Travel Empress Blog

As you know, we had a rocky start to our trip due to mechanical and weather delays, so we lost a day and a half, but stepping off that plane in Honolulu into 75+ degrees just melted all the frustrations away.  
We quickly found the transport people, and got to our hotel in enough time to walk around and see the Waikiki Beach before dark.  We had dinner at "Duke's on the Beach," and as you probably know, it's one of the most famous eateries and certainly lived up to it's name."  We were serenaded by three Hawaiian women playing and singing Hawaiian Christmas songs right at the table, and it was so wonderful and really set the mood.  We all said that that night was the best meal of all of them (although there were many runner's up).  We walked around all the high-end shops and listened to many of the street performers.  It was so much fun!  
The next day we were off early to Hilo and arrived in a torrential downpour.  It didn't get our spirits down, although we were all silently thinking, "oh no, this isn't going to be good."  20 minutes later it stopped and we never saw a drop of rain after that.  Every day was sunny and at least 85 degrees or hotter.  
The first night we took everyone to the volcanoes, and much to our own surprise, it was spurting red lava up into the air as it went into the ocean, and we had NOT seen that last year, so that was rather spectacular!  Took them all to all the spots we wanted them to see and they took us to a neat zoo they read about in Hilo.  We discovered much more to Hilo thanks to Dave and family.  
We took our time going to Kona (saw the crater and the southern most point of US), but still arrived in Kona before sunset.  We did the beach, tourist things, and Dave, Megan, and Mary went off and explored a little on their own while Rob and I hung back at the hotel and just sat ALL DAY on this little beach in the shade watching the waves.  That's the first time we've ever been able to do that, and it was just so relaxing with the gentle breeze.  We even dozed off a few times.  Dave and Megan couldn't believe we were still in the same spot when they got back 5 1/2 hours later.  Never moved except for rest-rooms.  It was marvelous!  
Dave, Megan, and Mary invited us to their room for Xmas morning and it was adorable.  They had decorated the room with lights and garlands, and even had a little tree, and a tray of coffee cakes and coffee.  We even had little decorated Xmas bags as our secret Santa stockings.  It was wonderful and made it feel like Xmas for a few hours (hard to feel like Xmas when it's sunny and 88 degrees).  After spending a lot of the day at the beach, David treated us all to dinner out at a place he had made reservations.  It was very pleasant and the food was good, so we had a great time.  
Now I feel like I've seen all there is to see (at least on the Big Island), and should I be lucky enough to go again, I'll have to figure out to which island I want to go to just sit on the beach and relax every day.  It really was refreshing to do that.  
Mindy, we thank you so much for being there during our SOS and for all the help you have and are still giving us.  I think you are simply amazing and you always do a wonderful job for us.  Thank you too, Ed, for your call.  
I must admit, I am not looking forward to flying again so soon, but hopefully we won't have a repeat.  At least it isn't as far.  So thanks again and I'll probably talk to you soon.  
By the way, we went to Xmas mass in a tent (church was condemned from an earthquake and the other tent they had was ripped up by a water funnel/spout the Sunday before we got there).  They replaced the tent just in time and it was wonderful.  We could hear the waves, the ocean breeze came through, we were in shorts (so was everyone else), I had my Xmas lei on, the deacon had bare feet, the priest was wonderful.  The most beautiful part was of course the friendliness of the Hawaiians, but also the fact that the mass was half Hawaiian and half English (very beautiful), and there was a hula girl dancing to some of the prayers (Our Father), and to some of the songs (Silent Night).  It was so moving, graceful, and beautiful and made you feel wonderful.  I loved it.
Kathy and Ron Knippler

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Vancouver and Alaska Trip – May 2009, by Mindy Walts

I had the great fortune to travel to Alaska this past May with my husband and close friends.  We took a cruise of Alaska’s inside passage.  We also stayed three nights in Vancouver prior to the cruise.  What a great decision.  Vancouver is one of the best cities that I have ever visited.  It is on the water, surrounded by mountains, and has all the amenities a city could offer. The city is composed of neighborhoods and offers a wonderful park, Stanley Park, at the water’s edge.  

