Ally

BOSTON—Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises, the leader in international small ship travel for Americans over 50, was named one of the 2007 “World’s Best Small-Ship Cruise Lines” by readers of Travel + Leisure magazine. The World Best Awards, which uncovers Travel + Leisure readers’ favorite hotels, cruise lines, airlines, cities, islands, tour operator/safari outfitters and car-rental agencies, were announced in the magazine’s August issue.

“We are gratified to have been recognized for our small ship vacations by Travel + Leisure readers for the second year in a row,” said Alan E. Lewis, Grand Circle’s chairman and CEO. “We’re especially pleased to offer high quality experiences at a value that can be hundreds and even thousands of dollars less than comparable vacations offered by others.”

Winners were based on survey responses of Travel + Leisure subscribers. In the “small-ship cruise line” category, readers rated the ships’ cabins, food, service, itineraries/destinations, activities and value. (For complete results and methodology, please visit: 2007 World's Best Awards | Travel + Leisure.)

Grand Circle Small Ship Cruise Line was established in 1998 as a division of Grand Circle Corporation, the leader in international travel, adventure and discovery for Americans over 50. The fleet of 50+ ships includes 16 river ships in Europe, Russia and Egypt (11 are custom-built): six rustic barges; a 16-passenger expedition vessel in the Galápagos; the new, 50-passenger M/S Athena that launched in the Adriatic/E. Mediterranean in May (sister ship to launch this fall); the M/S Paul Gauguin in French Polynesia; and more than 25 exclusive charters.

Grand Circle offers more than 40 river cruises, barge trips, and small-ship adventures that range from 16 to 330 passengers. Prices begin at about $125 a day for a 16-day “Romance of the Rhine & Mosel” cruise, with included international air from Boston, Newark or New York, to about $326 a day for an 11-day M/S Paul Gauguin cruise to the Tuamotus & Society Islands with international air from Los Angeles. In 2007 to-date, 82% of travelers have rated their Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises experience as excellent. For a free small ship catalog or copy of “101 Tips for Small Ship Travelers Abroad,” please call 1-800-248-3737.

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Ally - CruisingTalk Administrator

1965 - Cunard Queen Mary
1967 - Cunard Queen Elizabeth
1970 - Cunard Queen Elizabeth 2
1971 - P&O Oriana
1972 - SS France
1975 - SS Leopard
1977 - P&O Canberra
2005 - NCL Norwegian Jewel - Shakedown Cruise - Jersey
2005/6 - NCL Norwegian Crown - Chile, Cape Horn, Falkland Islands, Uruguay & Argentina - Christmas/New Year cruise
2006 - Fred Olsen Braemar Mini Cruise - Amsterdam & Zeebrugge
2007 - Fred Olsen Braemar Transatlantic - Jamaica, Cuba, Bahamas, Bermuda & Azores
2007 - Fred Olsen Braemar Mini Cruise - Guernsey & Amsterdam
2007 - NCL Norwegian Gem - Shakedown Cruise - Amsterdam
2008 - Costa Allegra - Hong Kong, Philippines, Borneo, Brunei, Singapore, Saigon, Da-Nang & Sanya

Coming up next.....

10/10/2009 - Costa Classica - Grand Oriental Cruise - Shanghai, Nagasaki, Tokyo, Kobe, Naha, Keelung and Hong Kong - 16 Nights Cruising in: 311 day(s), 12 hour(s), 7 minute(s)

Captain Larry

If you want to try a GCT Cruise (or land tour, for that matter), you can save a few dollars by getting a reference from someone who has traveled with them before. Besides me, I know that FlRic fits in that category, and there are probably others of our happy family. Give one of us a shout and we'll get you the details. Not totally altruistic, of course. We also get a discount on our next trip if you mention us when you register.