Few vacations offer a greater value than a cruise+ vacation. You don’t have to worry about packing and unpacking, booking a hotel or wandering around an unfamiliar city in search of a restaurant or things to do. Cruises provide it all: meals, accommodations and entertainment. Sail into new ports of call while you sit back, relax and get pampered, all at an affordable price.

Compare the costs and benefits of a Cruise Vacation to those of a typical land vacation package.

Make cruising your next vacation!

Set your TIVO! Royal Caribbean will unveil their newest and most innovative cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas. ABC’s “Good Morning America” will be there to welcome Oasis of the Seas into her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and give viewers an exclusive first glimpse of the highly anticipated ship during a special live broadcast.

GMA fans across the country can tune in on Friday, Nov. 20th, 2009 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. (EST) on ABC to join “Good Morning America” for a never-before-seen sneak peek at the seven distinct neighborhoods and many spectacular elements and features on board the Oasis of the Seas. Some of these unique features include Central Park, the first park at sea with nearly 12,000 plants and trees; Boardwalk, a family oriented environment with a hand carved carousel; a thrilling zip wire ride that races diagonally over Boardwalk 90 feet above the deck; 28 multilevel loft suites boasting floor-to-ceiling windows; and the Aqua Theatre – an amphitheatre style space that serves as a pool by day and a dazzling oceanfront theatre at night.

But wait! We are driving down to Dania on Nov. 11th to take the first photos of the exterior of the ship as it arrives into Ft. Lauderdale. Then, I will be on the Oasis of the Seas on Nov. 19th for an overnight stay, and plan to upload photos and videos from the ship, as long as the Wifi connection is working, so I hope to have lots for the public to see before this Good Morning America broadcast.

Make sure and check our blog, Flickr and You Tube accounts for more images of the ship. As we mentioned in previous posts, November 19th, we will be able to upload images of the interior of the Oasis of the Seas. We can’t wait to share them with you!

The Oasis of the Seas arrived into Port Everglades this morning at 8 a.m.  Here are some photos of the ship pulling into the port area.

The highly anticipated cruise ship the Oasis of the Seas featuring incredible innovations at sea, includes 24 onboard dining options, the first onboard zip-line, park with more than 12,000 trees and plants, an elevating bar called the Rising Tide, and an aquatic amphitheater with the deepest pool at sea. Oasis of the Seas also features the only free-standing Coach luxury leather boutique, an original handcrafted carousel, two FlowRider surf simulators and two rock-climbing walls, all in seven themed neighborhoods throughout the ship that cater to each persons individual style and preference.

Atlas will be there live to get video footage and pictures of this amazing ship.  Make sure and check our blog, Flickr and You Tube accounts for details.

Celebrity’s Galapagos – Bringing a Living Classroom to Cruising

A cruise to the Galapagos Islands with Celebrity is like nothing you’ve ever experienced, no matter how many times you’ve sailed with us.  These all-inclusive adventures allow you to observe the world at its most unspoiled, giving you a firsthand look at the species that inspired the theory explaining the very foundations of life on this planet.  As you gaze through the window into what all the world once looked like, you’ll be doing it in a way that ensures future generations will be equally inspired by these surroundings, all while reveling in the attention to detail and world-class service that distinguish a Celebrity cruise.

CELEBRITY XPEDITION – A SHIP LIKE NO OTHER IN OUR FLEET

Your travels through this magical archipelago take place on Celebrity Xpedition, a ship perfectly suited for this kind of adventure.  Smaller and more intimate – accommodating just 96 guests – she sails with 60 staff members, a much higher ratio than most ships, ensuring each guest gets the kind of attention that Celebrity is known for.  Each sailing is also accompanied by naturalist guides certified by the Galapagos National Park.  These knowledgeable experts will help put what you’ve seen each day into context, help you prepare for the coming day’s adventures, and make personalized recommendations for shore excursions.

ALL-INCLUSIVE ALLOWS YOU TO BE 100% FOCUSED

To make your adventure as enjoyable and as personally fulfilling as possible, each 10-night+ Galapagos experience is all-inclusive, with everything from gratuities and the flight from Quito to Baltra to daily guided shore excursions and park entrance fees included in the price of your cruise.  This give you  the freedom to focus on your surroundings – the vibrant hues of the blue-footed booby, the nearly imperceptible movements of a 100-year-old Galapagos tortoise, and some of the hundreds of other species found nowhere else.

TRAVELING LIGHTER IS THE MORE ENLIGHTENED APPROACH

 When you look out upon these islands, you’ll be seeing them pretty much as Charles Darwin saw them in 1830’s.  Thanks in part to our rigorous stewardship, future generations will experience the same sense of wonder.  This includes a state-of-the-art waste processing plant onboard Celebrity Xpedition, fully biodegradable bathroom amenities, limited use of paper and plastic, and a reliance on local meat, fish, and organically grown produce.  In addition, Celebrity is proud to match any donation* guests make to island preservation, with a cruise credit valid toward any Celebrity cruise of 7-nights or longer.

To learn about more Galapagos Cruises please click here: http://www.escortedsouthamericatours.com/Categories/Galapagos_Tours/

Norwegian Cruise Line has the most comprehensive golf program for travelers on their Hawaii cruises. Take a look at all the features offered:

ON-BOARD PRO SHOP

You can buy everything but a new swing at our on-board Pro Shop.  NCL logo golf apparel (of course) plus tees, balls, hats, bags, shirts and so on.  And this is where you’ll find everything else you need for your round of golf.  Tee times, club rentals, a playing partner, rental shoes, club storage and more can all be arranged at the Pro Shop by the staff who might love golf just as much as you do.

