Big Bands and Ballroom with Crystal Cruises

With classic dance moves currently taking centre stage on “Strictly Come Dancing”, Crystal Cruises has expanded its live Big Band and Ballroom Dance theme cruises for 2012. Guests will feel like stars themselves as they swing, cha-cha and tango across the Atlantic accompanied by two old-school favourites: the Glenn Miller Orchestra on Crystal Symphony’s 19th March Miami-Madeira-Lisbon voyage, and the Artie Shaw Orchestra on Crystal Serenity’s Barcelona-Canary Islands-St Maarten-Miami cruise on 9th December.

Whether a dancer or just toe-tapping listener, guests will be surrounded by live 17-20-piece orchestras with vocalists, plus complimentary daily dance sessions, including: Professional group dance lessons for all levels of experience; Advanced dance workshops for more proficient dancers; Twice the usual number of professional dance instructors; Extra Ambassador Hosts to lead women without dance partners; and Dancing both in the afternoon and late into the evening.

“Book Now” prices (if booked by October 31) start from £1,862 per person for Symphony’s 10-night 19th March voyage and from £2,290 per person for Serenity’s 12-night 9th December voyage. Price includes complimentary return economy flights, overseas transfers and accommodation on an all-inclusive basis including all meals, complimentary fine wines and premium spirits throughout the ship, open bar service in all lounges and pre-paid gratuities for housekeeping, bar and dining staff.

Crystal's entertainment offerings include a range of venues and performances, from cabaret nightclub to piano bar saloon; acclaimed productions to headline entertainers; and sophisticated enrichment activities to in-room Blu-ray-viewing.

For further information, visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk or the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

Crystal's Carnival In Rio

With two Brazil itineraries during Carnival 2012, ultra-luxury Crystal Cruises has announced four new opportunities for guests to experience the legendary Carnival spectacle during the cruises’ overnights in Rio de Janeiro. From grandstand seating and front-row box seats to luxury VIP sky box suites with gourmet goodies, guests have a choice of several fully escorted, reserved seating programmes at the Sambadrome.

There’s even an option to participate first-hand – marching in the parade, dressed in costume and performing with one of the samba schools. Crystal Symphony’s Miami to Rio and Rio to Buenos Aires voyages on February 6 and 20 respectively end or begin on the parade’s two best nights, Sunday and Monday, when 30,000 glamorously-costumed members of the top samba schools thrill crowds with singing, dancing, drumming and colourful floats. All excursion participants (even those in the parade) will be accompanied by experienced, secure guides from beginning to end, with several convenient late-night shore-to-ship shuttles.

Crystal’s Carnival excursions begin at $799 per person rising to $12,999 per person for the VIP box suite package.

For more info, visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk or the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd..

Big Autmn Savings With Crystal

As if Crystal Cruises’ autumn sale wasn’t big enough already, the ultra-luxury cruise operator is offering even greater savings on its 25th October New York to Miami Caribbean cruise with prices for this 12-night voyage starting from as little £3,723 per person – a saving of £498 per person.

Crystal’s “Pink Sands and White Beaches” voyage begins with a scenic sail-away from New York followed by visits to Bermuda, St Maarten, Antigua, Aruba and the Cayman Islands. Throughout, guests will be stimulated and enriched with an array of complimentary workshops and classes:



A “Digital Filmmaking” theme offers camera buffs hands-on tutelage in travel video production from Travel Channel Academy founders throughout the sailing. News junkies will relish insights from Shelby Coffee, formerly editor of the LA Times, president of CNN Business News and executive vice president of ABC News. Veteran US State Department Senior Foreign Service Officer, Robert Warne, will enthral world affairs enthusiasts with his vast experience in international economics. Animal lovers can help care for stray donkeys via Crystal’s free “You Care, We Care” voluntourism excursion in Antigua.



Prices include return scheduled flights, transfers, 12 nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window with all meals and soft drinks, port taxes and a $500 per person onboard credit.



