Christmas Markets: Europe and Beyond

Sometimes it seems like chalky store-bought Santa cookies, holiday blockbuster movies and commercials for luxury cars with giant bows have sucked the soul right out of Christmas. But there are still places in this world -- Christmas markets, to be exact -- where the holidays have a heart.

Going to a traditional Christmas market is like literally traveling to Christmas. The air is crisp and cold, the sweet songs of choirs merge with the smells of hot spiced wine and roasted chestnuts in the air, and hundreds of shoppers (and dozens of Santa's) bustle by in search of presents for loved ones near and far. At Christmas markets, the modern secularization of the season is smashed to bits by Nativity scenes, Gothic cathedrals decked with twinkling lights and marzipan Jesus figures that remind visitors of the holiday's holy history.

Christmas markets originated centuries ago in Germany and Austria as sources of practical goods for winter survival. Today, the markets offer practical gifts for surviving the scrutinizing tastes of your critical loved ones. Plan a Christmas market trip this year and you will usurp your wicked stepsister as the provider of the best holiday gifts when you bring your loved ones authentic Italian wines from the markets of Trento, sweet gingerbread from a German Christmas market or antique toys from Vienna. Your only challenge is choosing a market -- there are literally hundreds of these festive fairs in Europe and North America during November and December. Here are a few of our favorites to get you started on your Yuletide adventures.

Strasbourg Christmas Market, France

Each year, the medieval town of Strasbourg in Alsace, France is illuminated by thousands of twinkling Christmas lights. This festive scene provides the perfect backdrop for the Strasbourg Christmas Market, which is the largest Christmas market in France. The market's Web site claims that it offers "a thousand and one gift ideas," but the site's extensive agenda of daily activities and events proves that a visit to the Strasbourg market is more than just a chance to shop.

Visit a giant Nativity scene in the majestic Cathedral de Strasbourg, stroll through stalls selling handmade gifts and specialty foods in the city's center (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), or embark on an organized treasure hunt through the historic village. An ice skating rink provides hours of frosty fun, and children ages 8 and younger can play on a special winter obstacle course complete with tunnels, hoops and sleighs. The market runs from November 27 through December 31.

Nuremberg Christmas Market, Germany

Considered to be Germany's most popular Christmas market, the Nuremberg Christmas Market attracts over two million visitors annually. This is not the market to attend if you're searching for an off-the-beaten-path experience, but it's one of Germany's oldest Christmas fairs and it won't disappoint travelers looking for some of the season's best traditional shopping. About 180 market stalls sell baked goods, roasted bratwurst, hot wine, and unique toys and gifts such as Nuremberg Plum People -- figurines made from prunes. Other notable gifts sold in the market include hand-carved Nativity sets, gingerbread, and glass Christmas tree ornaments. The entire place is a lovely site to behold; all of the stalls are decorated with red and white cloth, and the most beautiful stall wins a gold "Plum Person" prize each year. The market runs from November 26 through December 24.

                                            Trento Christmas Market, Italy

Christmas markets are not as well known in Italy as they are in Austria or Germany, but some worthwhile markets can be found throughout the Boot during the holiday season. We like the Italian Christmas market in Trento for two reasons. First, the town is remarkably beautiful -- Trento lies in a glacial valley below the Alps and features pastel medieval buildings, Gothic cathedrals and a romantic 13th-century castle. Second, the town's historic Germanic influences have helped produce a distinctive Christmas market that mixes Italian and German traditions. About 70 stalls in the city center offer thousands of holiday gifts including wooden gnomes, handmade jewelry, local Italian wines, copper crafts and natural perfumes. The market runs from November 20 through December 23.

Liseberg Christmas Market, Gothenburg, Sweden

Innovation and imagination have turned the famous Liseberg Christmas Market in Gothenburg, Sweden into a spectacular and surreal holiday experience. Liseberg is Scandinavia's largest amusement park; it's here that a "live" Christmas tree (red- and green-robed singers on a tree-shaped structure) serenades visitors, skaters glide in Santa suits and an entire bar made of ice beckons tourists with (literally) ice-cold drinks. Snack on Swedish foods from meatballs to pickled herring in addition to holiday favorites like mulled wine, marzipan and waffles. When you're not participating in a Christmas sing-along or voting in a Christmas tree decorating contest (a random winner gets the best-decorated tree delivered to his or her home), you can shop for traditional handmade Christmas gifts -- like ceramics, glassware and wood carvings -- in Liseberg's design and crafts market. The market is open on select dates between November 12 and December 23.

