Video: Happy 4th of July! Plus Fireworks & Cunard's QE2

Happy Fourth of July!

I hope you and your family are enjoying this wonderful long weekend! Celebrating the 4th is always bittersweet for me. My grandfather, an Italian immigrant who—at the age of 14—sailed to the United States to find a better life, always loved this holiday. He's been gone several decades now, but I still miss him very much...especially this time of year.

One of his favorite pastimes on the 4th was enjoying fireworks displays so, in his honor, here's a video of a fantastic fireworks extravaganza shot by Rob Lightbody of Glasgow, Scotland.

In this segment, he captured Cunard's QE2 and her final departure from the River Clyde on October 5, 2008. Fifteen-minutes of fireworks sparkled above one of the best-loved ocean liners of all time.

Cunard's new luxury ocean liner, the Queen Elizabeth, will set sail on her maiden voyage to the Canary Islands from Southampton, England on October 12, 2010.

Have a festive and safe Fourth of July!

—Andrea M. Rotondo

Crystal Cruises Announces 3-Day Sale

This just in from Crystal Cruises...

JULY THREE-DAY SALE OFFERS BIG SAVINGS ON FIVE CRYSTAL CRUISES

LOS ANGELES, July 2, 2009—For three days only—July 8, 9, and 10—Crystal Cruises is offering 25% additional savings off of its low special savings fares on five varied itineraries this fall and winter.

New savings—from $885 to $2,000 per person—apply to all deluxe outside and verandah category staterooms on its September 26 Mediterranean cruise, a November itinerary from New York to Bermuda and the Caribbean, a November 12 Transatlantic voyage, a December 5 South American and the Amazon journey, and a December 10 Panama Canal transit.

Crystal’s popular “All Inclusive—As You Wish” program provides an additional $500-1,000 per person of shipboard spending credits. A Crystal Family Memories program offers a host of perks for a family or friends group of six, and a free berth for a group of 10.

The 25% savings is available:

* September 26—Venice to Athens, 12 days aboard Crystal Serenity
Save $1,362–$1,890
Plus $1,000 “All Inclusive—As You Wish” spending credit
Plus Crystal Family Memories program—free berth for only 10 full-fare guests

* November 10—New York to Miami, 12 days aboard Crystal Symphony
Save $1,046–$1,516
Plus $500 “All Inclusive—As You Wish” spending credit
Plus Crystal Family Memories program—free berth for only 10 full-fare guests

* November 12—Lisbon to Miami, 12 days aboard Crystal Serenity
Save $885–$1,239
Plus $500 “All Inclusive—As You Wish” spending credit
Plus Crystal Family Memories program—free berth for only 10 full-fare guests

* December 5—Manaus to Buenos Aires, 15 days aboard Crystal Symphony
Save $1,350–$2,085
Plus $1000 “All Inclusive—As You Wish” spending credit
Plus Crystal Family Memories program—free berth for only 10 full-fare guests

* December 10—Caldera to Miami, 11 days aboard Crystal Serenity
Save $944–$1,277
Plus $500 “All Inclusive—As You Wish” spending credit
Plus Crystal Family Memories program—free berth for only 10 full-fare guests


New cruise fares for the voyages start at $2,655. Fares, credits, and savings are per person, based on double occupancy.

For reservations, contact your travel agent or call 888-799-4625. Visit the newly redesigned crystalcruises.com.

Photo courtesy of Crystal Cruises

Celebrity Equinox On the Horizon

July used to be such a quiet, lazy month for our family but that was "B.C."—before we found cruising. For the last few years, this page in our annual calendar has been filled with Alaskan adventures, Mediterranean sojourns, and Northern European getaways.

Honestly, summertime is the perfect time of year to explore many parts of the globe via cruise ship and this month we're lucky enough to be booked on two brand new ships: Seabourn Odyssey and Celebrity Equinox.

I've mentioned our Seabourn Odyssey plans in previous blog posts, but we're just working out the details to attend Celebrity Cruises' naming ceremony for the Equinox in Southampton, England on July 29.

We're looking forward to sailing on this ship. With a passenger capacity of 2,850, it's the largest cruise ship we've ever sailed. We'll take our leave from the intimate 450-guest Seabourn's Odyssey and a few days later will join the Equinox in England.

What are looking forward to experiencing on Celebrity's second Solstice-class vessel?

• The "Lawn Club," a half-acre of naturally growing grass on deck
  
  
• A glassblowing studio developed in conjunction with the Corning Museum of Glass
  
  
• Dining at Blu, the ship's Mediterranean-styled specialty restaurant
  
  
• Checking out the AquaClass staterooms, which offer special access to the ship's two-story spa facility

We'll be tweeting live from both the Seabourn Odyssey (starting July 18) and Celebrity Equinox (starting July 29). We'll also post videos and photos as often as we can. Watch this blog and LuxuryCruiseBible.com for more information on both cruise lines.

—Andrea M. Rotondo

Photo of Celebrity Solstice courtesy of Celebrity Cruises