Join Lahaina Canoe Club for a Recreational Paddle Experience
January 28, 2012
So you like try paddle one canoe? Join Lahaina Canoe Club, located on Canoe beach just south of the Hyatt Maui Resort at the South end of Kaanapali beach on Friday at 5pm or Monday at 8am for an hour of Recreational Paddling, enjoying some great exercise, whale watching, Hawaiian history and culture - and a fabulous sunset at no extra charge!
Go to - www.LahainaCanoeClub.com for details or read below:
The weekly program has been designed to open up the opportunity for the community to enjoy outrigger canoe paddling led by experienced paddlers with the oldest Outrigger Canoe Club on West Maui.
Focus will be on the education, entertainment and enjoyment of our local environment using the canoe as a vessel for teamwork, fitness and community involvement.
Morning paddles will be more fitness oriented and evening a bit more socially structured; Bring a swimsuit, smile and willingness to learn and participate.
So, I decided to give it a try - I’m so happy - my okole is back in the canoe - I just returned home from my first Lahaina Canoe Club Recreational Paddle and it was fantastic! Talk about a club with aloha - they are amazing! They greeted us newbys (including 4 tourists) with the warmth and good nature I’ve come to expect in Hawaii.
They gave us tips and pointers even beginning at how to get into the boat to paddling the correct way for ease and movement of the canoe. Its all about timing and placement of the paddle in the water and moving in unison thereby ensuring the boat to skim across the water.
I’m at home now, showered and exhausted and happy. Do you think paddlers of old dined on red wine and shrimp cocktails?
For more insider tips contact the Travel Gal at 800 644-6659 or email teresa@luxuryhideaways.net
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M/S Paul Gauguin offers Luxury and Adventure with their SCUBA Dive Program
September 11, 2011
The Paul Gauguin was built with adventure in mind. There is an amazing Watersports Marina off the back of the ship where all of the watersports equipment is launched. From this marina you will easily be able to access the ocean and come face to face with a colorful parade of marine life, from magnificent parrot fish and clownfish to stately sea turtles. You will be able to hop aboard a windsurfer, launch a kayak, or embark on a Zodiac for optional diving adventures. Your first dive into crystal-clear waters will spoil you for anything else under the sun-or the seven seas. Also the ship’s small footprint enables it to navigate hidden lagoons that larger ships would never dare to enter.
While cruising the French Polynesia take advantage of the crystal clear water teaming with sealife and learn how to SCUBA Dive! The Paul Gauguin is the only luxury ship in the South Seas to offer PADI certification onboard for novice divers as well as classes at all levels, from snorkeling to advanced scuba diving techniques, supervised by their own staff of PADI dive masters. For the convenience of their guests, all necessary equipment, including an air compressor to refill scuba tanks, is onboard.
For more information contact the Travel Gal at 800 644-6659 or email Teresa@LuxuryHideaways.net
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Hawaii Shark Encounters - Thrill of a Lifetime!
August 26, 2011
Are you looking for an adrenaline rush on your tropical island vacation? Forget about Bungy jumping or Ziplines! We have the ultimate adventure for you! How about swimming with a shark? Well, swallow your fears and come face to face with one of Hawaii’s most majestic and misunderstood creatures of the deep!
Oahu’s North Shore has a large resident group of Galapagos and Sandbar sharks and Hawaii Shark Encounters visits a site where the sharks naturally occur to observe them. A specially designed shark cage not only protects but has plexiglass windows for a face to face encounter. Sometimes see as many as 30 sharks… and they come very close to the cage!
If you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, I don’t know if it gets better than this. Just getting in is a thrill, when sharks are circling the boat! You enter the floating shark cage from above (directly from the boat) and stay on the surface using a mask and snorkel (provided). Within just a few minutes of being inside the cage I relaxed and felt safe, realizing the sharks could not (nor were they trying to) get in the cage.
No experience is required. The best view is definitely from inside the cage but if going in the water is not for you, you can always stay in the boat and view sharks as they swim on or near the surface with fins slicing through the water.
