If a cruise is too much try, Windstar

FRIDAY, NOV. 23: For those of you who are not interested in a traditional cruise, then Windstar might be the line for you.

Windstar cruise yachts accommodate only 148 to 312 guests so the experience is more intimate.

The Wind Surf, which claims to be the world’s largest sailing yacht has 22,000 square feet of deck space for its 312 guests.

At 535 feet, it is half the length of the mega cruise ships now being produced.

It winters with a St Maarten to St Maarten seven-day cruise while it spends the rest of the year doing a variety of European cruises

The Wind Surf is currently in dry dock and will be debuting a new restaurant when it starts afresh on December 1.

Formerly known as Degrees, the venue will be transformed into a contemporary dining room with a French twist, and will be renamed Stella Bistro.

The newly created menu will draw on contemporary dishes with a French flair, as exemplified by entrees such as Coquille St Jacques Provençale, a seared, skewered scallops dish served on pappardelle and tossed with artichoke hearts, spinach and capers in a light, white wine sauce; or the Roasted Magret of duck, a duck breast and duck confit on cherry sauce paired with Parisienne potatoes and French beans.

To learn more about what’s happening with Windstar Cruises’ renovations, visit www.windstarcruises.com/renovations.aspx. 

Dancing with the Stars

Holland America will be debuted next year six themed cruises that will feature Dancing with the Stars events, which include dance lessons, a chance to meet the dancers, ask questions, take photos and a production show featuring the dancers.

Currently scheduled to appear on select sailings are two-time champion pro dancers Mark Ballas and Kym Johnson; pros Tristan MacManus and Lacey Schwimmer; and some of your favourite celebrity competitors. More dance pros and celebrities are to be announced.

 In addition to the theme cruises, every sailing on all 15 ships in the Holland America fleet will feature an exclusive Dancing with the Stars programme including dance lessons and an opportunity for some lucky guests to dance center stage in an exciting dance-off performance.  

These activities will feature the ships’ professional dancers and will be developed in collaboration with the show’s dancers and choreographers.

Asleep at the wheel

A report by the European Cockpit Association shows that four out of 10 UK pilots have fallen asleep while flying an aircraft.

If you think that is frightening, the survey reveals that 13 per cent of pilots have waken up to find their co-pilots asleep as well.

The British Airline Pilots Association is saying new proposals by the European Aviation Agency will only make matters worse.

The BAPA said the vast majority of its pilots do not file reports they are fatigued for fear of reprimands by the airlines.

US Airways

If you’re a business traveller who does a lot of short haul flights in the US, you can rack up the frequent flyer miles with US Airways.

The airline is offering 18,000 Dividend Miles for six segments between Boston, New York and Washington DC.

Flights must be completed by January 31, 2013. Even if you only fly three segments, you’ll get 6,000 miles.

American Airlines

If being green is important to you, then if you have a choice of airlines you may want to fly with American. For the third straight year it has been top US airline in Newsweek’s Green Rankings. It was credited for its fuel consumption, recycling habits and fleet renewal.