Happy Valentine's Day!

February 14th snuck up on me this year so Leonard and I will be spending a quiet evening at home. Len is a terrific chef so he'll set tonight's menu. We enjoyed so many excellent meals aboard Celebrity Eclipse last week; it will be interesting to see what direction Leonard will take this meal (hopefully in the lobster direction!).

Murano's definitely turned out to be our favorite Eclipse specialty restaurant. (We dined there twice.) The menu meshed with our sensibilities, they serve a fantastic cheese selection, and the waitstaff is top notch. Our second favorite specialty restaurant was Qsine. The menu is inventive, the dining room design is chic, and the waitstaff is also excellent. We weren't as enamored with Tuscan Grille. The menu is traditional Italian fare alongside steakhouse options. The dining room is much larger than Murano's or Qsine and service wasn't as attentive. Even so, my husband says the grass-fed beef was very good. We never made it to the main dining room, Moonlight Sonata, so we can't comment on that restaurant.

I'll be posting more commentary and pictures from our Celebrity Eclipse Western Caribbean itinerary shortly. In the meantime, I wish all of my readers a very Happy Valentine's Day!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

---

We're bringing clean water to a village in 2011.
Learn more about our clean water project.

Celebrity Eclipse Calls Upon Roatan, Honduras

At last! We're calling upon Roatan, Honduras today. This is the port I've been most looking forward to visiting.

The coral gardens off the coast are supposed to be spectacular! We'll either take a snorkel trip or sign up for Roatan's Venice and Island Culture Tour.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Coral gardens off the coast of Roatan, Honduras

---

We're bringing clean water to a village in 2011.
Learn more about our clean water project.

Maya Chan Beach Resort at Costa Maya, Mexico

Today Celebrity Eclipse docked at Costa Maya, Mexico. The day started out with clear blue skies and sun, but several strong rain storms rumbled through in the afternoon.

This port is a by-product of the cruise industry. There's not much to see or do here, but the port is built up with shops and restaurants as well as a beach and pool area. Directly outside the cruise port is a Hard Rock Cafe and Senor Frogs.

If you know Leonard or I, you know we are definitely not the Senor Frogs type of person so we booked a day at the Maya Chan Beach Resort. This is a private, all-inclusive day resort that's owned and operated by a lovely family that's originally from San Diego.

For $59 per person, guests enjoy a private space on the beach (umbrellas and chairs, loungers and thatched cabanas, etc.). An activities director takes kayakers out to a nearby reef (50 meters from shore) to snorkel. Bikes are also available, as are assorted beach toys.

Alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages are included as is a buffet lunch (delectable sea bass, grilled chicken, marinated skirt steak, and cowboy beans). Transportation is also included in the per person price.

Maya Chan is an excellent option if you prefer not to endure the long ride to the nearby (lesser) Mayan ruins or you don't want to go on a ship's tour to a local (crowded) beach/snorkel spot.

The staff is fantastic here and we'll definitely go back if we dock in Costa Maya in the future.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos ©2011 Andrea M. Rotondo

Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico & Celebrity Eclipse

I don't know much about Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico on the Yucatan Peninsula. This will be the first time either Leonard or I have been here.

The port itself opened to cruise traffic in 2006. Area activities include beach outings, excursions to nearby Mayan ruins, jungle tours, and more.

I'll be interested to see if this is a throw away man-made port or one where glimpses of real life can still be had.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo of one of the masks in the Temple of the Masks at Kohunlich, near Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico.

---

We're bringing clean water to a village in 2011.
Learn more about our clean water project.

Buffet Dining at Oceanview Cafe Aboard Celebrity Eclipse

The Oceanview Cafe on Deck 14 of Celebrity Eclipse offers all-day buffet dining. You'll find a little bit of everything here—from a carving station to pasta and pizza to Indian and Chinese entrees to a full salad bar and sandwich board. Desserts range from pastries to cookies and there's also an ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sorbet station.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos ©2011 Leonard Hospidor

Visiting Tulum via Cozumel with Celebrity Eclipse

Celebrity Eclipse calls on Cozumel, Mexico today. Most people I've talked with are planning on making the trek to the Mayan ruins in Tulum.

Stay tuned for more news about this port of call and our time aboard Celebrity Eclipse.

Tonight we're dining at Tuscan Grille so we'll definitely be posting some food shots!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

---

We're bringing clean water to a village in 2011.
Learn more about our clean water project.

