hotels articles

NEW YORK — The Buckingham Hotel, “home away from home,” to Gotham-bound artists and musical performers, unveiled the three winning paintings at an exhibition and awards ceremony for the second annual “Buckingham Prize for the Expression of Music through Art.”

The Hotel announced art student Malado Baldwin, of New York Studio School, as the Grand Prize winner.

“The idea of expressing music in a painting intrigued me immediately, and I found that the Buckingham Prize was challenging and exciting,” says Malado Baldwin. “l often see music when it’s playing; it registers emotionally through colors and shapes. I invented melodies while I created the Buckingham piece, so you can say that I actually composed it.”

Baldwin’s piece, “Modulations,” a double painted canvas oil diptych that is rendered in pale blue with waves of dot-like “melodies” moving over the surface, was awarded the grand prize. “Capriccio” by Peg McCreary of the renowned Art Students League, took second place and “Concerning Music,” by John Dechamp of Memphis College of Art, third. The work of the winners was unveiled by Stephen Shapiro, Managing Partner of the Buckingham Hotel on Nov. 30.

“Modulations,” culled from entries from around the country, was awarded $7,000 and will be displayed by the Buckingham Hotel in its grand lobby; additional cash purchase prizes of $2,000 and $1,000 went to McCreary and Dechamp.

Determination of the finalists of the Buckingham Prize was made by a prestigious panel of judges, including Graham Nickson, dean of New York Studio School; Ira Goldberg, director of the Art Students League; Dennis Adams, acting dean, School of Arts, Cooper Union; Annette Blaugrund, Ph. D., National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts; John Torreano, program director of the MFA program in Studio Art at New York University and Barrett White, assistant vice president of Christie’s Post-War and Contemporary Art.

The Buckingham Hotel, located across from Carnegie Hall, sponsors this competition because of the musical heritage that is woven throughout its history; which, when combined with West 57th Street’s own artistic tradition, results in “musical artwork.” The property was once home to such luminary musicians as Ignacy Jan Paderewski and Giovanni Martinelli.

“The Buckingham Prize celebrates the extensive musical history of the property, while honoring West 57th Street’s own long-standing artistic traditions,” says Stephen Shapiro, the hotel’s managing partner. “For three-quarters of a century, the Buckingham has been home to world-renowned musicians, performers and artists from across the world, so the Hotel saw this competition as a fitting contribution to both the performing and visual arts.”

The three paintings have become a part of the Buckingham’s permanent collection of musically inspired artwork, that already includes “Bounce Fugue”a multimedia and installation created entirely from musical instruments, which graces the Hotel’s entrance hall in eight different display boxes. The Buckingham collection also features portraits of Arthur Rubenstein and Mstislav Rastropovich by the late School of Paris painter Arbit Blatas, on loan by his wife, Regina Resnik, who is one of the world’s greatest living opera performers.

The Alonquin Hotel is truly one of New York’s oldest and most exclusive hangouts. A favorite spot for some of this country’s most illustrious literary minds of the 20th century, it is also legendary and full of history. To this day, no one can mention the name of famous writer Dorothy Parker without immediately thinking of the Algonquin. The history that surrounds this phenomenon goes something like this:

Shortly after World War I, Vanity Fair writers Dorothy Parker, Robert Benchley and Robert Sherwood began lunching at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City. In 1919 they gathered in the hotel’s Rose Room with some literary friends to welcome back journalist Alexander Woolcott from his service as a war correspondent. The lunch was intended as a . put-down of Woolcott’s pretensions (he had the annoying habit of beginning stories with, “From my seat in the theatre of war … “), but it proved so enjoyable that someone suggested it become a daily event. This led to the daily exchange of ideas, opinions and often-savage wit that has enriched the world’s literary life and its anecdote collections as well. Literary icons George S. Kaufman, Heywood Broun and Edna Ferber were also in this august assembly, which strongly influenced writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. Though society columns referred to them as the Algonquin Round Table, they called themselves the Vicious Circle. “By force of character,” observed drama critic Brooks Atkinson, “they changed the nature of American comedy and established the tastes of a new period in the arts and theatre.”

Today, the Algonquin retains that air of privacy that made it so famous and such a perfect venue for these extraordinary thinkers. A welcome, quiet spot amid the raucous noise of downtown Manhattan, the hotel is barely a few steps away from Times Square, Broadway shows and some of the world’s finest shopping.

Walking into the hotel’s lobby you can quickly notice, and appreciate, the preserved Edwardian decor of its 1902 opening. Mornings at the hotel are peaceful, with mellow jazz in the air and the ubiquitous smell of coffee. A popular spot for business people, the hotel’s lobby usually thrives with professionals meeting to discuss publishing projects and with guests reading the daily newspaper or magazines. By early evening, the hotel regains its legendary, trendy “bohemian” aura, attracting a well-varied, if mostly jet-set type of crowd.