For further information, visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk or contact the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Celebrity's Interactive Art Programme

Celebrity Cruises is offering guests the opportunity to create original works of their own, within “The Art Studio” onboard Celebrity Silhouette through a new partnership with ArtCenter/South Florida.

Located within the distinctive Lawn Club area on the top deck of Celebrity's newest ship, The Art Studio will offer a wide variety of lectures, demonstrations and interactive classes, including jewellery creation, sketching and painting. When Celebrity Silhouette debuts in July, guests will have the opportunity to participate in interactive sessions with artists Leslie LaCombe and Armando Droulers.

LaCombe worked in the art departments of film and television for many years. She then studied silver jewellery design with accomplished artist Billy King in Mexico, and soon found her work on display at a prominent local gallery. She has travelled extensively in south-east Asia, India and Europe, with the various cultures inspiring many of her works. Today, LaCombe lives in Miami, teaches at ArtCenter/South Florida, and continues to produce handcrafted precious stone and metal jewellery in her studio located on Miami’s famed South Beach.

Armando Droulers is an art historian, artist and educator who studied at Bard College, Academia de Arte Federico Brandt, New World School of the Arts, and the University of South Florida. He lectures extensively on art and culture, and also organises art tours and cultural events across the globe. Droulers has lived in Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and the U.S., and speaks fluent English, Spanish and French. On Silhouette, Droulers will teach drawing, watercolour and collage classes, offer presentations on the history and art of the destinations the ship visits, and will lead art and wine lectures in the ship’s CellarMasters wine bar, and sketching courses in various ports of call.

Celebrity Silhouette is one of FIVE Celebrity ships offering premium cruise options in Europe this year, from six departure ports. She sets sail in July, offering a host of industry-first venues and experiences within The Lawn Club. In addition to The Art Studio, the new venues include the interactive Lawn Club Grill, where guests can select and grill their own meats alongside Celebrity's expert chefs, or have them cooked to order; the relaxing, private, Wi-Fi-equipped cabanas, called The Alcoves, and The Porch, a breezy, casual dining spot offering sandwiches, coffees and views of the sea and the ship’s lawn. Silhouette also will present another entirely new venue, The Hideaway, an intimate, quiet space reminiscent of a childhood tree house.

For more info, visit www.celebritycruises.co.uk or try the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Learn Digital Film Making with Crystal

Lights, camera, action! Guests on Crystal Cruises’ October “Digital Film-Making”-themed voyage will get to hone their production skills with an intense video production programme that focuses on creating extraordinary travel videos.

During the 12-night New York to Miami Caribbean cruise, Michael Rosenblum - a digital film groundbreaker who led the BBC’s transition to digital production and created The Travel Channel Academy, among other credits - will lead a team of instructors in teaching guests how to create the best travel videos possible. The pros will cover every step of the production process and teach travellers to think through their videos before shooting, so the finished product will be a more watchable and compelling film to share with friends, family, or the world.

“Whether a complete novice, or a veteran videographer, there will be instruction geared toward every level of shooting experience,” says Crystal’s Vice President of International Sales & Marketing, Philip Ordever. “It’s an exceptional opportunity for travellers to gain a practical education in a fast-growing arena from one of the top experts in the field—all for free.”

Onboard, guests can attend multiple training classes, seek daily one-on-one assistance at a programme “base camp” and view other guests’ raw footage and finished films in a constructive workshop setting. On various excursions, instructors will accompany guests to provide hands-on shooting guidance.

Production areas that will be covered include:

Pre-production and storyboarding

Setting up/framing shots

Shooting time/clip lengths

Uploading footage

Editing

Graphics

Music

Finalising finished product for sharing

Crystal will provide all equipment for programme participation, including video cameras, Macintosh laptop computers and editing software.

The 12-night “Pink Sands & White Beaches” cruise starts in New York on October 25 and visits Bermuda, St Maarten, Antigua, Aruba and Grand Cayman before finishing in Miami. Prices start from £4,221 per person, including return scheduled flights, transfers, 12 nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window with all meals and soft drinks, port taxes and a $500 per person onboard credit.