A word of advice:  because of airline delays, we were delayed a day arriving into Vancouver.  One should always plan to arrive at one’s destination at least one day in advance of any cruise.

Because we traveled with two other couples, we stayed in an apartment hotel-Times Square Suites, a block from Stanley Park and the marina.  An apartment hotel doesn’t have the amenities of a traditional hotels (restaurants, concierge desk, daily maid service), but the location was fabulous and the cost of a one bedroom suite was about a third of the cost of a mid-town hotel.  Time Square Suites is in a residential area, at the base of Stanley Park, surrounded by lots of restaurants. Being at the base of Stanley Park had many advantages.  You can rent a bicycle to ride around the park or take a long walk along the sea wall.  

I recommend getting a two day pass for the “hop on, hop off” bus which travels through different areas of town.  Some stops I recommend you make:  Stanley Park where you can explore the totem pole area; Gastown with its cobblestone streets and wonderful side walk cafes; Granville Market with its large selection of local produce and wares.

We learned about a free bus to Capilano Suspension Bridge.  This is Vancouver's oldest tourist attraction, originally built in 1889, and stretches 450 feet across and 230 feet above Capilano River.  The twenty-seven acre park offers many activities including Treetops Adventure, the newest attraction:  Experience seven suspension bridges through the evergreens taking you up to 100 feet above the forest floor.  

My favorite restaurant in Vancouver was Raincity Grill.  The grill’s chef uses only locally grown food and the wonderful restaurant atmosphere features lots of outdoor seating right on English Bay in the West End.

We picked May to travel.  May and June, although cooler months, experience the least amount of rain.  Since Vancouver and Southeast Alaska is a rain forest I wanted to travel when there was the least chance of rain.  Best of all, there are great travel deals in May.  We reserved a mini-suite on the ship at the same price as a standard balcony cabin.  Our host was Princess Cruise Line and our hotel was the Coral Princess. The Coral Princess and the Island Princess (Coral’s sister ship) are smaller than the other Princess ships. They were constructed to sail through the Panama Canal.  They also have a roof over one of the rear pools which is a necessity when sailing the Alaska waters.  
We sailed north from Vancouver to Whittier through the inside passage.  Sailing through the inside passage means seeing land on either side of the ship so it really doesn’t matter on which side of the side of the ship you land.  We chose the port (left) side because of the sunsets.  We saw a spectacular sunset in Juneau at 10:30 pm one evening!  Some cabins on the Coral Princess have a covering outside to protect you from the rain.  Our cabin did not because we wanted more sun.  It was a good decision because the temperature our week was in the sunny 60’s, not a drop of rain and beautiful blue skies.  While we had three cabins together and were told they were adjoining, one two could connect to each other.  Keep in mind, not all balcony cabins on Princess connect if that is important to you.  By the way, I loved having the bigger bathroom and extra alcove in the living area of our suite.  It gave us extra room for a social area for our group.  

This particular cruise was a great way to visit South East Alaska.  There is no packing or unpacking, the food is good, service is excellent, and we were able to dine at Sabatini’s, the gourmet Italian restaurant.  Sabatini’s requires an additional charge but even though the food is good, the service and the quality of the food were not outstanding.  

