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OFFERED BY DESIGNACRUISE.COM OF CRUISE PLANNERS
FIRST EUROPEAN CRUISES ARTFUL 2004 VOYAGES FOCUS ON CREATIVE ITINERARIES IN EUROPE AND THE WEST INDIES
NEW YORK, November 26, 2003 – Unusual, port-intensive itineraries rendered with gracious European hospitality and offered at affordable prices are hallmarks of First European Cruises 2004 program, outlined in its new ‘European Cruise Masters' catalog. The line's four sparkling ships – European Stars, European Vision, Mistral and Azur – sail to intriguing ports in the West Indies, transatlantic, North Africa and the Canary Islands, western and eastern Mediterranean, the Baltic Sea and Norwegian Fjords.
New for the 2004 brochure are informative descriptions of a full complement of theme cruises, details on the deluxe Hilton Floating Resorts program, plus summaries and prices for both special amenity and shore excursion packages which may be either pre-booked or purchased onboard.
Amenity packages feature options such as sports and spa packages, in-cabin flower and fruit, children's beverage plan, wine packages and special celebrations for birthdays, anniversaries and honeymoons.
Theme cruises for 2004 include: Well-being (fall transatlantic); Hobby (spring transatlantic); Creole Festival Jazz (winter Caribbean); Gastronomic (fall western Mediterranean); First Club – past passengers (winter Caribbean and fall Canary Islands); Art and Culture (spring and fall north and south Europe); Singles (fall Greek Island), and Christmas/New Year's Holiday sailings aboard all four ships in December.
"Pricing for 2004 is set at affordable levels" Said Sharon R. Viotto of Cruise Planners. Its popular ‘First Rates' program offers discounts of 15% off published fares when booked 120 days in advance.
"We are very mindful this year of operating in a price sensitive environment," said Makis Xenatos, CTC and CEO for First European Cruises. "So we have introduced a number of ways our passengers may benefit from the all-inclusive nature of a cruise vacation. Our guest are able to manage their expenses by pre-booking onboard amenities and shore excursions, so that they may budget upfront for the trip, and feel relaxed about their spending. Our air-sea add-ons and pre-and post-cruise land packages are other tools for managing costs at no sacrifice to pleasure.
"Plus we've added value with our theme cruises that offer entertaining opportunities to explore special interests at no extra cost. The Hilton Floating Resorts option provides a luxurious extra level of pampering and privilege, appealing to passengers looking for a well-deserved splurge," he added.
Families are welcome aboard First European's ships, which offer a fun, cultural experience of mixing diverse European nationalities with Americans, who comprise about 15% of the overall guest list. Children 3 to 12 may participate in supervised Dolphin Club programs, and significant savings are available for children 2 to 17 sharing a cabin with adults. Children's menus and teen centers are also available.
The line's European spirit is reflected in all aspects, from the outstanding food and service which is up to the highest standards of a demanding international clientele, to the multi-lingual staff (all of whom speak English) and charming cabaret-style entertainment.
First European Cruises charts its own course and is unique in its offering of an extensive program of winter cruises in European waters.
The line's smallest ship, the 720-passenger Azur sails year-round from Venice on 10-night cruises exploring the birthplaces of history in Greece, Egypt, Cyprus and Turkey.
The 1,200-passenger Mistral sails roundtrip from Genoa on 10-day voyages to Italy, Greece Egypt and France during winter, early spring and late fall. The 1,500-passenger European Stars explores Spain, Morocco and France on 10-night cruises from Genoa in January and February, and during winter, early spring and late fall sails to Spain, the Canary Islands, Portugal, Morocco and France on 10-night trips from Genoa.
First European also enjoys a presence in the West Indies during the winter. The 1,500-passenger European Vision sails every Sunday from Santo Domingo from December to April on alternating itineraries that may be combined for two week holidays. One program visits Aruba, Isla Margarita, Grenada, Guadeloupe and St. Maarten, while the other calls at St. Lucia, Barbados, Antigua, Guadeloupe and Tortola.
The European Vision also makes relaxing transatlantic crossings in the spring and fall from Santo Domingo to Genoa, and the reverse.
During spring, summer and fall, the line focuses exclusively on European waters. European Stars explores the western Mediterranean on weekly departures from Barcelona to France, Italy, Tunisia and Spain; European Vision sails every week from Venice to mainland Greece and the Greek Islands; and Mistral departs from Kiel (Germany), alternating itineraries to the Norwegian Fjords, Oslo and Copenhagen, and to the Baltic Capitals of Visby, Stockholm, Tallinn, St. Petersburg and Copenhagen.
Mistral cruises may also be combined for two-week discoveries of Northern Europe.
First European Cruises is a member of the Cruise Lines International Association and books exclusively through travel agents and selected tour operators. The company is the North American marketing arm of Europe's Festival Group. Sharon R. Viotto of Cruise Planners in Rockville Centre, New York operates one of the selected travel agencies offering all of the Cruise Line's theme and standard itineraries.
Additional information and free copies of the 2004 European Cruise Masters catalog are available by contacting Sharon R.Viotto of Cruise Planners, 265 Sunrise Hwy., Suite 1-321, Rockville Centre, NY 11570. Telephone: 888-799-SHIP (7447) or 516-867-7215, or via Internet at:www.designacruise.com
This article courtesy of http://www.cruiseandrelax.com/.
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