Celebrity Eclipse at George Town, Grand Cayman

Today Celebrity Eclipse will call upon George Town, Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands.

One of the best things about larger cruise ships like Eclipse is the fact that they can offer a multitude of shore excursions.

At Grand Cayman, Celebrity is offering about 40 different options! There's snorkeling and swimming with dolphins as well as submarine expeditions and parasailing. One excursion is a stingray encounter. We've already done that on Bora Bora so we'll be looking for something else to do on the island.

To be honest, I think an entire day spent at Seven Mile Beach may be just what Leonard and I need! I'll post again later to let you know what we ended up doing today and will hopefully share some photos as well.

In the meantime, don't miss our tweets. It's sometimes easier to post a photo to Twitter than to post to the blog when Internet access is slow on the ship.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman

---

We're bringing clean water to a village in 2011.
Learn more about our clean water project.

Exquisite Dinner at Murano Aboard Celebrity Eclipse

We dined at Murano last night, our first evening aboard Celebrity Eclipse. The meal was absolutely fantastic and the service was friendly and attentive.

Feast your eyes on this exquisite meal…

Quail and Arugula Salad

Baby Red Beets, White Asparagus, Caramalized Goat Cheese with Roasted Jus

Heirloom Tomato & Buffalo Mozzarella Salad

Granny Smith Apple, Cantaloupe, Micro Basil, and White Balsamic Emulsion

Creamy Main Lobster Bisque

Leek and Shallot Flan with Cognac Cream

Porcini & Morel Risotto

Vegetable Paysanne, Truffle Foam, Chervil, and Garlic Chips

Five-Spice Crusted Cervena Venison Loin

Celery Root fondant, Wilted Spinach, Red Cabbage Marmalade, and Lingonberry Sauce

Les Perles Sucrées

A Trio of Warm Croustilliant filled with Chocolate, Hazelnut, and Lemon Cream; Served with Vanilla Ice Cream and Peach Cocktail

Complimentary After-Dinner Chocolates

Cheese Cart

Murano also offers a very worthy cheese cart. We'll try to get photos of that the next time we dine here.

Both Leonard and I highly recommend Murano. Go early (and hungry) and linger over each wonderful course. This specialty restaurant costs $35 per person and also offers a five-course meal with wine pairings for $89 per person.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos ©2011 by Leonard Hospidor.

Celebrity Eclipse Miami Sail-away

The trip to Miami on Friday was uneventful. Our flight was jam-packed so, alas, no upgrade but we did snag an exit row and enjoyed a fairly comfortable ride to Florida. We overnighted at Crown Plaza Miami – International Airport. It’s a fine pre-cruise hotel; nothing to write home about. If I wasn’t in the process of finishing Priority Club’s “Crack the Case” frequent stay promo (and needed one more stay at a brand other than InterContinental), I would have booked the IC Miami and will do so next time we sail out of this city. We did have a fantastic surf-and-turf dinner at Catch of the Day, which is just a block down the road.

This morning we headed to the Port of Miami early and were aboard Celebrity Eclipse by noontime. We had lunch at Oceanview Café. We’re not fans of buffets and it was so incredibly crowded. We couldn’t flag anyone down to get a glass of wine so we just had a quick bite and then headed to one of the outdoor bars to relax. After that we spent a bit of time exploring the ship (it’s very similar to Celebrity Equinox, which we’ve sailed on before). We ended up in Michael’s Club, one of our favorite spots, and made some phone calls home before the muster drill.

At 4:30pm, we cast-off. The sail-away from Miami really is lovely. Here are a few shots I snapped.

Time just flew and before we knew it, it was time for our 6:30pm reservation at Murano, a specialty restaurant that focuses on French cuisine. The meal was spectacular! Leonard took photos of every course and I’ll post those for you tomorrow.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Specialty Dining Aboard Celebrity Eclipse

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you know that Leonard and I usually vacation aboard all-inclusive luxury cruise ships. Celebrity Cruises, however, is a premium line and that means we'll be paying extra for drinks (soda and alcoholic beverages like beer, wine, and other spirits). It also means that some of the best dining spots on the ship are "specialty" restaurants that carry a per person surcharge.

I thought I'd tell you a bit about these restaurants. (We'll be dining at Qsine this evening.)

