Cunard Line is pleased to announce that Her Majesty The Queen will name the company’s new Queen Elizabeth, the third Cunard ship to bear the name, at a ceremony to take place in Southampton, England on Monday, 11 October 2010.

• Her Majesty The Queen, as Princess Elizabeth, launched Caronia, the ‘Green Goddess,’ in 1947.

• Her Majesty Queen Mary, wife of King George V, launched Queen Mary in 1934 – and in so doing became the first British Monarch ever to launch a merchant ship. His Majesty King George V accompanied his wife.

• The late Queen Mother, as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, launched
  Queen Elizabeth in 1938. Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret accompanied their mother.

• HRH The Princess Margaret launched Carinthia in 1955.
  
• HRH The Duchess of Cornwall named Queen Victoria in Southampton in December 2007. HRH The Prince of Wales was also in attendance.

Celebrity and Cruise Planners' Biggest Sale of the Year continues for just 6 more days. Book an ocean view stateroom or higher on any listed Celebrity sailing (the list is extensive) and receive up to $100 onboard credit, pre-paid gratuities, and Exceptional Offers booklet valued at $250 in Onboard savings and 50% reduced deposit. There has never been a better time to book! Call today: 866-912-7245

Paul Gauguin Cruises is proud to introduce a collaboration with award-winning commercial photographer Roger Paperno, whose work is in demand by Fortune 100 companies and fine-art photographer Jesse Kalisher, whose work is in the permanent collections of the Louvre, the Smithsonian, and other museums around the country. Guests aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin during the August 7th sailing to Tahiti and the Society Islands, as well as the August 14th sailing to the Society Islands and Tuamotus, are invited to participate in a learning opportunity that covers an incredible range of photographic challenges and lessons through an elite photographic tour of the paradise that is French Polynesia. The Tahiti Photography Workshops are the first of many themed sailings in the South Pacific focusing on a variety of subjects and interests.

Celebrated photographers Jesse Kalisher and Roger Paperno and accomplished graphic designer and artist Helen Kalisher share their knowledge about their art as they lead an unparalleled photo-expedition that covers everything from tropical flowers and white-sand beaches to magnificent views of Cook's Bay, Mt. Rotui, and an ancient Tahitian stone temple.
“We at Paul Gauguin Cruises are excited to initiate such an innovative and exclusive experience for our guests. We pride ourselves on being destination specialists, and this photography workshop is yet another program in which we invite our guests to become one with French Polynesia,” comments Richard Bailey, President of the m/s Paul Gauguin’s owning team Pacific Beachcomber, S.C.
 
The course will cover every aspect of photography on islands that deliver one amazing photograph after another. Through the photography-themed sailings, participants will learn:
 
-       How to capture movement when photographing local flora
-       When to use a wide-angle lens or a telephoto lens
-       How and where to add perspective
-       How to find the perfect shot
-       How photographers capture the majesty of this spectacular landscape
-       How to control light to create beautiful portraits in magnificent settings
 
Famed photographer Roger Paperno believes in the “Zen of photography,” and how emotion and energy can impact a photograph. His class teaches photographers how to approach each photo with a calm, clear state of mind to improve the quality of their work. Paperno will teach guests about basic photography and techniques, and will also illustrate how the feelings behind the photo are essential to the art of photography.
 
Jesse Kalisher will engage his fellow photographers in an exploration of how he sees the world through the camera lens, as well as basic tips and tools for every level participant. Kalisher has taught this class around the world and believes that the secret to capturing fantastic photos is found in the joy of the moment. He will share some tips that have made his photography famous, coveted by museum curators around the world.
Helen Kalisher teaches the basics and tricks of Photoshop, where she has created logos and web pages for Apple Computer and travel guides for Dorling Kindersley. Kalisher has successfully combined an artist’s eye with her love of photography, translated through her mastery of Photoshop.
The photographic tour also includes exclusive shore excursions, private portfolio review, a hosted dinner, and round-table discussions.  The cost for the photography workshops are $350 per person.

Call 866-912-7245 for additional details

1. Value: Did you know that many cruises cost less than $100 per person per day? This covers meals, lodging and entertainment. That’s less than a typical land based vacation and in many cases, less than it costs to stay home! 

2. Variety: hundreds of distinctive ships and ports and an unbelievable array of things to do onboard make a cruise the perfect vacation choice.

3. New Horizons:See the world! Cruising gives you the opportunity to visit several places in one trip. Fall asleep in on destination and wake up in another
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4. Simplicity:  Planning a cruise is easy. Step one: call me, tell me what you want to do, I'll take care of the rest. Step two: have a fabulous time. Pack and unpack once, your floating hotel travels with you! Nearly all expenses are included. Talk about hassle-free vacationing!

5. Dining: It’s true, you can eat 24 hours a day. Choices abound: Gourmet, buffet, pizza, spa menus, kids’ menus, wine pairings, room service. Dine in a traditional dining room, small bistro, specialty restaurant, on deck or on your private balcony.

