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Continental Airlines Flat BusinessFirst Sea

CONTINENTAL AIRLINES LIE-FLAT BUSINESSFIRST SEAT

CONTINENTAL AIRLINES LIE-FLAT BUSINESSFIRST SEAT 2

Innovative seat design offers 180-degree recline; installation begins in Fall 2009

HOUSTON– Continental Airlines today announced details of a new 180-degree lie-flat seat for the BusinessFirst cabin on its Boeing 787, 777 and 757 aircraft. Customers will begin seeing lie-flats seats on Boeing 777 aircraft that primarily serve trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific routes in the fall of 2009, with installation on Continental’s 757-200 fleet beginning in 2010 and on its Boeing 787 fleet as the aircraft are delivered to Continental.

Unveiled today at the National Business Travel Association International Convention and Exposition in Los Angeles, the new 180-degree lie-flat seats are the centerpiece of Continental’s award-winning BusinessFirst service that provides the extra space and fine amenities of traditional international first class at a business class price.

“Continental continues to invest in its product to make flying more comfortable for our global customers,” said Larry Kellner, chairman and chief executive officer of Continental Airlines. “We created a brand-new seat designed to lie completely flat, without compromising functionality or effective use of cabin space.”

Lie-flat Design

Continental’s new BusinessFirst seats allow customers to lie completely flat, reclining 180-degrees and providing 6 1/2 feet (2 meters) of sleeping space in the fully extended position on its widebody aircraft. The lie-flat seat is one of the widest business-class seats in the air, measuring up to 25 inches when the adjustable armrest is positioned flush with the seat cushion, allowing customers to sleep more comfortably. Electronic “one-touch” controls enable customers to easily move the seats to pre-set upright, cradle and fully extended sleep positions and additional controls allow customers to adjust the seat back, lumbar support and leg and foot rests to the custom position most comfortable for them.

The lie-flat seats provide more individual storage space for personal items. Laptop power, headset and USB plugs are conveniently tucked above the customer’s shoulder. There is additional storage under the ottoman, on a shelf under the monitor and on an amenity storage alcove that provides room for small personal items such as a book or magazine and a water bottle.

iPod connectivity will also be available at the seat, allowing each customer to view their personal videos and enjoy their music, all while the iPod is charging. BusinessFirst seats on the 787 and 777 aircraft will feature a 15.4-inch video monitor for customers to enjoy on-demand movies, music and games. Seats on the 757 aircraft will feature 10.6-inch monitors.

The new BusinessFirst seats also have a six-way adjustable head rest, an individual overhead reading light and an adjustable seat light allowing a customer to read in bed without disturbing their neighbor and a privacy shell that allows for seclusion from other travelers.

Two Years to Design and Perfect

Continental’s product marketing team began researching new seat options in the fall of 2006 when planning BusinessFirst service for the new 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The airline visited with numerous seat manufacturers worldwide before selecting BE Aerospace, which created five different design concepts. Concurrently, Continental sought feedback from a focus group of BusinessFirst frequent flyers that identified and prioritized key needs of global travelers and worked closely with the airline’s project team and the seat manufacturer to help create the new seat. The important features requested by the focus group were to install a wider seat that could lay completely flat and be easy to operate.

Seats are the Centerpiece of Premium Service

BusinessFirst service features an extensive gourmet menu served with premium wines and champagnes created by Continental’s Congress of Chefs and Sommeliers. International Concierge Service provides individualized pre- and post-flight services for BusinessFirst customers at 42 airports around the world. Customers traveling in BusinessFirst may also access any of Continental’s 27 Presidents Clubs and more than 60 airline affiliated lounges worldwide.

Continental Airlines has won numerous awards for its BusinessFirst product. The Official Airline Guide has awarded Continental’s BusinessFirst as the Best Executive/Business Class for five consecutive years (2003 - 2007), and Conde Nast Traveler magazine rated Continental’s premium BusinessFirst service the highest among all U.S. carriers for trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific flights 10 years in a row.