Tuscan Grille
$30 per person surcharge
Most cruise ships have an Italian steakhouse similar to Tuscan Grille. The menu includes the obligatory antipasti and prosciutto with Parmiggiano reggiano and shaved cantaloupe as well as Caesar salad made right at your table.

Hearty soups and salads are a favorite as is the spaghetti Bolognese and linguini Alfredo. There's even Pappardelle alla Toscana with Kobe-style meatballs baked in an herb tomato ragout with mozzarella.

On the entree side, there's both veal and eggplant parmiggiana, grilled sea bass, pan seared salmon, and a grilled Colorado lamb chop. Steak lovers can choose between Angus ribeye, filet mignon, or New York strip.

Delectable desserts range from a selection of Italian gelato and sorbet as well as creme brulee.

Murano
$35 per person surcharge
I think Murano is the most beautiful restaurant on Eclipse. We'll post some photos later during the cruise. In the meantime, here are a few of the items on the menu, which presents continental cuisine:

Appetizers
Tian of Peekytoe Crab, Gravalax Salmon & Avacado Mousse
Escargots Tortellini with Smoked Applewood Bacon and Fricassee of Morels & Roasted Garlic
Diver Scallop Wellington-Style with Black Truffle Emulsion & Spinach Fondue
Warm Goat Cheese Souffle with Smoked Tomato Coulis

Soups & Salads
Creamy Maine Lobster Bisque
Wild Mushroom Cappuccino with Porcini Gelato
Heirloom Tomato Salad, Buffalo Mozzarella, Apple & Cantaloupe

Entrees
Dover Sole Veronique
Lobster Tail "Your Way"
Pan Seared Filet Mignon
Sauteed French Turbot

Qsine
$35 per person surcharge
Celebrity says Qsine is a "uniquely unordinary" approach to dining and the words you'll hear guests use to describe their meal include "modern," "playful," and "artful." Menu items are meant to be shared and are served as soon as they are ready...so forget about the usual format of salad course, soup course, etc.

This place is popular so make reservations early and come hungry! Here's the Qsine menu (pdf) and the Qsine wine list (pdf).

Blu Restaurant
Blu is the fourth specialty restaurant aboard Eclipse, but only AquaClass guests are able to make reservations here.

Complimentary Dining
Other restaurants are available to those who do not wish to pay a surcharge for the specialty restaurants. The complimentary dining spots include the two-level Moonlight Sonata Restaurant (main dining room), Oceanview Cafe and Bar (buffet), and Mast Grill and Bar (above the pool).


Note: Suite passengers receive one complimentary specialty restaurant reservation per seven-night cruise and two comp reservations for cruises of eight nights or longer.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

---

We're bringing clean water to a village in 2011.
Learn more about our clean water project.

Celebrity Eclipse and the Port of Miami

Today we board Celebrity Eclipse at the Port of Miami. It's a short taxi ride from the Crowne Plaza to the port and we plan to get there as early as possible. We want to spend some time getting our bearings on the ship and taking photos.

Oceania Cruises' new Marina is also in port today and we hope to get some pictures of her as well.

We'll post again later with our first impressions of Celebrity Eclipse.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

---

We're bringing clean water to a village in 2011.
Learn more about our clean water project.

Heading to Miami for Celebrity Eclipse Western Caribbean Cruise

Our bags are packed and the dog/house sitters will arrive shortly. We head for Miami in a few short hours. We can't wait to get out of this cold weather!

Since we're only spending a few hours in Miami tonight, we're staying close to the airport at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. I'll let you know how this hotel ranks for a one-night pre-cruise stay.

We're eager to board Celebrity Eclipse tomorrow morning in Miami. Our last Celebrity cruise was aboard Equinox and we love that ship. Eclipse though has the benefit of a new restaurant called Qsine. It's been getting rave reviews and we've already made reservations to dine there twice during our seven-night cruise.

We're also looking forward to the itinerary itself since it calls on two places we've never been: Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico and Roatan, Honduras.

Celebrity Eclipse Itinerary
Saturday: Miami
Sunday: at sea
Monday: George Town, Grand Cayman
Tuesday: Cozumel, Mexico
Wednesday: Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico
Thursday: Roatan, Honduras
Friday: at sea
Saturday: Miami

We'll be blogging from the ship, Internet willing, and will bring you news from our ports of call and from the ship itself. Stay tuned for more Celebrity Eclipse news!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of Crowne Plaza

---

We're bringing clean water to a village in 2011.
Learn more about our clean water project.

