SCENIC TOURS CANADA
Scenic Cruises operates the newest and most luxurious fleet of river cruise ships in Europe. Its five ’Space-Ships’ sail all-inclusive river voyages throughout Europe ranging from seven to 21 nights and each ship offers more than 80 percent private full sized balconies. A new ’Space-Ship’, Scenic Crystal, joins the fleet in 2012 with innovative, industry leading ’Sun Lounges,’ a feature that converts each Private Outdoor Balcony into a fully protected sun lounge at the touch of a button. In addition, Scenic Cruises offers cruising in Russia and Egypt. Scenic Tours offers award-winning all-inclusive escorted tours in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and throughout the world.
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SCENIC CRUISES
Scenic Cruises operates the newest and most luxurious fleet of river cruise ships in Europe. Its five ’Space-Ships’ sail all-inclusive river voyages throughout Europe ranging from seven to 21 nights and each ship offers more than 80 percent private full sized balconies. A new ’Space-Ship’, Scenic Crystal, joins the fleet in 2012 with innovative, industry leading ’Sun Lounges,’ a feature that converts each Private Outdoor Balcony into a fully protected sun lounge at the touch of a button. In addition, Scenic Cruises offers cruising in Russia and Egypt. Scenic Tours offers award-winning all-inclusive escorted tours in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and throughout the world.
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COMPAGNIE DU PONANT
Taking the luxury small ship cruising world by storm, the company’s two newest 264-passenger yachts (Le Boréal - May, 2010; and L’Austral - April 2011), join three others: the equally luxurious 226-passenger Le Diamant, the intimate 90-passenger Le Levant, and the 64-passenger, three-mast sailing vessel, Le Ponant. A third sister ship is expected to launch in mid-2013. L’Austral has a fully equipped spa -- with French brands Carita and Sothys. Onboard guests enjoy discrete personal service (staff to guest is 1:2), both haute and country French cuisine, deluxe accommodations and open-air restaurants. Ponant sets itself apart by offering small ship cruising with a bit of French flavor, designed for travelers who prefer exploring off-the-beaten¬-path, unspoiled destinations on all seven continents. www.potant.com/en.
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HURTIGRUTEN
Eleven ships sail the spectacular fjord-filled west coast of Norway from Bergen to Kirkenes and back with 34 ports of call, in addition to the MS Fram- the newest and most deluxe expedition ship in the world, sailing to the Arctic island of Spitsbergen. For nearly 120 years, the popular journey along Norway’s coast has been offering travelers a unique combination of history, culture and incredible vistas. Its newer series of Expedition Cruises caters to the soft-adventure travelers: Antarctica and the Chilean Fjords, Falkland Islands and South Georgia -- these incredible areas of the world offer the most magnificent mountains, fjords, and an abundance of wildlife to the few people who are fortunate to visit; the unspoiled nature and wildlife of the Arctic’s Spitsbergen; and Greenland during the polar summer -- a fascinating time to view spectacular scenery and wildlife in the remote wilderness above the Arctic Circle. Several itineraries take in many of Europe’s most popular and unusual port cities - from Russia’s St. Petersburg to Poland’s Gdynia to Spain and France. The company also offers land/cruise vacations combining the voyage with extensive land programs. www.hurtigruten.us
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FRENCH COUNTRY WATERWAYS
The return of the Nenuphar after a near complete renovation and rebuild brings the number of French Country Waterways’ luxury barges to five. Carrying 8-18 passengers, the barges ply scenic routes in Burgundy, Alsace-Lorraine, Champagne and the Upper Loire Valley on six-night cruises. The cruises depart weekly from April - October and feature inclusive prices, a relaxed atmosphere, daily sightseeing excursions and free time for sundeck relaxation, walking or bicycling along towpaths, village exploration or optional hot-air ballooning. Highlights are attentive service from a crew fluent in English and French, open bar, wine tastings at every meal, and sumptuous meals both on-board and ashore by top chefs. More than half of our wines will bear well-known labels from Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards, such as Gevrey-Chambertin, Meursault, and Puligny-Montrachet. Dinners ashore are at Michelin-starred restaurants. Staterooms and suites have full- or king-size beds, generous storage space, individual AC and heating controls, and private bath; thoughtful touches like fresh flowers, extra pillows and hair dryers are always included. www.fcwl.com
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WENDY WU TOURS
