On my way to Cape Town I flew from Dallas to Amsterdam then Amsterdam to Cape Town. The flights were long - made even longer by a cramped coach-class seat but all and all everything was fine. I flew KLM. The service was very attentive and professional; reminded me of the good ol’ days when flying was special. But what impressed me most was how environmentally conscious every aspect of the service was; glass was used for serving, utensils were real, and plastic trays were replaced with molded biodegradable cardboard that not only saved on petrochemical products but also stacked tightly with less weight contributing to less fuel. Every aspect of the flight’s carbon-footprint has been calculated with offset measures on the ground for areas in which the carbon outlay is unavoidable. Even in the Amsterdam Airport I noticed recycling bins and a dramatic reduction in packaging material. In the United States we give a lot of lip service to being “green” and “sustainable” however I have yet to see any one industry aggressively invest in such a conversion. It can’t be because the public is not ready - I think most people in the States would applaud the change and the rest wouldn’t notice. Many people, myself included, would choose to travel with an airline or cruise line that advocates conservation and publishes the results of its attempts to reduce CO2 and support the environment, wouldn’t you?

Many of you already know that in September, longtime Cruise Director Barry Hopkins left Regent Seven Seas Cruises to join Seabourn. Barry will be on the Seabourn Spirit beginning November. Barry was hired to take out the company’s three new ships and has been busy in the Miami headquarters assisting with the onboard plans. I can’t think of anyone better than Barry to design the entertainment venues on a new ship. The Odyssey will be the first new Seabourn ship in the series and is scheduled to be launched in June 2009.

Taking his place at Regent is Ray Solaire. Ray has been with SilverSea for many years and took the reigns on the Mariner this fall with the Grand Asia-Pacific cruise. In addition to his work as Cruise Director, Ray is quite the entrepreneur with a beautiful stately home in England’s Lake District that he runs as a bed & breakfast with his brother along with a vegetarian restaurant, a jazz club and a bowling alley!

John Barron will be back on the Mariner in January for the Ring of Fire. I am excited to join John on the first portion of this cruise. No promises but we will see if we can get Lynsay and Luke on for a while - wouldn’t that be great!

And at the end of the Alaska season Bryan Townsend was talking about future projects in his home state of Texas. Located on what T. Boone Pickens calls the “Wind Corridor”, Bryan’s hometown of Amarillo will be at the heart of the development of alternative energy – and he wants to help lead the way. Don’t know what that will mean - if he’ll be trading the waves of the deep blue sea for the amber waves of Texas grain - but its a great cause and I support him in whatever he does. Go Bryan!

As the temperatures drop up north, bookings to southerly cruise destinations go up. Whether you are yearning for the brilliant beaches of the Caribbean or the glow of the Mediterranean sun, travelers fleeing winter’s cold are sure to find the perfect getaway on one of the many ships serving warm weather destinations. However, with so many of us feeling the pinch of the economic meltdown you may be wondering if you can afford a cruise this winter.

Knowing that everyone is watching their money this season, many cruise lines are offering great deals from US ports. Expect to see real bargains on cruises to the Mexican Riviera and the Western Caribbean. Be sure to look into the available air-sea packages and don’t be afraid to compare prices with discount air carriers. If you can book far enough in advance you might be able to get lower fares especially if you book online.

Another cost saving consideration – examine your priorities. If you choose to cruise because you’re in love with your favorite ship and its crew; you’re a wine connoisseur and partake of the included spirits; and you believe nothing can replace that onboard experience – then you know what you want. However, if for you the ship is just a convenient means of transportation to access several sun-filled destinations then perhaps this year you might consider a different cruise line. The least expensive cabin on a luxury cruise line can easily buy you the most expensive suite on a more commercially priced ship.

Finally, don’t dismiss the value of a mini-vacation. Even a three day cruise can be just what you need for a satisfying change of scenery that will reward and refresh.

Though I now have the time to post all the clips filmed in the Panama Canal, I am having problems transferring the format. So, I am ready to go but still need some additional help. Stay tuned. If you are an expert in this area - please let me know.