Crystal Cruises Takes Guests to Downton Abbey

Are you obsessed with Downton Abbey, the British drama about an Earl, his family, their house servants, their lives, life challenges and loves during the early 1900s?  Do you close your eyes and picture yourself moseying through the lavish Edwardian mansion and park nestled in the lush North Yorkshire landscape?  If you answered yes, then you need to know about a very special land program presented by Crystal Cruises.

On July 8^th 2015, the Crystal Symphony will set sail from Reykjavik, Iceland, on an 18-night North Cape and Arctic Circle voyage, which concludes in Dover, England. Offered as a post cruise land package, guests will have the chance to enjoy a two- night “English Countryside & Highclere Castle” that takes guests to the sites and set of this popular PBS television series!

Guests begin their tour with a visit to Berkshire’s Basildon Park, which is used as the Grantham family’s London house. There is a stop at the Swan Inn, the infamous spot where Lady Sybil and Branson the chauffer elope, and a lovely lunch with period-costumed hosts at Byfleet Manor, known as the Dowager Countess’ home.

There will be plenty for guests to see and do in Bampton, a village filled with locations that double as the Crawleys’ home, the hospital and the church where Lady Edith was jilted at the altar.  At night, tour participants will stay in an authentic English manor house, aka the Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire, boasting luxurious amenities amid its age-old setting.

The highlight of the tour is the visit to Highclere Castle in Hampshire, arriving just like visitors on the show, in vintage 1920’s chauffeur-driven automobiles! There, Crystal passengers will be the guests of honor at a private champagne reception and tour of the estate, including numerous rooms made famous on the series, such as the library and drawing room.

This two- night “English Countryside & Highclere Castle” is exclusive to Crystal cruisers. There is no other way for Downton fans to step back in time for a taste of how life might have been in England if they lived alongside the Grantham family."

Riding the Alaska Railroad with Celebrity Cruises

A Celebrity cruise to Alaska offers travelers a glimpse of our beautiful 49th state and its stunning landscape. However, many amazing vistas are well inland and impossible to reach without a pre or post land tour. When you incorporate a Celebrity cruise tour that includes a ride on the Alaska Railroad, the trip becomes a once in a lifetime experience! The Alaska railroad portion of Celebrity’s cruise tours utilize the 350 miles of track between Fairbanks and Anchorage, which may include stops at Talkeetna and Denali National Park, depending on the tour selected (and there are many to choose from that vary in length and price).

What is it about the lore and romance of a train ride? Many travelers have said that riding the rails was the highlight of their Alaska cruise tour! Onboard rail guides provide expert commentary calling attention to worthy landmarks along the way, pointing out wildlife, and entertaining passengers with history and folklore.  The scenery is picture perfect; mountains, glaciers, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls. At one point the train passes within 46 miles of the summit of Mt. McKinley. Between Talkeetna and Denali National Park the train crosses over Hurricane Gulch on a bridge that is 914 feet long and 296 feet above the creek below! Yikes! Another incredible view is between Denali and Fairbanks where the train snakes through the Nenana River canyon gorge. Then there’s the wildlife! Osprey, eagles, moose, Dall sheep, mountain goats, beavers and bears have all been spotted as the train chugs along.

The Wilderness Express cars that are used by Celebrity Cruise Line (as well as Royal Caribbean) are usually the last two cars of the Alaska railroad. The cars have a full-length curved glass dome that provides spectacular 360-degree views. The forward facing leather seats in the upper dome recline and have fold down trays. On the lower level there is a dining room that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner for an additional cost. Some of their specialties are Alaskan halibut and reindeer chili! A full service bar is available. On  this level there is also a small outdoor viewing platform which is a great spot to take pictures.

Are you ready to experience the Alaska Railroad for yourself?  Book a Celebrity cruise tour on a 2015 Alaska cruise in an ocean view or above today, and receive  $200 onboard credit!  In addition, this offer is combinable with the Celebrity Pick Your Perk promotion (choice of free beverage package, free gratuities for 2, or additional onboard credit) for an even better value!  Both of these promotions are available for a limited time only,so don’t delay!

