Contest: Last Chance to Win Rosetta Stone Italian Language Program

Today is your final opportunity to enter to win a Rosetta Stone Italian Language Program. (See below for details; deadline is tonight at 11:59 pm.)

About a month ago I bought Rosetta Stone's Turkish program and have been spending an hour or so each evening going through the immersion lessons. Last weekend my husband decided to challenge my knowledge of the language so he rented Midnight Express. This Oliver Stone movie is about a young American thrown in a Turkish jail for trying to smuggle drugs out of the country. A lot of the commentary is in Turkish and I understood much of it!

I was so surprised but I found myself understanding what was being said and translating the dialog for my husband. It's amazing how easy it is to learn the basics of a foreign language with an immersion approach like Rosetta Stone's.

Before your next trip abroad, give Rosetta Stone a shot. The company offers programs for 31 languages, including Italian, French, German, Japanese, Turkish, Thai, Arabic, and many others.

Want to Learn Italian?
Enter to Win a Rosetta Stone Language Program

Rosetta Stone is giving away a language program, Italian Level 1, to one lucky blog reader. Enter to win here.

—Andrea M. Rotondo

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