A remarkable rescue at sea

Photo: Seabourn

The passengers and crew aboard Seabourn Odyssey experienced something truly remarkable on a South Pacific cruise earlier this week. Here's an excerpt from the Seabourn Blog:

On Sunday evening, February 19, Seabourn Odyssey was sailing the Pacific Ocean some 150 miles southwest of Pago Pago, America Samoa, when the portside bridge watch spotted something in the distance. Captain Mark Dexter found no missing vessel reports, but wondered why this boat would be so far from land. He deviated from his course to investigate further and spotted a small boat adrift some miles away from the ship. As they drew closer, they saw three men jumping and frantically waving their clothing, clearly trying to catch the attention of Seabourn Odyssey. The ship deployed one of its rescue boats and, after determining that they were no threat, rescued three fishermen who had been lost at sea for nearly three weeks! The crew transferred them to the rescue boat and took them to the ship, where they were immediately checked out by the ship’s doctor. While they were dehydrated, hungry and had a few skin sores from the sun, the three men were in surprisingly good health considering they had been drifting at sea for weeks.

To add to the happy ending, when Captain Dexter notified his guests about what was going on, they passed the hat amongst themselves and collected enough money to buy the three fishermen a new boat. Whether you believe in luck, fate, or a higher power, it's heartwarming to hear about people in the right place at the right time. You can read the rest of this incredible story at the Seabourn blog.

How local farms inspire Royal Caribbean's menus

How do the chefs on board Royal Caribbean's mega cruise ships stock up to feed 5400 passengers at their 25 dining venues? They head to the source of it all, where fresh organic ingredients at local farms inspire new entries on the ever-changing menus.

A Royal Caribbean Western Caribbbean Cruise is part of this month's Hot List. Don't miss out on your chance to taste some of this delicious cuisine--  a complimentary specialty dinner for two is our gift to you when you book through FROSCH before February 29!  Ask your FROSCH travel agent (or use our Find a Travel Agent tool) how to start planning your cruise!

A "Flam"-tastic shore excursion with Cunard

Where can you find storybook landscapes, bike along roaring rivers and waterfalls, and stop to watch a train emerge from a mountain tunnel?  In Flam, Norway, that's where. It's one of the stops that on the Cunard Northern Adventure cruise that's featured on this month's FROSCH Hot List!

Flåm­ is the destination of the 12-mile branch line of the train from Myrdal, a 50-minute ride that plummets nearly 3,000 feet into Flåm­ Valley. The tiny village lies at the end of the Aurlandsfjord, amid meadows and orchards, surrounded by towering mountains. A trip on famous Flåm­ Railway is a thrilling experience. Its track took four years to complete and leads through breathtaking mountain scenery, past cascading waterfalls and through hand-dug tunnels. At one point the train travels through a reverse tunnel in order to negotiate a gradient of nearly a thousand feet, making it one of the steepest anywhere in the world. It operates year-round - a great tourist attraction during the summer and a local lifeline during deep winter. Strolling around the few souvenir shops or walking in the picturesque Aurland Valley are popular pastimes. Guests interested in exploring on their own would enjoy a hike in the countryside. The picturesque setting among orchards and meadows draws visitors to this serene and peaceful place.

It's even stunning from above! Check out those snow-capped mountains and fluffy clouds...

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Carnival Magic

The debut of the brand-new 3690-passenger Carnival Magic from her homeport of Galveston was celebrated last week with live music, parties, and fanfare. A crew of FROSCH travel agents was on the scene to inspect the newest ship in the Gulf. Here’s what they had to say about it! (Photos by Jamie DeJean.)

Agent Review: Azamara Journey

Houston travel agent Jamie DeJean spent a week cruising the French Riviera aboard the Azamara Journey. She sat down with us for a Q&A about her experience. 

What was your favorite part of the ship? 

I loved Aqua Spa! Theres’s a $20 charge per day to use, but well worth it to enjoy the nice and quiet area and take advantage of the hydrotherapy spa.

Silversea: Sailing on the Silver Cloud through the English Channel (Part 2)

Article and photos by Karen Lewis

Click here to read Part 1 of this article!

As we overnighted on board the ship, Silversea offered an opportunity for interested cruisers to either overnight or spend the day in Paris. We booked a tour to Giverny, France. It was an hour from the dock and well worth the ride. It was exactly as I had pictured it to be: the lily pads and pond are beautiful and picturesque. Monet had the pond built to make this lovely setting into one of his most famous paintings. The shades of greens and the grays in the sky accentuate the beauty here. The entire grounds are bursting with wild flowers, roses, hydrangea, as well as every possible variation of daisies and wonderful sunflowers.

Silversea: Sailing on the Silver Cloud through the English Channel (Part 1)

Article and photos by Karen Lewis 

I had the most wonderful experience cruising through the English Channel on Silversea's Silver Cloud. Upon arrival at the dock, we were escorted to the registration desk, by a gentleman in English formal wear who then accompanied us to our stateroom where our butler was in waiting. Although the Silver Cloud is one of the fleet's oldest ships, it far exceeded my expectations. The ship is small, quaint and cozy, with friendly and outstanding personal service.

