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The first of 3 ships will set sail this coming February 2020 from Ft. Lauderdale. Coincidentally, Super Bowl 54, is being played in Miami on the day of the inaugural cruise. No better way to launch a new yachting experience.
So there’s going to be 1 ship for the 2020 season. A second ship joins in 2021 and a third the following year. Where is it going in 2020?

Sailings start in the Caribbean for 4 sailings. The ship then sails in the Mediterranean for 11 sailings before it moves north for 8 sailings in Northern Europe. In the fall the ship sailings in Canada & New England before it heads back to the Caribbean to finish off the season.
Sailings have been popular and about 70% booked. But there is still availability.
Calling on unique and distinguished destinations alike, most voyages range from seven to ten nights, offering uniquely curated experiences ashore. Each itinerary will be different so you can reserve a back to back cruise and still experience different destinations.
The intimate size of the ships gives a unique opportunity to not only visit a wider variety of destinations but also the ability to sail directly into city harbors. Most cruise ships arrive in the morning and leave by the end of the day or afternoon, whereas the Ritz will dock at ports overnight.
Each yacht will feature 149 suites, each with its own private terrace, and accommodate up to 298 guests. Rooms range from 312 sq feet for Terrace Suites up to 1,098 sq ft for the Owner’s Suite. There’s also a Loft Suite with a 2 story design.
As with The Ritz-Carlton on land, each yacht will feature personalized service, elevated dining (dining venues includes specialty restaurant by Michelin’s-starred Chef Sven Elverfeld) and luxury amenities. The yachts are also available for private charter.

Got kids? Bring them along is you wish. You’ll appreciate The Ritz-Carlton’s signature Ritz Kids program. Featuring dedicated space on board the yacht just for young cruisers aged 4 to 12 with enhanced family programs during holidays and summer months.
The 2021 schedule comes out in the next month so stay tuned here on this podcast for updates. You can also keep an eye on updates on our website and sign up for Ritz updates, link in the show notes. Thanks for listening. Have a great day! See you tomorrow...

Seabourn introduced 4 new Seabourn Journeys in 2020 to exceptional destinations in Europe. These are extensions that you can add to your cruise before or after your voyage. These are not your ordinary single day excursions from the ship. They can last from 6 to 13 days.
These journeys enable you to combine exceptional land and sea experiences seamlessly. They're kept small, between 2 and 10 guests. This offers a more intimate and personalized adventure. There are 14 options and most visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

• UNESCO Banff National Park & The Rocky Mountaineer
• UNESCO SOUTH AMERICA: RIO, IGUAZU FALLS & BUENOS AIRES
• UNESCO Splendors Of Peru: Lima, Cuzco & Machu Picchu
• UNESCO Sydney, The Red Centre & Great Barrier Reef
• UNESCO Lakeside Gems Of The Swiss Alps
• UNESCO Treasures Of Tuscany
• UNESCO Cambodia: Phnom Penh & The Temples Of Angkor
• UNESCO Treasure Of China: Beijing, Xi’an & Hong Kong
• UNESCO India’s Golden Triangle: The Taj Mahal & Jaipur
• UNESCO Imperial Heritage Of Europe
• South Africa: Cape Town & Kruger Park Safari Lodge
• South Pole Quest
• The Denali Experience 2020
• Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Uncruise is a small ship adventure company started in 1996. They sail in Alaska, Galapagos, Hawaii, Latin America, Mexico, the Pacific Northwest. And if you're feeling a river cruise, they've got one right here in the US - Columbia & Snake Rivers.
The Columbia & Snake rivers is the recreational mecca of the rivers. For the adventurer, you can explore by kayak, raft, skiff, swim or a hike.
This cruise is not a sit on the sideline cruise. You're in the middle of it all. Each day the great outdoors calls: Coulees (pronounced coolees) and canyons, evergreen forests, and dramatic basalt (busalts) cliffs. You can explore the rivers' trails by foot or by bike, and along the shore by kayak and raft. Or you can opt to focus on wine, craft beer, and culinary touring and tasting at vineyards, wineries, breweries, and cideries. The areas along the Columbia and Snake rivers are like California’s Sonoma Valley winemaking region. It is a blossoming wine region and the quality of wine is astounding! There are new award-winning wineries opening all the time.
Plus, get a dose of history and geology. Follow the path of Lewis and Clark from desert to rainforest.

• River rafting trip
• Hike, kayak, swim, and skiff at: Palouse Falls State Park, Columbia Hills State Park, and Ft. Clatsop, a Lewis and Clark National Historical Park
• Multnomah Falls walk and visit
• Jet boat ride into Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
• Bike (or shuttle) and wine outing in Hood River Valley
• Rowena Overlook hikes at Tom McCall Nature Preserve
• Transit eight locks and tour the Bonneville Dam Visitor Center
• Presentation by a Nez Perce tribal member
• Narration by natural and cultural history guides

• Onboard sommelier (sumulyay) and farm to table culinary demos
• Winery tours in Washington and Oregon AVAs: Columbia Gorge, Walla Walla, Red Mountain, Willamette Valley
• Cruise through the heart of the Columbia River Gorge
• Wine, craft brews, kombucha, and cider tastings
• Wine-pairing lunch and cooking demo at Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center
• Food and beverage demo with a local chef in Astoria
• Local culinary delights at historic Gesa Power House Theater
• Rodin sculptures, European paintings, Native artifacts, and Northwest art at the Maryhill Museum

• Magna on the Danube - 7 night cruises from Vilshofen to Budapest with land extension options in Prague, Munich, and Budapest.
• Gems of Southeast Europe - 7 night cruises from Budapest to Giurgiu with land extensions in available in Vienna, Budapest, Bucharest, Brasov and Istanbul.
• And you can do the combination of both, the Grand Danube.

On the Mississippi, there are mainly 2 types of cruises you can do - the Upper Mississippi and the Lower Mississippi. There are probably many more but the main 2 are the upper and the lower.
Upper Mississippi cruises sail between St. Louis, Missouri and St. Paul Minnesota. Lower Mississippi cruises sail between Memphis, Tennessee and New Orleans, Louisiana.
Some highlights you can expect to experience on a lower Mississippi cruise are the Civil War sites and monuments, majestic mansions and antebellum architecture, New Orleans jazz and the historic French Quarter, sprawling cotton and sugarcane plantations, and let's not forget the southern Cajun and Creole cuisine, and some good ole Southern barbecue. And there are plenty of Themed cruises like Plantation Thanksgiving, Mardi Gras on the River, Antebellum South, American River BBQ challenge,
Highlights from the Upper Mississippi river cruises are Mark Twain's hometown and literary inspirations, scenic river views, American bald eagles, extensive lock-and-dam systems, and charming small-town America. Themed cruises like Mark Twain's Mississippi,
The 2 main river cruise lines that sail the Mississippi are American Cruise Lines & American Queen Steamboat Company. Again, there are several other lines sailing but we’re going to stick to these 2 for now.
American Queen Steamboat Company operate real paddlewheelers. They have 3 sailing on the Mississippi including the largest steamboat ever built, the American Queen. Their 3rd river ship, American Countess, starts sailing in 2020.
American Cruise Line has more modern ships and currently have 3 sailing on the Mississippi and a 4th coming in 2020, that's the American Jazz.

If you need help planning a trip, feel free to reach out to us anytime at 305-814-8184. And visit our website at https://upclosetravel.com/