Port Reviews
Our goal was to do something unique at each stop.
Ketchikan – We were in Ketchikan until 2:00 pm so we decided to take a float plane into Misty Fiords National Monument. Misty Fjords’ road-less location is accessed only by floatplane.  Its National Monument is a pristine masterpiece.  Its fjords were created by massive glacier action in the ice-rimmed wilderness.  Here is some of Alaska’s most spectacular scenery.  Its 2.3 million acres include soaring cliffs, sawtooth ridges shrouded in mists, sky-blue lakes, hanging valleys, countless waterfalls, bottomless saltwater fjords, and miles of glaciers.  The monument is home to a multitude of wildlife as well.  After a great deal of research, I found a woman who had a float plane we could charter.  Because we chartered our own plane versus buying sightseeing from the cruise line, we could land in an isolated area of the Fiord instead of where all the other planes go.  The ride was spectacular and since Ketchikan is one of the wettest places in the nation, the slight occasional mist created a majestic atmosphere.  We landed in a beautiful serene place on the lake and walked around in complete isolation taking in all the natural beauty around us.  
Other than choosing a float plane excursion, Ketchikan offers exceptional sea kayaking trips on the protected waterways of the Inside Passage as well as great fishing trips for halibut and salmon.  
If you prefer not to leave town, stop in the visitor’s center for a walking tour map. Start your visit with a tour of the Historic Creek Street area and downtown Ketchikan. Here you will get a real sense of the history that is Ketchikan, including Dolly’s House Museum, the Tongass Historical Museum, the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center and the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show.
Juneau – There are numerous things Juneau is known for:  it is the port from which to whale watch, if that interests you.  Again, we decided not to follow the cruise ship shore excursion herd and found an independent whale watch company-Harv and Marv.  Harv and Marv are boyhood best friends, have two boats, and will take you on a private whale watch tour.  Their boats only accommodate 6 people.  The boat we had was brand new and Harv (Jay is his real name), our guide, was very knowledgeable.  He loves what he does and it shows.  All the ship captains keep in touch with each other by radio looking for whale sightings.  We saw many whales (even one breaching – wow!!), sea otters, seals, and flocks of bald eagles.  It was a perfect sunny day.  This is a must tour.

After the whale watching, we flew by helicopter landing on a glacier.  Again we booked our excursion through an independent tour operator. Our helicopter pilot took us in the opposite direction from where the cruise line’s helicopters were going so we were able to avoid the crowds.  We were fitted with boots with crampons so we could get out and walk on the ice.  The day was magnificent and the colors of the melting ice in the crevices were a vivid blue.  This was a once in a lifetime experience!

Skagway, our last port.  
The most popular shore excursion is the journey on the train to the White Pass Summit.  While this trip takes you by spectacular scenery, it didn’t go far enough into the Yukon for us.  I found a local tour operator that better filled our needs-Dyer Dave Tours.  Dave McClelland, our guide, is an archaeologist and was well versed in the local Gold Rush History.  He was a wealth of knowledge and he took us on a leisurely ride up into the Yukon to explore the spectacular scenery.  Again we were the only six in the van.  No crowds!  We went all the way to Emerald Lake (bring your passport because it is in Canada) which was the bluest green lake I’ve ever seen.  The scenery was spectacular and reminded me of a recent past trip I took through the Canadian Rockies.  

The last two days of our cruise were spent sailing through Glacier Bay and College Fjord.  We found a little known spot on the front of the ship which afforded us the very best views.  If you want, however, you can watch from your balcony.  Leave on your stateroom TV and listen to a naturalist explain about the history of the glaciers.

While trip of a life time may seem cliché that is exactly what this was!  If time allowed, I would have continued on to explore Denali Park as well.  I’m so glad that I chose to spend the extra time in Vancouver and hope to return to that incredible city again soon.

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By Ed Plog

Travel to Phoenix on Southwest Airlines was seamless.  The flights were about 75% full so there was plenty of room to stretch out.  There should not be a concern about the new advance check in policy as long as you check in 24 hrs before flight time.  You will get the seats you want.  We changed in Vegas and got in early so the lay over was a little longer than expected. 

In Scottsdale, the weather was very mild and pleasant.  Tempuratures were 70's during the day, 50's at night.  Travel day was a long day and with the change in time zones, it seems even longer.

