Torrevieja and the Costa Blanca in Spain are popular tourist destinations for people from all over the world. The area has a large British and Irish community. People from Northern Europe often vacation here and many own holiday properties or second homes in the area.
Torrevieja is located 50 kilometres southwest of Alicante. Most travellers arrive in the Alicante airport and use a car hire to get around the area. The city’s name means “old tower.” This refers to an old salt tower that was located in the area through the 1800s.
Climate in Torrevieja and the Costa Blanca in Spain
The Costa Blanca has the best year round temperatures in Spain. It’s not as cold and wet in the winter as the Costa Brava. It’s also not as hot and humid as the Costa del Sol, which is located to the south. The World Health Organization has called the climate here one of the healthiest in the world.
The Costa Blanca means “the white coast.” It is located on the Eastern coast of Spain, along the Mediterranean Sea. The Costa Blanca runs from the city of Denia in the north to the city of Torrevieja in the south.
Torrevieja and the Costa Blanca have a typical Mediterranean climate. The weather in the summer is hot and the summers are longer than in other areas of the country. The winters are mild, with warm temperatures and very little rain. The spring and autumn are still warm, but not as hot as in the summer months.
The Costa Blanca is a very popular vacation destination, especially in the summer months. The area has over 100 kilometres of clean, sandy beaches. The beaches are a major tourist attraction. The area also has mountain regions along most of the coastline.
The Southern Costa Blanca, which encompasses Torrevieja, is not as mountainous. This area is mostly flat with sandy beaches and streets lined with palm trees. Along this area are salt lakes, which are both a tourist attraction and a major industry in the area.
Attractions in Torrevieja and the Costa Blanca in Spain
The area around Torrevieja is famous for salt production. Salt lakes can be seen along the road from Alicante to Torrevieja. The huge salt mountains in the area produce about a half a million tons of salt each year. In addition to being a major industry, the salt production is important for tourism as well.
The salt lakes are thought to have benefits for arthritis and skin disorders. Spas are located in this area to take advantage of the natural health benefits of the salt lakes. This is a great choice for a soothing and relaxing vacation experience.
The Museum of Sea and Salt is an interesting attraction in this area. Other points of interest include two water parks, which are very popular in the summer months. A large indoor sports center is also located in Torrevieja.
Salt, fishing and tourism are the major industries in the area. The fishing industry is very important in Torrevieja. The local fishermen supply the restaurants in town with fresh fish. The result is very fresh seafood on the menu. There is an indoor market where fish is sold, in addition to meat and fresh vegetables.
The Natural Parks of the Lagoons of the Mata has many varieties of flora and fauna. There are quite a few species of birds in the park all year round. In the winter, you will see interesting diving birds that migrate here to get away from the cold. Salt baths are also located in the park.
Ken J. Morris writes articles first and foremost for alicante-spain.com alicante-spain.com , a web page with topics around Spain , Alicante and other issues. His alicante-spain.com/torrevieja.html publications on Torrevieja are published on alicante-spain.com alicante-spain.com and other web sites.
Central Missouri might seem like one of those obscure, out of the way places where people live but rarely plan to visit. Savvy Middle Americans know that there’s more to the story than this, however, as the Lake of the Ozarks is a tried-and-true vacation destination known for encapsulating all that is relaxing. Getting away doesn’t have to mean heading to the coast to find a remote beach or disappearing into a bustling foreign city; it could be as simple as going to the lake for a few days and letting the peace and quiet of a low-profile destination buoy your spirit and erase your cares.
There’s something about being near a lake that trumps other attempts to leave the world behind. Whether taking an exhilarating spin in a speed boat, skimming the surface in a pair of water skis, casting a line from a canoe or settling down for a nap on a sun-dappled dock you can be sure of achieving a higher level of freedom and escape than many other vacation spots can provide. A deeper silence, a broader calm and an array of activities that take advantage of it all are a few features that make the Lake of the Ozarks a prime place to settle for a few days.
For a fine sampling of all that this region has to offer, visit Ha Ha Tonka State Park. A funny name, it’s true, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be taken seriously as a lush and lovely landscape filled with trails, caves, shelters and playgrounds. Sixteen miles of hiking terrain and the unique karst topography make for lots of calorie burning and photo-taking opportunities. Exploring a new place by foot, checking out the indigenous flora and fauna and spending quality time with your companions amidst the surprisingly beautiful Missouri scenery could be the perfect way to spend a day.
