Princess cruises Mediterranean more in 2006

From soaking up the sun on an idyllic Greek isle or exploring some of the world's most dramatic ancient marvels, the Mediterranean offers visitors a wealth of travel wonders, and Princess Cruises will offer more opportunities to explore the region in 2006.

Princess will offer an expanded Mediterranean season with a nearly 25 percent capacity increase, including four additional sailings of the line's popular Greek Isles cruises and a return to Egypt. Grand Princess, Golden Princess and Sea Princess will offer an extended April 15 to November 29 season featuring 33 Mediterranean sailings, with 11 itinerary options and a new port of call for Princess -- Elba.

"Our Europe season next year will be our largest deployment ever," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of customer service and sales. "The Mediterranean is the heart and soul of this program, and we're very pleased to again offer passengers the opportunity to explore the pyramids of Egypt and even more options for basking in the delights of the Greek Isles."

Grand Mediterranean - Grand Princess returns to her signature itinerary that explores the best of the modern and classic Mediterranean. This popular 12-day cruise between Barcelona and Venice includes calls at Marseille (for Provence), Livorno (for Florence/Pisa), Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples, Mýkonos, Istanbul, Kusadasi (for Ephesus) and Athens. Sailings depart on May 16 and 28, June 9 and 21, July 27, August 8, September 13 and 25, and October 7.

Greek Isles - Both Grand Princess and Golden Princess will offer an expanded season of 12 Greek Isles sailings, with two different 12-day itineraries. Both options travel between Rome and Venice, offering visits to Santorini, Mýkonos, Corfu, Athens, Katakolon (for Olympia) and Kusadasi. The Greek Isles option also includes calls at Naples, Rhodes and Dubrovnik, while the Greek Isles/Mediterranean options offers stops at Monte Carlo, Livorno and Naples. Greek Isles sailings depart on May 4, May 22, June 15, July 3, August 20, and October 5 and 29; while the Greek Isles/Mediterranean option sails on June 3, July 15, September 1 and 23, and October 17.

Egypt/Aegean - Golden Princess takes passengers to the ancient wonders of the Great Pyramids, as well as the modern bustle of Cairo on a 12-day roundtrip journey from Rome. The voyage highlight is two Egypt calls at Port Said and Alexandria, plus visits to Naples, Athens, Kusadasi, Istanbul and Mýkonos. This sailing departs on November 10.

European Explorer - Golden Princess also offers an extended European overview with two voyages between Rome and Southampton that visit 11 ports and eight countries in just 14 days. Ports of call include Livorno, Cannes, Barcelona, Gibraltar, Casablanca, Seville, Lisbon, Vigo, Le Havre, Rotterdam and Brussels/Bruges. Sailings are offered on June 27 and September 9.

Sea Princess - Sea Princess returns to Europe for a series of 14-day adventures roundtrip from Southampton. Mediterranean options include the Mediterranean Medley with calls at Seville, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Livorno, Rome, Sardinia, Mallorca and Gibraltar. Sailings depart on May 6, July 22 and August 19. The Mediterranean Adventurer sailings include visits to Vigo, Lisbon, Barcelona, Cannes, Rome, Naples, Propriano (Corsica) and Gibraltar, with departures on June 3 and August 5.

Transatlantics - Both Grand Princess and Golden Princess offer intriguing transatlantic opportunities that also feature Mediterranean ports of call. In the spring, Grand Princess sails from Galveston (or Ft. Lauderdale) to Rome on April 15. Stops on this 19- (or 17-) day adventure include a port of call for Princess: the island of Elba. The full route also features Madeira, Casablanca, Gibraltar, Alicante, Barcelona, Cannes, Genoa and Livorno. Golden Princess' spring crossing departs from New York on May 6 for a 16-day sailing to Venice, by way of Lisbon, Barcelona, Cannes, Livorno, Rome and Naples.

In fall, Grand Princess transitions from Barcelona to Ft. Lauderdale with a 15-day journey that departs on October 19. Ports include Marseille, Genoa, Livorno, Rome, Lisbon and the Azores Islands (Ponta Delgada).

Early Booking Discount fares for Princess' Mediterranean cruises begin at $1,990 per person, based on double occupancy.