GOLF CLUBS

Hey, it’s your call.  You can rent top line clubs from us and not have to drag yours through the airport.  Or, if you want the added edge of your sand wedge and the rest of your clubs, bring them along.

RENTAL CLUBS

You won’t need any excuses for a bad round when you golf with these top line Callaway clubs from our Pro Shop.  Included in each one of the six different sets we offer is a Big Bertha Driver, Big Bertha Woods, Irons and an Odyssey White Hot Putter.  Reserve any one of these sets prior to your cruise.

YOUR CLUBS

NCL’s Club Valet Service makes it a lot easier to play with your own sticks.  When you check in for your cruise, we’ll take your clubs and store them in a secure spot tagged with your name and stateroom number.  Every time you play, your clubs will be delivered to you on the pier.  For your convenience, all guests who bring their own clubs will automatically be enrolled in NCL’s Club Valet program.  There is a nominal fee for club storage and valet service.  For safety reasons, clubs cannot be stored in your stateroom. 

TOURNAMENTS

The Pro Shop staff can help you set up and/or run your golf tournament at any one of our partner courses.  Reservations, deposits and other details vary by course, and we can take care of everything to make the planning easy on you.

JUNIOR GOLF PROGRAM

Our exclusive Junior Golf Program is part of our latest generation of innovations.  For one low price, younger players can enjoy greatly reduced rates on many of Hawaii’s top courses along with the use of our US Kids Golf equipment – the #1 brand in Junior Golf worldwide.

RESERVE NOW

All of our golf excursions can be reserved ahead of time once you have booked your cruise.  To make your arrangement or for more info, go to www.ncl.com/golf

To start researching your NCL Hawaii cruise, click here http://www.atlastravelweb.com/norwegiancruiseline.shtml

With the delivery date approachingjust 38 days away, see the amazing effort that is going on to complete Oasis of the Seas. Chairman and CEO Richard Fain and Executive Vice President Harri Kulovaara give an update as she reaches 95% completion.

Click here for more posts on the Oasis of the Seas
Click here for pictures of the Oasis of the Seas

If you’ve been waiting for the best time to book your Royal Caribbean cruise, this October 6th and 7th is the perfect time to reserve your dream vacation during the 2-Day WOW Sale! Take advantage of our spectacular savings, exclusive bonuses, and reduced deposits from Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.

Remember this SALE is for 2-days only!

Delivering in 2010, the 86,000-ton Nieuw Amsterdam will be built at Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard and its interior design and art collection will reflect the glamour and history of New York City, formerly called Nieuw Amsterdam. Nieuw Amsterdam, joins the recently launched Eurodam to further define and expand the Holland America Line premium brand with new concepts such as the innovative pan-Asian Tamarind restaurant and Silk Den lounge surrounded by panoramic views overlooking the ocean expanse and the Lido pool. Other additions are an Explorer’s Lounge Bar, a premium wine-tasting lounge, an elegant luxury jewelry boutique, new atrium bar area, enhanced and reconfigured show lounge, and a new photographic and imaging center.

The ship will continue several much-admired Holland America Line features, including outside-view, glass elevators at midship; the Explorations Cafe — a cyber-coffee house powered by The New York Times; the Pinnacle Grill and Pinnacle Bar; the innovative Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine Magazine, where culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and intimate classes in a state-of-the-art onboard show kitchens; an expanded Greenhouse Spa and Salon with thermal suites and hydro-pool, the largest gymnasium ever built for Holland America Line; and a youth facility that includes the teens-only Loft.

In addition the ship will feature the family-style Canaletto’s Italian restaurant. Nieuw Amsterdam will feature 11 guest decks and staterooms will spotlight all the Signature of Excellence premium amenities. Also featured are innovative spa staterooms with additional spa amenities. The first Nieuw Amsterdam was launched in 1906 and used both a full set of sails and steam engines. She was 17,149 tons and carried 2,886 passengers, 2,200 of them in third class. She sailed in regular service through World War I and then through to 1932. The famed Nieuw Amsterdam II joined the fleet in 1938 as the company’s flagship. The silhouette of this ship can still be seen today behind Henry Hudson’s Half Moon in the company’s logo. At 36,287 tons, “the Darling of the Dutch,” as she was known, was decorated in great style and was launched by Her Majesty Queen Wilhemina of the Netherlands. Nieuw Amsterdam II served proudly in World War II completing 44 war time voyages carrying nearly 400,000 passengers (mostly troops). Following the war, she was rebuilt and, as the queen of Holland America Line’s “spotless fleet,” hosted countless well-known figures among her guests, including Katherine Hepburn, Rita Hayworth, Spencer Tracey and Albert Schweitzer. Nieuw Amsterdam III was launched in 1983 as one of the most elegant ships of her time. At 33,900 tons, Nieuw Amsterdam III sailed in Alaska in the summers and in the Caribbean in the winters. With innovative design and guest offerings, Nieuw Amsterdam IV will continue the proud tradition of her name and continue to evolve of Holland America Line’s sophisticated mid-sized ships.

Click here for cabin photo.

• Towel Setup
• Bathrobes
• Handheld fans
• I-Pod with preloaded music selection
• Discount on selected spa services for days in port only
• 1 Evian Mister per cabana
• Chilled water bottles setup
• Chilled fruit skewers served at 10:00am
• Fruit Basket
• Small menu for lunch service: we will serve poolside favorites in the cabanas as requested from either the Lido and the pool grill during regular opening hours
• Ice-cream tray silver service at 02:00pm: tray with assortment of ice-cream and favorite condiments
• Frozen grapes, chocolate covered strawberries and a glass of house champagne at 03:00pm

To book you can go on Holland America’s website and book it under on board gifts, or call 800-541-1576.