To Visit Rome, Sail into Civitavecchia

Rome, Italy, sits on the banks of the Tiber River but depends on Civitavecchia, a small city 50 miles to the northwest, to serve as its port on the Tyrrhenian Sea, part of the Mediterranean. Civitavecchia, a commercial port since the second century, boasts a massive fort – part of it was designed by Michelangelo. Still, you won’t want to spend too much time there when all of Rome is waiting for you.

It’s a 20-minute walk from the port into Civitavecchia, but most cruise lines will have shuttles waiting to take you into town. There, you can board a bus or hire a taxi to get to Rome; the ride will take 90 minutes to two hours, depending on traffic. There is also train service, which is a bit faster, delivering you to Rome in just over an hour. A knowledgeable travel consultant will also be able to assist with private transportation options.

There’s a lot to see in Rome, and there are a variety of shore excursions to help you make the most of your time there. If you’d like to see as much of the city as possible, choose a tour that will take you to several iconic sites, such as the Colosseum, the Forum and Vatican City.

If you’d like to focus on just a few of Rome’s many treasures, you can choose an excursion that focuses on the Colosseum and its incredible history; Rome’s beautiful churches, such as the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore; or the Appian Way and the Catacombs of Domitilla, to name just a few possibilities.

You can forgo an official shore excursion and explore on your own, but remember that your cruise ship will not wait for you if you lose track of time while touring the Eternal City (it’s easy to do).

Excursions in Rome may include a significant amount of walking over cobblestones and up steps; choose one that offers the right pace and level of activity for you. Also, dress appropriately if you will visit religious sites: bare shoulders, shorts and skirts above the knee are not appropriate. Finally, if you see the beautiful Trevi Fountain, toss in a coin, which is said to ensure your return to Rome.

For more information about cruises that call on Civitavecchia/Rome, talk with your Cruise Holidays personal cruise expert.

Helpful Tips for First-Time River Cruisers

Considering your first river cruise?  Here are tips to consider when planning your first river cruise:

Determine your budget and expectations.

The cost of a river cruise is comparable to some guided land tour packages and provides great value for all the inclusions that are not provided on an ocean cruise or independent tour.  There are three, four and five-star river cruise lines and aligning your budget with your expectations will help to determine which cruise line and which category stateroom will provide you with the best value and river cruise experience.

Book early.

Interest in river cruising has grown faster than river cruise ships can be built!  Unlike the large ocean cruise ships, river cruise vessels only carry up to 190 guests and offer a more intimate cruise experience.

The most desired river cruise staterooms, French balcony, balcony and suites, sell out a year in advance.  The river cruise lines offer their best promotions as soon as the itineraries become available for booking. If your dates of travel are not flexible or if your heart is set on a specific itinerary, river cruise line and category of stateroom, make your deposit early to avoid disappointment. Also be aware that most river cruise lines’ deposits are fully or partially non-refundable, so it’s important to be confident in your choice of cruise.

First choose your itinerary.

River cruising is all about destinations and should be your first consideration when planning your first river cruise.  The river cruise line and ship you ultimately sail will depend upon the particular itinerary you choose, especially if an itinerary is exclusive to one particular river cruise company.  For example, a river cruise on the Po River in Italy out of Venice is only available on Uniworld Boutique River Cruises.  In general, the river cruise lines have similar itineraries, but one may offer more in-depth exploration of a city, optional excursions or included pre- and/or post cruise options.  When choosing an itinerary that is similar to each river cruise line, The River Cruise Outlet will help you choose the best river cruise line to suit your travel style, budget and expectations.

A growing trend in river cruising is specialty and themed cruises, with a focus on music, history, gourmet cooking, wine making, brewing, etc. These cruises are an ideal choice for groups who share an affinity for classical music, fine wines, beers, and shopping the Christmas Markets.

What’s Included.

Most shore excursions are included in the price of your river cruise. River cruise lines profess to be “all-inclusive” in their pricing, but their inclusiveness is not the same among the cruise lines.

