The safety of tourists is a main concern of the Egyptian authorities. It is mandatory for each tour group to proceed throughout Egypt with an armed security guard along on the motor coaches and visiting the attractions. An Egyptologist is assigned to each group and travels with the group from attraction to attraction. They are so knowledgeable and many of them have participated in digs before becoming licensed Egyptologists.

The Nile Cruise was a highlight of our trip. The river boats are luxurious, with comfortable cabins and serving gourmet food. I was so pampered, I felt like Cleopatra floating down the Nile. Not only are the river boats luxurious, but most of the hotels are, as well.

Every attraction we went to was awesome. The Egyptian Museum is huge. There are 120,000 items on display and more in storage, not yet restored. It is so amazing when you realize you are looking at things thousands of years old. The temples are overwhelming and once again you wonder how they could possibly build these structures thousands of years ago with the primitive tools they had to work with. Abu Simbel is the southernmost spot on the tour. These cliff-built temples were moved stone by stone to higher ground as the project to erect the Aswan Dam would submerge them under Lake Nasser. Depending on which tour you decide on, if Abu Simbel is offered as an option, it is a must see.

You should choose one Light and Sound Show. The one offered at Luxor Temple, right in the heart of the city is the best with it’s great views.

Egypt is awesome! Book early & save.  For more on Egypt travel, click here

Feel free to email or call me with any questions about travel to Egypt.
 
Contributed by CKennedy
866-503-6423
kennedy@atlastravelweb.com

You will not find power lines, billboards or highways in Antarctica. When the engines of your ship are turned off, the only sounds you hear are natural-wildlife, water and the occasional boom of iceburgs calving.

The continent abounds with exotic wildlife, much of it found nowhere else on earth. Birds, including large penguin rookeries, rub shoulders with seal colonies, while orcas and whales can sometimes be seen plying the ivy waters offshore.  Famous for it’s enormous icebergs, towering glaciers and shimmering austral summer light, Antarctica bestows on the travellers some of the most awe inspiring and dramatic landscapes the planet has to offer.  Depending on your chosen itinerary, your Antarctica cruise visits a combination of the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands, known for their wealth of penguin, seal and whale species.  South Georgia Island, made famous by the explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, and a breeding ground for enormous albatross and king penguin, and the Falkland Islands with their pictureqsue scenery, quaint capital and prolific birdlife and mammals. Endelss opportunities for amazing photographs.

Although several packages are sold out, it’s not too late to shop the European Christmas markets this holiday season. These select date still have some availability.

Christmastime in Bavaria & Austria
7 days Munich to Vienna
This is one of our most popular Christmas vacations in Germany’s winter wonderland. Enjoy 2-night stays in Munich, Salzburg, and Vienna
December 1st & December 19th | Priced from $1,089 pp, dbl occ.

Christmastime in Bavaria & Alsace
8 days round trip Munich
Delight in two nights in Nuremberg, well known for children’s toys and gingerbread, and home to Germany’s most famous Christmas market.
Only dates left – December 12th & 19th, 2009 | Prices from $1,279 pp, dbl occ.

Vienna, Prague, Budapest & Christmas Markets
7 day round trip Vienna
Cesky Krumlov in winter is a scene straight out of a Christmas card!
Explore the Christmas Markets in these amazing cities.
December 5th and December 12th | Priced at just $1,150 pp, dbl occ.

Christmastime in Berlin & Eastern Europe
9 days Berlin to Vienna
See all that Prague, Budapest and Vienna have to offer, with plenty of time to enjoy the Christmas markets and festive atmosphere in each city.
Only 2 dates left: December 14th & 20th, 2009 | Prices from $1,469 pp, dbl occ.

Christmastime in Munich & Eastern Europe
9 days from Munich to Vienna
This trip is a bestseller among our Christmas market vacations. Enjoy 2-night stays in Munich, Prague, Budapest, and Vienna in centrally located hotels.
December 4th, 6th & 13th, 2009 | Priced at $1,329 pp, dbl occ.

Winter Wonderland with Christmas Markets
9 days round trip Frankfurt
Seeing medieval Rothenburg in its finest winter setting! Pulling on your hat, coat & gloves to rub shoulders with the locals and to sip the warm mulled wine at the colourful Christmas Markets
December 8th, 15th and 18th, 2009 | Priced at $1,795 pp, dbl occ.

Christmas on the Danube: 
Begin your holiday season with a relaxing cruise along the scenic Danube River, stopping at traditional Christmas markets in Vienna, Regensburg, Passau, Rothenberg and Nuremberg.
November 30th, December 5th, December 7th & December 12th, 2009 | Prices from $1,399 pp, dbl occ.

While passengers have long been offered redemption options beyond free flights and upgrades, they are spending their miles more often these days on non-flight services as the airlines reduce capacity, leaving fewer seats redeemable for miles. The airlines are doing all they can to recruit and keep passengers in frequent flyer programs, offering promotions and making it easier to redeem miles for hotels, car rentals and even theatre tickets.

