Cruise NY Historic Hudson River!
Ray Goldenberg
I received this press release from Clipper Cruise Line and thought it
would be of interest. If you have missed any of my news' postings,
they are available on my web site.
Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com
CLIPPER PRESENTS FOUR THEMES ON 8-DAY CRUISE
ALONG NEW YORK’S HISTORIC HUDSON RIVER
ST. LOUIS, March 15, 2005 — As a part of Clipper Cruise Line’s
Close-To-Home Cruising® lineup, the 102-passenger, U.S.-registered
Nantucket Clipper navigates eight-day cruises along New York’s
historic Hudson River. Clipper’s Escape to the Hudson Valley cruise
includes two days in New York City before traveling up and down the
river for Kingston, Troy/Albany, and West Point. This journey focuses
upon the historical, cultural, scenic, and culinary significance of
life along the celebrated waterway.
“A trip along the legendary Hudson River tells a story of stark
contrast and American history,” Clipper CEO David Drier said. “In New
York, our guests can experience the constant action and multiple
cultures in the ‘City That Never Sleeps,’ yet, after cruising up the
Hudson River for just a few miles, they’ll discover the quaint
villages and relaxing atmosphere that make you forget the hustle and
bustle of the big city. Historians will delight in visits to the
United States Military Academy at West Point and the Franklin D.
Roosevelt Home and Library at Hyde Park after first tracing their
family roots at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. We’ll also focus
upon the Hudson River School of Painting’s impact on the nation’s
development and feature the produce and wines that make this the
breadbasket to the East Coast. And, there is no more stirring moment
than watching the faces of passengers and crew as we cruise past the
Statue of Liberty.”
On a comfortable voyage up the Hudson, Clipper’s onboard regional
experts will point out the myriad wildlife, unique lighthouses, and
breathtaking scenery along the way. Among the schedule of onboard
lecturers Clipper has arranged for this trip are noted historian Bill
Ewen and Robert Lippson, an expert on the region’s natural world.
Raised in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, Ewen has a special interest in
maritime history of the Northeastern United States and served as
executive vice-president of the Steamship Historical Society of
America. Lippson was a senior scientist with the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration and served as the assistant regional
director of the National Marine Fisheries Service – with a
responsibility for the mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes states.
The eight-day Escape to the Hudson Valley adventure begins when
passengers embark the Nantucket Clipper at Chelsea Piers. In addition
to time for personal discovery during the two days in New York,
sightseeing excursions available are a panoramic journey around Upper
Manhattan (Rockefeller Center, Lincoln Center, Harlem, and the Upper
East Side) that includes a tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art to
view the Hudson River School of Painting collection or a Lower
Manhattan exploration that features the Financial District (Wall
Street, Federal Hall, Trinity Church, and Battery Park), Chelsea
Market, and a ferry ride to Ellis Island.
While the ship sails up the Hudson, guests may choose to visit Kykuit,
the home to John D. Rockefeller, Jr., that features a spectacular art
gallery and beautiful garden or take in the regional flavor at Sprout
Creek Farm (a working cheese farm) and Benmarl Vineyards (one of the
country’s oldest wineries). Upon arrival in Kingston, travelers may
journey to Hyde Park for the beautiful rose garden and personal
mementos at FDR’s Home and Library, sample the wines at Adair
Vineyards and the fresh fruits and vegetables at a local farmer’s
market, or explore the city at leisure. An added extra to the Hyde
Park tour is a fantastic lunch at the Culinary Institute of America,
alma mater to several of the world’s greatest chefs and training
grounds for many Clipper Cruise Line chefs.
The Nantucket Clipper then sails for Troy/Albany, where guests may
visit the Albany Institute of History and Art (for the fantastic
collection of Hudson River School artwork), explore nearby Saratoga
Springs, or tour the home and studio of Thomas Cole, who is credited
with founding the Hudson River School. On the return down the river,
the ship will call upon West Point — with a campus tour of the
military academy, an excursion to Boscobel mansion and the National
Audubon Society’s Constitution Marsh, and a shuttle to Dia: Beacon
Riggio Galleries (with an impressive collection of works by important
artists of the 1960s and ‘70s) all scheduled. The eight-day trip
concludes with a return to Chelsea Piers that includes an evening sail
through New York Harbor for the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan
skyline.
Stateroom rates for Clipper’s eight-day Escape to the Hudson Valley
voyage begin at $2,170 per person, double occupancy. The cruise rate
includes seven nights aboard the Nantucket Clipper, all meals and
special events, port charges, and the services of Clipper’s
hospitality staff and carefully selected onboard experts. Six
departures are scheduled on May 11, 18, and 25; June 1; September 24;
and October 1, 2005; while two cruises are planned for October 19 and
26, 2006.
For reservations, travelers should contact their professional travel
consultant.