Included features of most river cruises are:

 • Choose your stateroom

 • Most land excursions

 • All on-board meals

 • Coffee, tea and soft drinks

 • Beer and wine with lunch and/or dinner

But that is where the “all-inclusive” similarities end.  Some river cruise lines also include:

 • Round-trip airport transfers

One of the many tour guides

 • Optional excursions

 • Free use of a fleet of bicycles in port

 • Beer, wine and spirits throughout the cruise

 • Free WIFI

 • Gratuities for on-board personnel and land tour guides

The price of these inclusions is reflected in the total cost of your cruise, but in any case it represents great value and a sense of ease, knowing when you embark that virtually all costs are taken care of.

Take advantage of Pre- and Post-Cruise Extension Options.

Adding on a pre- and/or post-cruise hotel stay has advantages. It can help you acclimate to a new time zone prior to sailing, or enjoy a more in-depth look at your cities of embarkation or debarkation. Depending on the cruise line, pre- and/or post-cruise extension options may be bundled into the price of your river cruise.  Some pre- and post-cruise extension options take you to another city not located directly on the river.   On Danube River cruises, a popular extension is to the beautiful city of Prague, Czech Republic. 

Cruising with children.

With the rise in popularity of multi-generational travel, some river cruise lines offer specific cruises geared towards family travel, with younger cruisers in mind.  In general, young children may be bored due to the lack of age-appropriate space and activities. Staterooms on river cruise vessels will only accommodate two guests, and there are few connecting cabins available. This may be less than ideal for families with very young kids.  For older children who are well-traveled and are happy with board games, in-room TV entertainment, WIFI and adult supervision while cruising, the river cruise lines would certainly welcome and cater to your needs. 

Be aware of navigation realities.

One of the benefits of river cruising is the ‘no seasickness’ aspect – you will perceive very little movement of the ship, and even in tidal waters, progress along a river is relatively calm. For those who may not be comfortable sailing out into the vast ocean, on a river cruise you’re usually within sight of one or both banks of dry land.

As is well-known, all rivers are prone to flooding.  River boats are built for safe passage, for cruising under numerous low-lying bridges and to fit through the locks along the way, but any measurable flooding, or the reverse low water levels, can hinder or block the passage of river vessels.  Disappointing as this may be, for passenger safety, when this happens river cruise lines always have a back-up plan to bus passengers to the next scheduled stop. You can be assured that your vacation itinerary will proceed no matter what the weather or river conditions.

 

 

Traversing a lock

 

The Enchanting Danube

Last August we sailed on the Enchanting Danube itinerary from Passau, Germany, to Budapest, Hungary, aboard the Uniworld River Beatrice. The itinerary is one of the company’s most popular, thanks to the idyllic scenery complete with castles and farmland along the way, as well as a fascinating series of locks all along the Danube. Small, historic villages; cathedrals; a most-notable abbey; the grandeur of Vienna and then Budapest rounded off this weeklong cruise.

Life Onboard

 

Uniworld makes no secret that river cruising is all about the destinations, and it makes it easy for guests to watch the world go by as they sail the Danube. We especially enjoyed the region between Passau, Germany, and Melk, Austria, acclaimed as one of the most enjoyable regions of the Danube Delta for spotting castles high up on hills and an abundance of wildlife. You’re also seeing villages that are thousands of years old, castles and wine country, with vineyards extending up into the hills, and plenty of apricot trees. The Danube is a huge part of life in these regions, you’ll often see families picnicking along the river, or friends cycling along the bike paths. You’ll see houseboats on shore with people seeming to live off the land and even the occasional native bathing in the river without the slightest sense of modesty. This area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site so it’s protected from development; there’s nary even a bridge in sight.

Dining: Breakfast is a standout with buffet stations offering fresh fruits, bakery goods of all sorts, hot and cold cereals, yogurts, cheeses, eggs, and breakfast meats and lox. There’s also an omelette station and waiter service providing menu entrée items.