For more info, see www.crystalcruises.co.uk or contact the UK's leading luxury-cruise specialist agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Oceania's Big Spring Savings

Oceania Cruises is offering savings of up to 50% off selected cruise departures this spring, including sailings on the company’s brand new cruise ship, Marina, and an on board credit of $1,000 per stateroom. All prices include all meals and complimentary bottled water and soft drinks. Prices exclude flights.

Southern Treasures, 14 nights from £2,399pp with up to £632pp saving, PLUS $1,000 on board credit per stateroom.

Departing April 12, Oceania has a 14-night Caribbean sailing on the mid-sized luxury ship Regatta, now £2,399 per person (was £3,031) for a Concierge Veranda room, based on 2 sharing, including a $1,000/stateroom onboard credit. The ship embarks in Miami cruising the Atlantic Ocean through Charlestown and Williamsburg to Bermuda, San Juan and the Dominican Republic before sailing back through the Turks and Caicos Islands to port in Miami, USA.

Grandeur of Rome, 10 Nights from £1,249pp with up to £635pp saving, PLUS $1,000 onboard credit

Wonders of the Ancients, 14 nights from £1,399, save up to £1,360pp PLUS $1,000 on board credit

Passage to Panama, 16 Nights from £1,599pp with up to £557pp, PLUS $1,000 on board credit

Departing April 26, there is a fantastic 16-night sailing on mid-sized Regatta from Miami to San Francisco, now £1,599 per person (was £2,156) for an Inside Stateroom, based on 2 sharing, and including a $1,000/stateroom credit.

Mediterranean Mosaic, 10 Nights from £1,749pp with up to £947pp saving, PLUS $1,000 onboard credit

Grecian Glory, 10 nights from £1,749, save up to £1,379pp PLUS $1,000 onboard credit

Jewels of the Aegean, 12 nights from £1,199, save up to £1,179pp PLUS $1,000 onboard credit

Gems of Europe, 15 nights from £1,499, save up to £1,379pp PLUS $1,000 on board credit

Greek Isles Odyssey, 12 nights from £1,499, save up to £1,235pp PLUS $1,000 onboard credit

Treasures of the Continent, 12 nights from £2,099 save up to £1,572pp PLUS $1,000 onboard credit

No need to negotiate international airports on Oceania's 12-night Atlantic Coast sailing, departing from Dover on July 29, cruising the English Channel to Amsterdam, Bruges, Paris, Guernsey, Saint-Malo, Port-Aven, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Biarritz and Santander. The cruise is on the new 1,250-guest Marina and costs from £2,099 per person for a Concierge Level Veranda room, with savings of up to £1,572pp, based on two sharing, including $1,000 onboard credit/stateroom, all meals and complimentary bottled water and soft drinks.

For more about Oceania Cruises, visit www.oceaniacruises.co.uk or contact luxury cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

Crystal Expands World Jewish Culture Exploration

With increased participation in Jewish heritage tours, luxury cruise operator Crystal Cruises is expanding its related programming in 2011. Scheduled are over a dozen Crystal Adventures that explore Jewish life, past and present, around the world in or near Mumbai, Miami, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Berlin, Hamburg, St Petersburg, Rome, Dublin, Jerusalem/Ashdod and Odessa.

Each tour gives an overview of a culture within a culture, while also providing intimate connection with spaces, exhibits, artefacts, traditions and people that bring the international Jewish narrative to life. Among the highlights:

· St Petersburg: Discover how this resilient Russian Jewish community survived Communist oppression, war and hardship to flourish today, as demonstrated through its people, community centres, musi, and an intimate home visit.

· Mumbai: Visit three synagogues ranging from Baghdadi to Bene-Israel congregations.

· Copenhagen: Learn how 99% of Denmark’s Jews survived the Holocaust at the Museum of Danish Resistance.

· Dublin: Take in the social, legal and political contributions of the Irish-Jewish community; see the first dedicated day school and home of Israeli ex-President Chaim Herzog.