Traveling When Life is Complicated

You haven't heard from me in a few weeks and I wish I could tell you it was because Leonard and I were traveling someplace far-flung and fabulous. Unfortunately, we've been working through a family crisis that's kept me traveling between New York City and Florida.

My elderly father was visiting my sister in the Sunshine State when he unfortunately suffered acute kidney failure. He spent three weeks in the hospital and is now transitioning to a rehab hospital/long-term nursing facility. It's been a whirlwind trying to figure out what's best for him and my mom—not to mention having a medevac on standby to fly him from Florida back home to the Northeast. This crazy winter weather hasn't helped getting Mom and Dad home, either!

Daily life has been on hold for weeks, but we're finally accepting the new "normal." All I can say is enjoy your youth and take advantage of everything life has to offer when you and your spouse are healthy and able to travel.

Leonard and I are booked to sail aboard Celebrity Eclipse this Saturday and we are sticking with our plans (although I've changed my mind about this a zillion times in the two weeks leading up to the trip!).

If there was ever a time that we needed a break, this is it. The emotional toll of knowing my parents may never live in their home together again, researching and visiting nursing homes in two states, and dealing with the awful weather in the Northeast has really beaten us down. We're counting on this trip to Grand Cayman, Mexico (Cozumel and Puerto Costa Maya), and Honduras to help us get back on track and let go of some of the stress that's currently resting on our shoulders.

I'm looking forward to sea days spent reading by the pool, lazing on Mexican beaches, and snorkeling in the Caymans and Honduras. We'll be blogging (Internet willing!) and tweeting from the ship and hope you'll join us (virtually) as we explore Celebrity Eclipse.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

---

We're bringing clean water to a village in 2011.
Learn more about our clean water project.

Our First Cruise of 2011: Celebrity Eclipse

With one blizzard already under our belt this winter, Leonard and I are thrilled that we've got a Western Caribbean cruise booked aboard Celebrity Cruises's newest ship: Eclipse. Next month we'll travel to Miami where we'll meet this Solstice-class ship.

The seven-night itinerary, with two sea days, will give us an opportunity to revisit some favorite spots like Grand Cayman and Cozumel and explore new-to-us ports like Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico and Roatan, Honduras.

We really like Celebrity Cruises. It's an excellent premium cruise line. The biggest changes for us (since we're used to the all-inclusive luxury lines) will be having to pay for beverages (soda and alcohol), paying for specialty restaurants, factoring in tips, and dealing with a large number of guests. We'll let you know how it turns out.

The Solstice-class ships are really beautiful and there's so much to do that our two sea days will fly by. Stay tuned in February for our live updates from Celebrity Eclipse.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

---

We're bringing clean water to a village in 2011.
Learn more about our clean water project.

Porthole Cruise Magazine Annouces 12th Annual Readers' Choice Winners

Porthole Cruise Magazine has been running its annual Readers' Choice Awards for the past 12 years and the 2010 results are now in.

The survey includes dozens of categories, but the awards are mainly geared to the mass market cruise lines. Still, luxury favorites like Yachts of Seabourn, Silversea, and Paul Gauguin Cruises get nods, as do premium cruise lines Oceania Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises, and Windstar Cruises.

And the winners are...

Best Small Ship (fewer than 500 passengers)
Seabourn Odyssey—Yachts of Seabourn

Best Medium-Sized Ship (between 500 and 2,000 passengers)
Azamara Journey—Azamara Club Cruises