 

Lunch is served buffet style with fresh salad offerings and usually a hot dish, such as pasta. Attentive waiter service is on hand to provide beer or wine or select items from a menu. A unique offering was the Austrian feast provided on the day we sailed from Melk to Vienna, including ever-flowing local beers, sausages of all sorts and pretzels, which we knew were local since we’d seen a bakery truck pull up to the ship that morning to make the delivery.

Dinner, Uniworld offers cuisine that accompanied the destinations we were visiting, such as a “Hungarian Farmer Plate” as an appetizer one evening, which included salami, ham, bell peppers and Körözött, a spiced-cheese dip (think paprika) with chunks of bread. Another offering that night was roasted eggplant and garlic soup. Aside from other special menu items served nightly, Uniworld provides standbys for every dinner, such as chicken, salmon and Caesar salad.

Dining Between Meals: Stations outside the lounge house neat coffee machines that serve excellent cappuccino and latte. It’s convenient for an early morning wake-up to bring back to the room; fresh-baked Danish and doughnuts are served as well. Cookies are served in the afternoon. Treats themed around destinations were offered in the lounge on certain days; German Tea Time was scheduled for the day we headed from Nuremberg to Regensburg and a traditional Austrian Tea Time that included apple strudel was included when we sailed to Vienna.

Cocktails anyone? Uniworld provides unlimited soft drinks, cocktails, wine and beer at no charge during the cruise.

In the evening, the pre-dinner cocktail scene was quite active (bar snacks were provided) and after dinner, a resident musician played the piano. On our final evening, local performers staged a fun Hungarian folkloric show.

Nice Note: Uniworld encourages guests to bring local wines back to the ship. We purchased a few bottles of Riesling in Melk, Austria.

Unique Amenities: The top deck has rows and rows of chaise lounges, all the better to watch the scenery drift by.

Technology: Wi-Fi access is included in the pricing and we had a strong signal throughout the cruise, except for the odd moment when the ship might be descending into a lock. Guest room TVs were 40-inch flat-panel Sonys for movies on-demand and cable news.

Accommodations: Our Category 2 cabin, 150 square feet in size, was cleverly designed so all of our clothes and accessories fit in closets, drawers and shelves. The French balcony provided a good view for watching the river in private. Other amenities were a safe, hair dryer, plus bottled water replenished daily, & robes and slippers. Bathrooms are intimate in size, but showers are large enough to move around in comfortably. Fresh fruits were delivered daily.

Fellow Cruisers: On our August cruise there was a mix of American and UK travelers, skewing from age 40 or so and up. Many were retired professionals who are now active travelers, always making the dinner conversation exciting. It felt like we made friends for life with some and missed them when we were home, which is always a good sign.

Crew: The ship’s hotel manager, made guests feel extremely welcome at every opportunity. The program director who was the go-to person for all things Viking, ensured shore excursions went well, provided lectures and updates on ports and even played the piano one afternoon in the lounge to introduce (or reintroduce) guests to the music of Mozart. He can also tell you where to get the best beer and sausages in any port on the itinerary.

Sailing: Most shore excursions with good local guides are included in the pricing; some with a more intense experience are provided at a nominal fee. On the Enchanting Danube itinerary, these included a Mozart & Strauss concert on the evening we sailed into Vienna, which we felt was an ideal way to be introduced to this cultural city and well worth the money.

In Budapest, we drove as a group to Lazar Equestrian Park in Hungary’s horse country for an equestrian show. This gave us the chance to meet locals and see the beautiful landscape outside of the city. An added bonus was to watch a Hungarian wedding taking place at the park. Transportation in each port was always available on clean, very modern motorcoaches provided by Uniworld. Bottled water was always offered as we disembarked for each excursion and was readily available in the lobby for those who ventured off on their own.

Top Tips While in Town

The cruise line includes a book highlighting each port along the Danube and city tours deliver a comprehensive overview for each as well. We recommend scouting out these finds during your free time.

