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Readers' Choice Award Nominees for Best in Winter Travel

Best Caribbean Cruises
Each of finalists for the Readers' Choice for the Best Caribbean Cruse offers the ultimate in luxury. One features a ship that cost $800 million to build, measures 1,132 feet in length and is outfitted with the latest and most modern amenities, including a pool with a retractable dome. Another offers all-suite, all-balcony ships and the must inclusive ultra-luxury experience with everything included in the fare, including air, gratuities and unlimited shore excursions. The third nominee is perfect for anyone seeking an exclusive experience on a smaller ship while the fourth nominee bills itself as the world's best upper premium cruise line. Finally, there's a nominee known for the feng shui-inspired elegance of its ships as well as the rich cultural activities for its passengers.

Crystal Cruises
Cunard Cruise Lines
Oceania
Regent
Silversea

Best City Hotels
Nominees for Readers' Choice for Best City Hotel include one considered to be the most glamorous in all of London that has been the destination of choice by Kings and Queens alike, not to mention a smattering of Hollywood stars. Another, designed by world-renowned architect, I.M. Pei, rises high above Manhattan offering stunning views. The third nominee is a historic hotel that is only a few short steps away from the Champs-Elysées in Paris. Another nominee, also in Paris, is a breathtakingly beautiful property that was originally a palace commissioned by Louis XV. The final nominee is a tranquil, lush getaway amid gorgeous manicured gardens in Venice, accessible only by boat.

Claridge's, London
Four Seasons, New York
Four Seasons George V, Paris
Hotel Cipriani
Hôtel de Crillon, Paris

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The Top Five Caribbean Cruise Lines

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The best Caribbean cruise lines have several qualities in common, including exceptional service, luxurious accommodations, gorgeous facilities and impressive itineraries. The top five Caribbean cruise lines, according to Luxist's readers include:

Crystal Cruises
With ships that accommodate some 1,000 guests, Crystal Cruises' vessels are a bit larger than those of its competitors. But style isn't sacrificed aboard Crystal Symphony or Crystal Serenity; rather, it's abundant, earning Crystal a nomination for a Luxist award in the Best Caribbean Cruises category.

Crystal is known not only for the elegance of its ships but also for the rich cultural activities available to passengers. The company's Wine & Food Festival at Sea debuted in 1996, allowing guests to mingle with celebrity chefs such as Suzanne Goin, Danny Meyer and André Soltner as well as wine experts from across the world. In the wake of the festival's success, Crystal built a Vintage room in each of its ships; here, dinners pair rare wines with complementary cuisine. In 2009, the company debuted a series of themed cruises, each with a focus on a topic such as photography, jazz, golf and ballroom dance.

Owned by Japanese firm Nippon Uesen Kaisha, Crystal's spacious cabins all have design features based on feng shui, the Eastern art of interior design to create positive energy. Caribbean itineraries for two of its ships, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, offer ports of call including Turks & Caicos, Antigua, Curacao, St. Lucia and St. Maarten; trips range from 7-14 days and originate in Miami, New York and Costa Rica.

Cunard Cruise Lines
Arguably the grandest, most magnificent ocean liner ever built, Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 is a nominee for a Readers' Choice Award for Best Caribbean Cruise. Queen Mary 2 is the flagship of Cunard, whose history dates back to 1839 when Her Majesty Queen Victoria awarded Sir Samuel Cunard of Halifax, Nova Scotia, the first ever license to deliver mail across the Atlantic Ocean.

While she is described as "timeless elegance", Queen Mary 2, which debuted in 2004, offers the latest luxury amenities, from the pampering services of the first Canyon Ranch SpaClub® at sea to a pool with a retractable roof, allowing it to be enjoyed in inclement weather. Queen Mary 2 also offers an award-winning intellectual and entertainment enrichment program led by prestigious experts in a variety of fields, including literature, the arts, politics, the sciences, culture, maritime history and academia.

The ship, which cost an estimated $800 million to build, is 1,132 feet long--113 feet longer than her predecessor Queen Mary, with space for 2,592 guests in lower berths and 3,056 total guest capacity, when including third and fourth berths. Her crew numbers 1,253.

