The new $19 million refurbishment of the 694-passenger Azamara Journey released a brief summary of their 2009-2010 itineraries. Azamara Journey will sail from Miami, FL to the Caribbean during the 2009-2010 winter season. It will conduct two Panama Canal sailings to an from San Diego, CA. The 2009 Europe schedule includes 20 new ports and some additional overnight stays. These European sailings are made up of 7 to 15 day trips and will visit a total of 96 ports in 36 countries. Athens, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Rome and Venice are the home ports for Europe.

Windstar Cruises, which operates a three-ship fleet of luxury yachts that explore hidden harbors and secluded coves of the world’s most treasured destinations, offers guests a unique opportunity to travel with world-renowned artist Jody Hewgill on a Barbados roundtrip sailing aboard Wind Surf, departing February 15, 2009.

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Uniworld River Cruises announces special pay-in-full and early booking discounts on river cruises through Russia, and Ukraine, the Black Sea and Istanbul. By planning ahead, guests save money while experiencing the big, bold and beautiful destinations of Russia, and Ukraine, the Black Sea and Istanbul.

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Onboard Orient Lines’ Marco Polo II, passengers will be able to sail to ports in the Baltic, Black Sea, British Lake District, Croatia, Northern Europe, and North Cape. The Europe Itineraries will begin in 2009.

Highlights for the Europe Itineraries include cruisetours, beginning or ending in Berlin. Also, there will be more exotic ports of call, including Szczecin, Poland; Bordeaux and Hornfleur, France; Villagarcia an Bilbao, Spain; Murmansk, Russia; Sarande, Albania; and Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, England.

New for 2009, Orient Lines will enhance each sailing with a free shore excursion in selected ports.

Most important, Marco Polo II will stay in select ports to give guest more time to explore larger cities. There will be two full days in Port Said so passengers can experience the world of ancient pyramids. In Istanbul, Lisbon, Rome, Athens, Copenhagen and St. Petersburg, passengers will be provided with enough time to get as much as they can out of the cities.

These sailings will be 11 to 37 days. If you want to find out more about these sailings, search for a date or contact your Member Concierge to book your next vacation on Orient Lines.

Top Cruise Club is at it again. We worked closely with Celebrity Cruise Lines to bring amazing offers to our members. This weekend you have many Celebrity Cruise sailings to choose from within the Celebrity Labor Day Sale. Book any of these Celebrity Cruises by September 1st with Top Cruise Club to take advantage of spectacular savings. Once booked, Members will receive a $150 onboard credit or a FREE shore excursion & cocktail party!

Sailings include the Mediterrenean and Europe starting at $79 per day. Want to explore down under? Australia and New Zealand cruises are starting at $66 per day. Also included are Panama Canal, Canada & New England, and Hawaii cruises.

To view all sailings that are offered within the Celebrity Labor Day Sale, please click here.

Not a Top Cruise Club Member? Join for free today and take advantage of these amazing offers.

If you like poker and need a vacation, then a poker cruise may just be what the doctor order. Many cruise lines are partnering with professional poker tour organizations to set up and manage onboard poker rooms. Many of these poker cruises offer live action and tournaments as part of a group poker cruise package.

Most cruises have a casino, however not all of them offer Texas Hold’em poker. The onboard casino will allow these temporary poker rooms to operate through the entire cruise, however they have two strict rules. The poker room must adhere to the operating hours and restrictions that apply to the casino, and no soliciting the cruise ship guests.

One company, DeepStacks Poker Training has added another feature to their poker cruises, and that’s professional poker training.

“DeepStacks has put together a full package poker cruise. We offer a VIP party for all group guests, a full day of advanced tournament strategies training with full time poker players and WSOP tournament champions, plus a $330 tournament, and live action cash games and sit-n-goes.” - Scott Prewitt, CEO DeepStacks

It’s a great way for families to get away, enjoying the best of both worlds - playing poker and cruising! Top Cruise Club has created partnerships with companies that hold poker events onboard cruise ships. There are many benefits to take advantage of when participating in a group poker cruise. Meet poker players from across the country to socialize with and learn from, receive special offers by participating in the group, as well as the advantages of cruising - entertainment, savory cuisine, and relaxation!

The best part about poker cruises is that they provide you with an opportunity to pay for your cruise vacation prior to returning!

To learn more about poker cruises email us at myconcierge@topcruiseclub.com. We will notify you when the opportunities arise.

Royal Caribbean Last Minute Poker Weekend Opportunity - Click here to learn more

Today, more options are better, especially when it comes to your vacation experience. And since the saying goes “customers are always right,” companies are making sure they provide their clientele with the options they desire.

Carnival Cruise Lines are providing their passengers with more dining options onboard their ships. Included with their traditional dining schedule at 6 pm and 8:15 pm, Carnival has developed a third option. Carnival’s president and CEO Gerry Cahill announced that Carnival is testing out open seating.

