August 19, 2004

TIMES TRAVELS

Wind Star embarks on final sailings in Tahiti
Space is filling up fast on Windstar Cruises’ final sailings aboard the 148-passenger msy Wind Star in Tahiti and the Marquesas this fall. The company’s flagship motor sailing yacht will redeploy to Costa Rica in January.

Seven-day voyages are available on Sept. 3 and 10; Nov. 19 and 26; and Dec. 10. A 14-day voyage deep into the South Pacific to the remote and fascinating Marquesas Islands will depart on Sept. 17. The final two Tahiti sailings of the year are holiday cruises departing from Papeete on Dec. 17 (for 11 days) and Dec. 28 (for 10 days). 

“Anyone who has been dreaming of a luxurious and romantic vacation in the beautiful Society Islands should take advantage of our last few sailings offered at Sail and Save rates,” says Tom Russell, vice president of marketing and sales for Windstar Cruises. “Every day is a new adventure as the ship slips into some of the most striking harbors in the world, with a full range of recreational and comfort amenities on board and a staff that looks after every need.” For more information and reservations, call the Travel Desk in Almaden at (408) 723-0283, or visit their Web site at www.traveldeskonline.com.

Camp Carnival activities expanded to include Youth Spa Program
From a family reading club to a recreational fitness program and even youth spa treatments, a host of new activities have been added to Carnival Cruise Lines’ children’s program, Camp Carnival.

The new activities complement the wide variety of family-friendly amenities available on Carnival’s 20 cruise ships,” which are expected to host a record 450,000 kids this year.

“Camp Carnival is already number one in the cruise industry and we’ve made this popular kids program even better, with more fun-filled activities and hands-on projects than ever before,” said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president and CEO. “Children have their own unique vacation expectations and these new activities, combined with a huge diversity of family-friendly amenities, should further bolster our position as the leader in family cruising,” he added.

Included among the new activities is a youth spa program, recently introduced on Carnival Miracle, which allows kids ages 12-14 and their parents to experience body and beauty treatments together on port days at discounted rates in the ship’s Spa Carnival health and fitness center. Packages, which are available in mother/daughter and father/son combinations, include hair and nail treatments, health evaluations, and foot and scalp massages.

Following the trial run on Carnival Miracle, the program is expected to be expanded fleet wide by the end of the summer. For more information and reservations, call the Travel Desk in Almaden at (408) 723-0283, or visit their Web site at www.traveldeskonline.com.

— By Sean Eastwood