Last month, the three Gansevoort hotels — in Manhattan, South Beach and the Turks & Caicos islands — began lending Sony Reader Digital Books, handheld devices that allow users to peruse downloaded literature.

Having readers (available for complimentary use on a first-come, first-served basis) appeals to carry-on aficionados who don't want to lug lots of reading material, says Gansevoort New York sales and marketing director Suzi DeAngelis. From a marketing perspective, it "helps set us apart and makes people come back," she says. Gansevoorts will even download guest requests.

Meanwhile, popular Kindle readers are a hit at Manhattan's Algonquin Hotel and a good fit with its literary pedigree.

Its Kindles are loaded with a variety of books, including some written by members of the venerable Algonquin Round Table, such as Edna Ferber and Robert Benchley.

The main purpose of this agreement is to establish a cooperation which will include the mutual developing of shipbuilding projects, equipments and the designing of vessels.

According to this agreement Hyundai Heavy Industries, as a partner of OPK, will provide a support in the construction of new shipbuilding facilities, shipyard management and in the building of specific types of vessels, including gas-locomotives.

Hyundai Heavy Industries is a global leader in the shipbuilding industry, dedicated to develop continuously new shipbuilding technologies. Its major products include ocean-vessels, oil- and gas-supplying vessels, container ships and special carriers.

OPK’s shipbuilding assets consist of the Severnaya Verf shipyard, the Baltiysky Zavod plant and the design bureau Iceberg. OPK intends to modernize its shipbuilding assets and construct a modern shipbuilding complex with dry dock on large-capacity vessels, platforms and the production of offshore equipment. OPK is also taking part in several shipbuilding programs, favouring arctic shelf development.

Cruise Council General Manager Brett Jardine said Hurtigruten’s membership in Australia reflected growing interest in a broader range of cruises and destinations.

“Today’s travellers are becoming more adventurous in the cruises they choose and there is an increasing appetite for unspoilt destinations offered by specialist cruise lines like Hurtigruten,” Mr Jardine said.

“Through their Cruise Council membership, Hurtigruten will be able to make more travel agents aware of the wide range of cruises they offer.”

Hurtigruten began services more than 100 years ago, transporting mail, cargo and passengers along the Norwegian coastline.

Since 1993, the cruise line has introduced a fleet of custom designed vessels to take passengers on cruises along the spectacular coastal waters of Norway and the Arctic as well as to the remote lands of Spitsbergen and Greenland and the southern oceans off Antarctica.

Hurtigruten is represented in Australia by Discover the World Marketing.

Commenting on the membership, Discover the World Marketing Country Director Australia Birgit Eisbrenner said the cruise line was keen to educate more travel agents about the itineraries offered by its fleet of 14 ships.

“Australians and New Zealanders are known for their love of travel and we have seen increasing bookings from this market in recent years. We believe our Cruise Council membership will help us raise the profile of Hurtigruten and build sales even further,” Ms Eisbrenner said.

“Watching Norwegian Epic make her first journey on the water was a very moving experience,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer.

“Norwegian Epic epitomizes our continued commitment to innovation and represents the next generation of Freestyle Cruising, so we are thrilled to be celebrating her float out and looking forward to her delivery in less than a year.”

On hand for the occasion were Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chairman of the board and also chairman, president and chief executive of the Genting Group; Norwegian Cruise Line executives: Kevin Sheehan, chief executive officer; Roberto Martinoli, president and chief operating officer; and Andy Stuart, executive vice president, global sales and passenger services, as well as Sang-Ho Shin, president and chief executive officer, STX Europe; and Jacques Hardelay, general manager, STX Europe, France.

Norwegian Epic is scheduled to be delivered in late May 2010, and will take part in inaugural events before beginning her Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings from her year-round homeport in Miami. The first Eastern Caribbean sailing from Miami is scheduled for July 17, 2010 and the ship’s alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries are scheduled through April 2011.

Norwegian Epic’s Eastern Caribbean itinerary includes calls in Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands and Nassau, Bahamas. The ship’s Western Caribbean itinerary includes calls in Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico. Guests can make a reservation by contacting their travel professional or Norwegian Cruise Line at 866-234-7350. More information about the ship, her itineraries and offerings can be found at epic.ncl.com.