Our first port of call was Plymouth. We tendered into port then took a bus to the Royal Theatre across from the main shopping market. While walking around the outdoor market, we made our way to Drakes Circus, a large and modern indoor shopping center.

Tracy Arm and Sawyer Glacier, Alaska

Guest post by Sharon Everett of Celebrity Cruises.

Tracy Arm Fjord is perhaps one of the most dramatic locations in all of North America. Completely protected within the Tongass National Forest, this fjord stretches some 25 miles up into the Coastal Range Mountains.

Tracy Arm Fjord is home to Sawyer Glacier. Though it's not as well known as Glacier Bay or Hubbard Glacier, several naturalists feel Sawyer Glacier is even more spectacular. Framed by 7000-foot-high snowcapped mountains which drop immediately to sea level, the area is surrounded by sheer 1500- to 2000-foot walls of granite falling into the extremely narrow passage, creating countless waterfalls and strange rock formations covered in forest, and trees hanging on to precipices at impossible angles.

Sawyer Glacier boasts an impressive list of wildlife: black and brown bears, deer, wolves and moose. This narrow, 26-mile-long fjord is another of Alaska's most dramatic glacier settings. The panorama of 7000-foot mountain peaks and nearly vertical rock cliffs is astounding. Countless waterfalls appear at every turn. Icebergs make their way to the sea in all sorts of incredible shapes. And tucked away at the end of this remarkable waterway are two very active reminders of the Ice Age—the twin Sawyer Glaciers.

The face of South Sawyer Glacier stretches a third of a mile and calves icebergs big and small. Hundreds of harbor seals dot the floating platforms. Kittiwakes and mountain goats are a common sight. Whales and bears may even make an appearance in this magical place where closeness and intimacy make you part of the scene.

Contact us for great rates on Celebrity Cruises visiting Alaska's Tracy Arm Fjord on seven night round trip Seattle sailings! Visit froschvacations.com for more details.

The Oceania-Class Marina

In January 2011, Oceania Cruise launched the long-awaited Marina, the newest addition to its Regatta-Class fleet. With a capacity of 1,258 guests, the Marina’s impressiveness is not only in luxury but also in extraordinary cuisine, service, and comfort. Apart from numerous gourmet restaurants and stylish bars and lounges, the ship also features luxurious Spas, Fitness Centers, and places to relax and indulge. The following are a taste of the extravagant features found on the Marina. 

• A wealth of dining options, including a coffee bar, the Grand Dining Room, where six-course meals are served by tuxedo-clad waitstaff, and Jacques, a seafood restaurant named after famous Chef Jacques Pepin.
• Working closely with Oceania Cruises’ award-winning culinary team, Canyon Ranch chefs created Spa Cuisine dining options of the highest nutritional standards.

• The Canyon Ranch Spa Club, a 10,000-square-feet spa that offers almost 50 customized treatments and therapies. Guests may also choose to receive the expert instruction of Canyon Ranch personal trainers who offer daily fitness sessions and nutritional counseling.
• The Bon Appétit Culinary Center offers hands-on cooking instruction under the guidance of master chefs.
• The Artist Loft provides instruction on painting, drawing, and arts and crafts activities from an artist-in-residence.

The Marina arrived for her christening in Miami following her maiden voyage from Barcelona, and will subsequently embark on the first of two Panama Canal transits that includes ports of call in San Diego and San Francisco.

Crystal Serenity for the Festa Venezia

article and photos by Pearl Cohn

You see that brilliant blue color in all the ads for the Mediterranean. But not until you’re standing at the top of a cobblestone path in Santorini do you believe it’s real. The water is that sapphire blue!

Sailing on the beautiful Crystal Serenity from Athens to Venice last June, we enjoyed that scene and many more. With a private guide, who met us at the port of Kusadasi and took us to Ephesus, we gained an appreciation and knowledge of this ancient site.

We explored the narrow streets in Santorini (although we took the cable car and not the donkey to the top). We wandered through Patmos, Crete, Split and Kotor, Montenegro. Then we arrived in Venice for two overnight stays.

The first day in San Marco was filled with people waiting for the beginning of Festa Venezia (a religious festival). Private yachts and larger ships filled the harbor.

For that evening, Crystal planned a sumptuous Italian buffet on the pool deck. Lobster, large prawns, fresh shrimp, a myriad of salads and fresh fruit, as well as pasta with a choice of sauces decorated the white-clothed tables. At 11:30 PM, we could see the 30-minute fireworks display in San Marco from the top decks of the ship.

The second day in Venice we explored the less-traveled back streets. You can’t get lost. The signs on the crumbling buildings point to San Marco or the Rialto Bridge. It’s more fun to see these streets where the locals live and shop. The vendors showcase their fresh fruits, vegetables and fish in attractive displays and the aroma of peaches mingles with that of fish.

Crystal’s staff is hotel trained. The first day aboard, the waiters on the Lido Deck ask your name and from then on will greet you by name! The computer lab offers complimentary and wonderful courses, everything from basic emailing to digital photography. Lecturers are well informed and interesting. And the evening shows are Broadway-style professional!

There were many multi-generational families aboard our sailing. You could see the kids enjoying the programs and each other. And their parents were happy because the kids were happy!

Crystal Cruises has been voted the top large cruise ship for over 15 years in a row. They obviously are doing something right!