Alaska Cruise Webinar hosted by Celebrity Cruises

The entire team at Direct Line Cruises is thrilled to partner with Celebrity Cruises to talk about one of our favorite cruise destinations; Alaska.  That's right, on October 15th, we will be conducting two online webinar sessions focusing on Celebrity Alaska cruise vacations.  You may choose between the 11 AM EST or 7 PM EST sessions.  But, just make sure you attend at least one because we will be discussing all 2015 Celebrity Alaska cruise itineraries, cruise tours and many other Alaska insider tips.

Oh, and did I forget to mention FREE prizes and cruise savings?  All listeners of our Alaska webinar on 10/15/14 will be eligible to receive EXCLUSIVE savings off their future Alaska cruise reservation with Direct Line Cruises.  In addition, a few lucky listeners will be randomly selected to win some incredible prizes.  All you have to do is register and listen.  It's that simple!

So, what are you waiting for?  CLICK HERE and register today for this educational and fun Alaska Cruise Webinar."

"We Will Rock You" on the Anthem of the Seas

We Will Rock You, a show based on the songs of the British rock group Queen, will be the musical aboard Royal Caribbean’s new Anthem of the Seas. The show was a huge hit in London, where it played to sell-out crowds for 12 years, and is now in its first national U.S. tour.

The musical showcases Queen’s biggest hits and it hard not to sing along to “Another One Bites the Dust”, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”, “We Are the Champions”, “We Will Rock You” and my favorite, “Bohemian Rhapsody”.

A live Queen concert exuded a theatrical atmosphere with outrageous special effects and costumes.  “We Will Rock You” delivers the same experience! It will definitely be something to look forward to on the Anthem of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas, the second ship in the Quantum family, will debut in the spring of 2015. She will arrive and begin sailing from Cape Liberty, New Jersey that fall.

Celebrity Cruise Line “Signature Event Sailings”

Every year all around the world there are extraordinary events and festivals that are renowned for their exclusive ambience and memorable status.  Don’t you wonder what it takes to get hold of a ticket or to get your name on the VIP list for one of these iconic gatherings?  The answer is as simple as booking a Celebrity Cruise Line “Signature Event Sailing”.

The Celebrity “Signature Event” sailings for 2015 through 2016 include:

*Anzac Day, the 100th Anniversary Commemoration in Turkey:  12-night Turkey and Greece cruise departing on April 22, 2015, on Celebrity Constellation. 

*Cannes Film Festival: 10-night Mediterranean cruise, departing on May 11, 2015, from Barcelona on Celebrity Equinox.

*Redentore Festival in Venice: 14-night Turkey and Black Sea cruise, departing on July 5, 2015, from Istanbul, visiting Venice during the historic Redentore Festival on Celebrity Constellation.

*The British Open in Edinburgh: 12-night British Isle cruise departing on July 15, 2015, from Amsterdam on Celebrity Silhouette .

*Carnival in Rio de Janeiro: Celebrity Infinity sets off on a 14-night South America and Rio Carnival cruise, departing on January 31, 2016, from Buenos Aires.

*Chinese New Year in Hong Kong:  14-night Chinese New Year cruise, departing on January 31, 2016 aboard Celebrity Millennium.

The program includes onboard experiences that compliment the particular Celebrity “Signature Event” such as special guest speakers, unique shows, and other activities.  This is a unique opportunity for cruisers to explore a particular destination and its culture in an exclusive way.

Taking a closer look at one such expedition, what movie aficionado wouldn’t delight in a trip to the Cannes Film Festival? Well, the 10-night Mediterranean cruise, departing on May 11, 2015, from Barcelona, Spain on the Celebrity Equinox coincides with that festival! Passengers can be part of the glamour and sophistication of the largest international showcase of cinematic art by attending an exclusive VIP rooftop celebration ashore with live French music, cocktails and a can't-miss view of the locale's picturesque harbor. Onboard, Celebrity will host a film festival of their own celebrating past Cannes Film Festival winners.

Planning a cruise around a world famous event can make exploring a foreign country even more fun and exciting. Celebrity’s “Signature Event” Sailings provides guests with inside access into the most desirable events across the globe while immersing them in each culture-rich destination."