The Oak Room, the hotel’s only restaurant, sits at the far end of the lobby, and it features the famous “Round Table” as its centerpiece. But what makes this restaurant unique is that dinner comes complete with a cabaret show. During its regular cabaret season, September through June, performances are held Tuesday through Saturday at 9pm, with a dinner seating at 7pm. An additional late show on Fridays and Saturdays is held at 11:30 p.m., with light fare available at 10:30. Expect to see cabaret-genre icons Andrea Marcovicci, Harry Connick Jr., and Michael Feinstein among the stellar lineup. It’s a rather complex dining arrangement that offers a fixed price dinner and a show, all bulked up into one. The menu is well worth the money, and it features appetizers such as Chilled Tiger Shrimp Cocktail and Atlantic Smoked Salmon. We tried the Salmon and were convinced we had made the right choice. It made us all the more eager for the entree, which includes Pan Seared Filet of Beef, Roast Duck Algonquin and Black Striped Sea Bass among others. We sampled the Pan Seared Filet, which came with buttermilk mashed potatoes, caramelized onions and sauteed broccoli. The meat was aged and cooked to perfection; the mashed potatoes and the onions were truly to-die-for, but the broccoli was a bit too crispy for our taste. Still, it was delicious, and it was all served with class and distinction by the restaurant’s apt and friendly staff. A cover charge of $50 is usually- charged per person, along with a dinner charge of $60 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Dinner is required for early shows on Friday and Saturday, other times a $20 minimum is required.

The rooms at the Algonquin are a far cry for the typical, Vegas style “mega-rooms”, with lots of space and new gadgets. Instead, the Algonquin has retained its classic turn-of-the-century atmosphere and character, which makes for a much more intimate experience. Standard rooms are, by all modern standards, considered somewhat small, but they are decorated with handsome, understated furnishings designed to be as restful to the eye as the body. Modern amenities have been added in order to ease the burdens of 21st Century travelers. Still, if you are traveling with company and can afford the upgrade we highly recommend the two-bedroom suite at the very minimum instead. A special piece of American lore, The Algonquin Hotel is definitely a unique hideaway worth visiting on your next trip to the Big Apple. Check it out!

DOT investigates air traffic control failures. The failure of air traffic control equipment at a Palmdale, Calif., facility this summer cost airlines hundreds of thousands of dollars. Airport officials and lawmakers are questioning whether systemic problems are to blame. The Department of Transportation’s inspector general is investigating the incidents, but technicians, controllers and FAA officials are divided on the nature and scale of the problems.

Staffing, maintenance added to ATC problems, technicians say. A change in maintenance philosophy caused several air traffic control problems this summer in Southern California, according to Federal Aviation Administration technicians. FAA officials say staffing and maintenance were not factors in the July outage in Palmdale and a subsequent problem at Los Angeles International Airport in which a critical landing system malfunctioned. Oct 14, 2006

Planners expect huge growth at small New England airports. By 2020, the number of people flying through New England’s 10 busiest airports will have increased 70%, federal aviation planners predict. They expect huge increases at three Connecticut airports rarely used now. Some politicians say the projections for Bedford and Worcester, Mass., and New Haven, Conn., are difficult to believe and add that the towns would oppose dramatic airport expansion.

Items abandoned at airports boost states’ revenue. Many items surrendered by travelers at airports are sold by state agencies at low prices. The sales generate $26,000 a year for New Hampshire. Officials say about 80% of the items collected by the Transportation Security Administration are cigarette lighters. Oct 10, 2006

Chicago

Train service will connect Chicago downtown to airports. By the end of 2008, Chicago officials will begin nonstop passenger train service from downtown to the city’s two main airports. The project, a partnership between the city and private organizations, will cost $280 million.

Chicago airport

Chicago airport embarks on $6.6B modernization project. Construction on a $6.6 billion modernization project has begun at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The project will include reconfiguring runways and adding an air traffic control tower, among other things.

Chicago Airports

Non-stop Rail Service Planned to Both Chicago Airports. By the end of 2008, travelers in Chicago will be able to ride on non-stop rail service from downtown to the city’s two main airports, USA Today reports. Oct 15, 2006

Dallas/Fort Worth

Wright deal won’t lower fares at D/FW, experts say. The newly approved Wright agreement won’t dramatically lower fares at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, experts say. American Airlines already offers nonstop flights to nearly every city from the airport. Southwest Airlines, which operates from Love Field, will have to connect passengers through cities such as St. Louis, Houston, or Albuquerque to reach other destinations.

Dallas/Fort Worth

Construction on Dallas taxiways about to start. Officials at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport say new perimeter taxiways will improve safety and allow more flights to take off and land. Taxiways are being considered at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport and at Denver International Airport. Chicago O’Hare also has plans to build a taxiway.

