Paul Gauguin Cruise: Hinerava Tahitian Pearls

Cruise guests sailing onboard the m/s Paul Gauguin can purchase Hinerava Tahitian Pearl designs from Kelly Hinerava Bailey.

Sailing on Paul Gauguin Cruises offers cruise guests  five-star service, comfort and luxury while sailing in Tahiti and French Polynesia. Although the scenery takes center-stage, visitors on Paul Gauguin have a lot to look forward to. One facet of the Paul Gauguin cruise experience is total immersion in the the local culture, which includes lessons abou the  Tahitian Pearl.

For those cruise guests that have a love for the beauty of the Tahitian Pearl, the luxury line is proud to present Hinerava (meaning Tahitian Beauty).

Designer Kelly Hinerava Bailey, who was raised in Tahiti started her company Hinerava in early 2011. Since then she has created many island-vintage-inspired creations using Tahitian pearls. She is gaining attention for her “island-chic”   Tahitian Black Pearl designs.

Cruise guests sailing on Paul Gauguin can purchase her jewelry onboard.

Tahitian pearls are some of the most exotic and desired pearls in the world. Hinerava strives to bring the delicacy and elegance of the Tahitian Black Pearl to each unique and original creation.  The island-vintage inspired jewelry is exquisitely sophisticated yet casual enough for everyday wear, an impression the artist terms as “island-chic”.

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Princess Cruises Sapphire Princess Drydock

Sapphire Princess is undergoing quite an extensive makeover from January 9 to February 4, 2012. in Victoria, BC.

Sapphire Princess in her winter home in Los Angeles. Photo by Carrie Finley-Bajak.

There are many improvements and enhancements underway on Sapphire Princess.  Cruise guests can look forward to signature Princess Cruises upgrades like Movies Under the Stars and a complete makeover of the Sapphire’s atrium, which is getting   transformed  into the Piazza (my favorite place in the ship), featuring the International Café, Vines Wine Bar and Alfredo’s Pizzeria.

Also part of the renovation are several relocated and upgraded venues, including the Art Gallery, Internet Café and Library, and the Photo-Video Gallery. New carpet and upholstery will be installed throughout the ship, and staterooms will feature new flat-screen televisions.

Cruise guests embarking on Sapphire Princess on February 4th will be the first to enjoy the transformed ship.

The Sanctuary on Princess Cruises. Photo by Carrie Finley-Bajak,

Highlights of  Sapphire Princess’ makeover include:

• Piazza Atrium – The ship’s atrium space will be redesigned to include this signature Princess feature — a European-inspired social hub of the ship combining always-changing quick bites and light meals, beverages, entertainment, shopping and guest services.
• Alfredo’s Pizzeria – Introduced last year aboard Grand Princess, Alfredo’s will expand to its second location on Sapphire Princess.
• Movies Under the Stars – Sapphire Princess will be the final ship to introduce Movies Under the Stars on board. The giant poolside movie screen.
• The Sanctuary – Sapphire Princess is the final ship to receive The Sanctuary, an adults-only retreat (and my favorite hangout).  Added prior to drydock, the Sanctuary space is ready for passengers.

Keep up with the buzz online to watch the transformation. Princess Cruises is featuring a daily photo highlight of the transformation on its social media outlets, including Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Google+.

What is your favorite Princess Cruises Signature Feature?

Exotic Asia – Cruise Destination Review

What is an exotic cruise destination?

Exotic describes someone or something that is foreign or unusual. So that means that an exotic cruise offers an itinerary that is unique (not offered week after week). For a non-cruiser that could mean just about anywhere. But for the experienced cruise traveler what means a destination that is off the beatern-path.

Fruit sellers - Taling Chan Floating Market Thailand - photo by avlxyz

Choose a Southeast Asisan cruise itinerary to discover  the floating market of the Taling Chan district of Bangkok, Thailand or visit the  French colonial buildings and opera theaters of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The Great Wall of China. Photo by Carrie Finley-Bajak.

A wonder and an item that shows up on a blot of ‘bucket lists” is a visit to China’s Great Wall. Northern routes will take you from Hong Kong, Shanghai, Dalian, and Eastward to South Korea and Japan.

Exotic Asia cruising: Shanghai. Yùfó Chán Sì, literally Jade Buddha Chan Temple) is a Buddhist temple in Shanghai, China

WuXi, near Shanghai.

East meets West: tour guide Jack at Taiqing Palace in China.

Taoist Monks near Mt. Laoshan at Taiqing Palace. Photo by Carrie Finley-Bajak.

Hakata, Japan.

Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul, South Korea.

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Thrill 5D Theater Aboard Carnival Breeze

Rendering of Carnival Breeze's 5D Theater. Photo from Carnival Cruise Line

Coming soon to a 5D Theater on your newest funship!

The 5D movie experience explained:

3d is visual, 4d is visual and interactive, 5D is total immersion.

Thrill 5D Theater on Carnival Breeze will screen films that are already formated in 3D or 4D and then create a seat within a theater that is rigged for movement and special effects (expect elements such as squirting water, blowing air and vibrating seats) to create a 5 dimensional experience. Currently Carnival Cruise Line has licensed 3D or 4D versions of HAPPY FEET, SPEED RACER, and  THE POLAR EXPRESS. 

Carnival Breeze will spend the summer sailing the Mediterranean and then head to Miami, where she will sail the Caribbean year-round. To learn more about the ship visit www.carnivalbreeze.com or join the conversation online and join in the pre-cruise launch fun, check out the Carnival Breeze Facebook Fan Page. Look forward to some innovative contests and invitations to get involved.

Disney Fantasy Floats Out – the countdown begins

Under the watchful eyes of thousands of visitors, Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship Disney Fantasy hit the water in Papenburg, Germany on January 8th, 2012.

Disney Cruise Line, Papenburg, Germany. Photo DCL

All eyes on Disney Fantasy

Although Captain Mickey Mouse was in attendance, the real “star” of the show was Disney Fantasy. The Disney Fantasy is the fourth cruise liner in the expanding Disney Cruise Line fleet. She features 14 decks, a ship length of 1,115 feet and a maximum width of 125 feet, the 130,000-ton vessel includes 1,250 staterooms and has the capacity to accommodate 4,000 passengers.

The countdown begins

View Disney Fantasy Countdown to Maiden Voyage in a larger map

Disney Fantasy,  floated out of her enclosed building dock at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany to begin a series of milestones marking the way to her maiden voyage on March 31, 2012. Disney Fantasy will will convey down the River Ems, in about 2 weeks, to the North Sea for the start of sea trials.

The Disney Fantasy is the second of two newly designed Disney Cruise Line ships. It has many of the features found on its sister ship, the Disney Dream, which started sailing out of Port Canaveral in 2011.