Scrumptious meals now seem to be playing second fiddle to such major attractions as bungee jumping on the Royal Caribbean Cruises for action loving cruisers who are not satisfied with the mundane Cha-cha, Samba or Tango movements and need some additional excitement. Partying with the provocative cast members of the marvelous Cirque du Soleil on some Celebrity ships is something to write home about. Even lecture programs on Personal Investing, World War 2, Photography and Wine Tasting and Gourmet Cooking demonstrations have been souped up to offer something new to attract the perennial cruisers. Terry Dale, chief executive officer of the Cruise Lines International Association, advised that the potential cruise passenger has greater choice than ever with every effort being made to get new first-time cruisers aboard. First-time cruisers like podiatrist Dr. Roy Zagon and his wife Jeanette of Merrick were delighted to find the different menus and informality at the 10 restaurants on the new Norwegian "Dawn." This ship sails to the Western Caribbean from New York. The Zagons have become cruise aficionados and are now looking forward to their next cruise vacation. Additionally, the "theme" cruise has become the order of the day for the cruise industry. People with similar interests can be found on the intimate 100-passenger river boats like the Delta Queen to the huge 3,000-passenger trans-Atlantic liners like Cunard's Queen Mary 2. Poker player devotees can sail to the Mexican Riviera ports of Puerta Vallarta and Mazatlan from San Diego on March 19 for seven days and possibly win the $1.87 million first-prize pot. The entrance fee is a mere $10,000 per player, plus the Holland America Cruise fee for seven days of sailing, watching movies about poker, attending seminars and learning the tricks of the trade by those "never move a face muscle" bluffing pros. For information call your travel professional or call (888) 999-4880 or visit www.cardplayercruises.com. History buffs can find a berth on a ship to "where history happened" on the History America Tours. From March 28 to April 12, you can witness the site of the "War in the Pacific in the Solomon Islands, and on June 12 to June 25 there will be a cruise into the Russian Past on a Journey to the Czars during the white nights in June. For information call your travel professional or call (800) 628-8542 or visit www.historyamerica.com. It is more than four years ago that Radisson Seven Seas Cruise's ultra luxurious ship the Marina offered cooking sessions with Cordon Bleu chefs, and now Barbara Muckermann, senior vice president of Silversea Cruises, announced that Silversea guests can take cooking lessons from Relais & Chateaux Gourmand Chefs in a specially designed site on the prestigious Viking ranges. What a way to cook!About 100 motorcyclists cruised the Eastern Caribbean on the Royal Caribbean and were the very first to disembark with their Harley-Davidsons for a triumphant ride through Saint Thomas. They declared that this is the only way to really see a country, then rejoined the ship and got ready for the next port and their ride through the arid Dutch side of the island of St. Maarten to the greener French side of St. Martin. Another biker cruise on the Royal Caribbean Cruise line to the western Caribbean ports of Kingston, Jamaica and Cozamel are in the works for 2007. Yes, there is a cruise vacation for just about every special interest group, from Harley Davidson enthusiasts, gays and lesbians, nudists, blue grass music lovers and classical music devotees, to name just a few. As for cruise destinations, it is Europe this summer. The weak dollar has made the cruise the most economic way to see Europe this year, since everything including the fare is paid in dollars, even shore excursions. I can certainly recommend the cruises from Monte Carlo to Rome, Italy's Amalfi Coast, the Croatian coast, and the Baltic ports of Stockholm, Copenhagen, Helsinki and St. Petersburg and just about every European port, even without my bungee jumping.Copyright by Marcia AbramsonE-mail: mascribe@aol.com