Continental currently operates the Boeing 777 on routes between Newark and Beijing, Delhi, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London/Heathrow, Mumbai, Paris, Rome, Tel Aviv and Tokyo, and between Houston and London/Heathrow, Paris and Tokyo.

BusinessFirst on the Boeing 757 is currently offered on routes between Newark and Amsterdam, Barcelona, Belfast, Berlin, Birmingham, Bristol, Copenhagen, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hamburg, Lisbon, London/Gatwick, Madrid, Manchester, Oslo, Paris, Shannon and Stockholm.

Portuguese Adventures

With so many ways to explore Portugal, visitors have a variety of choices unmatched by most destinations.

In the westernmost country in the continent, visitors can snorkel, trek, bullfight and climb their way through shipwrecks, ghost towns, bustling arenas and steep mountainous cliffs.

Check out the most breathtaking natural landscapes in Portugal at the vast Peneda-Geres National Park, or grab a bike and a picnic basket and enjoy the tranquility of Alentejo’s rustic trails that trace a path between the winding lanes of each village. Head to the highest mountain in mainland Portugal in the Centro de Portugal Region, or to Madeira’s volcanic mountains that rise to over 4,000 feet where you can plunge to the sea through a cavalcade of streams and falls.

Also not to be missed is Porto Santo’s 10 miles of beaches, which offer ideal conditions for diving, snorkeling and marine landscape dotted with sunken ships, along with the not to be missed town of Azores, offering whale watching, Portuguese bullfighting and exceptional fishing.

For more suggestions, go to www.visitportugal.com

MSC Poesia buy-one-get-one-free Package

Luxury Mediterranean Sea voyage at exceptional price

Two for One Autumn Cruise Offers 2008

After a series of exceptional package, MSC Poesia, a flagship of MSC Cruises, joins the package in this autumn. As one of its 2008 destinations, MSC Poesia will stop at Katakolon on the Peloponnese peninsula in Greece, giving Olympics fans the opportunity to visit Olympia, site of the very first games.

MSC Poesia will join other MSC Cruises for an exciting and diverse range of voyages at exceptional prices this autumn, providing an opportunity to indulge in the extravagance of the cruise with relatives and friends alike. MSC Poesia, MSC Orchestra, MSC Musica, MSC Opera, MSC Lirica and MSC Sinifonia will be sailing to Europe throughout the season, offering you chances to grasp a glance of the panoramic views of various ports and experience firsthand the multiple dimensions of European cultures.

The extraordinary Autumn cruise ‘buy-one-get-one-free’ promotion enables keen travelers to voyage in pairs at the price of one only, room-sharing children below 18 can even travel for free.

Each destination on MSC cruise itineraries provides diversity and cultural intrigue, along with dining, shopping and sightseeing excursions. A number of world¡¦s famous heritage can be visited all the way long: Roman Colosseum, Ancient Greek Olympic Games Field, Olympia of Katakolon, picturesque architecture of Barcelona, the European little white houses of Santorini, Famous bridges and canals of Venice and the historical Marseilles port.

Built by the world’s most prestigious shipyards, every detail onboard any of the MSC Cruises ships reflects the company’s true Italian style.

MSC Cruises sophisticated on-board activities and facilities offer all a guest needs for a relaxing break - mini golf course, fitness centre, spa and massage, sauna rooms, jogging areas, swimming pools, jacuzzi, video games centre, theatre, salon, internet cafes, restaurants, disco, casino, shopping arcade, children¡¦s club and Wi-Fi facilities.