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If you are thinking of a warm weather destination this coming winter that will offer you activities and peace and quite, I have a great suggestion.  Try the Florida Keys.
In June, we had the opportunity to fly to Florida to visit our son in Del Ray Beach.  By the way, Del Ray Beach is a fun beach destination all by itself.  I will write about it later.  The Keys were our main travel destination so after one night in Del Ray we headed south.
Our first stop was the Marathon area which was about a 2.5 hour drive.  Be aware of road construction because once on the keys, the main road is 2 lanes so construction can really slow you down.
In Marathon, we stayed at a condo community, right on the water-Coral Lagoon Marina.  The property was very low key and very well kept.  The condo was 2 stories, very large and in superior condition.  This would be a great place to stay if you are into boating.  While the property has a nice pool, there really isn't much else there.  I would recommend Tranquility Bay, a sister property, if you are looking for a more traditional beach resort community.  Both properties are high end, but we went in the off season and had a very reasonable rate.
Marathon has 3 main things to offer, diving, fishing and drinking.  You will be hard pressed to find hordes of people, places and things like in Key West.
I didn't find the restaurant offerings to be like those you'll find in a big city or in a major resort area.  The dining is casual, very reasonably priced and adequate.  Try Sparky's Landing for dinner.  They offer a great view and are located near the bridge.
If you are into diving, this is one of the top dive spots in Florida.  There is a dive park not too far off shore offering much to see in about 20 feet of water.  I am not a diver, so my son and I snorkeled for 3 hours in this park.  There are plenty of dive shops in Marathon to choose from.  We used Hall's Diving Center which we found to be excellent.
Our last full day, we drove down to Key West.  It took about an hour and was a pleasant drive through many keys where we saw beautiful scenery.
Once in Key West we walked up one side of Duval St. and down the other.  Duval St. is famous for shops, restaurants, bars, B&Bs, hotels and the Butterfly Museum (a must see).  The street was jammed with people, mostly families.  As night approached, the families slowly disappeared and young people came out to the bars (of which there are many).  Key West knows how to party.
I can't specifically recommend a place to stay, but I noticed what appeared to be 2 or 3 excellent B&Bs right on Duval St.
As for dinner, we had a very delicious dinner at Hot Tin Roof, located on the Ocean Reef Hotel property.  We dined in air conditioning on a verandah that allowed us to watch the sunset.  The food and scenery were superior.
We flew in and out of Florida on Southwest from Albany, NY and found the service good.  We used Ft. Lauderdale airport as our landing point where we rented a car.  To get to this area, it is convenient to use West Palm Beach and Miami airports also.
If you want to stay in Del Ray, there is a very unusual hotel which I really liked, called Sundy House.  It won't appeal to everyone.  Plus it is located very near the main restaurant district.  Del Ray seems to be a moderate to upscale destination.

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We're home following a great 10 day trip to Paris, a river cruise on the Seine to Normandy, and back to Paris for two days. I am starting with the end of the trip and working my way back. That is because the last of the photos are the most ready. First of all it was an incredible trip and we had the time of our lives. Next, a commercial announcement! A big thank you to Empress Travel on Upper Union St. in Schenectady, NY for making the arrangements and Uniworld, the cruise line we chose (the River Baroness gave us a lovely experience), and lastly The Good Feet Store (not kidding I would have NEVER been able to do all that wonderful walking (even hiking up a considerably big "hill" without the inserts from Good Feet Store on Wolf Road, Albany, NY.

We sailed back to Paris after a day split between Giverney and Versailles. We enjoyed the Captain's farewell dinner as guests at the Captain's Table (don't know why we were picked, didn't lobby for it, but LOVED it - my Hyacynth (PBS) moment),danced the night away and went topside at 11pm to view the Eiffel Tower (already a Katherine DeMedici's Luxembourg Garden Mansion  light show but it sparkles like a Roman candle for 5 minutes on the hour).

A motor coach tour of Paris in the morning was wonderful. Even tho' we had been on our own in Paris for three days before setting sail; and used a hop on hop off Grey Line type of double-decker bus; we were very happy we had decided to go on the tour. The local "step on" guides from Uniworld were amazing. Art, history, language majors (some Sorbonne educated)! We ended the morning with a walk through Luxembourg Gardens with our guide. It was a Saturday morning and "ever fit" Parisienne's were out in force jogging, rollerblading, practicing Tai Chi, etc. It seemed like "Dad's day with the kids." So many fathers were out teaching their kids to ride bikes and playing with their children.