Mediterranean cruises

Pre-reserve Crystal Cruise shore excursions in the Mediterranean

In an industry first, travelers can savor and pre-reserve Crystal Adventures shore excursions on Crystal Cruises' website almost a year in advance of the sailing date. The new service not only whets one's appetite for the wealth of stimulating cultural, adventurous, and historic experiences ashore, but offers the convenience -- and peace of mind -- of pre-reserving shore excursions far in advance of the cruise departure. This is the earliest any cruise line has made its excursions available to travelers or their travel agents with full descriptions and pricing.

Crystal has posted all of its Crystal Adventures for Alaska, Baltic, Eastern and Western Mediterranean cruises through October.

The pleasant mindlessness of cruising

Sharon Plan Chan learns to enjoy a family cruise. From the Seattle Times:

I was definitely liking it. The days had a pleasant mindlessness to them. People who don't like cruises say there's nothing to do on the ship, but, in fact, I felt like my days were quite full.

I woke up, I went to breakfast. After breakfast, I read on the pool deck. After lunch, I would return to my room and would maybe catch a movie on TV. My family would get together for mahjong in the game room. Before dinner, I went to the gym and did Stairmaster with a view of the Pacific Ocean.

Then I'd get to wear a swanky formal dress that I never got to wear in Seattle. I would fetch my mom and we would go browse the same six stores each night. We would order all the food we wanted at dinner, drink wine and laugh at each other's lobster faces.

QE2 leaves England for the Mediterranean

On April 16th, the Queen Mary 2 and the QE2 cruise ships were on their first UK visits this year and it was only the second time they had been in their home port (Southampton) together. The QM2, flagship of the British merchant fleet, sailed past the moored QE2, the former flagship, saluting her as she left for a transatlantic trip. The QE2 followed her soon afterwards, heading for a Mediterranean cruise.

The QE2, which was launched by the Queen in 1967, will this year become the longest serving Cunard liner.

Mediterranean cruises go to Libya and Beirut

Who would've guessed that Mediterranean cruise passengers want to go to (formerly) dangerous Libya and Beirut? It appears that they do. The rush to Tripoli, Libya is on now that relations have warmed with that outlaw nation, which is famous for its archaeological ruins. Silversea plans four stops this year and nine in 2006. Costa Cruises begins visits in September. Two Oceania ships, the Regatta and Insignia, arrive for the first time in November. MSC Cruises also introduces port calls in November, and Seabourn, Radisson and Crystal plan first stops next year.

Silversea just made its first stop in the Mediterranean city of Beirut and, despite this year's turmoil, plans to go ahead with three more stops in 2005 and six stops in 2006. Silversea also plans its first visit to neighboring Syria this year and has six stops planned for 2006.

Silversea cruises is obviously willing to take some risks to be able to offer exotic adventures to its passengers.

Save 50% on a second Silversea Mediterranean Cruise

For a limited time only, when combing two or more 2005 Silverseas voyages, receive each additional cruise for 50% off the published cruise fare. See their website for the details. The cruises offered are all in the Mediterranean.

The most expensive cruises of 2005

Forbes magazine has an article about luxury cruises and the most expensive cruises in 2005. Naturally some of the best luxury cruises are in the Mediterranean.

If four weeks alone with a crew of 30 sounds a bit solitary, consider purchasing a residence on board The World , a 165-cabin cruise ship that is continually circumnavigating the globe and putting in at such ports as Cannes, Monaco and Rio. Owners may enjoy their private cabins, which range in price from $1.3 million to $6.3 million, or rent them out. Guests have access to four onboard restaurants, a night club and casino, art gallery, running track, medical center and worship space on this continuous tour of the world.

Another advantage to luxury cruises is that, given the wretched state of the dollar nowadays, they can be especially good values. Pay for your dining, accommodation, entertainment and transportation in dollars stateside--and then sit back and enjoy Europe's finest delicacies, exchange rate be damned. SilverSea gives passengers on their poshest routes complimentary onboard spending credits for as much as $1,000, and for around-the-world tickets sends limos to pick up passengers before boarding. An onboard concierge or tour manager can arrange for performance tickets, a private car or visits to historic sites. And while these charges are in addition to the cruise package, the $1,000 spending credit can be applied towards the fee.