Celebrity news from Raoul in Germany

[theawesome1]

From his news colunm this month:

The Cold War may have ended long ago, but curiosity about the KGB lives
on. Celebrity Cruises invites guests to delve into the intrigue
personally with the latest entry in its Celebrity Xpeditions series: an
in-depth look behind the iron curtain with the KGB, the once-feared
Russian Secret Service in Moscow.

Offered as an excursion option during Celebrity's Northern Europe
cruises, the rare experience in Moscow allows guests to go
behind-the-scenes with the KGB in the morning, followed by an in-depth
tour of the Kremlin, the seat of the Russian government, in the afternoon.

After departing "Constellation" in St. Petersburg, guests board a
one-hour flight to Moscow, followed by limousine transportation to the
museum of the world-famous Russian Security and Intelligence Service,
KGB. True stories of legendary Russian spies and details about the role
the KGB played in developing the Soviet State are revealed, followed by
a presentation of an impressive collection of espionage equipment and an
array of artifacts that belonged to the Russian Secret Service.

In the heart of Moscow, guests visit the Kremlin, the most important
historical and political center of Russia. The massive fortress houses a
collection of Russian treasures, jewelry, court regalia, armor,
coronation dresses, golden carriages, and priceless Faberge eggs.

In Cathedral Square, guests are invited to tour one of the three
gold-domed churches - the Archangel Michael Cathedral - the oldest in
the Kremlin, and once used as a private chapel for Russian czars.

Red Square presents guests with an "up close and personal" view of St.
Basil Cathedral, whose multi-colored onion-shaped domes have made it a
classic image depicting Russian culture.

After visiting Kremlin Towers and Lenin's Tomb, the Celebrity Xpeditions
experience concludes with dinner in a historic mansion, capped with a
traditional vodka toast, before flying back to St. Petersburg to return
to Constellation.

The new excursion is the latest in a series of Celebrity Xpeditions,
which include vacation packages on a luxurious megayacht in the exotic
Galapagos Islands and voyages on a Russian icebreaker in the isolated
Arctic and Antarctic.


Vividly illustrating its commitment to "treat guests famously,"
Celebrity Cruises is rolling out a significantly expanded entertainment
program onboard its fleet, featuring enrichment lectures by stars of
stage and screen, and new shows featuring some of Broadway's hottest
numbers.

"Our guests are experienced, savvy travelers who have seen a variety of
acclaimed shows, so it's essential that we offer new and innovative
productions along with classic favorites to satisfy their entertainment
needs," said Celebrity's Director of Entertainment and Cruise Programs,
Michael Thomas.

Celebrity is accomplishing that goal this year by introducing six
entirely new production shows that will join the seven shows introduced
last year, for a total of 13 new production shows in just 18 months.

"This has been a very aggressive entertainment initiative, and one we're
very excited about," said Thomas. "Our ultimate standard is to present
four production shows on every ship and every cruise, including our
seven-night cruises."

Shows such as "Fantasea" - whose premiere on "Millennium" met with
consecutive standing ovations - feature performers using silks, straps,
hoops and webs to perform awe-inspiring aerial acts.

Meanwhile, guests' ever-present interest in Broadway classics is met
with shows like "A Touch of Broadway" onboard "Century", offering a
combination of standards from new hit shows and contemporary classics.

Premiering onboard "Zenith" in June is "Thoroughly Broadway," featuring
numbers from hit shows, revivals and the hottest tickets on Broadway.

Celebrity's "Celebrate The World" show premiering on "Constellation"
during the ship's transatlantic crossing to Europe in May will display
the most spectacular array of costumes in Celebrity's history, and will
utilize the newest projection technology in the industry, including the
catalyst DL1, a digital light system that merges moving light technology
with digital video projections, offering virtually limitless
possibilities with video displays and projections.

Two new shows will debut onboard "Galaxy", including "Elements," an
aerobatic show in May, and a yet-to-be-named spectacular slated for
October. True to its name, Celebrity also is securing noted artists for
special performances, most recently booking nine-time Tony Award winner
Tommy Tune, the Manhattan Rhythm Kings and, direct from Las Vegas,
musical impressionist Stephen Sorrentino.

With entertainment options ideally extending beyond the theatre,
Celebrity last year introduced a piano and jazz bar concept within its
cozy Michael's Club venues, a Spanish guitarist performing live on the
aft deck for romantic sunset sailaways, live comedy acts in the discos,
and "Celebrity Discoveries," an intensified enrichment lecture series
featuring actual celebrities and recognized authorities discussing their
life experiences, accomplishments and challenges.

Among the celebrities entertaining Celebrity guests this year are Hugh
Downs, whose more than 60 years of experience in radio and television
most recently included co-anchoring ABC's "20/20"; famed talk- and
game-show host Regis Philbin; Academy Award winner Ernest Borgnine;
celebrated news correspondents Ike Pappas and Irving R. Levine; actor
Theodore Bikel; astronaut Col. Jack Lousma; actor Bernie Kopell,
best-known for his role as "Doc" on "The Love Boat," and acclaimed
maritime historians Bill Miller and John Maxtone-Graham.

My logo: When we disembark, I just have to book another!