Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Introducing Celebrity Solstice

The largest ship in the Celebrity Cruises fleet will be setting sail in November with our exclusive 2-night sailing. Join us and be a part of this truly innovative experience.

Only on the brand new Celebrity Solstice will you be able to inhale the fragrance of a beautifully manicured lawn or watch glassblowers create art before your very eyes. You’ll dine in restaurants capturing every mood. You’ll experience the height of thoughtful design in open spaces and small details. And you’ll retreat to accommodations inspired by Celebrity’s Five Leading Ladies, including AquaClass, which centers around your love of the spa. Embark on a journey of imagination onboard Celebrity Solstice, where every moment exemplifies Celebrity’s tradition of impeccable service.

The Lawn Club is just one of the many firsts found on Celebrity Solstice. We invite you to stroll across this expanse of pure innovation. The refined setting is reminiscent of a country club, offering a casually sophisticated environment where you can practice putting, partake in the pleasures of an afternoon bocce tournament or just breathe in the fragrance of a freshly manicured lawn. As evening falls, witness the spectacle of molten glass being transformed into art at the adjacent Hot Glass Show, another ocean-going first fashioned through a unique collaboration with the Corning Museum of Glass.

Embark on a spirited culinary journey with some of the world’s finest chefs. Celebrity Solstice offers a vast assortment of refreshingly innovative dining experiences – complemented by one of the world’s most expansive floating wine cellars – rivaling anything found at sea or on land. Working closely with Elizabeth Blau & Associates, who helped orchestrate the culinary reform of Las Vegas, Celebrity has created a scintillating variety of choices to suit any mood and satisfy any craving.

Relish the dramatic sparkle of the Grand Épernay Main Dining Room, whose extensive champagne menu helps recreate the feel of a Hollywood venue. Treat yourself to one of the exceptional specialty restaurants – like the Italian-inspired Tuscan Grille or Silk Harvest Restaurant, their new Asian fusion creation. Or try something lighter and less formal, like a freshly baked scone in Café al Bacio & Gelateria or a freshly made crepe from Bistro on Five. As with every Celebrity cruise, what distinguishes the dining experience onboard Celebrity Solstice is the attentiveness of the staff, all of whom have been extensively trained in the fine art of presentation and eagerly anticipate guiding you on the culinary journey of a lifetime.

Nightfall is more than a time to go out, it’s a chance to immerse yourself in a myriad of places designed to elevate your evening. And when it comes to the allure of excitement after dark, nothing delivers like Celebrity Solstice. Feel the warmth of Cellar Masters, where you may eagerly anticipate the pouring of an exquisite cabernet while surrounded by inviting colors and enveloped by a soft chair. From there, move on to plan the day to come in the Passport Bar, which takes its cues from the map rooms found in the luxurious ocean-going yachts of old, or the Ensemble Lounge, whose elliptical bar can either bring you together to listen to music or serve as a stepping stone for more exciting events.

Slip into a classic cocktail in the Martini Bar, or move over to the adjacent Crush, where ice-filled tables unite the tastes and textures of vodka and caviar – exotic pairings that excite the palate. Venture further into your enchanted evening to Quasar, their exciting refreshing nightclub where retro styling fuses with contemporary rhythms to create a pulsating energy. Be seduced by the lights and the movement on the spacious dance floor, or take it all in from the VIP section, yours to reserve. Feel free to elevate the moment by ascending to the Sky Observation Lounge, where the canopy of stars appears to lie just within your grasp. Or feel the favor of fortune’s smile in Fortune’s Casino, inspired by Monte Carlo. Onboard Celebrity Solstice you don’t just go out for the evening, you surrender to the possibilities.

When the evening comes to a close, retreat back to your redesigned, more expansive staterooms, created to accommodate all of your desires. Your first step into your personal retreat will evoke a distinctive feeling of “ahhh,” but more importantly a feeling of gratitude for five very special women, their Five Leading Ladies. These five discerning travel connoisseurs – a frequent cruiser, a travel agent, a travel writer, a potential cruiser and a hotelier – contributed intuitive ideas about comfort, as well as their own personal wish lists, to the design of the staterooms and suites.

For a twist on the standard stateroom, you’ll find the new AquaClass, 130 contemporary staterooms dedicated to spa lovers like you. Created just for Solstice Class, these serene double occupancy accommodations allow you to enjoy a Celebrity cruise from an entirely new perspective – connected to it all yet secluded in your own hideaway. Allow a Personal Spa Concierge to arrange treatments for you at the nearby AquaSpa by Elemis. Or relax in the AquaSpa relaxation room and Persian Garden, both yours to enjoy at no charge. You’ll also enjoy complimentary dining in a specialty restaurant, Blu, dedicated to AquaClass guests, serving healthful yet delicious cuisine.

Be the first to discover this unparalleled class of ship on our exclusive 2-night sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 21, 2008. This weekend discovery cruise is the perfect way to experience all this new ship has to offer. This is an exclusive charter and only available through us.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Cruises & Parachutes

What do cruises and parachutes have in common? Probably a lot. Because you don't want to buy a cheap parachute or a "cheap" cruise. When either one doesn't live up to your expectations, you are going to have a big disappointment.

Our Personal Cruise Specialists work hard to find the cruise that best suits your needs. Things like dining choices - fixed or flexible, on board dress codes - formal or casual, ship size - small to mega, and onboard programs - active or passive.
Once these criteria are reviewed, then your cruise specialist goes to work checking our Best Fare search program in our reservation system to identify the departures and ships that offer the best value. They look for special fares that might be available such as regional rates, past passenger specials, senior discounts and group rates available exclusively to Cruises Inc. Our reservation system connects to the various cruise lines directly so your cruise specialist is viewing the exact same fares and programs that a cruise line reservation agent would see if you called them directly.

There is an "urban legend" that you get a lower cruise price by going directly to a cruise line. Our research shows just the opposite. We consistently have prices equal or lower than "cruise line direct" or "Internet agencies".

Plus we offer unbiased advice. If you visit a Toyota dealer it is unlikely that they will recommend you go across the street to the Nissan dealer. Get the picture?

So for valuable advice, personal service and a long term relationship regardless of which cruise line you book, the buck starts and stops at Cruises Inc. After, all it's YOUR vacation and your money so entrust it to a professional.