6. Activities: There is something on a cruise for everyone. Do it all, or do nothing at all. Lounge by the pool or go sightseeing. Take a cooking class, a dance class or a computer class. Try your luck at the casino. Don’t know how to play blackjack? There’s a class for that too! See a Broadway style show, a night club show or a comedy show. Participate in a talent show.  Relax at the spa or workout at the fitness center. Ice skate, surf, get a book at the library, shop, ride a zip line or a merry go round. And, it’s all within walking distance of your stateroom!

7. Romance: Weddings, anniversaries, vow renewals or just a romantic getaway for two.

8. Family: Families love to cruise together!  From age 1 to 100, there is something for everyone. On select sailings, kids may even sail for free. The cruise lines have group programs so it’s easy to plan your vacation when several family members are traveling together.  

9. Pampering: Get pampered with world-class service no matter which cruise you choose.

10. Satisfaction: It's a fact that cruises have a higher percentage of satisfied customers than any other vacation experience.

6 October 2009 – As part of her Autumn Colours voyage, which features calls through the New England and Canada coasts, Cunard’s Queen Victoria made her inaugural visits to the Canadian ports of Halifax on Friday, 2 October, and Québec City on Sunday, 4 October. The ship will call on St. John’s, Newfoundland, before returning to Southampton on October 12.

“Cunard prides itself on honouring its history and legacy, so it was a great privilege for me to bring Queen Victoria, Cunard’s newest queen, across the Atlantic and present her to the homeland of our company’s founder,” said the ship’s Master,

Upon arrival to Halifax, Queen Victoria toured the harbour, providing grand viewing opportunities for the city’s residents. As she docked, she was welcomed by the famed 78th Highlanders Pipe Band, a performance group from the Halifax Citadel Regimental Association.

A number of dignitaries attended the onboard events commemorating Queen Victoria’s arrival, including Percy Paris, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage for Nova Scotia; David Hendsbee, Deputy Mayor, Halifax Regional Municipality; Robert Brooks, Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture & Heritage; John Langley, Cunard Steamship Society; Margaret Wittingham-Lamont, Mission to Seafarers; Mark MacDonald, Chair, Halifax Port Authority; Karen Oldfield, President and CEO, Halifax Port Authority; and David Danskin, Halifax Citadel National Site.

To honour Queen Victoria’s maiden call to Halifax, the Halifax Citadel Regimental Association performed a musical number composed especially for the occasion.

To celebrate Queen Victoria’s arrival into Québec City, the Port of Québec hosted a charity lunch onboard, benefiting the local Fondation des Hôpitaux de Enfant-Jésus-Saint-Sacrement. Onboard to welcome the liner into the city were Ross Gaudrealt, President and CEO, Port of Québec; Martin Lachance, Director, Leisure and Medias, Québec Tourism Office; and James Murphy, General Manager, Ramsey Greig & Co. Limited. The celebration continued into today, as Queen Victoria docked overnight in the Port of Québec

For more information and to book a voyage aboard Queen Victoria or flagship Queen Mary 2, call Leslie at 866-912-7245.

The new Carnival Dream will take seagoing technology to an entirely new level with the introduction of the FunHub, a comprehensive shipboard intranet portal featuring the cruise industry’s first on-board social network, along with access to a wide variety of information on the ship’s services, facilities and daily activities. The 130,000-ton vessel, Carnival’s largest ship, is set to debut Sept. 21.

Access to the FunHub will be available via 36 state-of-the-art stations located on decks 3, 4 and 5, including 12 within Ocean Plaza, Carnival Dream’s spectacular indoor/outdoor café and entertainment venue. The FunHub locations will provide guests with free and convenient access to an informative ship-specific intranet portal, and an exclusive shipboard social network, both of which will be available on a 24/7 basis.  Guests may also access the sites via their personal laptops or via 10-inch netbooks which are available for rent and can be used anywhere on board.  

Carnival Dream’s on-board social network mirrors the experience one finds on other social networking sites.  Guests can create a personal profile and use the application to meet and interact with others on board, send and receive private messages, create groups based on interests, and invite friends to attend shows or participate in on-board events. Guests can also create their own private or public discussion group, inviting others in their traveling party or friends they meet on board to participate.

Designed as a convenient resource for wide-ranging information specific to the Carnival Dream, the intranet portal details the ship’s numerous on-board activities, including entertainment options, daily events and youth programs. Carnival Dream’s extensive food and beverage offerings are showcased with sample menus, hours of operation and more. A filtering application is available to assist guests in planning their day. The portal also includes weather updates for that day and the next port of call; the latest news and sports scores; biographies of key shipboard personnel; ship and cruise director announcements; fun, interactive polls; helpful three-dimensional ship maps, and a frequently asked questions section.

 A year-long collaboration involving Carnival’s hotel operations, marketing, IT and guest experience departments, the Carnival Dream’s on-board social network and intranet portal are available on any guest computer or Wi-Fi enabled device free of charge. Internet access to sites outside the FunHub also is available through all FunHub locations. Netbooks are available free of charge when purchasing a special Internet package on board. Cell phone service, along with bow-to-stern wireless access where guests can check e-mail and surf the Web from any shipboard location, including their staterooms, will be available, as well.

To showcase its newest and largest ship, Carnival has created a new micro-site at carnival.com/dream with exclusive images, video, interviews and blogs highlighting the ship’s many on-board innovations and features.