Sail the Med This Fall Aboard a Brand New Ship

As you know, we recently returned from a Seabourn Odyssey Eastern Mediterranean cruise. We loved the ship, the ports, and all the terrific people we met along the way. What we weren't too crazy about was the hot, humid weather.

Yes, yes, I know. What were we thinking going to Greece in the middle of July! But, we really wanted to be one of the first passengers aboard Seabourn Odyssey so, in the end, we're glad we booked that particular cruise. However, we both agreed that the next time we sail the Med, it will either be in September/October or April/May.

For those of you who may have some time for a Mediterranean sojourn this September or October, here are a few of the excellent deals that can still be had aboard a quartet of brand new ships.

Fall Mediterranean Cruises Aboard Four Brand New Ships

Seabourn Odyssey (launched June 2009)

• Cruise: 7-night from Athens (Piraeus), Greece to Istanbul, Turkey
• Ports: Athens (Piraeus), Mylos, Rhodes, Symi, and Khyos in Greece; Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey; cruising the Dardanelles; and Istanbul, Turkey
• Date: October 10, 2009
• Price: Approximately $4,800 pp
  
• Description: Many itineraries aboard Seabourn's newest megayacht, Seabourn Odyssey, are sold out during her maiden season. However, there is still space on this terrific 7-night itinerary. With a guest capacity of just 450, Odyssey is more like an elegant boutique hotel at sea than a cruise ship. She's intimate and comfortable and drop-dead gorgeous.

Celebrity Equinox (launched July 2009)

• Cruise: 13-night roundtrip out of Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
• Ports: Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Santorini and Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey; Cairo/Giza (Alexandria), Egypt, Jerusalem/Tel Aviv (Ashdod) and Nazareth/galilee (Haifa), Israel; and Naples/Capri (Sorrento), Italy
• Date: September 13, 2009
• Price: Approximately $1,650 for an inside cabin, $2,350 pp for an oceanview, and $2,700 pp for a balcony
• Description: We just sailed aboard Celebrity Equinox and were very impressed. The ship is exquisite from bow to stern and even though she welcomes about 2,800 guests per cruise, she never feels cramped or crowded (although there's sure to be lines for the tenders during peak transit times). Don't miss the extension art collection.
  

Costa Luminosa (launched May 2009)

• Cruise: 11-night roundtrip out of Savona, Italy
• Ports: Savona, Italy; Barcelona, Spain; Casablanca, Morocco; Lanzarote and Santa Cruz, Tenerife in the Canary Islands; Funchal, Madeira, Portugal; and Malaga, Spain
• Date: October 21, 2009
• Price: Approximately $1,600 pp for an oceanview and $2,000 pp for a balcony
• Description: While many luxury lines are building larger ships, this Italian mass-market line launched a smaller ship (in relation to the rest of its fleet) in May. Costa Luminosa is a 2,260-passenger cruise ship with amenities that appeal to families and young couples. Sixty-eight percent of the cabins have balconies, each room is outfitted with a Playstation 3, the top deck hosts a unique "skating" track, there's an 18-hole golf simulator, and much more.

MSC Splendida (launched July 2009)
Cruise: 7-night roundtrip out of Genoa, Italy
Ports: Genoa, Italy; Marseille, France; Barcelona, Spain; Tunis, Tunisia; Valletta, Malta; Messina, Sicily and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
Date: October 17, 2009
Price: Approximately $550 for an inside cabin, $750 pp for a balcony, and $1,400 for a suite
Description: Splendida is a large ship (133,500 tons with a passenger capacity of 3,300), but she holds a secret. There's actually a "ship within a ship" concept in play here and if you're used to cruising luxury ships you'll definitely want to book one of the 99 Yacht Club staterooms and suites. As a Yacht Club guest you'll gain access to a private lounge and pool area as well as other upgraded perks.

There's still plenty of time to book a Mediterranean cruise for this fall. Talk with your travel agent or contact your favorite cruise lines directly.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of Celebrity Cruises (Celebrity Solstice)

Scammers Targeting Crystal Cruises

I just received this e-mail from Crystal Cruises and feel it's important enough to repost here for those of you who may not be on the cruise line's mailing list.

IMPORTANT FRAUD ALERT MESSAGE FROM CRYSTAL CRUISES

It has come to the attention of Crystal Cruises that fraudulent checks are being issued to various individuals throughout the United States either randomly via mail or through other means including popular Internet websites featuring job postings, Mystery Shopper programs, Sweepstakes/Draw Winner and payment for items being sold. We do NOT believe that any of our customer personal information was used to generate these checks.

These checks look identical to, but are not, Crystal Cruises' corporate checks. These are NOT legitimate checks and this is NOT a Crystal Cruises' promotion. This is an illegal check scam.

The "check scam" is as follows:

1. The perpetrators advise the recipient to cash the alleged Crystal Cruises' check. (Note: They even explain the check is from a "financial sponsor" to try and assure the recipient that it is legitimate).
   
   
2. They then ask the recipient to deposit or send the same amount of money to a third party via Western Union under the guise of a Secret Shopper program (Note: at this time we do not have definitive information as to where the money is being sent).

Again, this is NOT a Crystal Cruises' promotion and we ask for your help in communicating this fraudulent check scam to others. If you have received one of these checks, do not cash or deposit it. These checks did not originate with Crystal Cruises.

Crystal Cruises has notified and is working with the appropriate authorities to investigate this matter. In order to provide the authorities with the additional information necessary to apprehend and prosecute the criminals behind this fraud, we ask that if you do receive a check, or have any information regarding this scam, please email us at fraudalert@crystalcruises.com or fax to 1-310-277-8150 or call 1-310-785-9300 and ask to speak to our Fraud Alert Department.

We appreciate your cooperation in this very serious matter.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Celebrity & Azamara Added to Amex Platinum Cruise Privileges Program

This week I'll be posting more about the new Solstice-class luxury cruise ship from Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Equinox. The ship's naming ceremony last week in Southampton, England was fantastic and Equinox is sure to become a favorite with cruisers from both the United States and Europe.

I personally look forward to sailing aboard Celebrity Equinox again in the future so I was very happy to hear that both Celebrity Cruises and her sister line, Azamara Cruises, are now part of American Express's Cruise Privileges Program exclusively for Platinum cardholders.

New Cruise Privileges Benefits

• Celebrity Cruises: a two-category upgrade or up to $300 per suite shipboard credit (depending on ship and category booked), complimentary dinner for two, and a bottle of champagne
  
  
• Azamara Cruises: a stateroom credit of $300, a behind-the-scenes ship tour, and a complimentary bottle of champagne

To take advantage of these benefits, you must be an American Express Platinum cardholder. You may book your cruise directly through Platinum Travel Service at 1-(800) 443-7672 or book through your travel agent and he or she will arrange for the Platinum Cruise Privileges benefits on your behalf (you will receive a written confirmation of the benefit in your stateroom upon boarding the ship). While you must have an Amex Platinum card, you do not have to pay for your cruise with that card.

Other cruise lines also taking part in this program include Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea, The Yachts of Seabourn, Uniworld River Cruise Collection, and Windstar Cruises. Benefits vary by cruise line and stateroom category booked.

For more information, call Platinum Travel Service at 1-(800) 443-7672 or talk with your travel agent.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com