Berlin Christmas Markets, Germany

Berlin's the place to be if you want to go Christmas market hopping (that's right -- hopping, not shopping); the city hosts dozens of different Christmas markets throughout the holiday season. The Berlin markets are vibrant, teeming centers for holiday cheer -- the scene is more "Jingle Bell Rock" than "Silent Night." Highlights include thousands of crafts, antiques, foods and holiday gifts; Christmas music concerts; horse and carriage rides; giant Christmas pyramids; and even a carousel and a Fairyland for youngsters. If you've had more Christmas than you can handle (which seems a likely circumstance in this place), or have Jewish loved ones on your holiday gift list, you may want to visit the Hanukkah market in the courtyard of the Jewish Museum. The markets take place from November through early January.

Schonbrunn Palace Christmas Market, Vienna, Austria

Celebrate the holidays next to the famous, breathtaking Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna. About 70 booths sell roasted chestnuts, hot wine, homemade Austrian crafts and other holiday wares in Vienna's historic city center. Bring the kids and take part in a special hands-on workshop -- children can learn to make Christmas cookies and crafts. And don't miss the live holiday concerts that happen nightly in front of the giant Christmas tree. When touring Vienna's shops and markets, fans of marzipan must visit Demel, a famous 200-year-old candy maker in Vienna; its cellar houses an intriguing marzipan museum. The market lasts from November 20 through December 26.

Christkindlmarket, Chicago, Illinois

Although Europeans started the Christmas market tradition, they certainly don't have a monopoly on this joyful holiday ritual. Try a trip to Chicago for a Christmas market experience without the overseas flight and exchange rate. The city's annual Christkindlmarket fair, which takes place from November 24 through December 24, was inspired by the Nuremberg Christmas Market and has all the festive trappings of Europe's famous Yuletide fairs. Rows of stalls sell familiar handmade gifts and hot holiday chow like roasted chestnuts, sausages, candies and hot wine. Various events, including a Chicago holiday tree lighting and a performance by a local horn choir, put an American spin on traditional European festivities. You just might think you're in Europe if you can squint past the Cubs hats and sparkling skyscrapers.

Independenttraveler.com-Caroline Costello

Disney gives sneak peek of new Hawaii resort

KAPOLEI, Hawaii - More than 80 years after Mickey Mouse piloted "Steamboat Willie" and whistled his way into the hearts of children across the world, he has finally reached the shores of Hawaii.

The Walt Disney Co. on Friday gave a peek of its sprawling, beachside Hawaiian resort that is under construction and scheduled to open next year. "Aulani" is Disney's first major standalone resort away from a theme park and could serve as a model for future projects as the company diversifies and expands its vacation offerings.

"This is a very special project for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "It's unlike anything that Disney has done before; at the same time, it's very like many of the things we do."

Aulani will have 359 hotel rooms, 481 time-share units, restaurants, a convention center, a 15,000-square-foot spa and a massive water play area that includes a volcano tube slide and snorkel lagoon. It sits on 21 acres on Oahu's Leeward Coast in the Ko Olina development, known for its white sand lagoons, scenic golf course and colorful sunsets. Ko Olina is about an hour west of Waikiki, where most of the hotels and tourists are.

Hawaii makes "perfect sense" with its rich culture, traditions, warm greetings, family values, friendships and storytelling, And by the way, Hawaii also happens to be one of the most popular vacation destinations on the planet, and that's the business that we're in."

Most of the resort is currently a jungle of concrete, steel, wires and pipes with no Mickey and Minnie in sight. Aulani is scheduled to open Aug. 29, 2011, with hotel reservations to begin next month.
With the construction phase alone costing more than $600 million, Aulani represents a huge investment for Disney amid a sharp tourism downturn. According to an economic impact study commissioned by Disney, Aulani is expected to generate 4,800 jobs during construction. When completed, 2,400 jobs will be created, with about half working at the resort. More than $271 million annually in economic activity will be generated.

