Cruise On The Snake And Columbia Rivers

Intermingling history of the west, the autumn crush and spectacular foliage in Washington wine country, and exhilarating river explorations, American Safari Cruises offers six departures along the Columbia and Snake Rivers this October and November.

The week-long 'Rivers of the West' itinerary sails one-way between Portland, Oregon, and Lewiston, Idaho (and reverse) aboard the exclusive 12-guest Safari Spirit. Available for individual travel or charter, departure dates include October 8; November 12, 19 and 26, with special Culinary and Wine Discovery theme cruises on October 29 and November 5.

The itinerary transits eight locks and three states, as well as cutting through the dramatic Columbia River Gorge. In Oregon, guests will explore the Multnomah Falls, Bonneville Dam and dock for the evening in the picturesque town of Hood River (the wind-surfing capital of the world). A guest speaker joins after dinner in Hood River to discuss the area’s history. Cruising the Columbia, the largest river in the Pacific North-west region, offers a close-up look at the workings of the rivers’ locks and dams.

On the Washington side, highlights include private tours to two local wineries, cruising through a wildlife region rich with migratory birds, entering the Snake River and kayaking or skiff explorations up the Palouse River. An exhilarating jet-boat ride into Hells Canyon in Idaho takes guests into North America’s deepest canyon for incredible scenery and opportunities to view 7,000-year-old petroglyphs and bighorn sheep.

For more info, visit www.americansafaricruises.com or the UK's leading specialist for adventure and luxury cruising, The Cruise Line Ltd..

Oceania Cruises reveals 2012-2013 winter schedule

Oceania Cruises’ newly launched 2012 / 13 Winter Collection features voyages from September 2012 through May 2013 with an exotic cruise schedule that includes 21 new Grand Voyages, ranging from 23 to 71 days, and Caribbean and Panama Canal cruises onboard the line’s new 1,250-guest, luxury ship Riviera.

Oceania Cruises’ 684-guest Regatta will again offer her popular foliage cruises in September and October before cruising to the Caribbean and South America. New ports include Boston and Portland, Maine.

After a 25-day Enchanted Amazon (departing Nov. 2, 2012) cruise from New York, Regatta offers a 7-day Caribbean Interlude (departing Nov. 27, 2012) cruise before operating Panama Canal cruises (Above) between Miami and Los Angeles (beginning Dec. 4, 2012). A 30-day South American Explorer (departing Jan. 23, 3013) itinerary from Lima to Rio de Janeiro showcases the very best of South America. From Rio, Regatta reprises her 12-day Radiant Rhythms (beginning Feb. 22, 2012) cruises between Rio and Buenos Aires before heading to Europe for summer 2013.

For more information visit www.oceaniacruises.com or luxury cruise specialists The Cruise Line

Silversea's Atlantic Luxury

This week's cruise deals are rolling in thick and fast (about five per day at the current rate!), and here is one that is definitely worth highlighting for those who like the genuine luxury lifestyle at sea:

Join Silversea Cruises on a nine-day Atlantic voyage from just £2,843 per person (only £315 per day) on an all-inclusive basis, including complimentary flights. Departing October 11 from New York, Silver Whisper calls at Halifax (Canada); St. John (New Brunswick, Canada); Bar Harbor (Maine, USA); Portland (Maine, USA); Boston and Newport (Rhode Island, USA) before arriving back at New York.

All prices are per person, based on two people sharing a Vista Suite and include complimentary return economy class air, port charges, government fees and taxes.

For more info, visit www.silversea.com or the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Crystal Cruises + Canada/New England = Cruise Perfection

We are just back from a truly sublime 12-day voyage with Crystal Cruises from Montreal (above) to New York, taking in large parts of the late Fall Foliage scene through Canada and New England.

This was a brand new area for us, cruise-wise, and came as quite a revelation. In company with Crystal's peerless style, it makes for an absolute stunner of a cruise, with plenty of captivating ports of call, superb onboard ambience and an almost non-stop backdrop of eye-catching scenery.

The ports were the Canadian quartet of Montreal, Quebec, Halifax and St John, followed by Portland (Maine), Boston and Newport (Rhode Island). Each one offered a level of interest and diversity that can usually only be found in the most port-intensive of Mediterranean or Northern Europe itineraries, and there was much that came as a real surprise in terms of the activities, sight-seeing, history and, most importantly, the food en route.

We'll try to provide a few more details here on Time Spent At Sea in the coming weeks, but look for a BIG feature focus on this cruise, and the region as a whole, throughout 2011 in World of Cruising.

It is almost 15 years since we did a full cruise with Crystal and it certainly served to underline that nobody does it better in terms of big-ship deluxe voyaging, with the food and service quite superb. The onboard entertainment was first class and the relaxation factor was also noticeable in the comfort of one of their Penthouse deck staterooms (well worth paying the extra for, in our opinion) and we left with that rare feeling of real regret at the end of the 12 days!

Crystal Symphony may be 15 years old these days but her classic styling still make her seem new, she has been wonderfully well maintained and her 2009 refurbishment added a real touch of class to many staterooms and the Lido Deck.

We'd also have to say that this is a real thinking person's cruise. It is not an all-action, non-stop barrage of sunshine, beaches and activity, but it IS an absolutely fascinating look at a part of the world that is not too busy at this time of year (late September and October) and offers a lot to enchant and beguile in a subtle, sophisticated manner.

Standout ports were the UNESCO world heritage city of Quebec, the two-day visit to brilliant Boston, and the small-scale charm (and opulence!) of Newport, but every single stop included something new, vibrant and attractive, and that is a rare commodity these days.

The real test of any cruise is usually the question - would we want to go back? If it was the exact same voyage, and with Crystal - indisputably!