Queen Mary 2 has more than 10 different restaurant and other dining venues, including the first eponymously named restaurant at sea by celebrity chef, Todd English. She also boasts the only planetarium at sea (also serving as a movie theater and lecture hall) and a casino with 12 gaming tables and 115 slot machines. There are a total of six swimming pools on the ship, including one designed especially for children. There's an authentic English pub, complete with darts, ale and traditional pub fare including cottage pie and fish and chips. Guests can dance the night away in the elegant Queens Room, the largest ballroom at sea. The Royal Court Theatre, which can accommodate 977 guests, features lavish theatrical productions and guest entertainers. Sports enthusiasts can enjoy two golf simulators, paddle tennis, basketball and shuffleboard. The Zone/The Play Zone children's programs provide age group-specific activities and entertainment and even certified British nannies for the youngest guests.

Oceania
This is the world's only upper premium cruise line. Its ship, Regatta, which is the flagship of the Oceania Cruises fleet, handles the company's Caribbean traffic. Built in 1998, the ship's decks are resplendent in the finest teak, custom stone and tile work while her lounges, suites and staterooms boast luxurious, neo-classical furnishings. The Regatta offers every luxury one might expect with four unique, open seating restaurants, eight lounges and bars, a world class fitness center and spa, a casino and 342 suites and staterooms, nearly 70% of which have private verandas. The ship's staff of 400 pampers up to 684 guests on every voyage; itineraries range from 10-24 days. The Regatta's Caribbean Pearls' itinerary includes stops in bustling St. John's, scenic Tortola, and the posh port of Gustavia in St. Bart. The Canyon Ranch SpaClub on board Oceania's ships offer a full range of spa treatments from body wraps and acupuncture to ayuryeda, massage and skin care.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Regent is the world's only cruise line that includes award-winning service, acclaimed cuisine, premium spirits and fine wine, gratuities and sightseeing excursions in every port for the ultimate "ultra-luxury" vacation. Its fleet includes the Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner, both of which are all-suite, all-balcony ships accommodating 700 guests. Regent's Seven Seas Navigator, is all-suite with 90% having balconies.

What really makes the Regent experience different from the other cruise lines, is that it provides the most inclusive ultra-luxury cruise experience with an incomparable array of complimentary features and services. Regent Seven Seas Cruise fares include economy class air fare, unlimited shore excursions, all fine dining options, fitness programs, complimentary beverages (including fine wines and premium spirits, beer, etc. served throughout the ships), and all shipboard gratuities. The only out-of-pocket expenses guests incur on board are for shopping or spa treatments.

Regent has partnered with world famous Canyon Ranch, the leading operator of destination health resorts, to operate state-of-the-art spa, wellness and fitness facilities on-board all three of its ships.

Silversea
For seafarers who cherish the intimacy of small ships, it's hard to top Silversea. With five of its six ships made to accommodate fewer than 400 guests apiece – and boasting elegance to spare – Silversea has been nominated for a Luxist award in the Best Caribbean Cruises category.

For those who don't have the stomach for Arctic expeditions on Silversea's 132-guest Prince Albert II, the Italian-owned company's Silver Shadow, Silver Cloud, Silver Whisper and Silver Spirit convey Caribbean cruisers to a host of delectable destinations. Silverseas offers wine-focused and gourmet food-focused cruises with visiting chefs from top restaurants around the world. Enjoy in-room butler service on all ships from the moment you arrive to find a bottle of chilled champagne waiting in your suite. Your butler will also take care of dinner reservations, laundry and fridge replenishment.

The itineraries for this cruise line include some of the most enticing destinations in the Caribbean with a full roster of activities to boot. Visit 17th century plantations on St. Kitts or bustling seaside marketplaces in Guadeloupe; whale-watch off the coast of Dominica or kayak a tropical lagoon in Antigua; catamaran in the waters off Grenada or go cycling in St. Lucia. Cruises depart from a host of cities in the U.S. including New York, San Diego and Miami, or from the likes of Barbados and Rio abroad.

Tags: awards-main, best caribbean cruise lines, BestCaribbeanCruiseLines, caribbean cruises, CaribbeanCruises, crystal cruises, CrystalCruises, cunard, luxist-awards, oceania, queen mary 2, QueenMary2, Regent, Silversea, winter-travel-main

Crystal Cruises: Culture, Feng Shui and Elegance on the Caribbean

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

With ships that accommodate some 1,000 guests, Crystal Cruises' vessels are a bit larger than those of its competitors. But style isn't sacrificed aboard Crystal Symphony or Crystal Serenity; rather, it's abundant, earning Crystal a nomination for a Luxist award in the Best Caribbean Cruises category.