Passau: This German medieval destination is known as the City of Three Rivers, where the Danube, the Inn and the Ilz rivers join. It’s also why the city experienced record flooding last June. When we visited in August, it was readily welcoming visitors with just some shops and restaurants right at the harbor still under repairs.

The extremely grand St. Stephen’s Cathedral, home to the world’s largest cathedral organ, is a must-see here and is included on the city excursion. Neat Treat: At the end of our guided tour, we were all given tickets to an organ concert, the music of which resonated remarkably through the enormous cathedral. Don’t pass up this opportunity if it’s offered to you.

Note: Passau’s city center is immediately accessible from the ship. We visited its shops and cafés easily from the ship throughout the day, feeling quite like a couple of locals.

Melk: The included tour of this Austrian town visits the very notable Melk Abbey but we opted for a pleasant 20-minute walk from the ship that took us right into a village filled with charming hotels and cafés. A local festival included a farmer’s market and the chance to see locals enjoying a holiday of wine drinking and relaxing. It’s easy to purchase local wines and schnapps in Melk, where service is welcoming and friendly. That afternoon we sailed to Vienna through the Wachau Valley, one of the most scenic routes along the Danube. Be sure to watch every moment of it, this is not a time to catch up on a nap.

Vienna: Since we arrived in the morning and stayed overnight, we had a full day in Vienna before sailing to Budapest. The city tour will show off the exteriors of all the significant landmarks and ends at the very significant St. Stephen’s Cathedral. With a totally free afternoon, try out one of the city’s famous coffee houses, or sausage carts. We hear there’s live music in the evenings and can’t wait to go back.

 

Another Vienna must is a visit to Hotel Sacher; you can nab a view of its historic and charming interiors if you go for a drink at its famous Blaue Bar. You can also enjoy having some sacher torte at Café Sacher Wien, which is where the chocolate dessert delicacy is said to have been invented.

Budapest: When the city tour wraps up in the old town castle district of Buda, you’ll find yourself outside of Matthias Church looking right at the Hilton Budapest Hotel in Castle District. This is an ideal place to refresh (think bathroom break), and the Icon Restaurant is a great place to enjoy views of Budapest’s famous Parliament Building and the Danube. On the way back to where the motorcoaches wait to return you to the ship there’s a casual beer garden that also serves up Hungarian dishes buffet style, there are also shelves and shelves of Hungarian wines to sample. Note that, in Budapest, museums are closed on Mondays and be sure to have small change on you if you need to use public restrooms.

Good to know: In Hungary, the euro is accepted but is not the local currency. If you pay in euros you’ll receive change in forints.

For more information visit: www.therivercruiseoutlet.com

The Benefits of River Cruising

Tired of hopping in and out of motor coaches or checking out of hotels at 6 a.m. on traditional land tours? A river cruise offers the convenience and luxury of a deep-ocean cruise combined with the in-depth experience of a land tour and the personal freedom of a river cruise. Step aboard. Unpack once. Explore, and enjoy.

River cruising emerged to introduce an entirely new concept to Europe: that of floating hotels that journey between destinations.

For many travelers, the slow chug along the river is just the right pace for getting the lay of the land. Sitting on the top deck of a ship under brilliant blue skies, you gaze on fabled landscapes dotted with castles, villages and vineyards. A flight of stairs down, and you have all the amenities of a modern hotel — restaurants, bars, lounges, fitness facilities, spas, internet access and comfortable staterooms.

River cruises offer opportunities to step ashore in fairy tale towns and fabled cities. Immerse yourself in contemporary culture, and learn something about the history of the towns along the Continent’s greatest rivers.

The season runs March through the end of December, beginning with Tulip Time Cruises in Benelux countries and ending with Christmas Market Cruises in Hungary, Austria, and Germany.