Norwegian Epic’s Innovations & Features

Norwegian Epic is changing the face of cruise line entertainment. In another industry first, Blue Man Group will perform in the ship’s 685-seat Epic Theater. Blue Man Group is best known for their wildly popular theatrical shows and concerts which combine music, comedy and multimedia theatrics to produce a totally unique form of entertainment. The blissful party atmosphere created at their live events has become the trademark of a Blue Man Group experience and will be seen for the first time ever at sea only on Norwegian Epic.

Norwegian Epic will have multiple, specially-designed entertainment venues throughout the ship so that guests can choose from a wide variety of entertainment each evening of their cruise. No longer will entertainment be focused on two nightly shows in one large main theater. Norwegian Epic will offer a number of entertainment options in specially-designed venues, some offered for the first time ever at sea, with choices to appeal to a broad audience.

On this ship, guests will find the only “big top” at sea. In this 265-seat theater-in-

the-round, famed producer/director Neil Goldberg will present Cirque Dreams® and Dinner. This one of a kind interactive theatrical dining experience will be performed in the air, while juggling dinner courses, with music, mayhem and acrobatic imagination. During this two-hour show, guests will marvel in amazement and become part of a celebration of spectacle and fantasy. The entire experience will be unlike anything else at sea.

Norwegian Epic will offer the next generation of Freestyle Dining with 17 dining choices and 18 bars and lounges. The ship also boasts unique nightlife options with the first Ice Bar at sea and Spice H20 with non-stop entertainment day and night; an expansive Aqua Park with the only tube slide and largest bowl slide at sea -- The Epic Plunge; seven decks of Freestyle Family Fun with highlights including a 33-foot high, 64-foot wide extreme rock climbing wall and the first ever rappelling wall at sea; the most bowling lanes at sea with six in two venues; a mixed-use sports deck with the ability for guests to engage in eight different athletic activities; as well as three separate kids’ and teen activity areas and the first squash court at sea.

Norwegian Epic incorporates several new types of accommodations – the curved New Wave staterooms; the largest ship-within-a-ship suite complex at sea, comprising 60 suites and villas on two private decks at the top of the ship; a new category of inside staterooms for the value-conscious traveler – The Studios and Living Room; and spa and family-friendly accommodations.-7350.

As a recipient of Carnival Cruise Lines’ Pinnacle Award, this marks the 10th consecutive year that Cruise Planners has been recognized by the “Fun ship” brand. The Pinnacle Award is given to top producers with high-volume sales who demonstrate exceptional professionalism, creative marketing techniques and outstanding support of the Carnival experience.

Just prior to receiving this award, Cruise Planners was honored with Crystal Cruises’ Millionaire Producer Award for generating more than $1 million in sales. It was the first time in the company’s 15-year history, and Cruise Planners’ SVP of Sales & Marketing Vicky Garcia accepted the award on behalf of the company at Crystal Cruises’ 19th Annual Sales Achievement Gala aboard the ultra-luxurious Crystal Serenity.

“We are delighted to honor Cruise Planners for their continued support of Crystal Cruises,” said Crystal President Gregg Michel. “Reaching the Millionaire Producer status is a great accomplishment, and Cruise Planners agents should be very proud of themselves.”

“We’re thrilled to have been able to reach top producer levels with both of these cruise lines,” said Garcia. “Cruise Planners is pleased to be in such good standing with our industry partners and will continue to exceed all expectations.”

“We are delighted with this great response to our World Voyages for Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth,” said Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line. “We were the first company to offer a World Cruise back in 1922, and it is gratifying that people are still seeking out that civilized and authentic Cunard experience – even in a time of economic turbulence such as we have at present. Queen Elizabeth, whose keel was laid in Trieste last week (2 July), will make her maiden World Voyage in 2011,” Marlow added.

Cunard’s two ships will visit 57 destinations in 34 countries. In addition to Queen Elizabeth making her maiden World Voyage, Queen Mary 2 will again sail the intriguing east-west passage for her fourth World Voyage. This popular route takes the ship from New York to Southampton via the Caribbean, South America, South Africa, Australia, Asia, the Middle East and Southern Europe before completing the 103-day circumnavigation.

Prices for a full World Voyage start at $19,995 per person – or just under $200 per day!

anniversary of the MaK 8 MAu 423 marine diesel engine of 1954 was celebrated. Caterpillar Marine Power Systems (CMPS) is actively supporting the operation and maintenance of the historic vessel by being a member of the sponsoring Society.