Dallas/Fort Worth

Airlines serving Dallas/Fort Worth will benefit from the airport’s deal with Chesapeake Energy Corp. to mine the natural gas produced on DFW’s 18,000 acres. The “monumental deal,” as DFW CEO Jeff Fegan characterized it, includes an initial payment of $185 million and a 25% royalty on the value of the gas. Fegan said nonaviation revenue will reach “new highs for the next couple of decades,” which will “help keep costs lower for airlines, making DFW a more attractive market, and create new airline competition.” Natural gas production is expected to begin within two years. Los Angeles

Baseball Player’s Jet Overshoots Runway. A private jet reportedly carrying New York Yankees baseball star player Alex Rodriguez overshot the runway at a Los Angeles area airport on Friday, just days after teammate Cory Lidle died in a small plane crash in New York.
New Orleans

Lack of flights prompts Microsoft to scrap New Orleans meetings. Microsoft has canceled three meetings set for next year in New Orleans because of the shortage of flights in and out of the city. Service at Louis Armstrong International Airport is now 61% of what it was before Hurricane Katrina struck the city in 2005. Some airlines are willing to fly larger planes or schedule more flights when needed, an airport spokeswoman says.

New York LaGuardia

Airports prepare for overhauls. A plan to tear down and rebuild LaGuardia Airport’s Central Terminal will be one of the most expensive and complicated airport projects in aviation history, the Wall Street Journal’s Scott McCartney writes. The $1 billion project is just one of several airport overhaul projects planned for the next few years in the U.S., he notes.

NATIONAL REPORT — Unique, independent hotels offer a distinct atmosphere, which gives them a competitive edge for those savvy travelers who don’t want a cookie-cutter experience. However, alone, they lack the resources to compete with properties backed by large marketing, training and technical support.

Consequently, the industry has witnessed the birth of several new hotel collections, which are designed to provide guests with elements of surprise while being part of a bigger entity.

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, The Kessler Collection and Gaylord Hotels, to name a few, are some of the first to take advantage of this growing niche by renaming their independent properties so as to be identified under a much larger umbrella. And not to be left out of the game, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Choice Hotels International quietly are growing their Luxury Collection and Clarion Collection, respectively.

What exactly is a hotel collection, and why should an independent hotel seek such an affiliation? Generally speaking, it is a grouping of like-minded assets that share a common level of service and amenities, which each delivers in their own way. The alliance of the assets is said to build awareness and equity for the properties, allowing them to better market and cross-sell their hotels as well as retain customers within the family of assets.

For Rosewood, the renaming of its properties in June to reflect their affiliation with the company allowed it to drive home the point that guests could receive the same type of five-star experience at all of the hotels and resorts in its portfolio but each with its own flair, said Robert Boulogne, v.p. of sales & marketing.

“We did research and found that the message of our properties being part of something bigger, Rosewood, was being missed. We saw the rebranding effort as an opportunity to enhance the brand, and drive more revenue to our properties,” Boulogne said. “To us, the grouping together of the properties relates more to service standards that can be expected by the guest, as well as a sense of place delivered by each hotel.”

The advantages for Rosewood are mostly with regard to customer-retention-management practices, Boulogne said. By enabling its properties to cross-market and share information through Rosewood, the hotels can recognize repeat guests, their likes and dislikes, and deliver better service.

Rosewood hopes to be perceived as a larger player in the luxury market, was scheduled to launch its own Global Distribution System code in December. The collection offers 12 hotels and resorts. Two hotels are slated to debut in 2005, and two more are set to open in 2006. All name changes are expected to be completed by January, Boulogne said.

The Clarion Collection consists of 10 upscale hotels. The collection, which was launched in 2003, has attracted unique, boutique and historic properties that are looking for greater name recognition and support, said Alexandra Jaritz, senior director of brand strategy, Clarion Hotels, a Choice Hotels International brand.

“We saw a void, quickly penetrated this niche, and continue to find success with it,” Jaritz said.

The properties in the Clarion Collection are able to take advantage of Clarion’s distribution, marketing, training and other support functions under a franchise agreement, while retaining their own identities.

The collection tag provides a means to penetrate markets that previously were off limits or nearly impossible to break into, Jaritz said.

“We are now in markets such as Miami with The Claridge Hotel, and Manhattan with The Solita Soho Hotel,” she said. “The collection has helped define Clarion as an upscale competitor.”

Kessler Enterprises, a real-estate development, ownership and management company that specializes in hotels, renamed its distinct group of upscale Grand Theme Hotels as the Kessler Collection just over one year ago. Owner Richard Kessler, a collector of rare items that are displayed at several of his properties, said the move was motivated by a desire to link together the properties in a clearer way.

“All of our properties are unique, but offer some level of consistency as it relates to quality of experience, and all are centered around art, music and architecture,” Kessler said.

With 10 properties open, such as Mansion on Forsyth Park in Savannah, Ga., and Beaver Creek Lodge in Beaver Creek Village, Colo., Kessler said he is better able to cross-sell the hotels in addition to having established a certain level of expectations among consumers. While several of Kessler’s hotels are branded with a franchise, they are anything but ordinary.

