week for the Volendam, which is returning to Australia late next year. The ship also will sail a new 14-night "New Zealand Discovery" cruise roundtrip out of Sydney that will include stops at both the North and South islands of New Zealand. Departures are set for Jan. 2 and 30, 2011. Also new is a 14-night "Pacific Treasures" voyage planned for Jan. 16, 2011, roundtrip out of Sydney, that will visit the islands of the South Pacific including Vanuatu and Fiji. The Volendam also will sail a new 18-night "Asia Explorer" itinerary from Singapore to Kobe (Osaka), Japan, that includes stops in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and China. It begins April 14, 2011. Cruise fares start at $1,599 per person for the New Zealand Discovery and Pacific Treasures voyages. The Great Barrier Reef Explorer and Asia Explorer voyages start at $2,099 per person.