Even though guests love the traditional seating arrangement, Carnival wants to make sure that everyone is provided with the choices they want. So if you are a cruiser who likes to mingle with many different passengers, instead of being assigned a dining table, then the open seating option might be for you.

The third option is not a permanent addition to Carnival’s ships. However, if testing upholds a positive reaction, then the open seating experience will be rolled out fleetwide within the next year.

Leave the harsh North American winter behind and experience the warmth and beauty of the Mediterranean amidst the elegance and European and Italian ambiance of MSC Cruises’ two newest ships.

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Disney Cruise Line will host a red-carpet, world-premiere event for the new Disney Channel original series “The Suite Life on Deck,” a spin-off of the Emmy-nominated “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody,” on the Disney Wonder cruise ship Aug. 28-31.

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Top Cruise Club and DeepStacks Poker Training have created the ultimate Poker Weekend onboard Royal Caribbean International Sovereign of the Seas! This extraordinary deal takes you away for a poker and a Bahamian weekend.

The 3-day weekend cruise aboard the Sovereign of the Seas leaves September 19^th, 2008, departing Port Canaveral, Florida. You’ll sail to Nassau, Bahamas, while there you will learn advanced tournament poker strategies from the DeepStacks pros. From Nassau, you cruise to CocoCay to enjoy Royal Caribbeans International private tropical paradise. That evening, you get to use your newly learned skills in the DeepStacks Poker Tour Caribbean Classic. Returning to Port Canaveral on September 22^nd. Throughout the cruise, DeepStacks Poker will be spreading cash games and sit-n-go tournaments in their private poker room*.

Get your poker buddies together and book your poker weekend cruise today! Call 1-888-392-5643 or email us at myconcierge@topcruiseclub.com.

Poker Cruise Package includes:

• A Royal Caribbean 3-Day Cruise to the Bahamas departing from Port Canaveral, Florida
• VIP Party with Open Bar
• Full day Advanced Tournament Strategies Training with Team DeepStacks
• $330 buy-in into the DeepStacks Poker Tour Caribbean Classic
• Live action in the DeepStacks Poker Room*

*subject to the same opening and closing restrictions as the onboard casino

Poker Cruise Packages:

Poker Cruise Package for 2 - starting at $2,990* **

Bring a poker friend with you on the cruise! This package includes two (2) DeepStacks Poker Cruise Packages. Regular price $3,448, a savings of over $458! To book call 1-888-392-5643.

Poker Cruise Package + Guest Package - starting at $1,899* **

This package includes one (1) DeepStacks Poker Cruise Package plus one (1) Guest Package. Guest Package includes ONLY the cruise, VIP Party, and access to the live action in the DeepStacks Poker Room. Regular price $2,123, a savings of over $224! To book call 1-888-392-5643.

Poker Cruise Package per person - starting at $1,495* **

Double occupancy rate. This package includes one (1) DeepStacks Poker Cruise Package. Regular price $1,724, a savings of over $229! To book call 1-888-392-5643.

Other Packages and combinations may be available. Call for more information, please contact a member Concierge at 1-888-392-5643.

* Price is based on a Category G Oceanview Stateroom on board the Sovereign of the Seas. Stateroom upgrades are available for additional costs. Call for upgrade options/availability.

* Price INCLUDES Cruise Fare, Fuel Surcharges, Taxes & Fees, and Gratuities.

** Price does NOT include buy-ins to any of the live action in the DeepStacks Poker Room; travel insurance; parking; air transportation; transfers; optional shore and land excursions; meals and accommodations ashore; certain beverages; photographs; telephone calls; specialty restaurants onboard certain vessels; purchases from the ship stores or items of a personal nature, such as medical services, laundry, massages, spa treatments, hairstyling or manicures.

Deposits:

A 50% deposit on the total package price must be made to reserve your seat. The balance must be paid on or before September 9th. All cruise dates, times and departure ports may change without notice. All deposits are non-refundable.

Poker Related Itinerary:

Friday, September 19th, 2008: Port Canaveral, Florida

12:00 P.M. - Embarkation Begins

5:00 P.M. - Cruise Sails

7:00 P.M. - VIP Party Begins

Saturday, September 20th, 2008: Nassau, Bahamas

8:30 A.M. - Registration

9:00 A.M. - 6:00pm - Advanced Tournament Strategies Training

Sunday, September 21st, 2008: CocoCay®, Bahamas

9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. - A day at CocoCay®

8:00pm - DeepStacks Poker Tour Caribbean Classic

Monday, September 22nd, 2008: Port Canaveral, Florida

6:30am - Disembarkation Begins

To book this poker cruise, please contact your Member Concierge at 1-888-392-5643 or email us at myconcierge@topcruiseclub.com.