‘Buy-one-get-one-free’ Autumn Luxury Cruise

MSC Poesia (8 days/7 nights)

Ports of Call: Venice, Bari, Katakolon, Izmir, Istanbul, Dubrovnik

Embarkation: Venice
• Departs: 06/09/2008 (Sat)
Price: HKD10,690*
• Departs: 20/09/2008 (Sat) and 27/09/2008 (Sat)
Price: HKD9,130*
• Departs: 18/10/2008 (Sat) and 01/11/2008 (Sat)
Price: HKD7,650*

MSC Orchestra (8 days/7 nights)

Ports of Call: Genoa, Naples, Palermo, Tunis, Palma, Barcelona, Marseilles
Embarkation: Genoa

• Departs: 28/09/2008 (Sun)
Price: HKD8,120*
• Departs: 19/10/2008 (Sun) and 26/10/2008 (Sun)
Price: HKD7,100*

MSC Musica (8 days/7 nights)
Ports of Call: Bari, Katakolon, Santorini, Mykonos, Piraeus, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Venice

Embarkation: Bari
• Departs: 29/09/2008 (Mon)
Price: HKD9,130*

MSC Opera (8 days/7 nights)
Ports of Call: Trieste, Ancona, Gythion, Piraeus (Athens), Corfu, Dubrovnik
Embarkation: Trieste
• Departs: 29/09/2008 (Mon)
Price: HKD7,100*

MSC Lirica (8 days/7 nights)
Ports of Call: Genoa, Marseilles, Valencia, Tangier, Malaga, Civitavecchia
Embarkation: Genoa
• Departs: 08/11/2008 (Sat)
Price: HKD7,100*

MSC Sinfonia (8 days/7 nights)
Ports of Call: Genoa, Monte Carlo, Valencia, Valleta (Malta), Tunis (Tunisia), Civitavecchia (Rome)
Embarkation: Genoa

• Departs: 08/09/2008 (Mon)
Price: HKD9,130*
• Departs: 29/09/2008 (Mon)
Price: HKD8,120*

*The above prices exclude air-ticket, tips, port charges, fuel surcharges, government taxes and all applicable taxes.
*The above prices are applicable for 2 persons travel together only.

For more information visit www.msccruisesasia.com

MSC Cruises currently has a fleet of nine ships: MSC Poesia, MSC Orchestra, MSC Musica, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Opera, MSC Armonia, MSC Lirica, MSC Melody and MSC Rhapsody, cruising in the Mediterranean all year round, Northern Europe, Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean , South America, Indian Ocean and South Africa. The fleet will increase to 12 ships by 2009. In winter of 2008 and spring 2009, MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida will join the fleet. These will be two of the largest ships built by a European ship owner. Then in the fall of 2009, MSC Magnifica, the fourth ship in the Musica class will enter service.

MSC Cruises is a partner of the city of Venice and a member of the Club - ‘Friends of Venice’ as well as one of the supporters for the project ‘Venice Blue Flag’ which sets the standards for the carbon emissions.

Windstar 2009 & Winter 2010 Sailing Atlas

Windstar Cruises released its 2009 and Winter 2010 Sailing Atlas, which features a new Signature Collection Host Series, Venice roundtrip sailings, and new ports of call in Rovinj, Croatia; L’lle Rousse, France; and Ischia, Italy.

The Signature Collection Host Series returns and offers the opportunity to cruise with wine makers Greg Lill of DeLille Cellars and Gary Eberle of Eberle Winery, Canadian artist Jody Hewgill, chef and culinary expert David Shalleck, and gold medalist Rafer Johnson of the 1960 Rome Olympics. Due to frequent requests, a new Venice roundtrip sailing will feature the Croatian destinations of Rovinj, Split and Dubrovnik as well as Koper, Slovenia. Also debuting in 2009 on Wind Surf itineraries is the port of L’lle Rousse on the island of Corisca and Ischia Island, Italy. In summer through early fall, Wind Star and Wind Spirit return to the Greek Isles.

In late fall, the ships depart Europe for the Caribbean and Central America, where they will remain until early spring.

Wind Surf offers seven-day roundtrips from Barbados with on northbound and southbound itineraries. Wind Spirit offers seven-day roundtrips from St. Thomas and seven-day Costa Rican sailings from Puerto Caldera.