We’d love to know…do you choose your flights now based on which airline you earn the most miles with, or are you more price driven?

Written by: C Kennedy
kennedy@atlastravelweb.com

Even though the archipelago has been studied extensively, new species continue to emerge.  A new species of giant tortoise was recently discovered not far from the Charles Darwin Station.  A hefty pink iguana with black stripes was discovered in 1986 and only announced in 2009.  You never know what new wonder you might discover in this UNESCO World Heritage site – a place that has become a “must see” for those who long to continue evolving their own knowledge of the world around them.

Interested in planning a Galapagos trip?  You can either tour or cruise the Galapagos Islands. Our travel consultants can help you find the perfect Galapagos vacation.

In the US the Pike Place Market of Seattle is the best!  This is the place with the “flying fish” which is a show by itself.  Two of the fishmongers at this one particular vendor (very clever owner!)  throw giant fish at each other while one is actually standing in the inevitable crowd.  It’s the best show in town!  I would love to live there just so I could shop at the market.  There are so many tempting goodies and gorgeous fresh flower with the most vibrant colors I have ever seen.  It’s like a dream.  There was a brief scene in the movie Sleepless in Seattle where Tom Hanks meets his date at the market and also an outdoor shot with Rob Reiner.  Seattle is a great destination for a long weekend and also a great place to begin an Alaska Cruise adventure.

Click here for a Seattle Citypass Card to save up to 51% off regular admission to Seattle’s six most popular attractions.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL® TEAMS UP WITH ABC’S

Set your TIVO! Royal Caribbean will unveil their newest and most innovative cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas. ABC’s “Good Morning America” will be there to welcome Oasis of the Seas into her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fl and give viewers an exclusive first glimpse of the highly anticipated ship during a special live broadcast. 

GMA fans across the country can tune in on Friday, November 20th, 2009 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. (EST) on ABC to join “Good Morning America” for a never-before-seen sneak peek at the seven distinct neighborhoods and many spectacular elements and features Onboard the Oasis of the Seas. Some of these unique features include Central park, the first park at sea with nearly 12,000 plants and trees; Boardwalk, a family oriented environment with a hand carved carousel; a thrilling zip wire ride that races diagonally over Boardwalk 90 feet above the deck; 28 multilevel loft suites boasting floor-to-ceiling windows; and the Aqua Theatre – an amphitheatre style space that serves as a pool by day and a dazzling oceanfront theatre at night.

But wait!  My husband and I will be on the Oasis of the Seas November 19th, and plan to upload photos and videos that day, (as long as the Wifi connection is works,) so I hope to have lots for the public to see even before this Good Morning America broadcast. Make sure and check our blog, Flickr and You Tube accounts for details.

Few vacations offer a greater value than a cruise+ vacation. You don’t have to worry about packing and unpacking, booking a hotel or wandering around an unfamiliar city in search of a restaurant or things to do. Cruises provide it all: meals, accommodations and entertainment. Sail into new ports of call while you sit back, relax and get pampered, all at an affordable price.

Compare the costs and benefits of a Cruise Vacation to those of a typical land-based vacation.

Make cruising your next vacation!

Globus offers more than 120 exciting escorted tours to Europe. Find the one for you, and make 2010 the year to explore Europe. Tours start as low as $949 pp, with many tours now up to 20% lower than 2009.

This is the perfect time to enjoy the history and culture of Europe, let Globus take you there. Take advantage of these limited time offers.

New Globus Europe tours and river cruises for 2010 include Three Continents, Paris to Normandy’s Landing Beaches , A Taste of the Danube and Grand France

A first-of-its kind water coaster that sends guests racing above the upper decks of the ship. An animated turtle that engages children in conversation about life in the ocean. A sophisticated lounge where the sun sets over the skyline of a different world-famous city each night. When the Disney Dream debuts in early 2011, the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet will bring to life these innovations and more.

The Disney Dream will take family cruising to all-new heights, embracing the spirit of innovation, magical family entertainment and immersive experiences that have made Disney Cruise Line the preeminent cruise of choice for families since 1998.

Disney Cruise Line revolutionized the cruise industry with purpose-built ships designed just for families. With the Disney Dream setting sail on Jan. 26, 2011, preparations are underway to expand the one-of-a-kind family experience, utilizing technology to enhance the world-class entertainment and legendary guest services onboard. From stem to stern, the Disney Dream will offer a cruise experience that caters to the preferences of the whole family.

AquaDuck Water Coaster. . .

Disney Cruise Line debuts a cruise-industry first: a shipboard water coaster … AquaDuck! Guests aboard the Disney Dream will get swept away on an exhilarating high-speed flume ride featuring twists, turns, drops, uphill acceleration and river rapids – all while traversing the upper decks of the ship.