In addition to being an unbelievable adventure, this is also an educational tour taking you into a world that few can ever experience. Guides offer fascinating facts about shark biology and behavior, about ocean life, conservation issues and about the significance of sharks in Hawaiian culture.
Hawaii Shark Encounters has been seen on National Geographic, Discovery Channel, CNN, Inside Edition, ET, Animal Planet and more! There are so many great reviews for Hawaii Shark Encounters…
“Absolutely Amazing” ”Don’t be afraid, be amazed” ”This was on my bucket list”
Boat departs four times daily from Haleiwa Small Boat Harbor on Oahu’s North Shore, for the 15 minute journey to the shark grounds (over 3 miles off shore). No rental car? No problem! We can include transfers from Waikiki if needed.
Word to the wise… it is a 32′ boat on the open ocean, and even on a calm day the boat still rocks! Early tour times offer calmer ocean conditions. Also, the water at the shark grounds is over 600 feet deep and you cannot see the bottom.
If you’re looking for THE wildest ride of your life, give the TravelGal a call at 800 644-6659
or email Teresa@Luxuryhideaways.net
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Crystal Cruises 16 Night Southern Summer Holiday
July 2, 2011
Depart from Auckland aboard Crystal Symphony December 20, 2012
Crystal Cruises has been awarded the “Best Large-Ship Cruise Line” for 15 years by Conde Nast Traveler. Enjoy an Italian elegance, scrumptious cuisine and an extensive wine list at the Prego restaurant with signature creations by celebrity chef Piero Selvaggio. Past guests rave about the unparalleled service, luxurious comfortable surroundings and sumptuous cuisine and extensive wine cellar.
Cruise Itinerary:
Day Ports of Call Arrival Departure
1 Auckland, New Zealand — —
2 Auckland, New Zealand — 11:59 p.m.
3 Tauranga, New Zealand 9:00 a.m. 10:00 p.m.
4 At Sea
5 Napier, New Zealand 8:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m.
6 At Sea
7 Lyttleton (Christchurch) N.Z. 8:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m.
8 Port Chalmers (Dunedin) N.Z. 8:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m.
8 Cruise Dusky Sound
9 Cruise Milford Sound
10 At Sea
11 At Sea
12 Sydney, Australia 8:00 a.m.
13 Sydney, Australia
14 Sydney, Australia — 6:00 p.m.
15 At Sea
16 Melbourne, Australia 8:00 a.m.
17 Melbourne, Australia depart ship
Your Package Includes:
Your package includes shipboard accommodations, ocean transportation, fabulous entertainment and daily activities, on-board meals and some beverages, port charges and more.
It does not include shore excursions, personal expenses, gratuities, or alcoholic beverages. Government fees and taxes are not included.
Call the Travel Gal for special pricing & details at 800 644-6659 or Teresa@Luxuryhideaways.net - Your Friend in the Islands!
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New Zealand-Hot Air Balloon or Skydive - Your Adventure Vacation!
July 2, 2011
New Zealand - Whats there to do? Are you looking for the ultimate New Zealand Adventure? Then lets review some options for you whether you arrive in New Zealand by land or sea, we are able to customize your holiday.
HOT AIR BALLOONING
You have to rise early to catch a hot air balloon flight, but the experience beats a sleep-in every time. As you float over a world that is only just waking up, your smile will be as wide as the horizon.
With the exception of Queenstown, hot air ballooning operators in New Zealand are usually found on the flatter parts of the country - North Auckland, Waikato, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa.
North Island flights will take you above lush rural areas, where you can observe an ornate natural tapestry of pasture, crops, vineyards, forests, roads, rivers, lakes and towns. In the South Island, the imposing Southern Alps provide an impressive snow-capped backdrop for hot air balloon flights that float over the sprawling patchwork of the Canterbury Plains.
From inflating the envelope at the beginning of your adventure to the champagne breakfast that marks the end of your flight, hot air ballooning is a long-lasting thrill.
SKY DIVING
Is it time to make the big leap? Sky diving is one of those things that many people say they’re going to do “some day”. Maybe that day is going to happen during your New Zealand vacation.
