In this issue

• Kids Just Wanna Have Fun
• South America is the New Alaska
• Group Getaways
• Healthy Cruise
• Earth Day

Also this month

Eco-travel and top eco-tourist hotspots.

And when they have fun, you have fun. Happy family cruises are wonderful because they allow kids and parents to have fun in their own way. As one of the fastest growing segment of cruise travel, family cruising is a great way to gather the family to spend more time with each other, and apart while having a great time. There’s a variety of great programs that offer trust-worthy childcare for toddlers, a vast selection of children’s program and teen-oriented activities and places where they can hang out and meet new friends their own age. Even luxury lines now offer programs for the young. Plus, cruising is an affordable way to bring the entire family together. There are great family reunion packages available with games and trivia- from grandparents to grand kids- its fun for all!

To plan a cruise that your whole family can enjoy, use the following highlights to find the perfect one for you and your family.

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Why keep up with the “Jones” when you can be the Jones in travel! Sure the current trend is to cruise to Alaska. Be ahead of the cruise trend and visit the next hottest destination- South America.

While the Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska and Europe are still great destinations to visit, travelers wants to see more of the world. South America is a cruise revelation and many cruise lines are taking note. For travelers in search of natural beauty, lush rainforests, waterfalls, snowcapped mountains, fjords or penguin colonies, indigenous historic people and culture, South America has become one of the many places to see before you die.

The huge continent covers thousands of miles and extends from the equatorial tropics to the sub-Antarctica. In fact, the weather variations run from steamy in the equatorial Amazon to the brisk in Cape Horn. Because South America is in the southern hemisphere, its seasons are opposite of the northern hemisphere. As a result, cruise ships sail from November to May. Climates can change quickly. The further south you go, and farther from the equator, the less summer you’ll experience.

Heading north you’ll run into Peru’s lost Inca Empire and uncover the secrets of Machu Picchu. Up next is the sultry city of Rio de Janeiro followed by the vast tropical rainforest of the Amazon.

Head south and dance to the beautiful sounds of the capital city, Buenos Aires and explore the cascading Iguazu Falls in the jungles of Argentina. See the beautiful old-world architecture of Montevideo, Uruguay. The climates drops further as you are in the wild with snow-peaked mountains and fjords. You’ll run into colonies of sea lions and penguins as well as killer whales.

There are many cruise lines who offer a wide selection of itineraries from 7 to 15 days, even some that last 50 days. Because South America is so vast and undeveloped, cruise ships offer a quick in to areas where very few hotels and public transportation exist. South America holds a lot of interest with so much to do and see. It’s not just cruising, it’s adventure cruising.

The adventure continues on land with shore excursions provided by the cruise lines. Find one that’s right for you.

Buenos Aires, Argentina- Don’t miss Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Bouenos Aires (MALBA)- home to the private art collection of art collector Eduardo Cosantini. It features one of the most extensive collections of Latin American art in the world.

Cape Horn, Chile- View the natural sea walls and cliffs jutting almost 1,400 feet from the sea. You’ll also find an abundance of sea birds, penguins, and seals. Don’t be surprise it you spot a killer whale or two.

Montevideo, Urguguay- Pay your respects at the tomb of Uruguay’s greatest hero Jose Artigas, pay a visit to the Barrio Sur. This neighborhood’s predominantly African community offers unique cultural events not found anywhere else in Montevideo.

What to pack:
Sports clothes and resort wear
Swimsuit
Comfortable walking shoes
Hat and sunscreen
Sweater or jackets

Visit South America
Valparaiso to Rio de Janiero onboard the Star Princess Oceanview from $1,915 | Balcony from $2,515 14-nights departing December, 8, 2008
Buenos Aires to Valparaiso onboard the Celebrity Infinity Oceanview from $1,589 | Balcony from $2,169 14-nights departing January 4, 2009
Valparaiso to Buenos Aires onboard the Norwegian Sun Oceanview from $1,647 | Balcony from $2,267 14-nights departing January 18, 2009
Sao Paulo to Sao Paulo onboard the Splendour of the Seas Oceanview from $929 | Balcony from $1,329 14-nights departing January 25, 2009

Prices are in U.S. dollars per person, cruise only, based on double occupancy and reflect the best available rates at time of printing. Government taxes, fuel surcharges and fees are additional. Prices vary by ship and date, are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Cruise Planners is merely a selling agent for the cruise lines and makes no warranty expressed or implied.

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Want to get away from it all and cruise for free? Want to get all your friends or family together in one place at the same time? Ever thought of doing both? (Yes, both!) Well, you can. Just get all of your favorite people aboard for a cruise vacation and you could very well sail for free.

Become a group leader. Be the one who helped make your Aunt Millie’s dream vacation come true, sister Susie’s wedding a reality and brother Bob’s golf fantasy in Bermuda a done-deal. And you did it all by calling your Cruise Planners Specialist and booking a group cruise.

It sounds nice, doesn’t it? Well, it is! And all it takes is a phone call, a little organization and not being shy about sharing the details. Maybe you belong to a quilt club or you like to do yoga—there’s a cruise opportunity for you and your group to set sail to a sunny locale and spend time enjoying and doing what you are already interested in. You can learn a new pattern and sew aboard the ship during your days at sea. Cruise lines can accommodate the space and, in some cases, the machinery you need. Yoga classes together with wellness meals and maybe a day at the onboard spa can be provided for your group, too.

Maybe you want to renew your vows. Saying “I do” all over again can be twice as sweet if you are on a cruise. Your guests can come along and now your special day can double as a vacation for all. Plus, you can do it all for a fraction of what you would spend on land.

Celebrate an anniversary, a promotion, a birthday. Go on, get a group together and start planning one now. Call your Cruise Planners Specialist for more details.

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Going on a cruise doesn’t mean you have to go on a diet when you return. You can eat sensibly and healthfully your entire trip. Plus, almost every ship has workout facilities and most have saunas to help if you do over do it.

And some of the higher end cruise lines have star chefs that plan menus, particularly with the small, upscale ships, where quality control can be achieved. Crystal Cruises has teamed with famed Chef Nobu.

Renowned Chef Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa opened new restaurants on the Crystal Serenity—Silk Road and The Sushi Bar. Both feature high quality ingredients and the freshest fish and seafood—which are a healthier way to eat as there is no need for preservatives and food enhancers to wake up frozen meats and other fare. Combined with smaller-served portions and there’s no reason to go to the buffet where you’ll likely over indulge.

Other cruise lines have similar partnerships: Carnival Cruise Lines has Georges Blanc and Cunard Line with Todd English.

But, if you find you did take a plate too many. No worries, there is a work out room or sauna with your name on it. And these days, elaborate spas are the newest addition to cruise ships. The Costa Concordia and Serena offer the largest spa at sea—Samsara Spa. And not to be outdone, Carnival's Cloud9 Spa offers some exotic treatments aboard the new Splendor.

Plus, almost every cruise line offers yoga, swimming, tons of state-of-the-art equipment, running tracks and some unique offerings, like the rock-climbing wall of a Royal Caribbean ship and the bowling alley aboard a Norwegian Cruise Line ship that will surely get your heart rate up.

Take full advantage of these “exercise buffets” and you can definitely be in ship-shape while you cruise.

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