· German Concentration Camps: Explore Neuengamme, which housed 100,000 prisoners outside Hamburg, and Berlin’s Sachsenhausen, which became the blueprint for all other camps.

· Rome: Walk through the 2,000-year-old Jewish Quarter of Rome.

While most 2012 excursions are still in development, Crystal is planning a Jewish heritage tour of Shanghai for its 2012 World Cruise.

For reservations, visit http://www.crystalcruises.co.uk/ or contact the UK's leading luxury cruises specialist of The Cruise Line Ltd.

The Eclipse Experience

OK, this is WAY overdue, but here is a more detailed review (as opposed to a few hurried blog photos!) of our recent cruise on the new (in summer 2010) Celebrity Eclipse, summing up the main high points before our big World of Cruising feature in the summer edition.

To start with, this is the third (of five) Celebrity Cruises ships in the Solstice class, with the 122,000-ton vessels all garnering a huge amount of critical acclaim since their launch. This was our first full look at one of the ships on a regular cruise, hence it serves as a more accurate benchmark of their overall quality.

It is also highly pertinent to the European market, as Celebrity will have all three (to be joined by the new Celebrity Silhouette in July) in either the Baltic or Mediterrean this summer, offering an unprecedented range of cruises - and cruise quality. Eclipse is also based exclusively out of Southampton for the season, meaning she is a superb ex-UK cruise choice.

To begin with, our cruise sailed from the less than inspiring confines of the Port of Miami. This may be fine for the big, mass-market cruise lines, but Celebrity must be less than delighted that their passengers are herded around this huge, impersonal and less-than-user-friendly embarkation port like so many cattle. It is not a great starting point for an upmarket holiday and the lack of sign-posting as you drive in to the port (if you are not on an organised transfer from the airport) is quite astonishing. You can see where your ship IS, but getting to it is a whole 'nother story!

Anyway, that minor quibble aside, we were soon leaving the chaotic Florida port behind for 7 days visiting San Juan (Puerto Rico), Philipsburg (St Maarten) and St Kitts, with 3 full at-sea days to enjoy all the considerable facilities of the ship. As it turned out, it was a great balance, and we were very happy to just wander the three ports of call under our own steam (trying one ship excursion, on St Kitts) and soak up some much-needed winter sun.

Looking purely at the ship, this is a BIG proposition in almost every way. Far bigger (by at least 30%) than the other members of the fleet, we were slightly wary that Celebrity's usual style for fine food and service would be rather stretched with almost 3,000 passengers to cater for (and this was a nearly-full cruise).

But we needn't have worried. The ship may be big on the outside (and l-o-n-g on the inside - pick a cabin at either end and you are always seemingly a mile away from the nearest restaurant/lounge/show!), but it is beautifully designed to be small-scale inside, with a host of places offering a quiet corner or more personal experience.

True, the main dining room, the Moonlight Sonata, is a sizeable proposition, and dining upstairs with the Select Dining scheme (Celebrity's version of the dine-when-you-want policy) can be quite busy with people coming and going for much of the time. But otherwise everything is fairly modest in size terms and easy to get to grips with.

The selection of bars and lounges is superb and there is genuinely something for everyone, from the high-tech Molecular Bar with its bubbling cocktails to the elegance and sophistication of the Ensemble Lounge and Michael's Club. Dining is a similar proposition, with no less than five alternative choices to the main dining room for dinner (six if you count the AquaSpa suite category of the health-conscious Blu restaurant).

The choices during the day also extended to an extremely pleasant range, including the real 'discovery' of the AquaSpa Cafe (again with a range of very healthy options), the Mast Grill and extensive buffet-style Oceanview Grill, as well as the Moonlight Sonata itself. There is a $5/person charge to dine at The Bistro (for lunch and dinner) and the Cafe al Bacio and Gelateria also charges for its fare. But it is perfectly possible to dine at a range of venues without any additional levy.

