 |
| |
All Cruise Newsletters
CruiseCompete Currents
Cruise News and Information
April 2, 2007
If you're flying, don't wait to get that passsport.
While U.S. cruisers won't need passports until 2008 at the earliest, if
you're flying home from another country you need one now. If you still
haven't applied, there's no time to waste, for the Department of State
says a record number of requests have already caused a major slowdown in
processing the documents. The typical six-week waiting period is now
extended up to ten weeks. Even those using the two-week expedited program
are waiting up to four weeks. To check the status of a passport
application online, cruisers should visit http://travel.state.gov, or call
the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778.
Baltic Cruisers Get a Bang out of Russian Firearms
For the seasoned cruiser (and military and weapons buffs) who have
supposedly seen everything, how about a special shore visit to a St.
Petersbug, Russia military museum and shooting range? Baltic cruisers
take a short drive from the ship pier in St. Petersburg to a special
shooting range, where they can try their hand at a selection of Russian
firearms, including the famous Kalashnikov rifle. An instructor teaches
guests the basics about the different Russian weapons and how to handle
them. Ear protection is provided. Cruisers can keep their target and
spent shell casings as souvenirs, and everyone should bring their camera.
Later, guests visit St. Petersburg's famous Artillery, Engineers and
Signals museum. The building itself is imposing and it contains exhibits
from the 12th through 20th centuries. The museum's courtyard features an
extensive collection of Soviet weaponry.
Princess Cruises Invites Guests to "Chef's Table"
Food aficionados traveling on the new Emerald Princess are in for a unique
culinary treat. Princess Cruises is offering the "Chef's Table"
experience on select nights, providing a limited number of cruisers with
access to the inner sanctum of the ship's galley with a guided tour by the
executive chef and gourmet dinner prepared exclusively for them. In
addition to pre-dinner cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in this
behind-the-scenes setting, participants will enjoy a specially prepared,
multi-course tasting dinner in the dining room.
Menus will feature regional cuisine and indigenous ingredients from recent
ports. Each course will be accompanied by details on special features,
preparation methods and tasting suggestions. During desert, the executive
chef returns for a lively discussion about the evening's meal, answer
questions and share tips on food preparation. Each couple at the Chef's
Table will receive a personalized, autographed copy of Princess' cookbook,
"Courses, a Culinary Journey," which has sold more than 100,000 copies
worldwide, plus a complimentary photo with the chef.
| |
|
|
