Scientific American - Bright Horizons Cruise # 2

Scientific American, my very favorite magazine, is sponsoring a 10 day cruise to the Caribbean this December 7 to the 17th, 2008. The cool thing about this cruise is that it is being managed and run by the experts on "educational cruising" - InSight Cruises. The price for the best accommodations is $3,999 per person in their best suite for two. Very nice! The conference fee is $1,275. Checkout the links below to find out the different subject matters being covered in the conference. Of course, there are the other usual costs found with the cruise industry. And you will have to make your way to Fort Lauderdale, as well.

The cruise leaves from and returns to Fort lauderdale, Florida, with the following port visits:

HALF MOON CAY
ST. THOMAS, U.S.V.I.
ROSEAU, DOMINICA
WILLEMSTAD, CURACAO
ORANJESTAD, ARUBA

Click here to go directly to a source of the offer. Or click to do a search for Scientific American Bright Horizons cruise . And do be sure to visit Scientific American on the web as well.

About Us

The intention with this site is to collect together into one place, information about places where we would want to vacation. It's our biased opinion that everyone who visits here will agree that the places we are promoting are in fact pretty darn nice! Anyway, we encourage you to comment on the vacation opportunities we are highlighting here and to visit the websites we promote. Some are in fact very affordable given the experience provided.

As for the title of this site, it is an attempt to reverse psychology you into visiting because you can't stand the idea that something would be out of your reach. Forgive us for this childish approach.

Turtle Island in the Fiji Islands

Privately owned Turtle Island in the Fiji Islands looks like it could be a really nice place for your honeymoon. Or you could even take the whole family. Quoting the Turtle Island site: "During your stay on Turtle, home will be one of only 14 'bures', traditional, two room, thatched cottages built by Fijian craftsmen."

The 14 different cottages allow for up to 14 couples to be on the island at once. Couples can stay for $1,604 to $3,249 per night, depending on the cottage chosen. This does NOT include transport and taxes, which add a substantial sum to the total costs. You can also rent the entire island (14 cottages) for a mere $275,000 for 7 nights, though other fees and taxes likely apply. If children are involved, a cottage can hold 4 kids, so you'll be able to accommodate more than 28 humans.

It is worth noting that these rates include everything - booze and all. Fact is, you can leave your wallet at the airport in Nadi before you come over on seaplane - though I don't know who you will leave it with. Perhaps I'll volunteer to hold it ;-) But, do be sure to read the Turtle Island website in case I have accidentally misrepresented something.

Mouse over to fill the search input so you can edit it or just click to do this search for South Pacific Turtle Island Fiji. Click here to go directly to the Turtle Island site.

106 Day Luxury Pacific Cruise

The Crystal Cruises "Pacific Circle Celebration" cruise is a full tour of the Pacific Rim if I ever saw one. A luxurious one at that. The cruise departs LA on January 21, 2009, returning to LA 106 days later on May 7, 2009. It is possible to have a shorter stay on board by choosing different ingress egress points, but who would want to do that? The rate sheet says this cruise, with the best accommodations will cost $280,060. Better hurry and book though, as there are not that many penthouse cabins, with their luxurious space of 1,345 square feet. Lesser cabins (nice) will be $83,285 according to the rate sheet. You mileage will vary, depending on whom you book through and availability.

The ship "Crystal Serenity" has only 1,080 passengers so the ship is pretty open and uncrowded. With her crew of 655, your stay ought to be pretty well managed!

Mouse over to fill the search input so you can edit it. Or just click to do the search for World Cruise 2009 "Pacific Circle Celebration" to find many choices for booking this cruise. Or, you could click here to go directly to a source of the offer.

Here is a list of ports of call. This doesn't include places where ship transits but does not dock. Visit one of the cruise booking sites for full details.

Los Angeles/San Pedro, California, USA
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Islands
Rangiroa, French Polynesia
Mooréa, Society Islands
Papeete, Tahiti, Society Islands
Bora Bora, Society Islands
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Suva, Fiji
Nouméa, New Caledonia
Waitangi, Bay of Islands, New Zealand
Auckland, New Zealand
Tauranga, New Zealand
Napier, New Zealand
Wellington, New Zealand
Cruising the South Pacific Ocean
Dunedin, New Zealand
Sydney, Australia
Melbourne, Australia
Adelaide, Australia
Fremantle/Perth, Australia
Broome, Australia
Komodo Island, Indonesia
Bali/Pedang Bay, Indonesia
Semarang/Borobudur, Indonesia
Singapore
Bangkok/Laem Chabang, Thailand
Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Chan May, Vietnam
Ha Long Bay/Hon Gai, Vietnam
Hong Kong, China
Xiamen, China
Shanghai, China
Nagasaki, Japan
Osaka, Japan
Shimizu, Japan
Tokyo/Yokohama, Japan
Otaru, Japan
Petropavlovsk, Russia
Dutch Harbor, Alaska, USA
Kodiak, Alaska, USA
Seward, Alaska, USA
Ketchikan, Alaska, USA
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
San Francisco, California, USA
Los Angeles/San Pedro, California, USA

Necker Island in British Virgin Islands

Necker Island is a small island in the British Virgin Islands just north of Virgin Gorda, located at 18°31′38″N, 64°21′29″W. Privately owned by Sir Richard Branson, you can rent the entire island - or during selected periods, rent for two, sharing the island with other couples. Many a famous person has stayed at the island, originally conceived as a luxury location for entertaining rock bands under the Virgin Music label.

