Europe for Visitors Blog

COSTA MAGICA in the Western Mediterranean

ABOVE: Costa Cruises was once named "Linea C," and the "C" is still used on the cruise line's funnels.

We recently published a 10-page review of a Costa Magica roundtrip cruise from Rome at Europe for Cruisers. Ports of call included Naples, Palma de Mallorca, Valencia, Marseille, and Savona (on the Italian Riviera).

The review is accompanied by a 51-page photo gallery that includes several hundred captioned pictures from the trip.

If you're interested in affordable European cruising with a multinational crowd, Costa and its main Italian rival, MSC, are two lines worth considering.

In addition to offering cruise itineraries throughout Europe, both lines operate convenient roundtrip cruises from Civitavecchia (the port for Rome) and Venice. What's more, passengers can board or disembark from those roundtrip cruises at several different ports along the way. 

For more information, please see our Costa Magica cruise review and photo gallery at Europeforcruisers.com.

'Panache' joins the European Waterways barge fleet

ABOVE: The hotel barge Panache on a French canal.

European Waterways Ltd. offers luxury barge vacation in France, Italy, Scotland, Ireland, England, Germany, and the Benelux countries. In 2012, the company will be operating a new vessel: Panache, a 12-passenger barge of classic Dutch design. The barge has six air-conditioned junior suites, a small heated pool, bicycles for use by passengers, and a crew of five (including a master chef).

Panache will begin its inaugural season with spring "Tulip cruises" in Holland, featuring shore excursions to Keukenhof Gardens and the city of Delft. (The cruises will include optional side trips to Floriade 2012, the once-in-a-decade World Horticultural Expo in the Venlo region of the Netherlands.)

Later in the season, Panache will move to Alsace-Lorrane for a series of cruises on scenic waterways between Nancy and Strasbourg.

We haven't seen Panache (except in the photograph above), but we did spend an enjoyable week aboard another European Waterways luxury barge, La Renaissance, in 2008. See our in-depth review, "A Barge Cruise in France," at Europeforcruisers.com.

For more information on the new barge, go to the Panache pages at the European Waterways Ltd. Web site.

Note: Panache and other European Waterways barges are available for whole-boat charters, with discounts for whole-boat bookings before January 6, 2012.

Photo: European Waterways Ltd.

Silversea Cruises opts for more intimate entertainment

ABOVE: The High C's perform operatic and modern classic songs. Left to right: Wendee Bresee, Jovani McCleary, and Anastasia Lange.

Production shows are a staple of cruise-ship entertainment, to the point where they've become a cliché. And let's face it: Compared to a full-fledged theatrical production, the average show on a cruise ship is like a high-school production of Grease with a smaller (albeit more professional) cast.

To their credit, the entertainment planners at Silversea Cruises have decided to ditch the ersatz Broadway approach in favor of a format that's better suited to its intimate, luxurious ships:

Over the next few months, they're rolling out a new "concert-style concept" with classically-trained vocalists and musicians. Musical styles range "from Motown to opera to pop and rock." (Silversea's press release doesn't mention country-western, so Grand Ole Opry fans may need to bring their iPods.)

And get this: If you think luxury cruise ships are stuffy, think again. Silversea's press release describes a show titled "Fabbalicious" that recreates the sound and look of ABBA:

"Designed to get the audience to their feet, singing and dancing along with the cast, the show celebrates what is arguably the most infectious and fun music of our time." 

Silversea's new shows are being produced by Choozi Entertainment, which creates and directs live stage shows around the world.

For more information about the musical themes, producers, and performers, read the Silversea press release.

To learn more about Silversea, its ships, and its European cruise itineraries, visit www.silversea.com.

We also suggest reading our archived reviews of two Silversea voyages in 2002-2003: a Silver Whisper Mediterranean cruise and a Silver Whisper cruise from Copenhagen to London.

Photo courtesy of Silversea Cruises.