Founded in 1988, Crystal is known not only for the elegance of its ships but for the rich cultural activities available to passengers. The company's Wine & Food Festival at Sea debuted in 1996, allowing guests to mingle with celebrity chefs such as Suzanne Goin, Danny Meyer and André Soltner as well as wine experts from across the world. In the wake of the festival's success, Crystal built a Vintage room in each of its ships; here, dinners pair rare wines with complementary cuisine. In 2009, the company debuted a series of themed cruises, each with a focus on a topic such as photography, jazz, golf and ballroom dance.

Owned by Japanese firm Nippon Uesen Kaisha, Crystal's spacious cabins all have design features based on feng shui, the Eastern art of interior design to create positive energy. Caribbean itineraries for two of its ships, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, offer ports of call including Turks & Caicos, Antigua, Curacao, St. Lucia and St. Maarten; trips range from 7-14 days and originate in Miami, New York and Costa Rica.

Caribbean trips start below $3,000 for a weeklong round-trip Miami cruise but can easily stretch into the five-figure range for longer journeys and larger rooms.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed for each of the Winter Travel categories. Readers' Choice Awards for the Best in Winter Travel will be announced on January 31st.

Gallery: More from Crystal Cruises

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Crystal Cruises Wants To Help You Understand Your iPhone

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

Here's an interesting reason to go on a cruise, help with your gadgets. Crystal Cruises is offering the services of a "technology concierge" whose job it is to train and educate guests on their latest gadgets. The concierges can tell you how to get the most from your iPhone, Blackberry, Kindle or GPS device. The ships' Crystal's Bistros will offer the latest technology magazines and Crystal's "Gadget Committee" plans to continually add new technology and update their in-house education to ensure the Technology Concierges remain current. I just want to know where you apply to be a technology concierge.

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Tags: crystal cruises, CrystalCruises, gadgets, iphone, kindle

Crystal Cruises 2008 How To World Cruise

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Yachts & Sailing

Crystal Cruises has announced the lineup for its 108-day 2008 World Cruise, which leaves from Los Angeles on January 19. The cruise includes more than 200 classes on board. The range is eclectic and runs from how to manage your money with Jane Bryant Quinn, to memory improvement, astronomy lectures, yoga practices and how to "know more about everything" led by the author of A Short History of Nearly Everything, Bill Bryson.

Crystal Serenity's 2008 108-day World Cruise will visit 45 ports of call in 22 countries throughout the South Pacific, Asia, Africa and Europe. There are eight distinctive segments ranging from 11 to 17 days. The full World Cruise voyage ranges from $49,800 to $261,210, per person, double occupancy, while segment fares start at $4,890, per person, double occupancy.

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Crystal Cruises Ultimate Vintage Room Dinner

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Yachts & Sailing, Wine

How's this for a booze cruise, sampling a nearly impossible-to-get 1961 German Riesling and a 1959 Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac and five other rare wines while cruising from Istanbul to Athens. Crystal Cruises' second Ultimate Vintage Room Dinner will take place on Crystal Serenity's October 6, 2007 voyage from Istanbul to Athens. The seven wines are Krug, Vintage Brut, Reims, France 1990 - Riesling, Auslese, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, J.J. Prum, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany 1961 - Chevalier-Montrachet, Grand Cru, Domaine Leflaive, Burgundy, France 1998 - Barbaresco, Angelo Gaja, Piedmont, Italy 1989 - Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France 1959 - Grange Hermitage, Penfolds, South Australia 1986 - Graham's Vintage Port, Portugal 1955. The seven-course menu features warm oriental duck salad; Goutte d'or, coriander and ginger; steamed scallops Maitre Lurkin; risotto al funghi; mignon of angus beef, shallot sauce, market vegetables; vacherin cheese; and mille-feuilles with red berries and cardamom ice cream. Nice pairings but personally I never miss the chance to pair Port with chocolate. The meal costs $1,250 per person.

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Tags: cruise, crystal cruises, CrystalCruises, fine dining, wine