Shirley Linde's Cruise Letter
Cruise News

Well-known travel journalist Shirley Linde writes
 of unique voyages and special offers of ships all over the world. 

You can see cruise information every day at www.SmallShipCruises.com

PANAMA WILDLIFE AND CULTURE CRUISE -- We have just returned from a cruise on the 24-passenger Discovery of Panama Marine Adventures, a new operation in Panama. It now has a cruise that includes full transit of the Panama Canal as well as many wildlife runs in zodiacs, plus an excellent visit with Embera Indians to their village by dugout canoe. We will have a full report up on the website soon, but meanwhile here is a description of the vessel:  http://smallshipcruises.com/panamamarineadventures.shtml

PAPUA NEW GUINEA REPORT -- Scott’s report with photo is just being put up on the home page today. It includes a report on his land trip to various villages, diving, and a cruise with Tauck World Discovery on Orion throughout several islands.  Check it out at our home page www.smallshipcruises.com

SILVERSEA CRUISES -- It has expanded its "Silver Links" golf program to 12 cruises in 2008.  Golfers can perfect their swing on 35 world-class courses in 16 countries and islands.  There is a 15-day Panama Canal crossing from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles with golf excursions in Puntarenas, Acapulco, and Puerto Vallarta, a 7-day Mediterranean sailing from Rome to Monte Carlo with golf in Mallorca, Barcelona, Sete and St. Tropez, a 7-day Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona to Rome, an 11-day Mexican Riviera voyage from Los Angeles to Costa Rica, as well as Caribbean and South Pacific golf cruises.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE GOLF -- NCL has launched a new Golf Bermuda program, giving its golf-loving guests more opportunities to hit the links in Bermuda, where there are more courses
per square mile than anywhere else in the world..

CRYSTAL CRUISES GOLF -- Crystal Cruises also has expanded its golf-themed cruises for 2008.  Guests can tee off on three 11- and 12-day golf cruises -- in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and the maritime coast of Canada and New England. 

DEILMANN GOLF -- On Peter Deilmann Cruises’ river sailings guests will test their skills at courses in Austria, Germany, France, and Hungary. Fares for 8- to 14-day packages range from $2,343 to $5,919 per person double occupancy on departures from April through October 2008.  Guests not participating in special interest packages are charged $609 to $1,044 less.

LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS -- Lindblad bought a polar expedition vessel that will set sail this summer. The ship will be named National Geographic Explorer. It will go to Greenland, Iceland, the Arctic, then down the east coast of the U.S. and the west coast of South America to Antarctica.

TRAVEL DYNAMICS -- They just bought the 100-passenger Clelia II, formerly Renanaisance IV. It will operate in the Arctic, Antarctic, the Great lakes and on the South America,  U.S. and Canada east coast.  

NORTH-SOUTH WORLD VOYAGE -- Hurtigruten is heading north on its second world cruise, beginning in Ushuaia, Argentina on February 27, visiting Antarctica, South America, then Europe, the Baltic and Russia, ending May 21in Reykjavik, Iceland.  The 85-day adventure is on the 318-passenger Fram.  A two-for-one offer allows a companion sharing the same cabin to sail at no charge on the two South American/Antarctica segments.

YANGTZE RIVER DISCOUNTS -- Victoria Cruises has specials on select Yangtze River sailings in China for savings of over 40 percent off the regular season rates from now through mid-March.
 
MUSIC ON THE DEUTSCHLAND -- Deilmann’s flagship will have the W?rttemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn aboard for a 14-day “Music Gala at Sea” cruise departing Germany in September with stops in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Portugal, Monaco and Spain.

SEABOURN 50% OFF -- In March the Legend is half-off on 7 days roundtrip from St. Thomas.

ACCL DISCOUNTS -- American Canadian Caribbean Line has savings of $500 per person on 11-night cruises in the Bahamas Out Islands (March). They have a share program for singles.

ALASKA -- On many cruises you can get 10 to 25% discount for spring if you book now.

PHOTO CRUISES -- Cruise West has photo instruction on cruises in Alaska May 23 and July 4, Pacific Northwest April 27; and Panama Canal and Costa Rica March 26

WINDSURF -- From now to March 30 they will have specials on 7-day cruises from Barbados. Northbound cruises to St Kitts, Nevis, St. Martin, St Barts, BasseTerre, Iles des Sintes and Pigeon Island start at $1,489. Southbound to Bequia, Roseau, Pigeon Island, Mayreau, St. George’s and Tobago starts at $1,389. Or combine them for a great 2 weeks.

Note that fares quoted come from the cruise companies and are for limited times and certain dates.

TO BOOK A CRUISE, CLICK HERE

Editors:  You can use this column on your site if you link it to www.smallshipcruises.com