However, if you did, you would be missing out on the real treats of the Tuscan Grille, Murano Restaurant and the oddly eclectic Qsine. The former two are real standout, stylish and high-quality supper-club style dining rooms (which must be pre-booked at a $30/head surcharge) while the latter is Celebrity's real novel touch, a wildly varied and fun restaurant that has iPads for menus and a tapas-style ethic that doesn't even begin to describe its culinary style.

In some ways it is a work in progress as the ship is still finding out what works in its quirky format and what doesn't, but for groups of four or more it is a highly enjoyable way to spend two hours over dinner and try a huge variety of food, from Chinese and Indian to Mexican and European, all opf varying proportions (from modest appetiser-size to gargantuan enough-for-six plates!). Each dish is served in a completely different way and it is meant to be as much a fun exercise as anything else and, if you're in the right mood, it is an absolute riot.

However, for all the elegance and style throughout the ship, the one surprise element that totally captivated us was the Corning Museum Hot Glass show up on the Lawn Club deck (where there is real grass!). Here, G Brian, Dan and Jamie put on some fabulous entertainment every day, several times a day, exhibiting a real art with hot glass blowing that fair took the breath away. The trio, all from the Corning Museum, were at once hugely engrossing, educational, fun and personable, making every show different and absolutely riveting watching.

When I first heard the concept announced a few years ago (it is only on the first 3 Solstice-class ships; Silhouette and Reflection will have a different restaurant/relaxation area on the Lawn Club deck) I was convinced it would be, at best, a gimmicky five-minute wonder, but I could not have been more wrong.

The fact they held regular (free) raffles to give away art pieces made just the day before and also held an end-of-cruise auction for three outstanding works just added to the experience; we were complete glass-blowing addicts by the second day! The trio kept up a highly enjoyable banter throughout each 2-hour show and they seldom seemed to repeat themselves, making every experience something new and truly worthwhile.

So, when we're now asked to sum up our Eclipse experience, we just say it is a really Hot proposition...!

Oceania's Great Spring Offers

Oceania Cruises is offering savings of up to 43 per cent off selected cruise departures in April, including a sailing on the company’s brand new cruise ship, Marina (above), and an onboard credit of $1,000 per stateroom (all prices exclude flights).

Current offers from Oceania Cruises include a 14-night sailing on the mid-sized Regatta, departing on April 12, now from just £1399 per guest (a saving of up to £1,697), PLUS a $1,000 onboard credit. Regatta departs from Miami to cruise up the east coast of the US, across to Hamilton, Bermuda, and on to Turks & Caicos islands and Dominican Republic, before returning to Miami. Prices include all meals, complimentary bottled water and soft drinks.

Or, departing on April 13, Oceania has a magnificent 10-night sailing through some of Europe’s most picturesque and historical regions on Insignia, now from just £1249 per person (saving up to £1,447 pp), based on two sharing, and including a $1,000/stateroom onboard credit. The ship embarks in Athens, sailing to Kusadasi, Turkey, through the Greek islands to Sicily, Italy’s Amalfi Coast, Sardinia, and Monte Carlo, returning to Livorno and Civitivecchia (Rome).

Or, cruise from Rome to Venice, via Monte Carlo, Sicily, the Amalfi Coast, Corfu, Montenegro and Croatia on board Oceania's new Marina, departing on April 26. This 10-night 'Grandeur of Rome' sailing now costs £1,249 per person (again saving up to £1,447 pp), with a $1,000 onboard credit. Guests are treated to a choice of 10 dining venues on this magnificent new ship, with no charges for dining in its six speciality restaurants. Complimentary bottled water & soft drinks are also available throughout the ship.

Other European sailings currently with a $1,000 per stateroom onboard credit include sailings on board Marina on May 6 from Venice to Athens (from £1,877pp) and a 12-night cruise ex-UK on July 29 (from £2269 pp), including all meals, complimentary soft drinks and bottled water, but excluding flights.

To find out more about Oceania Cruises, visit www.OceaniaCruises.co.uk or contact luxury cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd.