Best River Cruise
Viking River Cruises

Best Luxury Line
Yachts of Seabourn

Best Expedition Cruise Line
Lindblad Expeditions

Best Eco-Friendly Cruise Line
Holland America Line

Best Shore Excursions
Holland America Line

Best Private Island
Half Moon Cay—Holland America Line

Best Megaship (at least 2,000 passengers)
Oasis of the Seas—Royal Caribbean

Best Tall Ship
Royal Clipper—Star Clippers

Best Value-for-the-Money Line
Carnival Cruise Lines

Most Family-Oriented Line
Disney Cruise Line

Most Romantic Cruise Line
Windstar Cruises

Best Short-Duration Cruise
Norwegian Cruise Line

Best One-Day Cruise
Discovery Cruise Line

Best Adventure Cruise Line
Royal Caribbean

Best Onboard Activities
Royal Caribbean

Best Main Dining Room Cuisine
Celebrity Cruises

Best Casinos
Carnival Cruise Lines

Best Spa Facilities
Royal Caribbean

Best Medical Facilities
Holland America Line

Best Service
Silversea Cruises

Best Onboard International Experience
MSC Cruises

Best Adults-Only Onboard Options
Celebrity Cruises

Best Accommodations
Yachts of Seabourn

Best Onboard Educational Programs
Cunard Line

Best Alternative Restaurants
Norwegian Cruise Line

Best Computer Facilities
Norwegian Cruise Line

Best Onboard Shopping
Princess Cruises

Best Children's Programs
Disney Cruise Line

Best Entertainment
Carnival Cruise Lines

Best Theme Cruises
Carnival Cruise Lines

Best Web Site
Carnival Cruise Lines
Best Facilities for Physically Challenged Passengers
Holland America Line

Best Caribbean Itineraries
Royal Caribbean

Best Mexican Riviera Itineraries
Carnival Cruise Lines

Best Central America Itineraries
Holland America line

Best South America Itineraries
Oceania Cruises

Best South Pacific Itineraries
Paul Gauguin Cruises

Best Trans-Atlantic Itineraries
Cunard Line

Best Africa/Middle East Itineraries
Costa Cruises

Best Bermuda Itineraries
Norwegian Cruise Line

Best Canada/New England Itineraries
Holland America Line

Best Alaska Itineraries
Holland America Line

Best Hawaii Itineraries
Norwegian Cruise Line
Best Mediterranean Itineraries
Costa Cruises

Best Northern Europe Itineraries
Holland America Line

Best Asia/Pacific Itineraries
Silversea Cruises

Best World Cruise Itineraries
Cunard Line

Best Australia/New Zealand Itineraries
Princess Cruises

To subscribe to the magazine, visit Porthole Cruise Magazine's website.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Logo courtesy of Porthole Cruise Magazine

SeaDream I Late to San Juan Due to Engine Trouble

It's been a tough month for cruise travelers who've had to deal with ships with mechanical difficulties. First Regent Voyager had pod issues in Europe and had to cancel some itineraries, then Celebrity Century had rudder problems causing the cancellation of the October 13th Mediterranean sailing. Now this past weekend, passengers aboard SeaDream Yacht Club's SeaDream I had to deal with a bit of engine trouble aboard the mega-yacht.

The ship was supposed to dock in San Juan, Puerto Rico in the early morning hours, but didn't arrive until late afternoon. SeaDream assured passengers that the cruise line would pick up charges for airline changes and would cover overnight accommodations and meals for those needing to stay overnight.

Every ship, no matter how well maintained, may at one point or another deal with some type of mechanical failure that impacts an itinerary. Most often, the damage is minor—like arriving in port a few hours late—but sometimes entire itineraries are impacted. That's why the watch words here are "travel insurance."

I'm tackling the issue of travel insurance now for Cruise Critic. I'll let you know when my article, chock full of advice for protecting your cruise travel investment, goes online.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Celebrity Cruises Opens Bookings for Australia & New Zealand

I don't blog about Celebrity Cruises often enough. Yes, it's a tier down from the luxury cruise lines I generally write about. However, Celebrity is one of my favorite cruise lines in the premium category. Its new ships—Solstice, Equinox, and Eclipse—are beautifully designed and the food aboard Celebrity always hits the mark.

That's why I was really excited to learn that Celebrity Century will sail Australia and New Zealand in 2011 and 2012. The line is also offering four- and five-night escorted cruisetours in Australia, which combine a cruise with land adventures. Travelers can choose from 10 itineraries and six different embarkation ports.


Here's one itinerary that looks especially enticing...