Wind Star’s 14-day cruises feature a transit through the Panama Canal and visits to ports in Central America, South America and the Caribbean Islands.

The Connoisseur Collection offers back-to-back itineraries that allow guests to take one two-week sailing that rarely repeats a port. Windstar also offers 14-day transatlantic voyages.

Regent Seven Seas Grand Explorations in 2009

Regent Seven Seas Cruises will offer a series of “Grand Explorations” aboard the Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner this winter.

From January through May 2009, the 700-guest sister ships will visit a total of 110 ports in 50 countries on six continents.

The 14 winter voyages range in length from 12 to 24 nights and explore destinations in the Caribbean, South America, the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia, South East Asia, Japan, India, the Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean. In addition to the exotic itineraries, these Grand Explorations will feature celebrity guests.

Former Florida Governor and Senator Bob Graham, hurricane forecaster and meteorologist Max Mayfield, former NFL coach Don Shula, and Apollo astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Al Worden will lecture aboard Seven Seas Mariner. Seven Seas Voyager will feature humanitarian and Church of England envoy Terry Waite, former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, and Apollo astronauts Edgar Mitchell, Charles Duke and Gene Cernan. Environmentalist and film producer Jean-Michel Cousteau will also join select cruises of Seven Seas Mariner.

Complimentary events are offered on each voyage, including exclusive song-and-dance demonstrations in Brazil, New Zealand and the Marquesas Islands; a catamaran adventure in the Chilean fjords; a visit to the dragons of Komodo Island; or exclusive events in world-class hotels. These cruises offer savings of $3,200 to $35,345, depending on departure date and suite category.

Free airfare or complimentary hotel stays are also featured on select departures. The Grand Explorations include “South Pacific Passage,” a 19-night voyage from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand, on Seven Seas Voyager Jan. 13-Feb. 1, featuring Terry Waite and a complimentary Festival of Arts event in the Marquesas Islands. Special 2-for-1 fares start at $7,995 per person.

“The Brazilian Riviera,” an 18-night voyage from Fort Lauderdale to Buenos Aires on Seven Seas Mariner departs Jan. 26 and features guest lecturer Max Mayfield and a complimentary Brazilian dance celebration in Fortaleza. This cruise also offers free airfare, up to $200-per-suite shipboard credit, and early-booking fares from $9,950 per person.

“New Zealand, Land of the Rings” is a 12-night voyage from Auckland to Sydney on Seven Seas Voyager, Feb. 1-13 that includes a complimentary “French Day” in Akaroa, New Zealand. Offered are free airfare, up to $200-per-suite shipboard credit and early-booking fares from $10,195 per person.

The 12-night “China and Vietnam” voyage from Shanghai to Singapore on Seven Seas Voyager departs March 6. Celebrity guest lecturer is former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. There will be a complimentary event in Hong Kong. With this cruise, clients can receive free airfare, up to $200-per-suite shipboard credit, and early-booking fares from $9,695 per person.

For a list of the other Grand Exploration cruises or more information, call 800-285-1835 or visit www.rssc.com

Traveller’s Latest Compendium Brochure

The Classic Traveller (0800 988 5843, www.theclassictraveller.co.uk) has released its latest Travellers’ Compendium brochure, featuring an exclusive selection of special offers (with savings of up to £900 per person) as well as additional departure dates for certain holidays.

The Travellers’ Compendium also includes advance notice of some exciting new itineraries which will become available for the first time in the forthcoming Worldwide Collection brochure, due to be published in September.

Keen pricing is synonymous with The Classic Traveller and the special offers promoted in the Travellers’ Compendium brochure mean that these holidays promise exceptional value for money.

The largest saving is to be found on the Mauritius to Madagascar cruise of the Indian Ocean, which visits these two island nations along with Kenya, the Seychelles and several remote island groups aboard the Costa Europe.