The Cave State, as its known, invites visitors to head underground for yet another viewpoint. About 300 caves surround the Lake of the Ozarks, including Bridal Cave, Jacob’s Cave and Ozark Caverns. These show caves are open to the public and accessible even to first-timers. You don’t need special gear or equipment to make your way through these oddly inviting below ground expanses brimming with pools, stalactites and stalagmites, and prehistoric bones. History and mystery complement the natural wonders, explaining why many people choose to be married at Bridal Cave.
For another serious foray into the wilderness don’t overlook Lake of the Ozarks State Park. The largest in the state and located south of Osage Beach, this designated parkland has 85 miles of shoreline and tons of family and fun-friendly facilities. Horseback riding, an “aquatic trail,” geological anomalies and a helpful Visitors Center all make it worth the trip and will further enhance your ever-expanding viewpoint of this destination as a truly worthwhile one.
If you’re not quite convinced that middle Missouri is the place to be, then listen up. Several professionally designed golf courses, top-notch fishing, casinos, live music, great shopping, movies and more should cause you to cast aside any doubts that remain. The Lake of the Ozarks region is truly multi-dimensional and hardly a risky place to visit, especially if you’re already in the general area and don’t want to deal with the hassle of flying, renting cars, getting a passport, etc…Missouri highways are easy to navigate and will surely take you right where you want to be.
In particular, a good place to be is in fact a homeaway.com/USA/Missouri/Lake-of-the-Ozarks/r7392.htm Lake of the Ozarks Vacation Rental. Cabins, condos and lake houses are the best venue for capturing the spirit of serenity already touched upon, and being a little bit off the beaten path yet in full reach of many conveniences is the best of both worlds. Large houses invite family reunions and such – allowing room to socialize and interact without the fear of claustrophobia setting in. If it’s just a few people there’s an appropriate place, too; imagine a cozy cabin right on the lake with your own boat dock.
Vacation rentals tend to be crowd-pleasers wherever they are located, but there’s something about being on the lake in an original and ultra-comfortable home away from home that really hits the spot. Explore the options as you begin to plan, and watch your Missouri vacation as it starts to come together quite nicely.
Pictures of a massive dead Great White shark on the back of a bakkie are doing the rounds on email with the subject line saying “Caught at Monwabisi and Strandfontein Beach yesterday” – but experts have dismissed it as a hoax.
The grim pictures show the shark with a hook and trace still attached. Kalk Bay harbour master Pat Stacey says the pictures appear to have been taken in Australia.
He said it was virtually impossible for a shark that size to be caught and for it to be kept quiet. “Someone will always tell us and the trek fishermen would also report it.”
Stacey believes it was someone simply trying to cause a sensation. Anyone who killed a Great White faced 10 years in prison or a R50 000 fine.
Earlier, a vigilante group threatened to bait Great Whites with chickens stuffed with broken glass and to shoot every shark in False Bay, after Tyna Webb, 77, was killed by a shark at Fish Hoek. But Mike Meyer of Marine and Coastal Management believes it was just hysteria.
He said at least three people had confirmed that the shark pictures had been taken years ago. “It’s a hoax and just as well,” he said. Meyer said Marine and Coastal Management had tried to track the origin of the email but it had been sent to so many people that it was difficult to find where it started.
He wished people would put the issue in perspective: “So few people are killed by sharks compared to hippos and other wild animals, yet there is so much hysteria around a shark attack.”
And these weren’t the first hoax pictures Meyer had seen.
“There is one that turns up every so often, of huge sharks near bathers off a beach in KwaZulu-Natal during a sardine run. But someone has just Photoshopped them in – we have the original picture in which there are no sharks.”
Dive South Africa –
divesouthafrica.co.za divesouthafrica.co.za
Agritourism started off several years ago on the initiative of some peasants who wanted to introduce to visitors and to tourists, the genuine products of their fields and their breedings, besides their hospitality in their farmhouses.
In this way many people came to know that kind of life style and to appreciate its characteristics. Moreover they had the possibility to taste the local wine and some real culinary specialties in all their genuineness!
But it was only during the years 60’s that farm holidays began to be known. Meetings were organized and articles were published in newspapers in order to introduce this new way of spending a holiday with nature, therefore foundations were laid for a new kind of development for large and small farms.
