If you’ve been planning a trip to Egypt, you’ve probably read a lot about the new Uniworld ship River Tosca that  sails the Nile River. She’ll be out of service from February 1–March 19, 2010, and here’s what the company CEO is saying about it:

A Message from the President & CEO of Uniworld

Dear Valued Uniworld Travelers,

There has been quite a bit of information written about the River Tosca since it launched a couple of months ago, and I wanted to take this opportunity to personally give you an update on where things stand.

Over the last several years, we have seen a growing interest in Egypt, which is a glorious destination. As a company, we saw the need and opportunity to provide travelers to Egypt with a Nile River cruise ship that would be of a similar high standard as our ships in Europe. Uniworld commissioned the River Tosca with the goal that it would be one of the most luxurious ships to sail the Nile.

Unfortunately, we experienced some unexpected challenges in introducing the River Tosca and we are not happy with the current quality of workmanship finishes in several areas of the ship. The most obvious examples are the floors in the staterooms, main stairwell and corridors which were damaged and scratched during the installation; the mosaic tiles in the restaurant; and the paint and woodwork in the staterooms. We have therefore made the decision to dry dock the ship for seven weeks to correct the current deficiencies. The ship will therefore be out of service between February 1, 2010 and March 19, 2010.

We do have an alternative ship, the Miriam, which we will use while the River Tosca is dry docked. Uniworld has successfully used the Miriam prior to introducing the River Tosca and the ship is a good substitute. The crew from the River Tosca – including the Hotel Manager, Executive Chef, and Executive Housekeeper, all Uniworld employees from our European operation, will be onboard the Miriam. We will also bring onto the Miriam some of the special amenities currently available on the River Tosca, such as bed linens, robes, slippers, and bath products. We will be offering a compensation package to those clients sailing on the Miriam as we understand that some of our guests will be disappointed with the ship change; however, we will work very hard to ensure they still have a wonderful vacation in Egypt.

We are also going to proactively reach out to our guests who are traveling prior to February 1 to update them on the status of the River Tosca.

This was a very difficult decision because we know that this will have an impact on our valued guests – some who have chosen to travel with Uniworld because they wanted to experience the new River Tosca. It is also a difficult decision because, even with the current deficiencies of the ship, the overall feedback we have been receiving from guests who have already traveled on the River Tosca is very positive. The Cairo program, the Tour Managers, the excursions, the food, and the service onboard the ship have all been very well received. And of course the destination itself is fabulous. It is however the right decision for us to make.

Uniworld has built our very good reputation today on being a very reliable river cruise operator and we are committed to providing our guests with a fantastic vacation experience and value – in every region where we operate. When we re-launch the River Tosca in March, we are confident that we will achieve this commitment in Egypt.

After several years of successfully launching ships in Europe, the experience in Egypt has been a humbling one for me and the entire Uniworld team. I want to personally apologize to any of our guests who we may have let down and please know that we are working hard to achieve our stated goal of operating a luxury product in Egypt.

Kind regards,

Guy Young
President & CEO
Uniworld River Cruises, Inc.

I really like what Abercrombie & Kent is doing with its organization, Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy. The tour packager that’s known for high-end expeditions to the far corners of the globe is now offering individuals the chance to be part of the solution to a local problem in a far-off location.

As the holiday season approaches, Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy is remindng everyone that donations make fantastic gifts for friends and family who have everything.

“This year the focus is on what money cannot buy—shared experiences and treasured memories,” says Abercrombie & Kent Vice Chairman Jorie Butler Kent, who guides Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy. “Our guests are looking for more meaningful ways to celebrate with their families and asked us to create a Gift Program that makes it easy to donate to projects making a difference in places they have visited.”

With the help of A&K’s 62 worldwide offices, Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy has identified grassroots organizations, spearheaded by dedicated local experts in conservation, education, community development, and public health.

These are inspiring gifts designed to honor a friend or family member.  Donations range from $10 for a simple HIV test to help prevent the transmission of AIDS to an unborn child to $500 for a field trip for Maasai children who have never been on safari.

Here are three programs being offered right now. Visit Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy to read about all donation programs throughout the world.

HIV Testing in Uganda
Uganda Bwindi Community Hospital
—$10 helps assess the HIV status of a local resident with a simple field test.

Restore a Natural Landmark 
in Morocco
Morocco—Protection of the Palmeraie—
$50 plants a tree to help restore the delicate ecosystem in this thousand-year-old date palm grove, a Marrakech landmark.

A Safari Field Trip
Kenya — Friends of Conservation—
$500 gives 20 Maasai children the chance to discover their natural heritage and learn the value of protecting wildlife with a field trip to the Masai Mara National Reserve.

Donations can be made online through Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy’s secure website www.akphilanthropy.org with 100 percent of all donations going directly to the project selected.  Gift certificates will be delivered to the recipient(s) electronically or printed and mailed.

To make a donation as a family—or in honor of a loved one—go to www.akphilanthropy.org. One hundred percent of your charitable gift to Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy goes directly to support local projects worldwide. Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy is established in the United States as a 501©(3) not-for-profit organization. Your charitable gift is tax deductible as provided by law.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxurySafariExperts.com

There is one silver lining to our current economic crisis: Cruise lines are starting to think more creatively and are offering deep discounts (Oceania Cruises), complimentary shore excursions (Regent Seven Seas), and new itineraries to entice all of us to book another vacation…soon.

There is one silver lining to our current economic crisis: Cruise lines are starting to think more creatively and are offering deep discounts (Oceania Cruises), complimentary shore excursions (Regent Seven Seas), and new itineraries to entice all of us to book another vacation…soon.

Windstar Cruises just announced two new seven-night Canary Islands voyages that are sure to pique some interest with fans of the line who were getting bored with the repeating itineraries in the Caribbean, Costa Rica, and the Mediterranean.

Ten years ago, Windstar offered a similar adventure in this region. On November 14, 2009, and again on November 21,2009, Windstar’s 148-passenger Wind Spirit motor-sail-yacht will call upon the following ports:

• Lisbon, Portugal
• At Sea
• Casablanca, Morocco
• At Sea
• Agadir, Morocco
• Lanzarote, Spain
• Las Palmas, Spain
• Santa Cruz De Tenerife, Spain

Double occupancy per person cruise fares start at $1,999.These two voyages are expected to sell out so call your travel agent or Windstar Cruises (1–800-258‑7245) for more information or to book a cruise.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxurySafariExperts.com

There’s a new luxury travel company offering customized, upscale vacations to Egypt: Travel2Egypt.

This endeavor is an offshoot of Travelive.com, and president Panos Chalvantzis explained why this new venture is focusing on Egypt: “Egypt offers great value for money with five-star accommodations and exceptional service. From its cultural and historical treasures, to serene Nile Cruises, to beautiful beaches along the Red Sea, Egypt is a destination that combines leisure and relaxation with educational tours, history and archeology.”

Travel2Egypt offers customized vacations as well as six suggested itineraries that combine Cairo stays with Nile River cruises, and Red Sea beach retreats.

For more information, visit Travel2Egypt or call 1-(888) 377‑5483.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxurySafariExperts.com