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GRAND MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE PORTS

Naples -
- Beyond Pompeii, which is definitely a must-do for anyone visiting Naples, other areas around Naples are just beautiful -- Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, , Positano, and Capri, among others.
- Capri can be a full day in itself
- Or you can incorporate a day combining a Amalfi Coast tour with either Pompeii or Sorrento, Positano or all three.

Santorini -
   - scene of one of the world's most violent volcanic eruptions around 1450 B.C. and is one of the most scenically dramatic of all the Greek Islands. With its pitch-black beaches, rugged landscape and stunning caldera (volcanic crater), it's more akin to one of the Canary Islands than some of the drier more arid Greek Islands.
    -  A must see is the really sweet town of Oia - smaller and a bit less congested than Fira
    - An excursion to do an island tour would be a good idea here incorporating Oia -

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Celebrity Solstice Ship Facts Occupancy: 2,850 Tonnage: 122,000 Length: 1,033 ft Beam: 121 ft Draught: 27 ft Cruise Speed: 24 kts Inaugural Date: Nov 23, 2008 Celebrity Solstice AquaClass - For those who have entered a spa and never wanted to leave, Celebrity Solstice offers the new AquaClassSM stateroom. Sharing a deck with the AquaSpa® relaxation room, it incorporates select spa elements into the staterooms, allows for specialized access to spa amenities, and features assigned seating at the healthfully delicious Blu. This is an entirely new class and concept of accommodations for Celebrity. The layout of these cabins is identical to that of Concierge, Sunset Veranda and Deluxe Ocean View staterooms (about 192 sq feet, 53 sq foot verandah). The difference is in privileges and amenities. Located on Deck 11 near the AquaSpa, these rooms include an expanded assemblage of spa-oriented cosmetics, gels and bath amenities, upgraded linens, including a selection from the “pillow menu”, Frette robes and slippers, complimentary bottled water, a daily carafe of flavor infused iced tea, canapés, and access to an exclusive room service menu of salads, whole grains and healthy dining choices. Concierge Class Staterooms – Additional amenities such as – a full breakfast room service menu, nightly canapés, and complimentary welcome aboard Champagne. Similar to the AquaSpa cabins – Egyptian cotton oversized bath towels, Hansgrohe massaging showerhead and Frette robes. Priority check in, luggage delivery, embarkation and debarkation. Lawn Club There's absolutely nothing like it. A freshly manicured lawn on the highest deck of Celebrity Solstice. This is The Lawn Club. Enjoy casual outdoor activities in a decidedly Country Club atmosphere, and let the grass between your toes take you places no cruise has gone before. Cellar Masters Inspired by the vineyards of Napa Valley, Cellarmasters brings to life the experience of a global wine tour while you learn about and taste a large variety of wines from around the world. A welcoming and unique on board environment, you'll discover new wines, receive recommendations and enrich your knowledge of the world of wine. Grand Epernay Dining Room The magnificent and luxurious main dining room of Celebrity Solstice. With a two-story glass wine tower and dazzling chandeliers, this quintessential dining area has a decidedly Hollywood aura. Serving savory World & Continental cuisine, complete with Celebrity's famed European-style service. Celebrity Central For an evening of lively, spontaneous entertainment, the versatile Celebrity Central is the perfect destination. Catch a late night comedy show, live musical performances, or a great movie in a comfortable, casual atmosphere. Murano Restaurant Prepare to indulge in a savory multi-course meal featuring a blend of Classic and Modern continental cuisines. A superb wine list accentuates your experience. Tuscan Grille Restaurant The ultimate grill experience at sea is what you'll find at Tuscan Grille, our sophisticated steakhouse and specialty restaurant. Savor fine Italian wines and panoramic views along with your Caesar salad, made tableside. Silk Harvest Restaurant Enjoy the cuisines of Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, China and India, served family-style, with built-in lazy-Susans and small plates perfect for sharing. Blu Restaurant This specialty restaurant is the exclusive dining venue for all AquaClassSM guests, serving healthy fare in a sophisticated and soothing atmosphere. Sky Observation Lounge Don't look back, look forward and be amazed by the breathtaking views in our ultimate observation lounge. The floor to ceiling windows will captivate and the expansive space will please you as you relax in the comfy seating all around. The lounge is versatile and can be transformed to suit any occasion. Solstice is the first of a new class of five vessels to be launched through 2012. Solstice’s style blossoms from the root of its name – “sol” meaning “sun”. The sun plays an important role for the ship, nurturing the most unique feature of this ship – a full half acre of lush living grass. Called the “Lawn Club” this area features bocce courts, a putting course and the Hot Glass Show – where passengers can sit surrounded by the grass of the Lawn Club and watch a master from the Corning Museum of Glass practicing his/her art, with a second artist providing commentary. Many dining choices – Main dining room 3 specialty dinner restaurants, a restaurant reserved exclusively for passengers in Aqua Class staterooms, a crepe and panini bistro, a lido buffet with specialty stations, a poolside grill, a spa cuisine buffet and grill, and a coffee bar and gelateria. 10 restaurants total – 6 are open for breakfast, 5 for lunch and 7 for dinner.