The largest units at Aulani are 3-bedroom "Grand Villas" — 2,300-square-foot timeshare units that are larger than most Hawaii homes, sleep 12 and have sweeping views of the Pacific.

Texas Get Ready For The MAGIC Comming November 2011

All I can say is, Texas get ready! Beginning November 14, 2011, Carnival Cruise Lines' newest ship, the Carnival Magic, will be calling Galveston home. Additionally, the Carnival Triumph will reposition from New Orleans to Galveston to operate year-round four- and five-day Caribbean cruises from that port beginning October 6, 2011.

In turn, the Carnival Conquest and Carnival Ecstasy, both of which are currently based in Galveston, will reposition to New Orleans to operate year-round departures from that port, returning the line to pre-Katrina capacity levels there.

It's practically impossible to do anything on a small scale in Texas, and home porting the Carnival Magic in Galveston is no exception - it will be the largest-ever capacity commitment by a cruise line to the Lone Star state!

The Carnival Magic will debut in Europe in May 2011, offering seven-, nine- and 12-day Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona May 1 to October 16, 2011; followed by a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Barcelona to Galveston departing October 28, 2011.

After October, guests can choose from two different week-long itineraries from Galveston, including seven-day western Caribbean voyages to Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, and week-long eastern Caribbean cruises to Nassau, Freeport, and Key West.

The new Carnival Magic will be the perfect setting for a wedding party, honeymoon, anniversary, graduation, reunion, fun vacation or multi-generational trip of a lifetime!

Like its sister ship, the Carnival Dream, the Carnival Magic features exciting amenities including a spectacular water park, an exclusive adults-only retreat, a wrap-around promenade with whirlpools that extend out over the ship's sides, and expansive spa and children's facilities.

In true Carnival style, guests will have a range of stateroom choices, including family-friendly, five-berth deluxe two-bathroom ocean view accommodations; cove balcony cabins located closer to the water line; and special spa staterooms. Several innovations unique to the Carnival Magic will be announced in the near future.

The new Carnival Magic truly lives up to its name - magic. What are you waiting for!

For more information or to book your Carnival Cruise contact:

Anne Waters
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Royal Caribbean announced that it has formed a strategic alliance with Dream Works Animation SKG, , the world-class animated film studio, to bring the next generation of family programming and quality entertainment to the high seas. Vacationers of all ages will soon delight in interacting with some of Dream Works Animation's most beloved characters when a variety of new shows, activities and offerings are introduced on ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. The alliance will first come to life for guests to enjoy on board Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbeans newest ship that will debut in December 2010 and will share the title of world's largest and most revolutionary cruise ship with its sister ship Oasis of the Seas. Year round, "celebrity" characters including Shrek, Fiona and Puss In Boots of "Shrek;" Alex, Mort, and the Penguins of "Madagascar;" Po of "Kung Fu Panda" and Hiccup of "How to Train Your Dragon" will engage guests of all ages, day and night, with unique experiences, including exclusive special events and energetic parades, as well as through interactive character meals in the main dining room, and of course plenty of photo opportunities.

Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas Moving To Galveston, TX Voyager of the Seas Moving To New Orleans

Royal Caribbean today announced plans to redeploy the Mariner of the Seas from the Mexican Riviera to Europe, effective in early 2011.

The line says the 3,114-passenger ship, which has been sailing to the Mexican Riviera year-round out of Los Angeles since early 2009, will set sail for a new home at the port of Rome (Civitavecchia) in January.

Mariner is the largest ship ever to regularly sail out of a West Coast port, and it's arrival in Los Angeles last year was heralded as a major development for the city.

With Mariner's withdrawal, Royal Caribbean no longer will have a presence in Southern California or the West Coast of Mexico -- destinations it has served for many years.

Too big to fit through the Panama Canal, Mariner will have to spend weeks sailing around South America to reach Europe. Royal Caribbean will be selling a series of repositioning cruises around the continent as it does so.

The redeployment means Royal Caribbean will have 11 of its 22 ships in Europe in 2011 -- an unprecedented number. Just last month the line said it planned to have 10 ships in Europe for 2011, up from eight this year.