Towards the end of 1960 it was organized in Florence a special meeting where the main subject was about the country as being an ideal place for tourism and a place to flee to and not from, as at that time, many peasants were going to the cities for a better gain, leaving behind empty farms or farmhouses.
So Agritourism became a way of saving the country from desolation. Properties were gradually being restored to their original state or better, in order to be rented out to tourists or sold to those who could or wanted to set up a farm holidays business.
It is also good to remember that most of todays agritourist structures unite the fascination of country life style to the modern comforts and are equipped of all the necessities for one’s relax. In many of these farmhouses, it is possible to have a swimming pool, mountain bikes and also horse riding-grounds.
A very good example of an interesting farmhouse in Tuscany, close to Pisa, is Podere i Gobbi. With its charming and homely atmosphere, it is situated in the country between the medieval town of Montopoli in Val d’ Arno and Palaia. podereigobbi.it podereigobbi.it
Article by Ailin Chung-Gon – Florence – Italy
Web site designer and very fond of tuscan country sides.
Her historical family web site, listed in the National Library of Australia, is
chung-gon.com/ chung-gon.com/
Florida has a Clean Beaches Council that grades beaches as per a few criteria. Twenty two parameters are tested and compared for grading. Some of these criteria are periodic water quality tests, easy access to emergency care, environment preservation and the like. Beaches that meet all the twenty two criteria are designated as “Blue Wave Beaches.” Fort Lauderdale Beach, Dania Beach, Deerfield Beach, Hollywood Beach, and Pompano Beach are all certified “Blue Wave Beaches.”
Lauderdale- By-The-Sea is a pristine town located just across the Intracoastal Waterway. Its clean and quiet beach is good for relaxation. Access to good restaurants takes care of necessities.
The Northern Beach Area is located between Oakland Park Boulevard and Sunrise Boulevard. This is mainly a quiet area and is a favorite spot for treks, picnics and the like. There is an underground pathway beneath the A1A to this beach.
The South Beach Area is the more active portion of Fort Lauderdale beaches. Numerous beachfront shops, restaurants, nightclubs and the like, present avenues for enjoying time on the beach.
The natural coral reef system is one of the most attractive features of Fort Lauderdale’s beaches. Face to face with such natural wonders tends to leave one speechless.
In 1986 Fort Lauderdale beach was renovated at a cost of $26 million. A complete redesign of coastal roadway A1A, the elimination of diagonal beach front parking, the addition of landscaped medians, pullout lanes, bicycle lanes, new traffic signals, brick paved pedestrian crosswalks, expanded sidewalks and a pedestrian beachfront promenade made a lot of difference. These changes made Fort Lauderdale beach more attractive and convenient for tourists.
During this renovation a beach wavewall was constructed. This is a flowing swirling beachwall that extends over a distance of two miles. This wavewall brings hordes of curious onlookers thronging to Fort Lauderdale beach.
Fort Lauderdale beaches have vistas for enjoyment for all kinds of people right from the quiet and retiring type to the most active and gregarious people. All types of people are guaranteed to enjoy the dalliance with nature at Fort Lauderdale beaches.
e-FortLauderdale.com Fort Lauderdale provides detailed information on Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale Residential Real Estate, Fort Lauderdale Airport, Fort Lauderdale Bail Bonds and more. Fort Lauderdale is affiliated with e-dolphinswim.com Swim with Dolphins in Hawaii.
During inclement weather aviation becomes much more serious. When you are flying in bad weather you must rely on your instruments instead of looking outside. During intensive storms it is possible to be hit with lightning, which could instantly fry all your electronic equipment. If you cannot see and have no instruments you could easily become disoriented and feel the effects of vertigo.
So many of these new instruments are flat panel displays with LED panels. Therefore the instrument panel containing the essentials could be run off the rumble of the engine and the bumpy-ness of the air from the bad weather. By using the vibrational energy from the aircraft’s engine and harmonic resonance we can save the energy from the alternator and thus save fuel.