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ms Eurodam Passenger capacity: 2,104 Crew members: 929 Gross tonnage: 86,700grt Length: 936 feet New to HAL are efforts to broaden enrichment, dining and spa options. The Eurodam has a contemporary, even trendy, onboard ambience. Launching her maiden voyage in July of 2008, the ms Eurodam marks Holland America Line's new Signature-class ships. The ms Eurodam furthers the evolution of our sophisticated mid-sized ships with 11 passenger decks, a new topside Pan-Asian restaurant and lounge surrounded by panoramic views, an Explorer's Lounge bar, a new Italian restaurant adjacent to the Lido, elegant luxury jewelry boutique, new atrium bar area, an enhanced and reconfigured show lounge and a new photographic and imaging center. On the technical side, the ms Eurodam features the latest state-of-the-art navigation and safety systems. The ship is powered by six diesel generators and propelled by the latest Azipod® propulsion technology. Guests on the ms Eurodam will be able to "show and tell" their vacation memories through the Digital Workshop powered by Windows®. Free workshops led by Microsoft-trained "techsperts" will show even the most novice camera or computer user how to take better vacation photos, make movies, edit pictures and create scrapbooks using a variety of Microsoft Windows and Windows Live services. Guests will learn how to share all their digital memories through email, blogging and social networking — so friends and family can see where they've been cruising even before they return home. Following in the Holland America Line tradition, the ms Eurodam features an exquisite art collection based on the theme, "The Dutch Golden Age — An Inexhaustible Tradition". Highlighting works by Dutch masters and contemporary artists, some of the pieces featured will include 17th-century watercolor maps by famed cartographer Johannes Vingboons, photo-realistic oil paintings by artist Jan van 't Hoff and The Nightwatch, Two Minutes Later, a contemporary reinterpretation of Rembrandt's famous painting. Guests on Holland America Line ships will be able to "show and tell" their vacation memories through the Digital Workshop powered by Windows®. Free workshops led by Microsoft-trained "techsperts" will show even the most novice camera or computer user how to take better vacation photos, make movies, edit pictures and create scrapbooks using a variety of Microsoft Windows and Windows Live services. Guests will learn how to share all their digital memories through email, blogging and social networking — so friends and family can see where they've been cruising even before they return home. The program, which is complimentary and has its own dedicated space on each ship, kicks off with a 50-minute session. Called "Just Shoot Me," the session provides tips and tricks on how to take the best pictures, and introduces passengers to onboard editing and movie-making resources available on the cruise, including Windows Live Photo Gallery and Windows Movie Maker. The "Just Shoot Me" session will be followed by jargon-free interactive sessions, also 50 minutes in length, designed for smaller groups to try out the technologies themselves in a hands-on environment. These workshops include: • On the Download — How to move images between a digital camera and a Windows-based personal computer, with basic instruction. • Put Your Best Face Forward — How to crop and color-correct digital photos and easily create panoramic pictures by stitching photos together using Windows Live Photo Gallery. • Your "Home Away From Home" Movie — How to add music, special effects and titles to your videos and publish to a DVD using Windows Movie Maker. • Show and Tell — How to create and upload photos to a personal Web page, invite friends to view the Web page and email photos using a variety of Windows