Mariner will be replacing Splendour of the Seas in Rome. Splendour, in turn, will head to Venice for the summer and fall of 2011 to sail 10- and 11-night Greek Isles and Turkey itineraries for the season.

Royal Caribbean says Mariner will return to North America for the 2011-12 winter season to replace the Voyager of the Seas in offering seven-night Western Caribbean itineraries from Galveston, Texas. Voyager, in turn, will head to New Orleans, marking the line's return to the city.

Mariner's final round-trip Mexican Riviera itinerary from Los Angeles will take place on Jan. 9, 2011.

Top 10 Stunning Spring Destinations

For travelers seeking affordable prices, small crowds and pleasant weather, spring is the perfect time of year to travel. Many destinations are at their best during the spring, when temperatures are warm but not too hot, lively seasonal festivals are going on, and blooming flowers set parks and gardens ablaze with color (a scene that makes for spectacular vacation photographs!). The top 10 stunning spring destinations are wonderful to visit throughout the year, but each place is especially dazzling and unforgettable in the spring.

Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica: Costa Rica's high season for travel runs from November to April and the country's rainy season runs from May to November. Travel in the spring to experience the best of both worlds.



Portland Oregon: Travel to Portland in the spring and you will see exactly why the town is known as the "City of roses" Portland's climate is ideal for growing roses, which start to bloom in April and Peak in June.

Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park: Japan: It's no surprise that Fuji-Hakone-Izu is the most visited national park in Japan. It's home to japan's iconic Mount Fuji, as well as well as waterfalls, hot springs, volcanic islands and deep lakes. Spring is cherry -blossom season in Japan and an excellent time to visit the park.

Cape May, New Jersey: One of America's oldest resort towns. summer is high season here, but in the spring travelers can walk past picturesque Victorian houses, read a novel on the beach (you may need a sweater but you'll still enjoy the view!) or visit an old-fashioned ice cream parlor before the summer crowds descend. Plus, Cape May is a birder's paradise each spring when thousand of sea and songbirds migrate.

Paris, France: There are lots of reasons that the old song lauds Paris in the spring but the city's famous gardens and parks are simply breathtaking this time of year. A few days of strolling past 17th-century fountains, banana trees, roses and majestic sculptures nestled in the leafy hidden corners of Parisian gardens will make you fall in love with springtime in the City of Lights.

Washington D.C.: Explodes with color in the spring when hundreds of cherry trees around the capital sprout blushing blooms. Late March early April are the best time to see the flowers at their peak.



The Netherlands: You've seen pictures of those iconic flower fields in the Dutch countryside, but a real-life look at the massive fields is an unforgettable and astonishing experience. the Keukenhof Gardens, open from March to May, are one of the best places to see over seven million tulips in full, vivid splendor.

Yosemite National Park: During April, May and June, travelers can see fields of blooming flowers, fish for rainbow trout or spot herds of bighorn sheep while enjoying warm days and cool evenings in Yosemite National Park. Plus, spring is the best season to visit Yosemite if you love waterfalls.


Channel Islands: Located off the French coast of Normandy, charm visitors with their quaint English cottages and sweeping island vistas. In the springtime, head to the island of Sark for its annual Wild Flower Fortnight, a festival that runs from late April through early May to celebrate the blanket of colorful flowers that covers the island this time of year.


Santorini, Greece: Planing a spring trip to the ever-popular Greek Islands can avoid the teeming summer crowds while still enjoying pleasant weather. Virtually all of the Greek islands are stunning in the spring (and pretty much every season), but santorini, which is famous for its cliff-top views and whitewashed buildings, is particularly beautiful.

What's your favorite place to visit in the Spring, for more information on these destinations please contact Anne Waters awateres@cruiseone.com (877)775-7245 or (361)949-1011.

Cruise Experts Pick their Top 10 Cruise Destinations

An exotic mix of cruise destinations have globetrotting industry experts drooling, a recent top 10 list reveled by a panel of 13 journalist and U.K. based cruise line executives and industry celebrities and heres what they chose.

1.) Alaska
2.) Galapagos
3.) Arctic
4.) Antarctica
5.) Black Sea
6.) St Petersburg
7.) Venice
8.) Rome
9.) The Corinth Canal
10.) Middle East

Let me know what you think!