In an emergency we could additionally use the bumpy air to power up the landing lights. These energy needs would work using electromagnetic induction technology to charge a capacitor instead of the headlights working off a battery or alternator. Currently there are some nifty micro-flashlights being used which you can buy which use a similar technique and are available thanks to the Everlite Flashlight technology research lab. These smaller flashlights work by shaking them for about thirty seconds and shine for about 6 minutes and they shine quite bright since they use a very bright LED light. Here is a link to this home use flashlight:
modernoutpost.com/gear/details/ee_shakelight.html
Here is a quick movie you can watch online to see how this technology works.
modernoutpost.com/gear/movies/ee_forever.MPG
I propose we use the engine rumble and bumpy air light the aircraft interior lights in the cockpit and the landing lights in emergencies. Additionally the LED instruments in case of lightning strikes and at minimum the artificial HSI. Generally you have to wait thirty seconds for the aircraft engine’s oil pressure to come up and you would be going thru your checklist anyway. This does not mean that the aircrafts strobes, cockpit or landing lights would not be hooked up to the regular system, only that you would not be asking for any juice, thus the alternator does not have as much drag on the engine and saves fuel consumption. Once the engine comes up to oil pressure the aircraft can then taxi out and each bump in the taxiway keeps the lights running and once airborne the air buffets would do the same. If they get too dim from too smooth taxiway, yah, we wish, then the system would revert back to the battery or normal system. Perhaps this is a good way to save fuel and potentially save lives? Think on this.
“Lance Winslow” – Online WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/ Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance in the Online Think Tank and solve the problems of the World; WorldThinkTank.net www.WorldThinkTank.net/
My first experience with the ingenuity of Mexicans was during our year of volunteer work in Villahermosa in the state of Tabasco. We were driving a Chevy Nova and it was usually pretty reliable for us. However, Mexican gas disagreed with it and I soon has some trouble with the carburator.
A friend of mine who worked in the hospital laboratory took me to a nearby repair shop and helped me get a mechanic to help me out. He followed us back to the hospital and pulled the carburator out of my car. He then headed back to his shop.
Having heard that it was best to keep a close eye on anyone working on your car, I followed him. Over the next half hour, I watched him completely disassemble the carburator, clean it with solvent, hand make new gaskets and put it back in my car. The car then ran like new.
So, within a half hour, I had a rebuilt carburator back in my car. I was pretty impressed. I was even more impressed when he said, “Sorry it took so long, but I have never worked on a Chevrolet before.”
A professor from one of the Universities in Texas had a similar experience. He taught Mexican archeology and often toured remote areas in a jeep.We met him when we were camped on the beach on one of our trips to Tulum.
He told us that one time he was traveling up in the mountains in a remote area north of Mexico City. The road was pretty rough and he hit a rock. The rock totally destroyed his oil pan. Without the oil pan, the jeep was useless and he could go nowhere.
After waiting about 4 hours a farmer came by with a mule and was able to pull the jeep into a town a few miles away.
Now every little town in mexico has a small mechanic shop that is a combination repair, tire retread and blacksmith shop. He went over there and explained his problem. After asking if the shop owner could order him a new oilpan and install it, the mechanic replied, “Sure, no problem. It should be here within a couple of months.”
He questioned the mechanic if there was any other solution. The Mexican replied, “Come back in three days.”
So, the professor found a lady that would put him up for a few nights. He then got a chair in the yard and watched what the mechanic did. He watched with interest as the owner went to each house in the village and collected any scrap metal or tin cans that they had.
The mechanic then went back to his shop and started working the metal. Over the next few days, he melted the metal down and poured it out forming a sheet of metal. He then pounded it and cut it into the proper shape, made a gasket and fitted it onto the bottom of the jeep.
The professor then told me that he drove the jeep on many trips after that and the handmade oil pan never leaked a drop!
As you can imagine, I have the highest regard for these underrated Mexican mechanics. While caution is always in order dealing with anyone working on your car, you should be able to find someone with excellent skills to work on any vehicle that has problems while driving in Mexico.
Ron McCluskey has prepared more valuable information for you. Go to ilovetravelvacations.com/Mexican_Ingenuity_Revealed.php I Love Travel Vacations now to find more great travel resources.
“We’ve been robbed,” I told Ana. “All of it.” I grabbed the thief, who was no longer acting drunk at all. It was a lesson in travel safety.
It started when both my wife and I had a strong feeling we shouldn’t get on that bus in Cuenca. Neither of us said anything, because a taxi was two dollars, and the bus cost only twenty-five cents. It seems a bit TOO frugal now.
Ana found a seat, but there was no seat for me. I was packed in with the other commuters standing up. I noticed the drunk pushing his way through the crowd, randomly going this way and that, and I knew somethimg was up. I instinctively reached into my pockets to check on my money. I had just visited the ATM. The $170 in my pocket was the most cash we had carried during the entire trip. Still there. The old guy pushed against me like he was trying to find a place to stand comfortably. I checked my again.