This 16-day odyssey in an E2 cabin (the highest grade) costs from £2,199 per person and offers an incredible saving of up to £900 per person from the cruise line’s original brochure price for this cabin class. The cost includes flights, full-board accommodation and all applicable taxes (though excursions, tips and service charges of €70 per
person are not included).

Two other fantastic cruise options with incredible savings are the Ancient Treasures tour of the eastern Mediterranean and the Riviera Highlights cruise of the western part of the Med. These 8-day voyages of discovery both cost from £599 per person in an E2 cabin – a price that offers a £700 saving per person on the cruise line’s original brochure price for that cabin class.

The first option takes in eastern Italy, Greece, Turkey and Croatia while the second covers western Italy, Spain and Provence, with the price including seven nights’ full-board accommodation and all port taxes. Flights, transfers, insurance, tips, service charges and excursions are not included in the price.

Sticking with the watery theme, one of the most popular holidays in the programme is the 8-day Lake Maggiore & the Borromean Islands itinerary. This luxurious escape to one of Italy’s finest and most romantic lakeside settings combines seven nights in a four-star waterfront hotel with an excursion to the nearby Borromean Islands and opportunities to discover verdant gardens, alpine scenery and even the cosmopolitan city of Milan. The holiday costs from £499 per person, to include flights, transfers, accommodation on a B&B basis and all necessary taxes.

Those looking for savings on land-based tours will also find plenty of interest in the Travellers’ Compendium brochure. The 11-day Legends & Landscapes of Japan itinerary, for example, is a fully-escorted tour that combines the colourful city of Tokyo with intoxicating natural landscapes, exotic temples and a relaxing cruise on beautiful Lake Ashi. Highlights of the tour include a journey on one of Japan’s legendary Bullet Trains and a visit to the Atomic Bomb Museum in Hiroshima – a fascinating but profoundly moving experience. Departing on 6 November 2008, the holiday costs £1,699 per person (a saving of up to £130 per person), with the price including flights, transfers, accommodation, some meals, various excursions and the services of a professional guide throughout.

In addition to these special offers, the brochure also includes details of some exciting, new itineraries that are being featured by The Classic Traveller for the first time. A particular highlight is a short break to Morocco; this 5-day Marrakech & the Atlas Mountains adventure costs from just £179 per person, to include four nights’ accommodation in a four-star hotel (with breakfast), in-resort transfers and a sightseeing tour of Marrakech. Optional extras include excursions along the Berber trails into the jagged peaks of the High Atlas or a visit to one of the impressive fortresses that afford a glimpse into Morocco’s colourful history.

Flights are not included in the price.

Also new is the fascinating 12 day Pyramids, Petra and the Red Sea itinerary, a unique cruise-and-stay combination that takes in some of ancient Egypt and Jordan’s most iconic monuments. The tour begins with a visit to the incredible Pyramids of Giza and their attendant Sphinx before embarking on a six-night cruise of the Red Sea.

A particular highlight of the cruise is an optional excursion to Petra, home to the famous Treasury whose intricate façade is cut into the red sandstone of a cliff-face. The holiday costs from £1,299 per person and includes flights, transfers, all accommodation, many meals and the services of professional guides throughout.For more information or to book call The Classic Traveller on 0800 988 5843 or visit the website at www.theclassictraveller.co.uk

Crystal $1,300 Ultimate Winemaker’s Dinner

Crystal Cruises is offering an “ultimate wine experience” on Crystal Serenity’s Aug. 24 Mediterranean cruise.

The dinner will include $5,000-per-bottle 1989 Pétrus and an increasingly rare 2000 Château Hosanna. “Decanter” magazine’s 2008 “Man of the Year” Christian Moueix is bringing these and other impressive vintages from his private collection for the $1,300-per-person event, available for just 14 guests. Throughout the evening, Moueix, who oversees his family’s French estates in Saint Emilion and Pomerol and owns the Dominus Estate in Napa Valley, will guide connoisseurs on the fine nuances of each selection.