“People today are looking for something different when they travel. They want something that reflects the location they are in, and don’t want to be hit over the head with standardization,” Kessler said. “We use a very high level of detail to differentiate our hotels. We display ancient artifacts, art collections and unique architecture in our properties. Our properties are very colorful, very alive.”

ITHACA - The School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University has announced a partnership with Cendant Hotel Group to provide international hotel franchisees with classroom-based and online hospitality-management courses.

The move expands the hotel school’s relationship with New York Citybased Cendant (NYSE: CD), which has been a sponsor of Cornell’s Center for Hospitality Research since 2004.

Traditional classroom courses will be offered through the school’s Professional Development Program (PDP) and virtual courses will be accessible through the university’s eCornell unit.

“In today’s changing and fast-paced environment, we want to ensure that our franchisees and hotel associates are equipped with the most up-to-date programs and knowledge,” says Daniel Dannenmann, Cendant Hotel Group International vice president of training, quality assurance, and organizational. development. “The use of e-learning enables us to quickly make the most advanced programs available to our franchisees. Speed to market and superior quality programs are of critical importance…”

Cornell’s hotel school will provide Cendant’s franchisees with reduced pricing for its distance-learning courses as well as the PDP program.

Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration has been providing executive education to hospitality professionals for over 75 years. PDP is a classroom experience that brings together senior mangers from around the world for a series of three-day, high-intensity courses.

Participants may choose from three locations:

* the Cornell campus in Ithaca;

* Management Centre Europe in Brussels; and

* Cornell-Nanyang Institute in Singapore.

River cruising may not have the glamorous image of travelling by ocean liner, but it does have several advantages. First, of course, there is always something to look at - not the case on many seafaring ships. Second, river boats are, by necessity, more intimate: they rarely carry more than 300 passengers, whereas ocean- going ships can hold up to 4,000. And thirdly, river cruises tend to be more informal than the traditional cruise.

Yesterday, in Amsterdam, a boat named easy Cruise Tivo set off on her maiden voyage. Following on from the success of his easy Cruise One, serving the French and Italian Riviera and the Caribbean, Stelios HajiIoannou is now running river cruises in Holland and Belgium.

Sort of. In the hope of living up to its motto, “luxe for less”, easyCruise is dropping the neon orange for what it hopes is a more sophisticated livery. On its refurbished riverboat, the company has replaced its trademark orange hull and large-lettered website address with a grey hull, orange beading and a new logo. On board, the furnishings, and even the menus, also mark a shift upmarket from those of the original easyCruise ship.

As for the itinerary, easyCruise Two follows a weekly route through Holland and Belgium, from Amsterdam to Antwerp via Rotterdam and Brussels. Dropping anchor by lunchtime each day, passengers should be able to spend plenty of time ashore. And, as with easyCruise One, they will also be able to hop on and off the cruise whenever they like, subject to a minimum two-night stay.

As with easyJet, prices vary dramatically according to demand’ in August you could pay as much as pounds 352 per person for a week (www.easy-Cruise.com’ or 0906 292 9000 at 25p per minute)’ for the lowest rates, aim for later in the season, which runs until November, when a two-night trip could cost under pounds 14 per person.

WHERE NEXT?

Europe’s most popular rivers for cruising are its two biggest rivers: the Rhine and the Danube. Both provide the opportunity for sailing past historic cities, medieval towns, pretty European villages, romantic castles and forests. Bear in mind that most cruises operate only between March and October.

Classic trips on the Danube include a 13-day holiday with Great Rail Journeys (01904 521980′ www.greatrail.co.uk) which features a week on the river. You travel to Germany by rail and visit Cologne and Nuremberg before boarding the vessel in the German town of Passau. The cruise visits Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest. Prices start at pounds 1,990 per person, including rail travel, a full- board seven-night cruise, five nights’ half-board hotel accommodation, and excursions.

On the Rhine, a four-day taster cruise with Moswin (08700 625040′ www.moswin.com) sails from Basle to Cologne, calling at Strasbourg, Speyer and Konigswinter en route. Prices start at pounds 575, including return BA flights from Heathrow, transfers and all meals.

Other popular river-cruising destinations in Europe include the Elbe in the Czech Republic, the Seine and Rhone in France, the Douro in Portugal and the Po in Italy. The luxurious one-week Elbe trips run by Peter Deilmann (020-7436 2931′ wwwpeter-deilmann-river- cruises.co.uk), for instance, run between Potsdam and Prague via Magdenberg, Wittenberg, Meissen, Dresden and Melnick. Prices start at pounds 1,099 for departures from 14 October, including flights from Heathrow to Berlin, and back from Prague to Heathrow on British Airways, transfers and all meals.

For other European river cruises, try Travelscope (0870 380 3333′ www.travelscope.co.uk)’ Noble Caledonia (020-7752 0000′ wwwnoble- caledonia.co.uk)’ or a specialist agent such as Cruise Direct (0871226 0964′ www.cruisedirect.co.uk)’ Cruise Finders (0870 041 1000′ www.cruise finders.co.uk)’ or The Leading Cruise Agents (www.thelca.com).