Live services. • Your 15 Minutes of Fame — How to turn your vacation journal into a blog by creating a basic Web page and blog entries using Windows Live Spaces and Windows Live Writer. • A Click Ahead — How to design a photo card and a basic scrapbook, as well as how to order notepads, stickers, posters and other photo-related items from the Internet using Windows Live Photo Gallery. • The digital workshop showcases state-of-the-art technology provided and maintained by Microsoft — including Windows Vista-certified computers, servers, printers, scanners and a wireless network. The workshops will also feature flat-screen TVs for easy viewing of videos and "techspert" demonstrations. • Guests can choose to attend all or just some of the workshops, each which will be offered at various times and days throughout each cruise. Multiple workshops will be held every day. In addition, one-on-one coaching, called "Techspert Time", will also be available for over 20 hours each week. Culinary Arts Center Culinary Arts Center - An Experience to Savor The Culinary Arts Center program, presented by Food & Wine magazine, is a groundbreaking program that integrates guests' love for fine food and wine with a unique and entertaining experience. Immerse yourself in the unique traditions and tastes of the ports of call you will visit. Sample fine wines from around the world or learn to make a new gourmet dish in a hands-on cooking class taught by our own Master Chefs or culinary guests. The Culinary Arts Center also features: • An innovative theatre-style venue with a state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen • Multiple large plasma video screens so you don't miss the fine details (or you can watch the broadcast from the comfort of your own stateroom) • Cooking demonstrations and hands-on cooking classes by our own award-winning chefs and their culinary staff • Wine and cheese experts hosting special wine tastings and food pairing seminars • Special guest chefs, wine experts and leading cookbook authors who appear in the pages of Food & Wine magazine • Book signings, Q&A sessions, market tours in selected ports of call Demonstrations and Seminars from Top Chefs The Culinary Arts Center, presented by Food & Wine Magazine, provides guests on select Holland America cruises the opportunity to experience demonstrations and hands-on classes conducted by top chefs, wine experts, and leading cookbook authors from the pages of Food & Wine Magazine. Onboard all sailings, you will learn tricks-of-the-trade from top professionals, try your hand at preparing dishes and taste wines representative of the specific ports-of-call you will visit. Guests on selected cruises will also receive Food & Wine recipe cards and wine tasting notes that you may take home along with copies of the magazine. Other opportunities might include book signings, question and answer sessions, specially designed dinner menus and more. Previous guest chefs include: • Jacques Torres - Chocolatier Extraordinaire. • Max McCalman - Maître Fromager, Artisanal Premium Cheese. • Marcus Samuellson - Chef of Aquavit and Ringo, NYC. • Susan Sokol Blosser - President and wine visionary, Sokol Blosser Winery, Dundee, OR. Eurodam Highlights - Stand Out Service – largely Filipino and Indonesian crew - Classic Public Rooms like the elegant Explorers Lounge, the intimate Ocean Bar dance venue and the Explorations Café. - HAL’s Signatures of Excellence initiative – in cabin features such as upgraded bedding, fresh flowers, DVD players and bathrooms with tubs. - Two additional alternative restaurants – Tamarind – Pan Asian Cuisine and Canaletto – Italian - Retreat – open deck area that features private cabanas outfitted with comfortable loungers. - Explorations Café – HAL’s coffeehouse style, book lined gathering spot – tucked into the top of the ship Crow’s Nest.