“To enjoy these extremely rare wines and to have the personal guidance of an expert such as Mr. Moueix is an amazing treat for one’s senses,” said Toni Neumeister, vice president-food and beverage. “For even the most discerning palates, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Three- Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck of Rome’s La Pergola is collaborating to prepare a menu that perfectly pairs food with the wine. Among the multiple courses are Beck’s signature Fagottelli La Pergola, carpaccio of scallops and crépinette of lamb.

Wines to be featured include Château Pétrus, Pomerol, France, 1989; Château Hosanna, Pomerol, France, 2000; Dominus, Napa Valley, California, 1991; and Château Trotanoy, Pomerol, France, 1995, all from Moueix’s private collection. Also to be featured are Château D’Yquem, Sauternes, France, 1983; Salon Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne Le Mesnil, France, 1997; Château Haut-Brion Blanc, Pessac-Léognan, France, 2004; and Abtsberg Riesling Auslese 101 Maximin Grunhäuser, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany, 1990

The dinner can only be purchased on board and will be served in Crystal Serenity’s Vintage Room. Introduced in mid-2007, the first three Ultimate Vintage Room Dinners sold out in a matter of hours.

Besides these experiences, on every cruise Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony offer Vintage Room dinners, typically priced at $210-$250 per person, depending on wines selected. The 12-day Aug. 24 itinerary will also be the President’s Cruise, calling in Kusadasi, Turkey; Santorini, Rhodes, Crete and Corfu, Greece; and Taormina and Sorrento, Italy. Cruise fares start at $4,995 per person, double occupancy.

For more information, call 800-446-6620 or visit www.crystalcruises.com

Where Will Europeans Fly To This Summer?

Mondial Assistance reveals the summer destinations of Europeans travelling by planeMondial Assistance is unveiling the preferred 2008 summer destinations for Europeans travelling by plane.

This ranking is based on an analysis of over 418,000 travel insurance contracts subscribed to, up until May 15th 2008. These contracts were exclusively booked on the websites of European airline companies, clients of Mondial Assistance, for flights scheduled up to September 15th 2008.

Europeans travelling by plane choose Spain as their favourite destination

For 25.3% of planned flights, Spain is the favourite destination, followed by Italy (14.1%), the U.K. (13.8%), France (9.4%), Ireland (4.6%) and Portugal (4.3%). Although France remains the leading tourist destination in the world, it only appears among the top 3 preferred destinations for the French, the Portuguese, the Swiss and the British.

The French prefer France and Southern Europe: the first three leading destinations from France are: France (21.1%), Spain (11.2%) and Italy (9.5%)

• The Germans will sunbathe in Southern Europe. 28.3% prefer Spain, 13.3% choose Italy, and only 9.5% will fly to the U.K.

• Convinced Spanish lovers, 31.7% of British vacationers will fly to Spain, 14.1% will remain in the U.K and 10.2% will spend their holidays in France.

• The Italians love their country, and 29.2% of them will visit a part of Italy by plane. Although Spain attracts 23.4% of vacationing Italians, 14.9% will spend their holidays in the U.K.

• Champions at staying-at-home, more than one third (35.8%) of all Spanish vacationers will remain in Spain, 16.9% will travel to the U.K. and 14% to Italy.

• The Irish love Spain (21.1%) and also Poland (19.2%) and the United States (8.9%).

• The Dutch will visit Spain (26.8%), Italy (18.8%) and the U.K. (9.1%).

• The Polish for the most part will travel to the U.K. (37.5%), Ireland (22.1%) and Italy (14.6%).

• As for the Portuguese, they appreciate the U.K. (25.9%), Spain (17.2%) and France (15.3%).

• The Swedish head straight to Italy (26.3%), the U.K. (24.7%) and Spain (18.6%)

• And finally, the Swiss prefer Spain (33.1%), France (12.4%) and Italy (11.6%).