WILL I GET CABIN FEVER?

You shouldn’t, since most cruise operators schedule in plenty of time for messing about off the river. Destination Portugal (01993 773269′ vww.destinationportugal. com), for example, runs eight- night round-trip cruises along the Douro, and there are opportunities to visit Porto’ Peso da Regua, centre of the port- producing region’ an 11th-century monastery’ and the wine estates of Vila Real and Pinhao. There’s also an excursion across the Spanish border to visit the historic city of Salamanca. Prices start at pounds 789 per person, including accommodation, most meals and transport, but not international travel.

In Italy, Archers Direct (0870 460 3894′ www.archersdirect.co.uk) offers five-night trips to Venice and the Po that include excursions to the basilica of St Anthony in Padua, the medieval towns of Mantua and Verona, the fishing port of Chioggia, and Venice itself, with plenty of free time for exploring. Prices start at pounds 585, including flights from Heathrow to Venice on BMI, all meals and transfers but not all excursions.

NEW SPEAKERS ON BOARD FOR LUXURY VOYAGE! ace strategist DICK MORRIS and conservative Rep. PAT TOOMEY join renowned author VICTOR DAVIS HANSON, Islam expert BERNARD LEWIS, GOP chairman ED GILLESPIE, author DINESH D’SOUZA, military authority JOHN HILLEN, Club for Growth president STEPHEN MOORE, columnist MICHELLE MALKIN, and NR editors RICH LOWRY, JAY NORDLINGER, RAMESH PONNURU, JOHN O’SULLIVAN, and JOHN DERBYSHIRE

It’s hard to believe, but The National Review 2004 Post-Election Caribbean Cruise now features an even bigger and even better cast of celebrity speakers!

This spectacular and affordable journey (prices start at just $1,549 per person, and “singles” can get a luxurious room for only $1,899!) aboard Holland America Line’s luxurious MS Zuiderdam will provide you the unique opportunity to meet America’s preeminent authorities on politics and the critical issues of our day. New speakers are Dick Morris, the ace political strategist and author (and expert on all things Clinton/Rodham), Congressman Pat Toomey, a true conservative champion who waged a valiant Republican senate primary challenge in Pennsylvania earlier this year, and super-bright military/terrorism guru John Hillen (who’s also an NR contributor). They’ll be joining an impressive ensemble including esteemed author Victor Davis Hanson (the renowned academic is one of the most influential writers on terrorism and American culture), Bernard Lewis (the eminent Princeton professor is the world expert on Islam’s bloody history with the West–his What Went Wrong? and The Crisis of Islam are must-reads), Republican National Committee chairman Ed Gillespie, economist and Club for Growth president Stephen Moore, acclaimed author (of so many important books) Dinesh D’Souza, syndicated columnist and author Michelle Malkin (her 2003 immigration work, Invasion, caused a sensation), National Review Online favorite John Derbyshire, NR editor Rich Lowry, senior editor Ramesh Ponnuru, managing editor Jay Nordlinger, and editor-atlarge (and editor of The National Interest) John O’Sullivan. That’s a veritable “Murderers’ Row” line-up!–you simply must join them for seven relaxing days and nights of politics and policy, conservative revelry, and luxury cruising.

As NR cruise alumni (there are thousands!) know, our trips are remarkable events, marked by scintillating political shoptalk, wonderful socializing, intimate dining with our editors and speakers, making new friends, the rekindling of old friendships–and, of course, grand cruising. That’s what’s in store for you on the National Review 2004 Post-Election Caribbean Cruise.

There are countless reasons to come, but none bigger than the luminaries who will be joining us for this luxury trip! It may be the best ensemble we’ve ever had, which guarantees that our seminar sessions–featuring ample audience “Q & A”–will be fascinating.

[check] Who can give a better overview than Dick Morris about the ongoing antics of Bubba and future political designs of Hillary (as well as give special analysis of the post-election playing field)?!

[check] Where does one begin to question Bernard Lewis about the brutal revival of the millenium-old struggle between Islam and the West?!

[check] Ditto for Victor Davis Hanson, who will share his expertise on the moral struggle required for America and democratic nations to battle terrorism and defend freedom, as will John Hillen, the NR contributing editor who’s in the know about all matters military.

[check] Who are better positioned to discuss the state of the Republican Party than chairman Ed Gillespie (who wrote for NR once upon a time before running the GOP), and true-believing conservative Congressman Pat Toomey (a rising political star)?!

[check] Who can give keener insight on the war between conservatives and RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) than Club for Growth boss Stephen Moore? Or a sounder assessment of red-hot cultural issues (immigration, campus “diversity,” etc.) than the brilliant Michelle Malkin and Dinesh D’Souza (we’ll also look for his take on the legacy of Ronald Reagan)?!