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Emerald Princess Unique to the Emerald Princess – and the other “Crown Class” ships (Caribbean, Crown, Emerald, and the Ruby Princess) you will find the - Italian Styled piazza which includes - “Vines” – the ship’s wine bar – has the best selection of wines onboard, freshly prepared sushi. - “The International Café” – which has its own bakeshop. For breakfast there are croissants and pastries, and for lunch there are salads and quiches, all included in the cruise fare. The chocolate fondue is “a la carte” priced but delicious. The Café is also a coffee bar with lattes, espressos and more available. The three deck high piazza is where you will find “street theater” which offers stilt walkers to comedians, chef and bartender demos to a pianist singing Broadway tunes. People flock to this part of the ship day and night. Sanctuary – the top deck’s adult only outdoor spa area with cream awnings that give the appearance of a tented style shaded haven. Guests can relax on padded chaise lounges and enjoy massages in special outdoor cabanas while “serenity stewards” dispense chilled face towels, Evian water atomizers, and “healthy” drinks and light meals. This ship is perfect for sailing the Caribbean where you have more time to enjoy all the onboard activities. Dining – options are plentiful – flexibility with “anytime” dining to the more traditional dining options in the beautiful main dining rooms.. The Horizon court is the ship’s buffet venue and just beyond the Horizon court is the smaller and slightly more intimate Café Caribe. While also a buffet style venue, the adjacent Café Caribe offers terrific themed buffets for lunch and dinner (ex – Asian one day, French Provencal for dinner another night). Sabatini’s is the fleet’s Northern Italian themed restaurant based on an eatery in Florence. The dining experience comes with gorgeous views on the top deck. Passengers are served small bites of a variety of different tastes, from antipasti to the main course. Crown Grill – the Seafood/Chop house specialty restaurant is wonderful. There is an open kitchen and the seafood, including lobster is very fresh. The steak is high quality steak – this dining venue is worth the $25.00 per person surcharge. Chef’s Table – is a new concept for up to a group of 10 – you start off the night with champagne cocktail and appetizers in the working galley. Your group occupies a corner of the main galley at the height of dinnertime. You get a chance to see the chefs and waiters in action – a real behind the scenes experience. Then you are lead out to specially designated tables in a private dining area and served a multi course menu paired with wines that are selected just for the evening. The Chef’s table is $75.00 per person. Entertainment – The Emerald Princess has more entertainment options and performance venues than most ships. The Piazza serves as an impromptu performance venue with chocolate demos from the pastry chef, mime, magic tricks, to physical comedy acts. Each lounge has its own personality – Crooners, the Martini Bar is right in the heart of the action on the promenade overlooking the Piazza. Explorer’s Lounge is primarily an events venue for everything from art auctions to guest lectures. Speakeasy is the only place to smoke a cigar, The Wheelhouse Bar has a nautical character and Adagio, tucked into a light filled corner on the top Deck, is an elegant Ritz Carton-esque venue with a cabaret singer/pianist. Movies Under the Stars – is a major attraction by the Calipso Pool and features movies day and night, and special events (Super Bowl) The most unique new aspect to Princess’ program – one they’ve “quietly” rolled out – is a “Youth Security Program”. Young staffers (early 20’s) wearing right yellow polo shirts, patrol the ship, and even are waiting at embarkation, with a purpose of discouraging outrageous behavior before it has a chance to occur. They come across as “teen friendly” and are not perceived as a police force. It’s nice to have the adult only pools and areas supervised and rules enforced.

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We were very pleased with the tour of the Northern Italian Lake district, Venice and Milan we just completed, booked through Empress with Globus Travel. The scenery in the lake district, which includes views of both the Alps and the Dolomites, is breathtaking. We took boat rides on both Lakes Como and Maggiore, stopping to visit such beautiful sites as Bellagio and Isola Bella. We traveled at the foot of the Italian Alps, spent an afternoon in Switzerland and traveled through the Dolomites. Venice is magical. Wandering through the city, crossing footbridge after footbridge is amazing. I had not thought I would enjoy Milan, which is so industrialized, but the old part of the city, with its immense cathedral, galleria, and, of course, La Scala opera house, were beautiful. We believe we got very good value with Globus and would travel with them again.

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