Celebrity Western Caribbean Cruise

By guest blogger Steve Newman

With the mercury dropping at home, guarantee yourself some sunshine by joining Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Eclipse for a nine-night Western Caribbean fly/cruise from £1,409 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin).

Eclipse features include the unique hot glass-blowing show and studio developed with The Corning Museum of Glass, a real grass ‘Lawn Club’ and the Celebrity iLounge, the Apple-only internet café and Apple reseller.

Price includes return flights from London Heathrow, one-night pre-cruise hotel accommodation and a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise departing from Miami and calling at George Town (Grand Cayman), Cozumel (Mexico, Above), Costa Maya (Mexico) and Roatan (Honduras), before returning to Miami; meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees.

Price is based on 26 November 2010 departure.

For more information, visit http://www.celebritycruises.co.uk/ or look up the Celebrity Cruises pages on The Cruise Line Ltd website.

Sea Trials for Oceania's Marina

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Scheduled to launch in January 2011, Oceania Cruises’ new 1,250-guest Marina successfully completed her sea trials on September 26, including three days of sailing the Mediterranean for the first time.

During the trials, technicians and engineers from the Fincantieri shipyard and Oceania's own marine and technical teams evaluated the vessel’s speed, maneuverability, hydrodynamics and propulsion, among many other aspects of the ship’s performance.

“She is a beautiful ship. Marina was extremely maneuverable with virtually no vibration to be felt, even at high speeds,” stated Captain Dimitrios Flokos, the ship’s master. “Marina exceeded all expectations. In fact, shipyard representatives commented this was the most successful sea trial in recent history for technical performance.” A second and final round of trials will be run just prior to the ship’s delivery. The 65,000-ton ship – being built at Fincantieri in Sestre Ponente, Italy – is scheduled for delivery January 17.

“Her first foray at sea was a resounding success. Marina exhibited exceptional sea-keeping abilities, is amazingly agile and cruised at more than 22 knots with plenty of power in reserve,” said Robin Lindsay, the line’s executive vice president of vessel operations, who was on board during the test run. “Now that sea trials are successfully concluded, we will focus on finishing her magnificent interiors.”

The ship’s inaugural schedule includes a 13-day Maiden Voyage departing January 22 from Barcelona to Miami, where inaugural activities are planned. On February 8, Marina departs on the first of two 18-day Panama Canal transits that visit San Francisco or San Diego, both new ports for Oceania Cruises. Marina then operates a 12-day Caribbean cruise, round-trip from Miami, departing March 16, before sailing along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard and on to Europe to begin her inaugural Mediterranean season.

To learn more about Marina, visit www.oceaniacruises.co.uk/ and, for great deals, check out www.cruiseline.co.uk/oceania-cruises/.

Don’t forget, too, that you can find out more in person at the wonderful CRUISE Show, which will be held in Birmingham on October 16-17 and in London next March (26-27).

Miami, Honduras & Mexico

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Central America and the Western Caribbean have always had a fascinating appeal to many dedicated cruisers. With that in mind, Norwegian Cruise Line have put together a voyage in the region. Their incredible new ship Norwegian Epic (above) is reinventing cruising once again with new entertainment options and amazing nightlife, including the first true Ice Bar at sea.

Norwegian Epic also has innovative and flexible accommodation, from Studios designed and priced specifically for solo travellers, with exclusive access to their Studio Lounge, to the private Villas on board. Add twenty different dining options, a huge aqua park for all the family and you’ll see why the company say this is Freestyle Cruising on a truly grand scale.

The beauty of cruising is that it encompasses all forms of tastes - whether you prefer adventure voyages and getting up close to nature, red in tooth and claw, or the sort of family, single holiday that’s full of the fun and entertainment that Norwegian are so good at offering.

The company say there’s only one thing to do with rules – scrap them. So that’s what they’ve done. They pick the ports and the rest is down to you. NCL visits destinations from the Caribbean to Hawaii, Alaska to New England, Bermuda to Mexico and Europe.

