SAIL AWAY

By Russ Pate

Photography by Dave G. Houser, Susan Kaye, Jan Butchofsky-Houser

Several time-tested methods exist for coping with the falling temperatures that herald the onset of winter and the arrival of snow and ice. Ordering extra cords of wood, for example, to keep a roaring fire in the den or sitting room. Developing a taste for brandy. Or donning long johns underneath everyday attire.

Arguably a better method for counteracting the effects of cold weather, however, is to escape to the warmth of the Seven Seas. Throughout winter months, luxury cruise liners negotiate sun-splashed waters, stopping at a plethora of exotic ports of call. Moreover, a certain satisfaction accompanies the sensation of shuffling around in shorts, sandals, and swimwear, knowing folks back home are bundled up in coats, mufflers, and mittens.

Whether one’s taste for oceanic travel gravitates toward small, exclusive ships of the Silversea, Seabourn, and Windstar lines, mid-size luxury liners like Radisson Seven Seas and Crystal Cruises, or even megaships operated by Princess, Royal Caribbean, and Disney, to name but a few, the cruise industry offers a comprehensive range of alternatives pertaining to ships, accommodations, onboard activities, onshore excursions, air/sea fares with potential upgrades, and pre- and post-cruise hotel packages.

Simply put, there’s something for everyone who goes to sea.

Cruise amenities encompass privacy afforded by balconies, valet services performed by tuxedoed butlers, onboard enrichment programs conducted by university lecturers or celebrity guest speakers, five-star cuisine offered at all hours of day and night, as well as salons that put the purr in pampering. Small wonder that cruises have been described — not inaccurately — as floating resorts.

Contact a travel professional for more particulars about any of these 11 exceptional winter cruises. And it’s not too soon to begin making plans for spring and summer.
 

CRYSTAL’S CRYSTAL HARMONY
For vacationers who prefer being at sea to being in port, the Crystal Harmony leaves Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 29 for a 17-day voyage down the Atlantic side of South America. The itinerary calls for stops in only five ports, including St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, which leaves ample time for lazing around on the sundeck or curling up with a good book. Prices (per person, double occupancy) range from $5,205 to $23,970. Highlighting the agenda is a 48-hour layover (or hangover) in Rio de Janeiro during the famed "Carnival" celebration, where dancing till dawn is de rigueur. For more information, visit www.crystalcruises.com.

CRYSTAL’S CRYSTAL SYMPHONY
Blurry-eyed from watching all those New Year’s college football bowl games and the supposed national championship? Clear vision and smooth sailing await aboard the 980-passenger Crystal Symphony, which leaves San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Jan. 4 for a 13-day cruise to Los Angeles with stops at Aruba and Acapulco, as well as a Panama Canal passage. Prices range from $2,995 to $15,790 for a penthouse. The cruise is one of Crystal’s "Value Collection," meaning fares are significantly reduced. The voyage also serves as a prelude to Crystal Symphony’s 100-day world cruise, which departs Los Angeles on Jan. 17 and stops at 33 ports in 20 countries. For more information, visit www.crystalcruises.com.

RADISSON SEVEN SEAS’ MARINER
Celebrate New Year’s Eve aboard the Seven Seas Mariner, which departs Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 27 for a 13-day excursion culminating in Callao, Peru. In between are stops at the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, and Ecuador, as well as a jaunt through the Panama Canal. The Mariner, which carries 700 passengers, made its debut in 2001 billed as the cruise industry’s first "all suite, all balcony" liner. Per-person prices (double occupancy) range from $3,971 to $19,071 for a master suite, based on a 50-percent savings for each second occupant. The voyage is the first of four legs of a 55-day "Grand Circle" of South America, in which the Mariner will work its way down the Pacific side and back up the Atlantic side. Segments of the circle can be booked in various combinations. For more information, visit www.rssc.com.

RADISSON SEVEN SEAS’ PAUL GAUGUIN
Discover the beauty of Tahiti aboard a 320-passenger vessel named for the passionate French painter who fled to Polynesia and immortalized the South Pacific with his canvas, brush, and woodcuts. Paul Gauguin sails from Papeete on Saturdays and stops at Bora Bora as it leisurely breezes around the Society Islands. The vessel features its own retractable water sports platform and a scuba program that accommodates divers of all experience levels. Prices range from $2,795 to $10,095 for an owner’s suite with verandah. For more information, visit www.rssc.com.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN’S VOYAGER OF THE SEAS
While many cruise regulars prefer the intimacy of smaller vessels, others are drawn to larger crafts. And Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas (along with its sister ship, Explorer of the Seas) represents the epitome of a megaship. It carries more than 3,000 passengers and would make the Titanic seem more like the S.S. Minnow. Voyager of the Seas operates year-round seven-day cruises out of Miami, with departures on Sunday. Because of its size, Voyager docks only at deep-harbor ports in the Caribbean like Labadee, Ocho Rios, George Town (Cayman Islands), and Cozumel. Prices (per person, based on double occupancy) range from $1,099 to $8,949 for a royal suite. Guests will find on board an ice rink, climbing wall, in-line skating track, golf simulator, and all-purpose sports court. The ship’s three-level La Boehme dining room is the talk of the industry, and the dazzling Royal Promenade makes many passengers believe they’re still on terra firma. For more information, visit www.royalcaribbean.com.