10 days is the average holiday

Europeans who will travel by plane this summer will leave for an average of ten days. The Polish (13.8 days), the French (13 days), the Dutch (11.9 days), the Germans and the Irish (11 days) leave for a bit longer than the average vacationer. On the contrary, the Swedes (8 days), the British (8.3 days), the Portuguese and the Spanish (9 days), the Italians and the Swiss (10 days) take shorter holidays than the average European vacationer.

“e-Magin, our e-commerce platform, is so successful with the airline companies that today we have a unique point of view on air travel in Europe and throughout the world,” declares Erick Morazin, International Sales Director at Mondial Assistance. “As a result we can follow the most frequent destinations, booking behaviours, holiday durations, and numerous other information about air travel in real time.”

Trafalgar Debuts New River Cruise & New Vessel

Trafalgar has introduced its 2009 River Cruise Collection, featuring five new travel experiences and a new vessel.

The 2009 collection features 30 cruises that explore the Danube, Rhine, Moselle, Rhône, Saône, Seine, Main and Douro rivers through Central and Eastern Europe, France, Portugal, Spain, Russia and Egypt, along with seasonal cruises focused around European Christmas markets.

Trafalgar and Uniworld are also introducing a new vessel in 2009, the River Beatrice. This new ship features French balconies, hotel-style beds and plush sheets and towels. The ship has a panoramic lounge, a library, a restaurant, Jacuzzi, beauty salon, plus complimentary bicycles for guests to use while ashore.

With the 2009 River Cruise Collection, Trafalgar and Uniworld have introduced the Epicurean Adventurer Program to a range of its cruises. This new program of gourmet activities, offered at no additional cost to travelers, includes private wine tastings, culinary demonstrations and special food and wine pairing dinners.

After receiving a tremendous response last season to the recently introduced “Paris & Normandy” itinerary, Trafalgar is now offering a selection of new cruise itineraries that include Paris.

The five new cruises available in 2009 are the 11-day “Paris & European River Romance” cruises from Paris to Nuremberg; the 18-day “Paris & The Heart of Europe” from Paris to Vienna; the 32-day “Paris & Grand European Waterways” from Paris to Bucharest; the 11-day “Rhine & Main Holiday Markets” from Nuremberg to Cologne; and the nine-day “Parisian Winter Holiday” roundtrip from Paris.

Travelers can save up to $600 per couple by booking before Nov. 30. But if travelers pay in full before Sept. 30, they will receive a discount of up to $2,000 per couple.

For more information, call 800-854-0103 or visit www.trafalgar.com

Globus New Portugal River Cruise

For the first time, Globus is offering a Portugal river cruise-tour. To celebrate, the company is offering a discount of $100 per person on the air-inclusive price of the 2009 Portugal Cruise when booked by Oct. 7, 2008.

The 11-day cruise vacation begins with free time in Lisbon before traveling to Oporto to embark on a seven-night cruise. Cruisers will float along the Douro River and experience cultural programs like flamenco and authentic Portuguese shows onboard. Additional highlights include a Portuguese meal at the 14th-century former Benedictine monastery in Bitetos;

visits to Lamego’s Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies shrine and the Mateus wine estate; wine tasting in Pinhão; and a walking tour of Salamanco, Spain. Back in Oporto, passengers will take a guided sightseeing tour, then travel along the Atlantic coast and stop at a Port wine lodge to visit the cellars and sample the wine.

Upon return to Lisbon, they will take a guided sightseeing tour. The cruise=tour is priced from $2,549 per person, double, not including air.

To receive the $100 discount, clients must pay the deposit by Oct. 7, 2008, for travel commencing by Dec. 31, 2009. The offer is not valid with any other offer and is reliant on space availability.

Full cancellation penalties will apply.

Call 866-755-8581 or visit www.globusjourneys.com