Christine McCabe of Harbor Light Cruises has been a CruiseCompete member-agent for more than three years. Her daughter was recently diagnosed with Intracranial Hypertension (IH), a serious neurological disorder that causes excruciating headaches and blindness. There is no known cure.

Please join Chris on a special 7-day Eastern Caribbean Cruise on the new MSC Orchestra to help raise funds and awareness to help fund the IH Research Foundation (www.ihrfoundation.org).

This is a theme cruise featuring past stars of Major League Baseball. Great rates are available, and kids cruise free! For more information, please contact her by phone at 732-477-3385 or e-mail at chris@harborlightcruises.com.

Ruby Princess to Set Sail Earlier than Expected

Princess Cruises just announced the line’s newest ship, the Ruby Princess, is being delivered earlier than previously expected. Her inaugural voyage will now embark on November 8, for a seven-day Western Caribbean sailing, taking passengers to Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Princess Cays. If they wish, passengers who booked a trip on the Ruby Princess’ previously scheduled inaugural cruise will have the opportunity to change their cruise to the new inaugural voyage date. Duplicate bookings have been made for all passengers, guaranteeing the same cabin on the new voyage.

Regent Entertainment Now Includes Ballroom Dancers, Industry’s Largest Live Orchestras

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has completed a multi-million dollar entertainment upgrade aboard three of its ships, including professional ballroom dance teams, exciting new productions and the largest live orchestra aboard any luxury cruise line. Capitalizing on the current ballroom dancing craze, several shows feature Regent dancers performing original choreography that showcases Latin, swing, waltz and other dance styles. The dancers offer complimentary lessons for guests on days at sea. The new shows include cabaret revues and five feature productions, including the musical “Breaking Up is Hard to Do” and “Romance Romance”. The nine-piece Regent Signature Orchestra lends concert-quality support to the shows aboard the Seven Seas Mariner, Voyager and Navigator cruise ships.

Crystal Wine and Food Festival Cruise Features European Flair

Crystal Cruises guests will savor 14 special culinary excursions during the Crystal Serenity’s Wine and Food Festival cruise this summer, from July 31 to August 12. The voyage includes a delicious tour of coastal France, Italy, Spain, Greece and Croatia – a region known for its bountiful delicacies. Travelers will immerse themselves in the rich flavors and the culinary heritage specific to each region.

Shore tours include wine tasting in four countries and multi-course meals in spectacular settings such as the Isle of Capri and Dubrovnik’s ancient sea port. New excursions include:

  • The underground Cordorniu Cava Cellars and a visit to Montserrat and its famous Benedictine monastery;
  • The Tuscan village of Monte Carlo to taste local wines, cheeses and extra-virgin olive oils;
  • A cooking class at a scenic country farm, where guests learn to prepare traditional Roman dishes including fresh fettuccini;
  • A farmhouse visit to see how mozzarella and limoncello are made, plus lunch at a deluxe Relais hotel.
  • Immersion into the cultivation of Croatia’s world-famous Stone oysters, including sampling;
  • Sampling of Umbrian wines in Orvieto’s regional wine house in the underground passages of a former convent; and,
  • Preparation and sampling of Italian cuisine during a hands-on cooking lesson in Florence.

Onboard highlights include cooking demonstrations and a chef’s dinner by world-renowned Italian chef Gualtiero Marchesi, the first chef in Italy to be awarded three coveted Michelin Stars. Master Sommelier Robert Bath and wine educator Philip di Belardino also will be aboard for wine tasting and educational sessions.