SEABOURN’S SEABOURN SPIRIT
Here’s a sweetheart of an opportunity for celebrating Valentine’s Day with that special someone. The 208-passenger Seabourn Spirit sails from Hong Kong on Feb. 14 with a cross-cultural itinerary that includes stops in Vietnam (Hongai, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City) and Bangkok, Thailand, before arriving in Singapore. Prices range from $8,499 to $24,249 for an owner’s suite. For more information, visit www.seabourn.com.

SEABOURN’S SEABOURN SUN
One way to take winter cold out of the equation altogether is to book passage on the Seabourn Sun’s 102-day world cruise. The 758-passenger Sun leaves San Francisco on Jan. 9 and arrives in Fort Lauderdale on April 22, after working its way Down Under to Australia and then back up through the South China Sea, Indian Ocean, Suez Canal, Mediterranean Sea and, finally, the Atlantic Ocean. Prices range from $38,345 to $202,200 for an owner’s suite. The world cruise will be the swan song for Seabourn Sun, which is being transferred to the Holland America line. To celebrate the occasion, many of the Sun’s former captains and cruise directors will be on board, as will seasoned Seabourn guests. For those wanting to keep winter at bay and looking to take a sentimental journey at sea — a warm journey, at that — this is it. For more information, visit www.seabourn.com.

SILVERSEA’S SILVER WHISPER
Vacationers can take to the sea and still be home for Christmas aboard Silversea’s newest vessel, Silver Whisper. The 382-passenger, all-suite ship embarks on Dec. 10 from San Jose, Costa Rica, for a 12-day "Pacific Adventurer" voyage highlighted by optional tours of the Galápagos Islands and excursions to Cuzco and Machu Picchu. The cruise ends in Valparaiso, Chile, on Dec. 22, allowing time to make air connections and be home unwrapping packages under the tree. Cruise prices (per person, double occupancy) range from $8,645 to $20,145 for a grand suite. For more information, visit www.silversea.com.

TAUCK WORLD DISCOVERY’S CHRISTINA O
After a $50 million restoration, this historic and opulent 325-foot megayacht once owned by Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis (who named it for his daughter, you’ll recall) is back on the bounding main. Christina O offers 18 immaculate staterooms and carries 36 passengers — though it’s not mandatory that all of them be world leaders (John F. Kennedy first met Sir Winston Churchill aboard her) or known worldwide by one name — Jackie, Ari, Frank, Ava, Marilyn, Liz, Dick, and so on. Private charters in the Caribbean are available during winter months at about $70,000 a day through Titan Brokerage Corp. in Greece (phone: 011.30.1.428.0889). Beginning in spring 2002, Christina O will sail in the Mediterranean; prices (roughly $17,500 per couple or $8,750 per person). For more information, visit www.tauck.com.

UNITED STATES LINES’ PATRIOT
Billed as a fun "family" cruise, the Patriot negotiates Pacific waters during seven nights of island-hopping around America’s 50th state. The Patriot departs Honolulu (Oahu) on Saturday and leisurely works its way around Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island (Hawaii). Activities supervised by youth counselors are geared toward entertaining two groups of minors — kids and teens — freeing up parents to take in island treasures ranging from lush rain forests to active volcanoes. Tee times on some of Hawaii’s best golf courses can be arranged, while opportunities for water sports are endless and whale-watching is a must. Prices range from $1,699 to $4,099 for a presidential suite. Inquire about special prices for children. For more information, visit www.unitedstateslines.com.

WINDSTAR’S WIND SONG
Sailing a relatively new itinerary around New Zealand, Wind Song offers 10-day cruises between Auckland and Christchurch, beginning Jan. 12. The Wind Song carries 148 passengers aboard its four-masted vessel, which although classified as a motor-sailed yacht (MSY) more familiarly resembles one of those 18th century tall ships celebrated in adventure movies and sailing lore. Windstar cruises are known for their casual elegance, meaning that, for men, jackets are optional and tuxedos unheard of. Prices (double occupancy) range from $4,522 to $5,899 for an owner’s suite. Beginning in April, Wind Song will offer seven-day cruises on the same route. Three-day pre-cruise or post-cruise excursions to Milford Sound, one of New Zealand’s most spectacular destinations, are available. For more information, visit www.windstarcruises.com.

Free-lance writer Russ Pate, a veteran seagoer, wrote about Alaskan cruises in the May/June issue of Private Clubs.