On a tandem skydive, where you’ll be strapped onto the front of a qualified jumpmaster, there’s plenty of time to admire the scenery on the way down. You can expect up to 60 seconds of free fall, followed by several minutes of peaceful floating before touchdown.
In the far north you can admire the beautiful Bay of Islands as you float towards the drop zone. The central north island has volcanic wonders to enjoy - crater lakes, geothermal areas and mountains. Canterbury, Wanaka and Queenstown deliver vast amounts of alpine scenery on your down-to-earth journey.
One of New Zealand’s leading skydive operators, and a winner at the 2008 New Zealand Tourism Awards, is Skydive Lake Wanaka. With Skydive Lake Wanaka, you can enjoy a personalised scenic flight up, 45 - 60 seconds of freefall at 200 kilometres per hour harnessed to your instructor, and five minutes of gentle parachute gliding towards the landscapes below.
The most southern jump on offer is in Te Anau - it’s a very imaginative way to see Fiordland!
SCENIC FLIGHTS
If you aren’t quite the daredevil, then lets look at a more comfortable way to view New Zealand. Sightseeing from a small plane or helicopter will give you the ultimate view of New Zealand’s spectacular geography.
You’ll be able to count the volcanic cones that are scattered across the face of Auckland; appreciate the immensity of Lake Taupo, a supervolcano that’s just biding its time; and glimpse the beautiful glaciers that tumble down from the peaks of the Southern Alps.
Flightseeing opportunities are concentrated in areas where the scenery is most extraordinary - Northland and Auckland, the central North Island, Canterbury, Queenstown, Fiordland and the West Coast.
Some operators combine airborne sightseeing with ground explorations. White Island, an active marine volcano in the Bay of Plenty, is a destination that uses this formula. At Mount Cook and Franz Josef a ski-plane operator makes glacier landings, so that you can get out and feel the quiet solitude of the mountains. Another rare treat is a flight to watch the whales at Kaikoura.
Contact the Travelgal to assist you in building your
ultimate adventure holiday to New Zealand
Teresa@Luxuryhideaways or 800 644-6659
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Sea the Great Barrier Reef Australia Cruise Adventure - Coral Princess Cruises
June 20, 2011
Australia Cruise Experience Up Close & Personal
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Coral Princess Cruises In Australia
Discover a paradise of remote and uninhabited islands on your Australia Small Ship Cruise - become a lazy beachcomber or an inquisitive adventurer on one of our 3, 4 or 7 night cruises between Cairns and Townsville. [Read more]
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Tui Tai Adventure Cruise & Dive Boat
May 22, 2011
For the trip of a lifetime, join Tui Tai Adventure Cruises and;
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Fiji’s only Luxury Adventure Class Cruise Vessel - Yacht Cruising At It’s Best.
Tui Tai, brings you the premier adventure cruise experience in the South Pacific. Designed for active travelers looking for the ultimate active style of Fiji Vacation, the Tuitai will take you sea kayaking through remote island atolls, whitewater rafting amidst lush rainforest canyons, snorkeling pristine reefs and immersing yourself in Fiji’s island culture.
How does the Tui Tai define adventure? [Read more]
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Tahiti Island Cruising With Nomade Yachting by Bora Bora Cruises
May 20, 2011
Explore the Tahiti Islands with Nomade Yacht Cruises and;
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Escape and cruise in style where all your senses will be awakened by the beauty of the Tahati Islands.
The decadence of a fine setting for breakfast feet in the warm lagoon waters, the magic of a cinema under the stars, the discovery of natural beauty whilst paddling a kayak up a river ,an exotic dinner with music and dances …On the occasion of a tropical cocktail at sunset, to listen to a selection of music of the world or to Polynesians polyphonies under a shower of stars, or the hedonistic pleasure of time spent in a Jacuzzi watching as the blues of the lagoon and sky slowly merge together… [Read more]
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Haumana Cruises - For a limited time only!
April 9, 2011
The Haumana will begin cruising the spectacular lagoon of Rangiroa in French Polynesia from July 09 until October 1st 2011.