 

The majority of itineraries are seven nights, though longer cruises are available. Book one year in advance, if possible, and consider cruising March through May or September through December, when the crowds are thinner and airfares may be more reasonably priced than during peak periods.

River cruising is perfect for those who want a relaxed grand tour of Europe and for cruisers who want to explore Europe beyond the coastline. River cruising presents the grandeur and charm of Europe as well as the indelible landscapes that inspired Europe’s great artists. Few things in life can beat the views of Europe over the ripples of Continent’s rivers.

Some river cruisers overnight in ports and cruise during the day; others cruise during the night and tie up in port during the day. Both approaches allow for dinners ashore and late-evening strolls into town.

 

*Photo courtesy of Viking River Cruises

 

 

 

Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class Ships

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas and the Allure of the Seas have enticed thousands of vacationers to sail the Caribbean on ships that are unique in their design and amenities. The Oasis was launched three years ago, and was joined by the Allure a year later. While still young in industry terms, the ships have added some new features that make them even more appealing to cruise fans.

The Oasis and the Allure are the largest cruise ships at sea and the first to be organized by “neighborhood” (indeed, with the capacity for 5,400 passengers each, these ships are more populous than some small cities). Each ship has seven neighborhoods, including Central Park, a meandering garden lined with shops and restaurants; and the charming Boardwalk, which leads to the open air AquaTheater. Here, passengers can see a show of fountains, lights and aerial acrobatics at night.

The ships offer lots of staterooms that overlook the water, many with balconies. Thanks to the ships’ unique design, some staterooms have interior views of Central Park or the Boardwalk.

No matter which stateroom you choose, you may not spend much time there. You’ll want to try the zip line over Central Park, test your surfing skills on a FlowRider simulator, ride the carousel on the Boardwalk, and enjoy the fabulous restaurants.

Worried about finding your way on these massive ships? Passengers who’ve sailed on them rave about touch-screen computerized maps available throughout Oasis and Allure. Tell the computer where you want to go, and it maps out the correct deck and the exact walking route to that destination. It also provides real-time data on how busy all of the restaurants are.

Both the Oasis and the Allure recently introduced dining packages that make it easy for passengers to enjoy some of the ships’ alternative dining venues. For example, the Choice Dining Package includes dinners at Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table Italian Trattoria, and either Izumi Asian Cuisine or the Solarium Bistro. Each ship has also added a Starbucks, so passengers can enjoy their favorite coffee- and tea-based beverages while relaxing on deck.

The ships are known for their technical innovations, too. Royal Caribbean recently announced that by summer 2013, the Oasis will be able to provide passengers with high-speed, satellite-delivered broadband service for convenient – and fast – Internet communications.

Great Lakes Cruising

Discover a North American Treasure: The Great Lakes (Detroit to Chicago)

If you are looking for a voyage to a world-class destination, but wish to stay close to home, then how about the amazing Great Lakes.

Nearly fifteen thousand years ago, the last of the great glaciers retreated, leaving us with the legacy of the Great Lakes. The lakes are unique, for although they are called lakes, they are in reality vast inland seas that comprise one-fifth of the world’s fresh surface water. First used as a means of transport by Algonquin and Iroquois tribes, the lakes later became a thriving commercial hub and a heavily traveled waterway with the arrival of European settlers.

More than fifty years ago, the Great Lakes were the busiest waterway in the world and North America’s treasured summer destination. Now you can cruise once again in the Great Lakes on this unique itinerary, which encompasses American and Canadian ports.

Operating between two great American cities, Detroit and Chicago, the itinerary includes several of the most significant places found along the shores of this North American treasure. Visit the quaint village of Bayfield and experience Native American culture on Manitoulin Island before transiting the impressive Soo Locks, which connect Lake Huron and Lake Superior. Also witness the majestic grandeur of Lake Superior at Whitefish Point with its lighthouse, discover Mackinac Island’s bygone Victorian charms, and enjoy the delightful towns of Sheboygan and Saugatuck.

