Turf's Up on Celebrity Cruises

When Celebrity Solstice launches in December, the ship will present an industry first -- real, growing grass, set in an innovative new country club environment known as “The Lawn Club” on the top deck.

The half-acre Lawn Club will invite guests to enjoy bocce ball and croquet, practice their putting, picnic with a basket of wine and cheese, or simply feel the grass between their toes, while sailing the oceans of the world.

The area will also feature the Hot Glass Show, another first in the industry, developed in collaboration with The Corning Museum of Glass; the Patio on the Lawn; the Lawn Club Shop, and the Sunset Bar.

Celebrity worked with design firm Wilson Butler Architects to design the entire club area, then engaged a team of landscape architects and irrigation specialists along with turf and soil scientists at the University of Florida. Together, they conducted extensive research and tested a variety of grasses to determine which can withstand the winds, sun, shade and temperature variations that will affect the grass and soil as the ship sails in the Caribbean this winter. Other considerations included the ability of the grass to tolerate foot traffic, irrigation and day-to-day care and maintenance of the grass. Even the weight of the grass and soil had to be considered, as well as the water they absorb from the atmosphere and from irrigation.

The Lawn Club is over three times larger than New York’s Rockefeller Center ice skating rink (668 square metres); 1.7 times larger than an Olympic-size swimming pool; the equivalent of 8.2 tennis courts; 2.4 times the size of Centre Court at England’s Wimbledon Lawn & Tennis Club; and one-third the size of a regulation soccer field.

New US Travel Requirements

They warned us it was coming and now as of January 31st, oral declarations of citizenship alone will no longer be accepted by U.S. Customs.

What does this mean for you? Well, if you are entering the US by land or by sea, you'll need to show government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, ALONG WITH proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate.

Children ages 18 and under will only be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. And as always, passports and trusted traveller program cards – NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST – will continue to be accepted for cross-border travel.

All existing non-immigrant visa and passport requirements will remain in effect and will not be altered by this change. For further information, visit http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1196711811270.shtm

"IT" Places for 2008

I know I have refrained from the usual top ten lists that seem to arrive at this time of year, but I couldn't refrain when I saw this in Conde Nast. As the purveyors of all that is trendy and cool with travel, I thought you might be interested to know where they think the ten "IT" places will be for this year. (Note: Even the term "IT" place screams trendy - but these folks have their fingers on the pulse...)

1) Mozambique
2) St Lucia
3) Montenegro
4) Ecuador
5) Sicily
6) San Diego
7) Hainan Island, China
8) Oman
9) Puerto Escondito & the Oaxacan Coast, Mexico
10) Paris

RCCL invites you to dance!

The ballroom dance craze has hit the high seas! Royal Caribbean International passengers are being invited to Rumba, Samba, Cha-Cha, Waltz or Swing their way into the spotlight in “Invitation to Dance,” the cruise line’s newest production show featuring guests as stars aboard Explorer of the Seas.

Created in conjunction with Louis van Amstel, Emmy-nominated choreographer for ABC-TV’s “Dancing with the Stars,” and Cheryl Burke, two-time winner on the show, “Invitation to Dance” transports the world of professional ballroom dancing to the high seas. Guests sailing on Explorer have the opportunity to compete for the honour of best ballroom dancers at sea with the guidance of professional dancers, stylists and make-up artists.

Chosen during an evening of ballroom dancing at the beginning of each cruise, four couples are selected to participate in the “Invitation to Dance” production show later that week. The finalists work with Royal Caribbean’s professional ballroom couples to learn slick dance moves, attend costume fittings and receive star treatment in preparation for their Royal Caribbean stage debut. Showtime is an exciting evening in the spotlight for the dancing couples as they join the Royal Caribbean cast on stage and compete against each other for the applause and support of fellow guests.

Sound fun? Give a call to book your next cruise on RCCL's Explorer of the Seas.

Windstar and Formula One!

Partake in the glamour of the Cannes Film Festival and the thrill of the Monaco Grand Prix race during Windstar Cruises' special 8-day cruise aboard the elegant, 312-guest Wind Surf departing May 18, 2008, from Nice, France.

Guests will overnight in Cannes, France during the star-studded Cannes Film Festival and spend three nights in Monaco during the prestigious Formula One Grand Prix race. Other ports visited include St. Tropez, France and St. Florent, Corsica.

Guests who wish to attend the Grand Prix may purchase the Monaco 66e Grand Prix Package Tour which begins on Friday, May 23 and ends on Sunday, May 25, 2008, and includes a private "Welcome to Monaco" cocktail reception and gala dinner on board the ship on Friday; an exclusive gift package of Bushnell binoculars, official 66e Grand Prix de Monaco program, official Monaco Auto Club Ticket holder, souvenir hat and souvenir jacket. Guests will also receive Tribune K reserved seating at the Formula One Grand Prix time trials on Saturday.

On Saturday evening, an exclusive Windstar reception will be held at the H.S.H. Prince Rainier III Auto Collection Museum where guests will have the opportunity to stroll through the exhibits which include one hundred cars of all ages, made by the biggest European and American firms, and will be able to view six state coaches belonging to the late H.S.H Prince Rainier III of Monaco. The car that carried Rainier and Grace Kelly away from the church after their wedding will also be on exhibit. The private reception will be catered by France's world famous Lenotre of Paris.

On Sunday, a private breakfast on board the ship is followed by a thrilling day of viewing the final Grand Prix race from the same track-side reserved seats.

Rates for the limited 3-day package is $2,400 per person and must be pre-booked. Rates for the cruise begin at $3,299 per person, double occupancy.

Crystal Cruises Expands their 2008 Golf Offerings

Building on the popularity of its 2007 Golf cruises, Crystal Cruises has expanded its golf theme cruises for 2008.

During three 11- and 12-day Golf Cruises, guests can tee off and perfect their swings in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and the maritime coast of Canada and New England. In addition to enjoying championship golf ashore and special onboard events, golfers can compete in Hole-in-One competitions for a chance to win a free Crystal cruise.

All details of the optional shoreside golf excursions -- from tee times, tipping and transportation to caddies and carts -- are included and handled by Crystal staff. Storage and cleaning of guests’ golf clubs and shoes are also provided after each round. As well, celebrity PGA pros will be joining Crystal guests at such courses as the Monte Carlo Golf Club perched 3,000 feet above the French Riviera; Spain’s El Saler Golf Course, rated by Golf Magazine as one of the 100 Greatest Courses in the World, and Lisbon’s Penha Longa Golf Course at the foot of the Sintra Mountain Range, among others.

Crystal’s 2008 golf theme cruises are as follows:

April 26 - May 7 aboard Crystal Serenity, Rome to London, calling in Monte Carlo, Monaco; Valencia, Spain; Gibraltar, UK and Lisbon, Portugal;

Sept. 27 – Oct. 8 aboard Crystal Symphony, Montreal to New York, calling in Quebec City; Corner Brook, Nfld.; Halifax; Bal Harbor, Maine and Boston;

Oct. 30 – Nov. 11 aboard Crystal Serenity, Barcelona to Lisbon, calling in Valencia, Málaga, Cádiz/Seville, Spain; Casablanca, Morocco; Canary Islands, Spain and Madeira, Portugal.