[check] And they’ll be joined in all the elucidating and analyzing of the 2004 elections and their aftermath by NR’s editorial heavyweights: Rich Lowry, John O’Sullivan, Ramesh Ponnuru, Jay Nordlinger, and NRO headliner John Derbyshire.

We so want you to “experience” these conservative luminaries that we’ve engineered our lowest prices ever, starting at only as $1,549 (p/p). And singles can get their own cabin for just $1,899! That includes all those “extras” like port fees, taxes, and gratuities! Just look at the chart on the left and check out our phenomenal rates.

Of course, the special “extras” that NR brings–the seminars, receptions, and intimate dining with speakers–come on top of the great cruise, which takes place on the beautiful MS Zuiderdam. Still gleaming from her recent inaugural, she’s Holland America’s classiest vessel. You’ll find the accommodations to be truly luxurious, matched only by the indulgent, courteous staff, superior cuisine, and top-notch entertainment and excursions.

NEW SPEAKERS ON BOARD FOR LUXURY VOYAGE! ace strategist DICK MORRIS and conservative Rep. PAT TOOMEY join renowned author VICTOR DAVIS HANSON, Islam expert BERNARD LEWIS, GOP chairman ED GILLESPIE, author DINESH D’SOUZA, military authority JOHN HILLEN, Club for Growth president STEPHEN MOORE, columnist MICHELLE MALKIN, and NReditors RICH LOWRY, JAY NORDLINGER, RAMESH PONNURU, JOHN O’SULLIVAN, and JOHN DERBYSHIRE

It’s hard to believe, but The National Review 2004 Post-Election Caribbean Cruise now features an even bigger and even better cast of celebrity speakers!

This spectacular and affordable journey (prices start at just $1,549 per person, and “singles” can get a luxurious room for only $1,899!) aboard Holland America Line’s luxurious MS Zuiderdam will provide you the unique opportunity to meet America’s preeminent authorities on politics and the critical issues of our day. New speakers are Dick Morris, the ace political strategist and author (and expert on all things Clinton/Rodham), Congressman Pat Toomey, a true conservative champion who waged a valiant Republican senate primary challenge in Pennsylvania earlier this year, and super-bright military/terrorism guru John Hillen (who’s also an NR contributor). They’ll be joining an impressive ensemble including esteemed author Victor Davis Hanson (the renowned academic is one of the most influential writers on terrorism and American culture), Bernard Lewis (the eminent Princeton professor is the world expert on Islam’s bloody history with the West–his What Went Wrong? and The Crisis of Islam are must-reads), Republican National Committee chairman Ed Gillespie, economist and Club for Growth president Stephen Moore, acclaimed author (of so many important books) Dinesh D’Souza, syndicated columnist and author Michelle Malkin (her 2003 immigration work, Invasion, caused a sensation), National Review Online favorite John Derbyshire, NR editor Rich Lowry, senior editor Ramesh Ponnuru, managing editor Jay Nordlinger, and editor-atlarge (and editor of The National Interest) John O’Sullivan. That’s a veritable “Murderers’ Row” line-up!–you simply must join them for seven relaxing days and nights of politics and policy, conservative revelry, and luxury cruising.

As NR cruise alumni (there are thousands!) know, our trips are remarkable events, marked by scintillating political shoptalk, wonderful socializing, intimate dining with our editors and speakers, making new friends, the rekindling of old friendships–and, of course, grand cruising. That’s what’s in store for you on the National Review 2004 Post-Election Caribbean Cruise.

There are countless reasons to come, but none bigger than the luminaries who will be joining us for this luxury trip! It may be the best ensemble we’ve ever had, which guarantees that our seminar sessions–featuring ample audience “Q & A”–will be fascinating.

[check] Who can give a better overview than Dick Morris about the ongoing antics of Bubba and future political designs of Hillary (as well as give special analysis of the post-election playing field)?!

[check] Where does one begin to question Bernard Lewis about the brutal revival of the millenium-old struggle between Islam and the West?!

[check] Ditto for Victor Davis Hanson, who will share his expertise on the moral struggle required for America and democratic nations to battle terrorism and defend freedom, as will John Hillen, the NR contributing editor who’s in the know about all matters military.

[check] Who are better positioned to discuss the state of the Republican Party than chairman Ed Gillespie (who wrote for NR once upon a time before running the GOP), and true-believing conservative Congressman Pat Toomey (a rising political star)?!

[check] Who can give keener insight on the war between conservatives and RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) than Club for Growth boss Stephen Moore? Or a sounder assessment of red-hot cultural issues (immigration, campus “diversity,” etc.) than the brilliant Michelle Malkin and Dinesh D’Souza (we’ll also look for his take on the legacy of Ronald Reagan)?!

[check] And they’ll be joined in all the elucidating and analyzing of the 2004 elections and their aftermath by NR’s editorial heavyweights: Rich Lowry, John O’Sullivan, Ramesh Ponnuru, Jay Nordlinger, and NRO headliner John Derbyshire.