Your ship for this voyage is the American-flagged and operated Yorktown. Accommodating 138 guests in 69 exterior cabins, the Yorktown is the perfect vessel for relaxed and convivial exploration of the Great Lakes.

These cruises include: tours and excursions, welcome and farewell cocktail receptions aboard ship, all meals aboard ship, educational program of lectures and discussions by accompanying guest lecturer, port and embarkation taxes, gratuities to porters, guides, and drivers

In addition to being in the company of like-minded travelers, you will also be accompanied by excellent study leaders, whose lectures and discussions will enhance your appreciation of the sites visited.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1 • DETROIT, Michigan, United States | EMBARK

Day 2 • GODERICH | BAYFIELD | STRATFORD, Ontario, Canada

Day 3 • LITTLE CURRENT, MANITOULIN ISLAND | LAKE HURON

Day 4 • SOO LOCKS | WHITEFISH POINT | LAKE SUPERIOR

Day 5 • MACKINAC ISLAND, Michigan, United States

Day 6 • SHEBOYGAN, Wisconsin

Day 7 • HOLLAND | SAUGATUCK, Michigan

Day 8 • CHICAGO, Illinois | DISEMBARK | FLY HOME

Note: this itinerary also operates in the reverse direction, from Chicago to Detroit.

For more information: http://www.cruisesbyscott.com/

Top 10 Cruise Itineraries in 2012

Here they are:  the best places to cruise this year.  Which one is right for you?

The forecast for 2012 is that over 20 million Americans will take to the high seas on a cruise.  Many of those will skip the "cookie-cutter" itineraries and will set their sights on some new horizons.  Check these fun ideas out:

*Best Cruise Itinerary for Adventure Seekers:  Sea Voyager Expeditions

     This is a brand-new cruise line for 2012.  They will be offering expedition sailings to some of Latin America's hottest ecotourism destinations.  Their first sailings are scheduled to begin in April with destinations in Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Ecuador.  Cruisers will love the flexible itineraries, off-the-beaten path villages and indigenous people.  Each sailing is escorted by experienced naturalists and guides as well as excursions like rain forest hiking, kayaking in hidden bays, bird-watching and snorkeling.

*Best Cruise Itinerary for Culture Vultures:  Star Clippers

     Star Clippers has been sailing between the European cultural capitals along the Baltic Sea for some time, but starting in May, cruisers may climb onboard the new Star Flyer - a tall sailing ship, with 3 different itineraries featuring Sweden, Russia and Finland.  Cruisers will enjoy visiting smaller, less-visited ports and will be immersed in the best of the Baltic lands of the Vikings and the Eastern Empire of the Tsars.

*Best Cruise Itinerary for Families:  Disney Cruise Line

     March 2012 will be the maiden voyage of Disney's newest ship, the 4,000 passenger Disney Fantasy.  This fun ship will feature the AquaDuck (water coaster at sea), new pool deck features, elaborate stage shows, and ship-wide interactive, state of the art technology.  The ship will sail the Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, visiting the ports of St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Grand Cayman, Costa Maya and Cozumel as well as a stop at Disney's private island, Castaway Cay.  Families will love the Muppets-inspired adventure game and an animation-themed dinner show.  Kids will go crazy for the 1,800-square-foot Aqua Lab water play area, while parents can seek out serenity at the adults-only Satellite Falls splash pool on the deck above.

*Best Cruise Itinerary for Foodies:  Oceania Cruises

     The new 1,250 passenger Riviera - launching in April 2012 - is poised to raise the bar on the epicurean experience at sea.  She is scheduled for a series of Mediterranean sailings through the fall, followed by a repositioning to the Caribbean for winter.  Watch for the 10-night October themed sailing, "Bon Appetit Wine & Food Festival", from Athens to Rome, with port calls in Turkey, Greece, Italy, France and Monaco.  Cruisers will love the 10 dining venues (eight of which are inclusive) as well as the opportunity to practice their kitchen skills in the hands-on Bon Appetit Culinary Center.