If you want to rent the entire island for 10 days, it would set you back a cool $470,000. BUT, you could bring along 27 of your BFF. Or, if you just want to bring along your significant other, and do a little island sharing, it will cost between $23,500 and $26,250 per week, depending on which rooms you settle for. Everything is in the price, including meals and booze. Nice. Though I think you might have to pay extra for that massage you might need. The island includes a staff of 50 to make sure your stay goes well.

Mouse over to fill the search input so you can edit it. Or just click to do the search for Necker Island Sir Richard Branson to find out a whole lot more about this little relaxation spot. Or, you could click here to go directly to the source of the offer.

105 Day Luxury World Cruise

How about a 105 day Cunard Ocean Liner World Tour dubbed the "Exploration of Distant Horizons". It is scheduled to leave New York City, NY on January 10, 2009 and return to New York City, NY on April 26, 2009. It does require a transfer in Southampton, England from the Queen Victoria to the Queen Mary 2. You would be on the QM2 for only 7 days, at the end of the cruise, for a total cruise of 105 days.

Traveling in the VERY BEST accommodations, in the "Queens Grill - Grand Suites Q1" will cost you $229,970. If you decide that is a bit much, you can opt for the lowest option of an inside room on deck 8 for $22,251. There are of course many options between. These prices do not include fuel surcharges and other extraneous expenses one would expect to pay on a cruise. However, as I understand, the higher priced options in the top decks are going fast. You better hurry and book real soon!

Mouse over to fill the search input so you can edit it. Or just click to do a search for Cunard "Exploration of Distant Horizons" World Cruise. Or, you could click here to go directly to a source of the offer.

BTW, here is the list of places being visited:

New York, New York
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Willemstad, Curacao
Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Los Angeles, California
Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
Apia, Western Samoa
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Auckland, New Zealand
Christchurch (Lyttelton), New Zealand
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Sydney, Australia
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Rabaul, Papua New Guinea
Saipan, Mariana Islands
Nagasaki, Japan
Pusan, South Korea
Shanghai, China
Hong Kong
Nha Trang, Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City (Vung Tau), Vietnam
Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Thailand
Singapore
Phuket, Thailand
Goa (Mormugao), India
Mumbai, India
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Aqaba, Jordan
Alexandria (for Cairo/Giza), Egypt
Kusadasi (for Ephesus), Turkey
Istanbul, Turkey
Mykonos, Greece
Athens (Piraeus), Greece
Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
Barcelona, Spain
Southampton, England
New York, New York

Spanish Villa in Catalonia for 20

Can Carreres is a stunning 16th century converted farm house about 30 minutes from Barcelona. It is delightfully decorated with taste and simplicity. This villa has plenty of technical touches that will make you feel right at home. A beautiful property which has 10 bedrooms, sleeping up to 20 people.

Beginning in January of 2009, the property will have availability to the third floor, opening up to use by up to 30 guests. You know that business meeting you were planning ? Well maybe there is room now ;-)

Isn't this where you should take your wife, the kids, their wives and your grandchildren? Weekly rental prices will range in the $4,000 to $12,600 range, depending on broker, exchange rate, season and availability.

Mouse over to fill the search input so you can edit it. Or just click to do a search for Can Carreres Catalonian rental villa.

Travel via Private Jet

How about a National Geographic sponsored, 24 day trip around the world by private jet. Not only will you travel in luxury in a Boeing 757, you will be guided by experts and stay in luxury hotels along the way. They have a number of trips planned but many are wait list only. Better get in line soon. The trip, as of today, will only set you back $56,950 - but I'm sure it is worth it.

Here is the list of places to be visited: Washington, D.C.; Lima, Peru; Cusco/Machu Picchu; Easter Island, Chile; Apia, Samoa; The Great Barrier Reef, Australia; Angkor, Cambodia; Chengdu, China; Xi'an, China or Lhasa, Tibet; Taj Mahal, Agra, India; Tanzania; Luxor, the Pyramids, and the Sphinx, Egypt; Marrakech, Morocco; Washington, D.C.

Mouse over to fill the search input so you can edit it. Or just click to do a search for National Geographic private jet world tour. Click here to go directly to a source of the offer.