There are two cruises from which to choose - but after I read them both - I would want to stay on for the entire week! Plan your dream vacations around either of the Haumana cruise itineraries listed below:
The Blue Lagoon Cruise - 3 nights, from Wednesday to Saturday
Wednesday : Haumana Base - Embarkation
Meet & greet at the Rangiroa airport
Polynesian welcome onboard, with flowers and tropical drinks, and check-in
Snorkeling tour at the Rangiroa’s natural Aquarium
Pre-dinner cocktail hour & presentation of the next day’s program
Dinner followed by fishing from the aft platform
Departure during the night for the Blue Lagoon area
Thursday : Blue Lagoon & Faama
Morning excursion to the Blue Lagoon of Rangiroa, stunning chain of islets within the lagoon of Rangiroa : swimming, sunbathing, shark feeding adventure.
Lunch onboard while the Haumana navigates towards Faama, also called the Reef Island
Afternoon at leisure in Faama : snorkeling, kayaking, “farniente” on the beach, fishing
Pre-dinner cocktails, presentation of the next day’s program and pareo tying class
Dinner followed by night fishing from the Haumana platform for those interested
Overnight in Faama and early morning departure the next day to Motu Ai Ai
Friday : Motu Ai Ai
Full day tour on Motu Ai Ai, starting with the exploration of the islet, and reef outing to get acquainted with the different species of fish, shells and sea urchins that can be seen in Rangiroa
Discovery of the “feo” fossilized coral formations, a lunar landscape typical of the Tuamotu archipelago
Swim in these natural pools, refreshed by the ocean’s waters
Coconut demonstration & BBQ lunch feet in the water
Afternoon at leisure on this Robinson Crusoe paradise islet : kayaks, snorkeling, fishing, “siesta”
Pre-dinner cocktails & Tahitian dancing, followed by dinner
Overnight in Motu Ai Ai and early morning departure to the base the next day
Saturday : Haumana Base - Farewell
Or, stay onboard and continue the adventure…..
The Pink Sand Cruise - 4 nights, from Saturday to Wednesday
Saturday : Haumana Base, Embarkation
Meet & greet at the Rangiroa airport
Polynesian welcome onboard, with flowers and tropical drinks, and check-in
Departure during lunchtime for Onetere
The Haumana will anchor in Onetere in the afternoon
Time at leisure in Onetere
Pre-dinner cocktail hour & presentation of the next day’s program
Dinner followed by fishing from the aft platform for those interested
Departure during the night for the Pink Sand area
Sunday : Shells Islet, Pink Sand Islet and Birds’ Islet
Morning visit to a local family on their private “motu” islet, the Shells Islet : discover their way of life, away from civilization. This family is one of the only ones still digging Rangiroa’s hostile grounds to find those very precious orange shells used in the islands to make the beautiful shells necklaces.
Snorkeling at the Coral Garden and lunch onboard
Afternoon at leisure at the Pink Sand islet, a beautiful natural sand bank floating above a crystal-clear lagoon Participate in a shark feeding adventure or relax on the beach
On the way back to the yacht, stop by the Birds’ Islet, a natural birds’ sanctuary
Dinner under the stars, on the beach, to the sounds of ukuleles and Polynesian drums
The Haumana remains at anchor overnight
Monday : Motu Teu & Kiroria
Early morning departure for Motu Teu
Morning excursion to Motu Teu explore the islet at your own pace. (Possibility for troll fishing early morning)
Coco demonstration and tasting followed by lunch feet in the water at Motu Kiroria
Afternoon at leisure : walk to the reef, snorkeling, kayaks, fishing or “farniente”
Pre-dinner cocktails, presentation of the next day’s program and pareo tying class
Dinner and fishing from the aft platform after dinner
Tuesday : Otepipi & Mauahatea
Morning excursion to Otepipi ancient village
Reef outing and discovery of the island’s fauna and flora
Lunch onboard and navigation to Mauahatea
Afternoon visit to Mauahatea : discover Rangiroa’s interesting landscape of “feo”, fossilized coral formations sculpted by time. Take a refreshing dip in one of the natural spa pools.