In her maiden season, Epic has a series of departures up until the end of April 2011 visiting The Western Caribbean. Departing from Miami, she will call at Costa Maya in Mexico, The Roatan Bay Islands off the coast of Honduras and the tiny tropical island of Cozumel, 12 miles off Mexico’s coast before returning to Miami.

Among the highlights is the chance to steer a personal All Terrain Vehicle along the jungle trails on the wild side of Cozumel; take a thrilling ride along zip lines from Roatán’s Creation Rock to a party on Tabyana Beach; and see the Mayan ruins in Tulum, built on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean.

NCL Line are exhibiting at the Cruise Show in Birmingham.

Celebrity House Alarms

Celebrity House Alarms

A celebrity wanting to buy real estate is not a very easy affair because everybody wants to know the details.

Media cultivated the taste of gossip and news like this usually remains in the front pages of the newspapers for quite a while. Apart from the ordinary people who sigh watching the huge properties surrounded by impenetrable fences from Malibu, Miami, Aspen or Hampton, there are other dangerous watchers. They are ready to break into those celebrities’ houses and take away the most valuable things they find. Almost all famous people had problems with those burglars, kidnappers or even killers. This is why the first thing a celebrity will do after buying a residential property is to instal a high tech alarm system. The security companies provide 24-hour protection for their house and can cover almost every possible incident. They have highly trained people to install their sophisticated security systems and they have ready to go teams or a permanent connection with the local police department to cover all possible emergencies. The life of many stars or successful business men are worth millions and millions of dollars and this makes them presumptive targets for criminals. Investing in a performing security system is a must for every celebrity.

From Cooking to Cage-Diving!

Here's a tempting press release from Crystal Cruises this week, highlighting the amazing range of shore excursions available on Crystal Serenity's grand World Cruise, departing Miami on January 10:

Cage diving with great white sharks off the coast of South Africa. Sicilian-style cookery classes in Italy and paragliding over the Spanish countryside are among the 400 Crystal Adventures in store for guests on Crystal Cruises’ 2010 World Cruise. The excursions, nearly 100 of which are brand new, allow guests to experience destinations in unique ways. Whether atop an elephant in Africa, via race car on a circuit track in the Middle East or by private plane over Spain ’s stunning Basque country, intrepid World Cruise guests will find pursuits for virtually any interest. The 108-night itinerary departs Miami for Southampton on 10th January onboard Crystal Serenity.

In addition to new African safaris and dozens of Crystal Overland Adventures, shore-side highlights include:

High Adventure…

NEW - Race a Caterham in Bahrain
NEW - Explore Iran ’s ancient Persepolis
NEW - See the highlights of Oman by 4 x 4
NEW - Hike Sochi ’s Mount Akhun
Cage dive with great whites

Aerial Adventures…

NEW - Take in Abu Dhabi ’s sites by Cessna
NEW - Helicopter above Durban ’s mountainous landscape
Soak up the Seychelles ’ scenery via helicopter
Paraglide above Barcelona ’s landscapes

Regional Culinary Insights…

Prepare a meal at Lisbon ’s Albatroz Palace hotel
Visit a villa in Catania for a Sicilian cooking lesson
Create Catalan cuisine at a Barcelona cooking school
Learn culinary secrets at a Michelin-starred Sorrento restaurant

Conservation…

Explore an African elephant sanctuary
Visit an Abu Dhabi Falcon care and rehabilitation hospital

As well as maiden calls to Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, the World Cruise also visits South America, Africa, India and Europe, visiting 41 ports in 37 countries. The cruise is also offered in 12- to 21-night segments.

Prices for the full World Cruise start from £38,955 per person based on two people sharing a deluxe stateroom with picture window with all meals and soft drinks, port taxes and transfers. Also included are complimentary Club Class flight from London to Miami; complimentary gratuities; seven complimentary shore excursions; two exclusive shoreside events in Abu Dhabi and Ashdod; complimentary bon voyage gala party and $6,000 onboard credit per person.