We so want you to “experience” these conservative luminaries that we’ve engineered our lowest prices ever, starting at only as $1,549 (p/p). And singles can get their own cabin for just $1,899! That includes all those “extras” like port fees, taxes, and gratuities! Just look at the chart on the left and check out our phenomenal rates.

Of course, the special “extras” that NR brings–the seminars, receptions, and intimate dining with speakers–come on top of the great cruise, which takes place on the beautiful MS Zuiderdam. Still gleaming from her recent inaugural, she’s Holland America’s classiest vessel. You’ll find the accommodations to be truly luxurious, matched only by the indulgent, courteous staff, superior cuisine, and top-notch entertainment and excursions.

It’s summer in the city and the annual fleet of ships, boats and yacht tours sailing the urban waters of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan are bustling along.

Nearly two dozen vessels await boarding at cultural landmarks ranging from the lower Michigan Avenue Bridge and Navy Pier to the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium, the Adler Planetarium and across from Buckingham Fountain.

Many of the vessels offer guided tours of Chicago’s architecture, city landmarks and purported haunted places. Others serve simply as water taxis or river buses. Still others offer dinner and lunch cruises as well as cash bars. To get our sea legs ready for the season, we talked with four captains navigating Chicago waters:

NAME: Eddie Vega

TITLE: Captain for Chicago First Lady Cruiselines

NAME OF THE BOAT: Chicago’s Little Lady.

YEARS WITH THE BOAT COMPANY: 24.

SEAFARING BACKGROUND: I acquired a captain’s license 26 years ago.

BEST PART OF THE JOB: I like to check things out in the morning and make sure everything is fine and in proper order to be operated. I also like the architecture tours because you get to learn a lot about Chicago,

WORST PART OF THE JOB: When you come in in the morning and have to deal with downtown traffic.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT ON THE BOAT: In 1981, someone jumped off the bridge and I had to jump in with all my clothes on and fish him out. It was quite an experience.

MOST INTERESTING THING YOU’VE LEARNED ABOUT CHICAGO FROM THIS JOB: That Chicago is a progressive city.

MOST UNUSUAL QUESTION A PASSENGER HAS ASKED: They usually ask what kind of engines the boat has and how long it is.

BEST KEPT SECRET ABOUT CHICAGO YOU’LL LEARN ON THE TOUR: You learn a lot of interesting things about the different kinds of buildings.

GINGER, OR MARY ANN? Mary Anne. She was kind of quiet and I liked the way she dressed.

THE COOLEST THING ABOUT BEING A CAPTAIN: The chance to be on the water every day. It’s like being in another world.

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NAME: Arthur Haight

TITLE: Captain for Wendella Boats.

BOAT: The Wendella.

YEARS WITH COMPANY: 6.

SEAFARING BACKGROUND: Captain and bridgemate, Hollywood Casino City of Lights I and II in Aurora from 1995 to 2003.

BEST PART OF THE JOB: Driving a boat on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan all day and getting paid to do it. It’s like a holiday every day!

WORST PART OF JOB: Sorry, I haven’t discovered that yet.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: We were tied up in the lock and it was raining. I stepped out of the pilot house and there were 20 kids sitting on a bench seat under the canopy. Jokingly, I said, “My seat is wet, can I have yours?” All of them looked at me like I was crazy. All except one little 7- or 8-year-old girl who jumped up with a big smile on her face and said, “You can have mine.” What a beautiful child. She stole my heart instantly.

MOST INTERESTING THING ABOUT CHICAGO: There are several, such as the building of the lock and the creation of the Streeterville neighborhood. Also, the fact that there is a statue of Grant in Lincoln Park and a statue of Lincoln in Grant Park. They were delivered on the same day to the wrong parks and never corrected by the city.

MOST UNUSUAL QUESTION ASKED BY PASSENGER: How do they keep the river green?

BEST KEPT SECRET ABOUT CHICAGO YOU’LL LEARN ON THE TOUR: You will learn all about the exciting events that are happening in the Chicago area every day.

GINGER, or MARY ANNE? Without a doubt, Ginger.

COOLEST THING ABOUT BEING A CAPTAIN: The respect you get for being a captain for the best and the first tour boat company in Chicago and the happy faces you see leaving the boat.

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NAME: Douglas Chyna

TITLE: Captain for Wendella Boats.

BOAT: Bravo, a river bus.

YEARS WITH THE BOAT COMPANY: 5.

SEAFARING BACKGROUND: I’ve been a pleasure boater for 15 years. I had a friend working at Wendella and I had a big love of boats. So, I went to school and got a captain’s license.

BEST PART OF THE JOB: Working for the oldest boat company in Chicago. Everybody knows the Wendella. It’s like an honor.

WORST PART OF THE JOB: When I have to pull people out of the water. It’s usually a suicide and they usually jump off a bridge. Over the years I’ve saved three lives.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT ON THE BOAT: Every day is like vacation because it’s such an enjoyable job.