Overnight in Mauahatea and early morning departure to the Haumana base the next day
Wednesday : Haumana Base - Farewell
Today, it will be time to say farewell to the magic of Rangiroa and end your “paumotu” dream and your barefoot chic adventure in Tahiti and her islands.
Contact the Travel Gal for the best deals!!
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American Safari Cruise - March 2012 Family Sailings
September 14, 2010
The Hawaiian Islands - family playground at its best! American Safari Cruise will be offering 2 all-inclusive family sailings in March 2012.
Far from the typical family vacation getaway, a yacht cruise provides kids a fun way to learn about nature and other cultures. With one crewmember for every two guests, kids and adults alike are accompanied on a variety of personal-choice excursions while the yacht is at anchor. In a rare introduction to wilderness lifestyles, kids and the entire family will meet and interact with local residents of remote island communities.
An Inclusive Experience
Maybe you remember other cruises where you had to pay extra for tours and your drinks at the ship’s bar. Not with American Safari Cruises! With the exception of a gratuity for the crew - which they believe is a very personal elective - everything is included with the cruise. From your arrival at the airport to a fond farewell, you’re a pampered guest aboard the yachts. Everything’s included from the first to the last:
• Gourmet meals
• Premium wine, beer and spirits
• Kayaking and shore boat exploring
• Snorkel gear
• Exclusive shore excursions
• Onboard Expedition Leader/Naturalist or wine expert
• Airport transfers
• Port Charges, taxes, fees
• Visits with local residents - “talk story”
Dining is a true delight, a cornucopia of fresh local seafood, just-baked breads, hearty soups, exquisite entrees, sinfully delicious desserts. Everyone is served at one seating, family-style; dress is always casual. Of course, we’re happy to plan for any special dietary needs, and if there’s something you’ve got a craving for, let us know. Milestone events are celebrated in great style onboard.
Activities abound for all ages:
The opportunities are endless. Whether your family wants to kayak, walk on a remote beach, collect shells to study, hike in the temperate rain forest, or enjoy a full-scale picnic, you’ll find that our explorations are a blast! You’ll hop from shore-to-shore by shore boat, then there’s fishing and kayaking as well as checking in on the musical antics under the sea via the underwater Hydrophone and underwater camera. All of these activities offer an exceptional experience for the whole family. GUARANTEE IT…NO ONE WILL BE BORED!
Memories to Share:
At the end of a week of up-close adventure, the crew will present each family member with a photo disc of several hundred images to share and reminisce for years to come. Each child under 12 will receive other mementos of their various explorations.
Questions We Often Hear:
My kids are so active. Are they going to go stir crazy on a boat for a week?
On the contrary, kids kayak, hike, fish from the swim platform, with the help of the Expedition Leader/Naturalist and learn about nature from all of the crewmembers. They will be playing on rope swings, tubing, water skiing, snorkeling, beachcombing, cave searches, and other adventures await kids and adults alike.
Kids enjoy the hot tubs, games, kid-friendly DVDs and books available onboard. With so many varied activities at their fingertips, kids tend to forget that Nintendo even exists.
I’m worried about my kids disrupting the cruise for others. Will my kids be bored?
To ensure that everyone enjoys their yacht experience, we generally set aside special departures under our “Kids in Nature” program for families with kids under the age of 12. Educational and fun activities aided by take-home equipment provided by the Expedition Leaders keep the kids happy and busy. Bored - no; exhausted at the end of each day from kayaking, swimming and hiking - yes! Parents truly appreciate the all-out effort to ensure their kids come away with a well-rounded outdoor vacation. The other way that young kids are accommodated on our 12 - 36 guest yachts is when families charter the entire yacht.
What is the youngest age child that you can accommodate?
There is no age restriction. Families with kids between infancy and about five-years-old most often choose to book a private charter or take advantage of one of our “Kids in Nature” select departures. Life jackets are provided onboard for kids age five years and above (about 70 pounds and up). For younger children, it works best for parents to bring a custom-sized life jacket from home.
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