Cruise Planners - American Express Travel released their first Sea of Love cruise, a one-time only seven-night Caribbean cruise packaged with a group destination ceremony in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, devoted to same-sex couples. The Sea of Love voyage sails Sept. 27, 2014 through Oct. 4, 2014, aboard the Norwegian Getaway. Cruise Planners is a member of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association. Rates for the Sea of Love cruise start at $2,599 per couple and $1,039 per guest and include cruise fare roundtrip from Miami, beachfront ceremony and celebration along with special onboard activities for the couples and their guests.
“We’ve been offering same-sex commitment ceremony and wedding packages since the launch of our weddings program last year," said Cruise Planners CEO and co-founder Michelle Fee.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the former archbishop of Cape Town, will be delivering a lecture on a segment of Holland America Line’s 2014 Grand World Voyage aboard ms Amsterdam. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate will sail March 28 to April 2, 2014, from Durban to Cape Town, South Africa.
Tutu will address guests at two speaking engagements onboard about his role as the first black African to serve as archbishop of Cape Town and about his work forging racial equality throughout the world. Beginning with his opposition to apartheid in South Africa, he has worked to spread peace, justice and democracy around the globe.
Travelers are able to sail the full 113-day Grand World Voyage or one of several segments that range from 20 to 86 days, and embark and debark at top cities along the cruise. Rates for segments begin from $3,899 per person, double occupancy. The full voyage begins at $19,999 per person.
Silversea Cruises acquired a third expedition ship, the former Clipper Odyssey. After a complete refurbishment over the next few months, the 128-passenger vessel will be renamed Silver Discoverer. The ship’s inaugural voyage sailing under the Silversea flag is slated for March 2014 from Bali, Indonesia. Silversea is also finalizing details prior to the launch this fall of its second expedition vessel, Silver Galapagos, which will sail Ecuador’s pristine Galapagos Islands chain.
Another expedition ship, Silver Explorer, has been sailing for the line for five years, and now sails to the Arctic, Antarctic and other locations.