MOST INTERESTING THING YOU’VE LEARNED ABOUT CHICAGO FROM THIS JOB: The architecture. I’m from the suburbs, so I didn’t know much about the city. Working as a captain you get to know the architecture.

MOST UNUSUAL QUESTION A PASSENGER HAS ASKED: Does my boat have brakes?

GINGER or MARY ANN? Mary Anne. I like dark hair.

THE COOLEST THING ABOUT BEING A CAPTAIN: Being on the water every day. The city is so beautiful when you see it from the water.

ABOARD THE POLYNESIA — The sails flap weakly as they climb the four huge masts. “Ride of the Valkyrie” blares from the speakers as a cannon booms, then fires again.

Catching the wind, the ship slowly turns, the sails fill, masts creak and 248 feet of oceangoing history is on its way. Bagpipes and “Amazing Grace” replace the martial music. The sailors, some new to the sea, some crusty old salts, all share the same shiver of emotion.

This is no Errol Flynn movie. And, as the T-shirt says, “This ain’t no foo foo ship.”

And this is no ordinary cruise.

Some people will never understand the attraction of Windjammer Barefoot Cruises. Those who get it, do so immediately and will start planning their next trip as soon as they get home.

A disclaimer: I’m one of the believers — 27 weeks aboard since 1996. And that’s compared to some who have sailed more than 100 weeks.

Windjammer’s four sailing legends, plus a charming old tub, ease into some of the more obscure ports up and down the Caribbean each week on their own itineraries. The steamer Amazing Grace even made its way to Tahiti for a series of sails in 2005.

In port, a few dozen Windjammer passengers — ships range from 64 to 122 passengers — go ashore to explore and experience, unlike the thousands who disgorge from the gleaming white cruise ships — derisively known as “foo foos” among Windjammer faithful — to overwhelm the small islands.

The size of Windjammer ships makes visiting out-of-the-way islands possible: Mayreau, Bequia, Tobago Cays, Dominica, Carriacou, St. Barts or Norman Island, all in the Caribbean. There are no casinos aboard, though crab races might be in the offing one night if you want to wager a dollar or two; no elaborate production shows, unless you count costume night where the passengers double as the entertainment; no dressing for dinner, though your shipmates would appreciate a clean T-shirt. Going ashore usually means climbing into a rocking launch, disembarking on a pier or climbing down a ladder onto a beach for a “wet landing.”

This is cruising of a different sort. It helps if you’re a bit adventurous, open and none-too-formal. Unlike aboard the monster ships, you’ll meet more than the six or eight people at your assigned table and you’re liable to know most of your fellow passengers by the end of the week. And the bartender, on the Poly, the incomparable Warren Sinclair, will probably know your favorite libation by midweek.

Contrary to myth, WJ passengers don’t have to work, unless you count time spent on their tan. Cabin stewards make the bed every morning, and meals are served, though you do have to make your own way to the bar. But if you’d like, you can help raise sails or even take a turn at the wheel, the one that really does turn the ship.

There’s even a captain’s dinner, but you also see him every morning at “Storytime,” when the day’s events are recited, tours arranged and jokes told. On the Poly, it is Neil Carmichael, a redheaded, usually bearded Scotsman who may just be the prototypical Windjammer skipper — a bit bawdy, a touch of a pirate’s heart, engaging and in love with his work, his golf game, two kids and a wife. Don’t ask him to put them in order. He’s been fired a time or five and always manages to make it back aboard.

He might lead the judging for costume night or arrange boat races, which are not what you might think.

Like Carmichael, the Poly has a few stories to tell. Built in 1938, the ship began life as a Portuguese fishing boat off the grand banks. The Argus, as she was known then, was featured in a 1952 National Geographic article.

Cabins are, well, sparse, but functional. In fact, you can do anything needed in the bathroom without ever getting off the toilet. Don’t bring a hard-sided suitcase because there’s nowhere to put it. But you can also sleep on deck — just bring your pillow and blanket from the cabin and make a bed on one of the blue floating mats that double for beach duty during the day. Especially while the ship is sailing, sleeping under the stars is an experience not to be missed.

My recent week aboard was Carmichael’s first back since his, ah, unsatisfactory foray into real estate. This trip, in late November, was a repositioning cruise as the ship moved from its hurricane- season home in Aruba to its winter home of weekly sails out of St. Maarten.

The crowd is fairly typical, a significant percentage of veteran ‘Jammers along with some newbies, ages ranging from mid-20s to 60s and more. Days spent ashore can be on tours arranged through the ship or just wandering the alleyways and hideaway restaurants of Dominica or Isles de Saintes. Scuba diving is available at many islands, and there is a dive mate aboard. There might even be swimming off the ship, including dives off the gangplank.

Evenings start with snacks and rum swizzles promptly at 5. The rest is up to you. You might dine ashore, or attend the dining room seating of your choice. First Mate Cesar Lopez, a Panamanian with a wry sense of humor, might conduct sailing or knot-tying classes. Or you might just land near the bar exchanging tall tales.