Five minutes later some space opened up near Ana, and I moved over to her. When I reached into my pocket again, it was empty, and the other pocket was empty too. I never felt a thing. I told Ana, and saw that the old drunk was still on the bus.
We got off at the next stop, dragging the thief with us. An officer appeared, and a crowd formed. The thief was sober now, pulling his pockets out and insisting again that he was inocent. Search him, he said, and I did, but I understood now that his associate was long gone with the money, probably off the bus at a previous stop. His role had just been to distract me and push me into the right place on the bus.
He begged to be let go, and we knew we couldn’t get the money back. Nonetheless, we had the officer take him to the police station on his motorcycle while we followed in a taxi, paying with a twenty from under the sole of my shoe. Filing a complaint at least meant he would spend the night in jail, and though he would be released in the morning for a lack of evidence, his finger prints are on file now.
Travel Safety Lessons
Most likely, a money belt probably would have prevented the robbery. Closing pockets help too, although I had a wallet stolen from a zipered pocket once, and I didn’t notice until forty minutes later. Fortunately it was a decoy-wallet, put there for just such an occasion – another little travel safety trick.
Other travel safety tricks? Put your money in at least three different places, like under the sole of your shoe, in a pocket you pin inside your clothes, and in your shaving kit. Carry two credit or debit cards in separate and secure places. Carry a list of “lost or stolen” phone numbers in another place. In areas with much crime, leave expensive watches and jewelry behind.
Learn a few tricks and you can travel more safely. Our experience also shows the importance of learning to trust your intuition. That was our lesson in travel safety.
Steve Gillman hit the road at sixteen, and traveled the U.S. and Mexico alone at 17. Now 40, he travels with his wife Ana, whom he met in Ecuador. For more on everythingabouttravel.com travel safety, plus travel stories, tips and a free e-book, visit: EverythingAboutTravel.com EverythingAboutTravel.com
Are you thinking of renting a cottage for your vacation this summer? If so, you probably dream of fun and games on the water, lazing on the dock with that book you’ve been dying to read, balmy evenings spent barbecuing and watching a knockout sunset, and roasting marshmallows on the campfire. Then waking to the sound of loons calling before another day in paradise. These practical tips will help to make sure your dream becomes a reality and not a potential nightmare, so do your homework and have a great time this summer.
Don’t leave it to the last minute 2006 was the year of the last minute booking, with a huge scramble for remaining cottages in July and August, however, this year the rental agencies are reporting a brisk business in enquiries and early bookings. If you have specific needs, for example, a cottage that sleeps more than 8 people, a sandy beach, or have to have queen beds in more than one room, you should make your reservation now.
Decide what is important to you and what you could live without Have a family conference, decide which area you want to visit, how far you are willing to travel, how much you want to pay, how remote you want to be, what facilities you must have, and which are not as important. Make a list of these in order of their importance to you –
remember, you may have to sacrifice some of your wants, the later you leave your booking. If you have small children, a sandy beach with shallow waterfront for wading may be number one on your list as could be a washer and dryer; if you really want to get back to nature, privacy and adequate distance from neighbors might be your priority. Get these wishes clear and the less likely you are to be disappointed.
Be selective about your waterfront A vacation can be spoilt if the children can’t swim because the volume of boat traffic and wake affects their safety. As lakes become busier, boats get bigger and schools of teens on seadoos are the norm, it can be very annoying if all you want to do is relax and enjoy some tranquility.
Make a list of questions to ask Don’t take it for granted that the facilities listed on a website are accurate, so if something is very important to you and your family, check it will be available to you.
Keep a record of your cottage search There are so many websites and so many cottages for rent that it is easy to forget where you saw that lovely one with the great sandy beach, and hot tub!
Payment protection If you use an agency, ask if it is registered with TICO (Travel Industry Council of Ontario). Not only does this give protection for your money if the agency goes out of business, but it demonstrates that the company you are using is a member of a professional register and conducts its operations in accordance with provincial regulations. If you rent your cottage from a private individual, the transaction is based on trust so make sure they have a good rental agreement that lays out the obligations of both parties. Expect to pay a deposit of up to 50% of the total cost with the balance paid anywhere from 45 days before the vacation takes place onwards.