The "Stadt Kiel" was the type ship of a series of newbuildings of the thirties, built for regular service on the Kiel fjord. After being sunk in World War II and rehabilitated in Denmark the vessel was again deployed by the public transport company Kieler Verkehrs AG (KVAG) on the route between the central railway station and the coastal resort of Strande. On its way, the "Stadt Kiel" also regularly passed the Friedrichsort jetty located directly at the factory premises of the then MaK Maschinenbau Kiel AG.

In 1954 the original Krupp diesel engine of type S II 6, a six-cylinder four-stroke engine delivering 300 hp, was replaced by the current, more powerful MaK 8 MAu 423 engine. This directly reversible eight-cylinder four-stroke engine delivers a power of 520 hp at a speed of 375 rpm and has been providing reliable propulsion power for 55 years now. A fascinating feature of this engine from today's point of view are its freely visible, still uncowled valve stems and rocker arms. With a cylinder diameter of 290 mm and a piston stroke of 420 mm the MaK MAu 423 engine reaches a swept volume of 27.7 l/cylinder. Its fuel consumption amounts to 169 g/hph. In spite of its reliable propulsion system the vessel was put out of service by the KVAG in 1976.

After a longer odyssey, diverse moorings and different private owners, the "Stadt Kiel" was finally taken over in 1983 by the Society founded shortly before and presented for the first time again to the public at the Kiel Week international sailing event of that year. After a basic overhaul at the Hamburg-based Jöhnk shipyard the museum ship was finally put into service again in 1990. Although since then the "Stadt Kiel" has only been in service for about 500 hours per year, regular maintenance is required to keep the ship serviceable.

Already in the nineties a trustful cooperation between the Society and the then Krupp MaK Maschinenbau GmbH developed in connection with the maintenance of the MaK 8 MAu 423 engine. One of the joint actions was the cylinder liner and cylinder head overhaul in 1991/92. In 1998 all cylinders were refurbished in the factory complete with liners, pistons and bearings. And also today's Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG is actively supporting the operation of the vessel, e.g. by leasing the "Stadt Kiel" for company events.

As a technical monument of the Land of Schleswig-Holstein, the "Stadt Kiel" is at the same time a symbol of the success story of the MaK brand. To date, more than 10,000 MaK engines have been sold which regularly set new standards in terms of innovation, performance, and reliability. After the acquisition of Krupp MaK Maschinenbau GmbH by Caterpillar Inc. and the change in company name to Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG all Cat® and MaK branded marine engines are today distributed by Caterpillar Marine Power Systems (CMPS) based in Hamburg.

The support of CMPS for the "Stadt Kiel" is also a commitment to the values of the MaK brand which are nowadays in demand more than ever in the area of passenger navigation. Whether it is a RoPax ferry or a cruise vessel, MaK M 43 C engines are increasingly part of the ship's equipment. And although current power demand with up to six engines and a total power of 80 MW (107.000 hp) is incomparably higher – MaK's combination of innovative technology, high reliability and low operating costs continues to be a guarantee of success.

Situated on the eighth floor, the Duplex suite at the new Apex Waterloo Place Hotel combines classic heritage with contemporary glamour to create the ultimate experience in luxury accommodation.

Split over two levels and with breathtaking views across the city, the Duplex suite showcases luxurious accommodation at its finest. The decoration, fittings and appliances have been tastefully selected to maximize space whilst offering the latest in technology and innovation.

The lower level of the suite comprises a spacious living area and separate kitchenette fitted with fridge, microwave and safe. The living area is fully furnished with comfortable sofas, coffee table and a 42" flatscreen TV. It also doubles up as an office with a large desk, ergonomically designed chair and free wireless internet access and local calls.

The upper level of the suite offers a snug retreat – the perfect place to unwind after a long day in the city. The spacious room is designed for sheer comfort, complete with king-sized bed, snug cushions and your very own pillow menu.

The redevelopment of the Apex Waterloo Place hotel has revitalised Edinburgh’s first purpose built hotel which originally opened in 1819. The Grade A-Listed building still boasts many of its original features, and has been carefully restored to showcase the impressive architecture, including its grand receptions rooms and bedrooms.

The Apex Waterloo Place hotel is located at the east end of Edinburgh's famous Princes Street making it an ideal central location for Edinburgh's top shopping and tourist attractions at the heart of the capital.

The opening of the Waterloo makes Apex the largest accommodation provider in the city. The Apex Waterloo Place Hotel will join Apex’s existing portfolio of contemporary four star hotels located in Edinburgh, London and Dundee.

A new hotel is planned for Edinburgh in March 2009 and a further two in London, opening 2009 and 2010.