12-Night Sydney, Australia–Auckland, New Zealand
November 30, 2011: Sydney, Australia
December 1, 2011: at sea
December 2, 2011: Hobart, Tasmania
December 3–4, 2011: at sea
December 5, 2011: Milford Sound, New Zealand and Doubful Sound
December 6, 2011: Dunedin, New Zealand
December 7, 2011: Christchurch, New Zealand
December 8, 2011: Wellington, New Zealand
December 9, 2011: Napier, New Zealand
December 10, 2011: Tauranga, New Zealand
December 11, 2011: Bay of Islands, New Zealand
December 12, 2011: Auckland, New Zealand

Reservations are now open for Celebrity Century's Australia/New Zealand cruises. Book by December 31, 2010, for special onboard credit and savings on back-to-back sailings. Call your travel agent or Celebrity Cruises at 1-(800) 437-3111.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Video: Celebrity Cruises Floats Out Celebrity Eclipse

Last summer we sailed aboard Celebrity Equinox, the second in Celebrity Cruises' $3.7 billion Solstice Class fleet. Last Thursday the cruise line floated out the next ship in the series: Celebrity Eclipse.

Take a look at this video from Celebrity Cruises and learn a bit more about this terrific new ship that starts sailing this April:

Celebrity Eclipse will sail round-trip itineraries out of Southampton, England between April and the end of October, when she'll cross the Atlantic and begin her winter season in the Caribbean.

For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact Celebrity Cruises.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Enter Celebrity Cruises' "Eclipse of a Lifetime" Sweepstakes

Today Celebrity Cruises launched its "Eclipse of a Lifetime" sweepstakes, which runs through January 14, 2010. Ten winners and their guests will win a trip to Dusseldorf, Germany, where they will spend some time before heading to the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg on March 13, 2010. From there, winners will board the brand new Solstice-class ship Celebrity Eclipse for the "conveyance" of the ship on the narrow River Ems to Emshaven, Netherlands. Sweepstakes is only open to residents of the United States and Canada.

What's unique about this?

• You'll be the first passengers aboard the ship, excluding Celebrity staff and crew.
• You'll be one of few people who have experienced a conveyance where the ship actually navigates backwards down the River Ems.
• You'll experience the Meyer Werft shipyard, one of the most modern facilities in the world.
• You'll meet Celebrity's President and CEO, Dan Hanrahan, who will personally lead you on a tour of the ship.
• You'll enjoy AquaClass staterooms and enjoy creative menus developed by Chef Jacques Van Staden, Celebrity's VP of Culinary Operations.
• You'll mix and mingle with the ship's senior officers.

Here's some more information about the conveyance from Celebrity:

During the "conveyance" through Germany's River Ems, more than 75,000 residents are expected to line the river banks - in cars, on bikes, on horseback and in RVs—to watch and cheer as one of the largest ships ever to transit the river meanders past charming villages and quaint farmlands. An indisputable rarity in cruising, the conveyance takes the ship along a truly challenging course: At its tightest points along the way, there will be as few as two feet between each side of the 1,040-ft-long, 121-ft-wide Celebrity Eclipse and the locks. The depth of the river and the draft of the ship allow for mere inches—or less—beneath the ship. Celebrity and shipbuilder Meyer Werft have essentially created a science all their own, to closely and carefully monitor the position of the moon and tidal conditions to pinpoint the precise moment when the depth of the river is ideal for the ship to depart the shipyard.

"The science and precision of the process is actually more complex than transiting the Panama Canal," said Hanrahan. A railway bridge must be completely dismantled, and normal train schedules adjusted, to allow for the ship's passage at one point on the course, among other narrow passages. The journey will take between 12 to 15 hours to complete, and is likely to be the most challenging ride the ship will encounter in its life. Only one captain in the world—who sweepstakes winners will have the exclusive opportunity to meet—is licensed and qualified to take the helm during the conveyance. The limited space available for navigation, the nature of sailing in reverse, and the number of narrow passages and bridges to transit are factors cruise ship captains normally don't have to deal with; but, it provides the chance for them to test the ship's maneuverability at slow speeds."

Enter Celebrity Cruises' "Eclipse of Lifetime" sweepstakes. Winners will be announced on January 28, 2010.

For more information about Celebrity Cruises, talk with your travel agent or contact Celebrity at 1-(800) 437-3111.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Get Married or Renew Your Vows at Sea

My husband and I hosted a destination wedding in Florida a dozen years before the practice came into vogue. Now, more and more couples are finding that cruises offer the perfect backdrop for a wedding, a reception, and a spectacular honeymoon.

CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) has also noticed this trend and recently surveyed their member travel agents about it. The feedback was interesting: namely that over 60 percent of agents reported their cruise wedding business has increased in the last two years.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.


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.

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 canapés every afternoon, a miniature wedding cake and Leonidas chocolates and more.

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 canapés, 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.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com