Silversea Alaska Sailing to Focus on Food & Wine

Silversea's Silver Shadow is sailing Alaskan waters this summer and in addition to the breathtaking scenery and adventurous shore excursions, the line will also spotlight food and wine on its June 21, 2008 voyage. In fact, Silversea has asked John Shafer of Shafer Vineyards in Napa Valley, California, to host a special "Wine & Food" enrichment program.

John will lead various wine tastings throughout the voyage as well as a private tour and tasting at the end of the journey at Shafer's Hillside Select.

Randy Aprill, Executive Chef at the elite Silicon Valley Capital Club in San Jose will also be onboard. Aprill was formerly a chef in the White House, where he cooked in the president’s kitchen for State dinners and dignitaries. John and Randy will offer wine tastings, group discussions, culinary demonstrations, and an exclusive winemaker dinner featuring Shafer wines and Aprill’s signature cuisine.

Shafer wines have earned much critical praise since the vintner’s first cabernet was produced in 1978. Shafer was one of a few wineries selected worldwide to be featured in Robert M. Parker, Jr.’s book, The World’s Greatest Wine Estates, where he writes that Shafer is “one of the world’s greatest wineries.” Wine & Spirits magazine also places Shafer “among the world’s Top 25 Great Vineyards.”

Cruises will also get to experience Silver Shadow’s new state-of-the art culinary theater equipped with professional-caliber appliances and cookware custom designed by Viking Range.

In addition, expert Alaska guides will be on board to add personal insights and offer slide lectures of the history, nature, and peoples of the region as the ship navigates Alaska’s pristine glacial passages.

The 10-day voyage aboard the intimate, all-inclusive Silver Shadow sails from Vancouver to under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco with calls in Sitka, Haines, Juneau, and Ketchikan, Alaska plus Prince Rupert, British Columbia.

Photo courtesy of Silversea.

Perfect Hawaiian Honeymoons Aboard Safari Explorer

If you’re planning a honeymoon—or any romantic cruise getaway—check out American Safari Cruises’ new Hawaii Honeymoon Package. It’s offered on the line’s soon-to-debut 145-foot, 36-guest yacht Safari Explorer. This is the first luxury ship to offer inter-island Hawaiian cruises. The ship and her all-American crew will visit Molokai, Lanai, Lahaina on Maui, the Big Island, and several snorkel/dive sites. (Click here to read another blog entry about the new itineraries.)

The romance package includes one of two top-deck balcony suites that feature a living room with a large, flat-screen TV, master bedroom with king-size bed and Tempur-pedic mattress, refrigerator stocked with the couple’s favorite beverages, and bathroom with heated tile floors and Jacuzzi tub. The couple will also receive a private helicopter tour of Volcanoes National Park (other guests will fly with up to five others), and be feted at a honeymoon celebration one night at dinner.

The couple will be welcomed with Dom Perignon champagne on ice; a platter of chocolate-covered strawberries, fine cheeses, and grapes; a rose-petal strewn bed; and two personalized keepsake pillows. They will have first choice of complimentary massage appointments, and their preferred wines will be stocked in the yacht’s wine library.

The Honeymoon Package begins at $7,395 per person and includes from-yacht activities, shore excursions, private transfers, and complimentary premium spirits and fine wines.

For more information, call your travel agent or contact American Safari Cruises at (888) 862-8881.

Photo courtesy of American Safari Cruises

The Shekhawati Region

After a good night sleep we were up early morning on the 2nd day of our trip for the visual splendor. We were ready by 8:00 a.m after the good continental breakfast. (Click on all the images for bigger & clear picture)

We visited various Havelis constructed by wealthy business men in the nineteenth century in the Shekhawati region. These Havelies are decorated with colored painting adorning their walls. But as the merchant families migrated, these visual attractions did not fade away and today they are some of the major attractions for the tourists visiting Rajasthan.

Next we visited Mandwa's imposing fort, right in the center. Castle Mandawa was build in 1755 by Thakur Nawal singh, a descendant of Rao Shekha, the founder of Shekhawati. Two imposing gateways lead to the central courtyard where cannons stand as a reminder of the past when they were used to repel the enemy. The palace in the fort hosts beautiful paintings. At present it is converted into the most famous hotel in the region.

From Mandwa we moved to Fathepur. The town is packed with elaborately painted mansions, temples, wells and chhatris. The Hawelis in this region depict the scenes from Mahabarath and Ramayana.

With this due to shortage of time we decided to travel to Bikaner, the camel country.

Distance: Mandwa ---> Bikaner is 164 kms

P.S: Shekhavti comprises of important towns like Mandwa, Fathepur, Jhunjhunu, Nawalgarh.