• AquaDuck stretches 765 feet in length – more than two and a half times the length of a football field – and spans four decks in height.
• Guests slide 13 feet over the side of the ship in a translucent “swing out” loop allowing them to look down on the ocean 150 feet below.
• Guests experience coaster-like thrills as high-powered water jets push them upwards and forwards at 20 feet per second.
• AquaDuck continues through the forward funnel, encounters a 335 foot stretch of river rapids and splashes down to an end on Deck 12.

A Virtual Porthole for Inside Staterooms. . .

Disney Cruise Line introduces another stateroom innovation with all inside staterooms on the Disney Dream featuring a Virtual Porthole that provides guests with a real-time view outside the ship. High-definition cameras placed on the exterior of the ship feed live video to each Virtual Porthole.

As guests observe the impressive outside views, they may glimpse a magical surprise: animated characters such as Peach the starfish from the Disney-Pixar hit film “Finding Nemo,” or Mickey Mouse may pop by the Virtual Porthole.

A Magical Oasis for Children. . .

Only on a Disney Cruise Line ship can children become immersed in their favorite Disney stories with the help of caring counselors, beloved Disney characters and a sprinkling of pixie dust. The celebration of children’s creativity rises to a new level on the Disney Dream with nearly an entire deck of youth spaces designed to inspire, entertain and unlock the imagination of children. There are two main spaces for children ages three to 10:

At Disney’s Oceaneer Club, children can:

• Play among larger-than-life characters from Disney–Pixar’s “Toy Story” in Andy’s Room
• Explore the Laugh Floor with lovable monsters Mike and Sully from “Monsters, Inc.”
• Dive under the sea with Nemo and friends or visit Tinker Bell’s fairy forest

At Disney’s Oceaneer Lab, children feel as though they are embarking on a great seafaring adventure in a room filled with maps, maritime instruments and swashbuckling artifacts. Here, children can try their hand at animation, become a pop star or navigate ships through digital seas.

Both venues offer magical interactions with the animated characters such as Crush, the sea turtle from the Disney-Pixar motion picture “Finding Nemo” and Stitch, the mischievous alien from “Lilo and Stitch.” The characters chat, play and joke with children in live, unrehearsed conversations from their digital undersea and intergalactic environments via 103-inch plasma screens.

Chill-Out Zones for Tweens and Teens. . .

Located inside the forward funnel is Edge – the lounge just for tweens (ages 11 to 13). This tween pad is filled with a multitude of hi-tech entertainment including the ability to create and star in photo postcards and video karaoke using green-screen technology.

Teens have their own exclusive club aboard the Disney Dream with Vibe – a trendy and inviting indoor/outdoor space created especially for guests ages 14 to 17. A “teen-only” swipe card provides access to the nearly 9,000-square-foot club.

Teens can create and edit videos, play computer games, access the onboard social media application or try their hand at spinning and mixing dance tracks. Teens have their own private outdoor deck area with chaise lounges for sunbathing, two wading pools, misters and pop jets for cooling off, and deck games such as ping-pong and foosball.

Personal Touches with Rotational Dining. . .

Disney Cruise Line continues its innovative rotational dining concept onboard the Disney Dream with elaborately themed restaurants, distinctly Disney touches, and world-class cuisine to create a magical dining experience. Throughout the cruise, guests “rotate” through three different restaurants for dinner – with their servers accompanying them, providing guests with friendly, familiar, personalized service each night. The rotational dining restaurants include:

• Animator’s Palate, a signature Disney Cruise Line restaurant that brings the magic of Disney animation into the dining room for a unique experience that will captivate the entire family.
• Royal Palace, an elegant restaurant inspired by the classic Disney films “Cinderella,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Sleeping Beauty.”
• Enchanted Garden, a whimsical, casual restaurant inspired by the gardens of Versailles and featuring a dining environment that magically transforms from day to night.

Just for Adults. . .

On the Disney Dream, while children are having the time of their lives in the elaborately themed youth areas, adults can look forward to incomparable indulgences and relaxation with exclusive areas and offerings designed exclusively for them.

• Adults can escape into The District, a nighttime entertainment area on the Disney Dream with five unique venues. This playground for grownups features sophisticated lounges, each with its own unique design, look, feel, and palate-pleasing delights.
• Senses Spa & Salon offers adult tranquility with 17 private treatment rooms, lavish spa villas with indoor treatment rooms and private outdoor verandahs, and Rainforest, a special section of the spa offering the benefits of steam, heat and hydrotherapy to relax the mind and body.
• At Palo, adult guests find epicurean excellence and an unforgettable dinner experience at sea. Every seat offers beautiful ocean vistas while a pianist softly serenades guests in an intimate restaurant setting.

The Disney Dream is scheduled to depart on its maiden voyage Jan. 26, 2011, and will sail alternating three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.  During summer months, the ship will alternate four- and five-night itineraries with two stops at Castaway Cay.

Guests can book their Disney Dream cruise beginning Nov. 9, 2009.