Since its inception in July 1998, Wendy Wu’s China (Wendy Wu Tours) has grown to become the largest China tour operator in the UK and Australia -- prompting the fully-inclusive tour company to bring their winning formula to North American consumers and travel agents. Opening its New York City office in September 2010, the company sets a new standard for travel to China with group and private tours that are fully-inclusive. That means international flights (from NYC and LAX), fuel surcharges, taxes, accommodations in centrally-located superior-three- and four-star hotels, three meals a day, intra-China transportation, daily tours and entrance fees, evening entertainment, English speaking guides, a Wendy Wu’s China Manager escort -- even the VISA fee and processing. Under the leadership of Tibetan-born, China-raised Wendy Wu, the company introduces guests to amazing places long before they become mainstream or the focus of other tour operators. In addition, Wu’s standing in China’s travel industry affords guests insider access to some of China’s lesser-known treasures: from the Mt. Everest Base Camp on the Tibet side to Zhangjiajie, a diverse and scenic landscape that gained fame after being featured in James Cameron’s film Avatar. Short-stays and Extensions vary from the mainstream offerings of Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, to the very remote -- Nine Villages Valley, site for the "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" movie; the Bifengxia Panda Reserve, home to 16 giant pandas; and the stone forest of Kunming. www.wenduwuschina.com
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CONNOISSEURS SCOTLAND
Started 20 years ago to showcase the finest hotels in Scotland, Connoisseurs Scotland has grown to have 30 member resorts and travel entities. Connoisseurs Scotland’s 30 members include four of the world’s finest golf resorts including Gleneagles and Old Course, Inverlochy Castle - recently voted the best hotel in Europe, six outstanding city center properties, Edinburgh’s only 5 Red Star hotel (Prestonfield), a 19th-century castle health spa, a collection of intimate country house hotels, the Royal Scotsman luxury train, a small luxury cruise liner which explores the waters that lie off the coast of Scotland, two exclusive use properties and eight properties set in scenic coastal locations. Four properties boast Michelin-starred restaurants including two of only three restaurants in Scotland that achieved both four AA-rosettes and a Michelin ranking: Boath House and Gleneagles’ Andrew Fairlie. Luxury Scotland is their website, dedicated to presenting detailed information on the member resorts, lots of information about Scotland, and what travelers can do there. Story ideas are abundant and varied -- culinary, golf, spa, hiking, nature, wildlife, whiskies, culture, castles, romance, cosmopolitan cities, education institutions, etc., all on one of the world’s most beautiful and dramatic island country. www.LuxuryScotland.co.uk
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FRELON'S FABULOUS FRANCE
http://www.frelonsfabulousfrance.com/
Frelon’s Fabulous France is owned and operated by Katherine Frelon, an accomplished chef from England whose credits include cooking for the British Royal Family. Katherine, together with her husband Yannick, restored a beautiful 400 year old farm house in Burgundy -- known as la Ferme de la Lochère -- which for the past three years has been welcoming guests for bespoke culinary and wine vacations. La Ferme de la Lochère -- perfectly situated in the town of Marigny-le-Cahouet, just one hour by train from Charles de Gaulle Airport -- has been created specifically to accommodate tailor-made vacations from April through October, essentially the season when grapes are growing on the vines. Besides having access to some of the most prestigious vineyards in Burgundy -- where wines tastings are conducted under the guidance of the best local wine experts -- visitors may also have the opportunity to explore the basics of French cooking with Katherine as she teaches guests recipes taken right out of her cookbook. In addition, guests can visit the Hospise de Beaune, home to the annual world famous wine auction; go shopping at the nearby market in Dijon, designed by Gustave Eiffel, to buy ingredients for making dinner; take a trip to the vineyards in Flavigny to see the town where "Chocolat" was filmed; learn how to bake croissants at Dijon’s top traditional bakery; and assist in the preparation of one’s own meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant. The all-inclusive vacations are tailored to the desires of each guest and feature transportation to and from the point of departure and complimentary aprons and cookbooks -- authored by Katherine herself. http://www.frelonsfabulousfrance.com/
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TUSCAN WAY
A company that specializes in Italian cooking vacations in authentic settings as well as villa rentals. With four locations -- Casa Innocenti in Arcidosso; 18th-century Villa Poggiarello, set in the 1,000-year-old village of Roccastrada; Villa Gaia, a charming country estate outside the town of Seggiano; and "Villa Castelletti", a noble estate near Florence -- Tuscan Way offers a member-of-the-family atmosphere not found in more formal schools. Participants learn in a relaxed, informal setting: small groups, sitting around the kitchen table, a glass of local wine within arm’s reach, and personal attention from the host. Guests learn how to plan the meal, choose the best ingredients from the right shops, prepare those ingredients, choose which plates and wine glasses help accentuate the meal, decide on the proper wines, and cook the meal. Daily excursions offer a variety of possibilities: visits to medieval villages, local markets and occasional food festivals, and tours of vineyards with wine tastings. www.tuscanway.com
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