Cancellation policy An agency will have its policy on cancellation clearly available on its website or in the documentation you receive on booking. For private bookings, make sure you know what the owners’ policy is. Taking out a simple travel insurance policy will cover cancellation on medical and emergency grounds; some of these even offer a ‘change of mind’ clause that will cover your deposit if you decide not to complete the reservation.
Make your payments on time The high season weeks of July and August book up quickly and both owners and agencies are inundated with enquiries from January onwards. So, don’t expect either to honour a telephone or email booking if you haven’t sent your deposit. If you can’t use a credit card, then send a cheque by Express Post.
Enjoy planning your vacation – it’s a great part of the experience!
Heather Bayer is CEO of CottageLINK Rental Management, specialising in cottage vacations in Ontario and Southern Quebec. clrm.ca clrm.ca
Committed to elegance, luxury and gracious hospitality, Silversea Cruises is the “Ultra Plus” in the elite cruise domain.
Their promise is to always go above and beyond. Their passion is to exceed your expectations. Their reward is achieving excellence in your eyes. “Faultless”!
Silversea offers flexible “Personalized Voyages” where guests choose the length of their voyage and ports of embarkation and disembarkation. Prices are based on a simple daily rate. For as little as US$100 per person, guests on all ships may embark earlier than the standard 3PM and disembark as late as 5PM.
Atmosphere:
Genuinely hospitable, and sociable with the emphasis on excellence. Each and every special touch is introduced with such style and finesse you’ll quickly feel like a preferred member of the world’s most intimate country club. A ceremonious white gloves greeting and flute of chilled champagne welcomes you. Available in your suite is Bvlgari toiletries and plush robes. Placed on your pillow, Godiva chocolates.
Service:
Silversea’s mission is to deliver guest comfort and benefits at a level unparalleled in the hospitality industry. Which is why the crew to guest ratio is (1.34:1). Expect to be treated with loving care with your space and privacy respected (there is no ship photographer to insist upon a pose). Dining staff is handpicked from the very best hotels and restaurants. Gratuities are not required.
Accommodations:
All accommodation is in ocean-view suites (80% with private teak verandas). Beautifully appointed with a rare degree of finesse and refinement, every suite features a marbled bath with a full-size tub (double sinks on Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper). There are seven different types of suites ranging in size from 240 square feet (Vista Suite) up to 1400 square feet (Grand Suites).
All suites include Bvlgari soaps and lotions, continuously restocked cocktail cabinets, direct dial phones, TV/VCR, personalized stationery, private safe, refrigerator, sitting area with desk, terry cloth robes, walk-in closet. Larger suites
have living areas, and some offer two bedrooms and two bathrooms with jacuzzis, and even two or three verandas. The sky is the limit! For families and friends, there is the opportunity to travel in separate suites yet share a semi-private deck area.
The emphasis on excellence is shown to impressive effect in the sumptuous furnishings and fine appointments in majestic suites like no other. Spacious, classic sanctuaries, over 80% have teak verandas. Selection ranges from the 240 square foot Vista Suite through to the pinnacle of good living – the Royal, Grand and Owner’s Suites. The latter three suite styles were designed for those whose standards for luxury are higher than most. Guests enjoy such perquisites as afternoon canapés, valet service, complimentary laundry, and dinner at the Officer’s Table (on Silver Shadow® and Silver Whisper®, a plasma TV and Bang & Olufsen sound system join two other TV/VCR combinations). Fresh flowers and a bottle of prestigious, award-winning Philipponnat champagne await all suite arrivals.
Dining:
Accompanied by an extensive selection of fine wines certain to amuse the palate of the most discriminating connoisseur, dining is a wondrously engaging affair with an open seating policy where guests dine with companions of their choice at the time they prefer. In the intimate Le Champagne (Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper) and Saletta (Silver Cloud and Silver Wind) guests will relish an incomparable gastronomic experience under the culinary eye of Joachim Koerper, chef-owner of Spain’s Relais & Chateaux – Relais Gourmands Michelin Two-Star Restaurant Girasol. Oenophiles and gourmands might wish to arrange a private dinner in Saletta or Le Champagne where a personalized menu is crafted by Silversea’s Executive Chef and Head Sommelier (an additional charge will apply).
Entertainment:
In The Bar, music is live and the dance floor beckons as it does in The Panorama Lounge where favorite songs of yesterday and today invite you onto the spacious floor (select voyages feature gentlemen dance hosts). The Show Lounge presents a full spectrum of colorful shows, and the stylish casino, alive with energy, is reminiscent of the Riviera.
