Stephanie Serino's Travel Blog

Windstar Cruises announced the purchase of three Seabourn ships yesterday (here's a link to the press release ). The original Seabourn fleet consisting of 208-passenger yachts  Seabourn Pride  (1988), Seabourn Spirit  (1989), and  Seabourn Legend  (1988) will join Windstar's fleet of three tall-masted sailing ships Wind Spirit (1988), Wind Star (1986), and Wind Surf (1990).  The Seabourn Pride will be the first ship to enter Windstar's fleet in April of 2014.  After renovations, the re-branded and re-named Pride will set sail a month later in the Mediterranean in May 2014; voyages are expected to go on sale in May of this year. Windstar will take possession of Seabourn Legend in April 2015 and Seabourn Spirit in May 2015. The yachts will start sailing in May of 2015 following their dry-dock period. This is a great move for Windstar Cruises, allowing them to expand to new destinations. They recently announced that the ...

Big news: US Airways  and American Airlines  are engaged! Here's the website created to update us on the progress of the new American Airlines .  Love is in the air!   Don't panic: it usually takes a couple years before the complete merger takes place. It will be business as usual at both airlines (which isn't saying that service has been great with either carrier). Your miles are safe. The frequent flier programs will be merged so you won't lose your miles. However, US Airways will transition from the Star Alliance to the OneWorld program. You have a year or so to consider your options. If you have status with either airline, this is a good time to switch loyalty programs (United or Delta may match your status and miles to woo you). Congratulations to them both on their impending union.

Chef John Suley (left) in the open kitchen Celebrity Cruises opened an exclusive pop-up restaurant at The Kitchen NYC and hosted dining events this week called “A Taste of Modern Luxury.” Celebrity’s own James Beard-featured chef, John Suley, served a three-course tasting menu that included several on-board favorites as well as dishes inspired by the culinary flavors of Manhattan. The event began with a welcome cocktail called The Big Apple created by Master Mixologist Junior Merino, aka " The Liquid Chef ." His concept, The Molecular Bar, is featured on Celebrity's Solstice Class ships (I cruised on the inaugural voyage of the Celebrity Silhouette in November 2011 and here's my review of the Celebrity Eclipse , which I toured in April 2011). Luncheon menu for Wednesday, January 30, 2013 Six of us from Tzell were joined by Senior VP of Sales Dondra Ritzenthaler to enjoy a lovely lunch. I ordered the Jerusalem Artichoke Veloute to start, and a bowl arri...