*Best Cruise Itinerary for History Buffs:  Deep Ocean Expeditions

     2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and what better way to remember this event in history than by boarding the R/V Keldysh (a vessel chartered from an oceanographic institute).  A maximum of 30 cruisers will set out on these 2-week expeditions, which includes an 8-10 hour dive to the shipwreck site in a 7-foot wide Russian Mir submersible, designed for three passengers.

     For a less extreme cruise option, choose from Fred Olsen Cruise Lines 1,309 passenger Balmoral, which will trace the Titanic's original intended route from England to NYC, or the 694-passenger Azamara Journey, slated to travel round-trip from NYC, with a stop in Halifax (the resting place of many of the Titanic's passengers who did not make the trip).  These cruises will feature onboard lecturers and historians, wreck experts, authors and relatives of Titanic survivors.

*Best Cruise Itinerary for Nature Enthusiasts:  Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

     Head to the furthest reaches of the wilds of Russia.  Cruisers can set sail to circumnavigate the Sea of Okhotsk) in style, aboard the world's only 5-star expedition ship, the 184-passenger MS hanseatic.  Excursion highlights include zodiac runs to the tiny unpopulated islands of Iony and Tyuleny, and the wildlife-rich Shantar and Malminskie Islands; hiking across the grassland tundra of Talan Island; and brown bear viewing on a zodiac ride from Cape Utholoskiy.  Cruisers will be presented with a dizzying array of pristine landscapes, defined by volcanoes; coniferous forest-blanketed mountains; tundra, glaciers and geysers, and numerous types of wildlife.

*Best Cruise Intinerary for Nostalgia Lovers:  Great American Steamboat Company

     2012 marks the return of the Mississippi River Cruise, beginning in April.  The Great American Steamboat Company's 436-guest American Queen is billed as the largest and most lavish paddlewheel steamboat ever built, with a savory Southern-inspired menu led by top Mississippi chef Regina Charboneau.  Choose from the many different themed sailings, such as the Jazz Lovers, Civil War and Holiday cruises. 

     American Cruise Lines 150-passenger Queen of the Mississippi will debut in August, featuring Dixieland bands, Mark Twain impersonators and other fun activities.  Both cruise lines will visit ports such as Cincinatti, Louisville, Memphis, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, Pittsburgh and St. Louis.

*Best Cruise Itinerary for Off-The-Path Explorers:  Avalon Waterways

     Top-of-the-line river cruise operator Avalon Waterways is not only launching an intimate new luxury vessel in 2012, but is also debuting on the first-ever Mekong River cruise itinerary between Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Siem Reap, Cambodia.  The 32-passenger Avalon Angkor features 16 spacious staterooms, complete with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and balconies.  This will be the first time that cruisers will be able to transit this particular route almost year-round.  Cruisers will explore virtually untouched villages of Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as the more popular cultural and historic cities along the way.

*Best Cruise Itinerary for Partiers:  Crystal Cruises

     If attending Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is on your bucket list, Crystal Cruises' brand-new "Samba Serenade" itinerary is the way to go.  The itinerary will feature five ports of call in Brazil (Buzios, Ilha Grande, Paraty, Sao Paulo, and Itajai), departing from Rio during the height of the Carnival festivities.  This cruise line can custom tailor your experience at Rio's Sambadrome, from grandstand seating to luxury VIP sky box suites to even marching in the parade (fully costumed).

*Best Cruise Itinerary for Romantics:  Windstar Cruises

     These dreamy yachts are outfitted with billowing white sails and hold a maximum of 312 passengers.  Windstar is offering a brand-new 2012 "Islands of Italy" itinerary that couples classic Italian sites (Rome and Pompeii) with exclusive and often overlooked Italian islands, such as the lush volcanic island of Ischia; the active volcanic island of Stromboli; and glamorous Porto Cervo on Sardinia.

Time to get started on your 2012 Bucket List!  Where would you like to start?
http://shunter.cruiseholidays.com/