On Silver Whisper and Silver Shadow the “fine art of the smoke” can be practiced in The Humidor where the finest cigars and cognacs may be enjoyed (created by Davidoff it has a dedicated ventilation system). The elegant, refined Champagne Room is the perfect venue for a glass of bubbly. On many itineraries a complimentary shoreside excursion is featured for your interest – “The Silversea Experience.”
Public Rooms and Facilities:
Silver Cloud and Silver Wind: The Restaurant, The Terrace Cafe, Saletta, The Panorama Lounge, The Bar, The Show Lounge, Mandara Spa, Fitness Centre, Beauty Salon, pool, pool bar, Internet Point, boutique, jewelry boutique, casino and card room, library, launderette. Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper also have a Davidoff Humidor, poolside grille, Le Champagne, Observation Lounge, and Bvlgari Gallery.
A Specialty Cruise For Everyone! Experience Cultural Feasts, Fine Wines, And Pro Golf Excursions With Class
Culinary Cruises:
Choose a Silversea culinary cruise and experience a cultural feast of the lands visited. Each of these selected itineraries
features the Epicurean artistry of acclaimed chefs of Relais & Châteaux-Relais Gourmands. These rising stars of the culinary world will offer entertaining and educational cooking demonstrations and prepare a lavish five-course gourmet meal.
Wine Series Cruises:
On select voyages, explore the world’s fine wines. Enjoy excursions to vineyards, lectures and tasting guided by top experts and wine makers. Guests will taste exceptional wines on board and ashore.
Silver Links® 365 Golf Series:
On every voyage on Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper, hone your game with personal lessons from a PGA-classed pro utilizing the latest V1 video-computer technology. Also, join our pro for escorted excursions to play in most ports.
The Silversea Experience®:
On many itineraries Silversea features a complimentary shoreside excursion designed to increase your understanding and enjoyment of the people and places visited.
Personalized Voyages:
Silversea’s Personalized Voyages now aboard all ships gives guests the flexibility and convenience of creating their own luxury cruise vacation. Guests choose the length of their voyage, port of embarkation and disembarkation.
Silversea Reassurance Program:
Guests who cancel their cruise for any reason up to the last minute will receive 100% cruise credit on a future cruise.
Past Guest Benefits Silversea Venetian Society®:
From the moment you complete your first Silversea cruise, you become part of a special family of friends – the Venetian Society – an extraordinary assembly of travellers who enjoy seeing the world in luxurious fashion while receiving exclusive members-only benefits and privileges.
Additional Benefits and Complimentary Cruises for Members:
To thank you for returning to Silversea (again and again!) they offer guests who have sailed 100 days or more an additional 5% savings on any future cruise. For 250 days, guests receive 10% savings. Reach the prestigious 350-day milestone and Silversea will reward you with a complimentary 7-day cruise. At the 500-day milestone, a complimentary 14-day cruise is yours to enjoy! After the 500-day milestone, earn a 7-day cruise for every additional 150 days sailed. Benefits are subject to change, so be sure to read the Silversea’s member updates.
The Silversea Fleet:
Sleek and exquisitely appointed Silver Whisper, Silver Shadow (28,000 tons), Silver Cloud and Silver Wind (17,000 tons), narrow the gap between ocean-liner and small ship cruising. Offering all-inclusive convenience, the very personal pleasures and ultra-luxurious elegance of a private yacht, the amenities of a country club and the sumptuous furnishings, fine appointments and service of a premier hotel. Smaller, they are able to venture into a wider range of ports including cozy harbours and remote hideaways never accessible by the mega-ships, yet they still provide ample comfort and stability for a cruise on the seven seas. All ships proudly execute Silversea’s mission to deliver guest comforts and benefits unrivalled in the cruise industry. (Silver Cloud and Silver Wind were refurbished in 2003/2004).
About the author: William Lezubski (Accredited Cruise Counsellor (ACC), and Certified Travel Counsellor(CTC) – William is a professional in the Travel Industry and is the owner and author of “Discount Caribbean Vacations Web Site” available at discount-caribbean-vacations.com/product pages/caribbean-cruises.htm” target=”_new discount-caribbean-vacations.com A great source for Cruise information, and top Cruise Suppliers offering Discounted Caribbean Cruises, and Caribbean cruise specials all in one convenient location!
