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Unveiling a New CruiseConnections Podcast for 2008:

• Limiting podcast time to 30 minutes maximum
• Trimming Cruise News to Essentials to bring essential travel tips to you quickly. 

Feature:

• Travel Topics
• Fuel Surcharges, Home Porting, Decline of US Dollar, Adjusting travel budgets and getting the most “bang for your buck,” passport plans
• Hot Destinations
• Beijing - 2008 Olympics, Central and South America, SouthEast Asia, Eastern Europe, Domestic Travel
• Top Ports of Call
• St. Petersburg, Russia, Dubai, Galapagos Islands, Antarctica
• Customer Travel Trends
• Shorter Vacations, Internet research, Exotic Destinations - Egypt, Amazon River, Asia
• Theme Cruising
• Art, Wine, Cooking, History
• New Ships
• MSC’s Poesia and Fantasia, Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas, Holland America’s Eurodam, Carnival’s Splendor, Princess Cruise’s Ruby, Celebrity’s Solstice
• Refurbishments
• SilverSea’s unnamed vessel and Lindblad’s National Geographic Explorer
• Retirements
• Queen Elizabeth II and The Delta Queen

CRUISE CONNECTIONS FEATURE STORY:

Get tips on planning your vacation this year and using travel trends for 2008 to your advantage.

Cruise News: “Explorer” Sinks in Antarctic, Windjammer Status, Hawaii Updates, NCL’s Gem Godmother Search, Celebrity Solstice Lounges,  HAL Ships to South America, Star Flyer Crosses Panama Canal, Crystal Wine and Cheese Sommalier Program, Mexican Port Tax, Cunard’s Queen Victoria, New Princess DVD

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CRUISE NEWS YOU CAN USE:

• GAP Adventure’s “Explorer” Sinks after hitting Iceberg off Antarctica; All Aboard Rescued
• Windjammer Clipper Ships Suffering Long Demise
• Hawaiian Superferry’s Oahu-Maui Run Allowed to Begin December 1st
• Cruise Lines Cut Visits to Hawaii for 2008
• NCL’s Search for the New Godmother for the Gem Narrowed Down to Top Five
• Celebrity Announces New Lounges for Solstice Class Ships
• HAL moves Statendam, Prinsendam and Amsterdam to South America for 18 Cruises in 2009
• Star Flyer, Enroute to New Itineraries out of Tahiti, Crosses the Panama Canal
• New Certification Program Unveiled for Crystal’s Wine and Cheese Sommalier Programs
• Mexican Port Tax Goes Into Effect July 1st
• Cunard Takes Possession of Queen Victoria
• Fencing Activities on Queen Victoria Announced
• Princess Releases New 2008 “Escapes” DVD 

CRUISE CONNECTIONS FEATURE STORY:

Overview of Golf Programs on Various Cruise Lines - Who offers Golf Pros’s onboard?  Who rents clubs and shoes onboard?  Which ships have nets, simulators and “V1″ computer systems? Which ships have pro shops for golf supplies? What is the “Guilt-Free Golf” program and who offers it?  Listen in for answers to these and many more questions related to enjoying golf while on a cruise vacation.

Cruise News You Can Use:

• Norovirus on the NCL “Pride of Hawaii”
• Fuel Surcharges Imposed By Select Cruise Lines
• The Ongoing Saga of the Hawaiian SuperFerry
• “The Spirit of Nantucket” Run Aground After Hitting Underwater Object
• Rumor Mill - Will Apollo Acquire Regent Seven Seas?
• Seabourn Orders Third New Ship Built
• Cunardia - New Museum Set To Open on the Queen Victoria
• Travel Bargains Still Available Despite the Falling U.S. Dollar
• New Disney Cruise Line Video Podcast

Our Review of the Ports of Call Available In Baja Mexico and the Mexican Riviera - Sights, Shopping, “Must Do” Excursions and What to Avoid:

• Catalina
• Ensenada
• Cabo San Lucas
• La Paz
• Loreto
• Mazatlan
• Puerto Vallarta
• Manzanillo
• Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa
• Acapulco

In this edition of The Cruise Connections Podcast we have the Top Ten Cruise News items, and a special profile on cruising to Baja Mexico and the Mexican Riviera.  Uncover where cruise lines depart to visit these ports of Mexico.  What cruise lines run Mexican itineraries.  What cities will you visit?  What is the difference between Baja Mexico and the Mexican Riviera?  Find the answers to these questions and more in this weeks edition of The Cruise Connections Podcast!

• Top 10 In 10 - Top 10 Travel Related Cruise News Items in the First 10 minutes
• Report from the Bridge - Profile of Cruise Line
• Travel Tips - Expert tips from around the world
• Listener Questions
• Interviews with Cruise Professionals

Give us a call with suggestions, comments and questions at 888-388-CRUISE (2784).