Silversea Cruises is toasting the New Year with a new collection of 11 Wine Series voyages.

On each wine-themed cruise, passengers will enjoy sampling great vintages and learning about the tradition and art of winemaking in special tastings and lectures conducted by wine professionals, vineyard owners, winemakers and other epicurean specialists from renowned establishments, including California’s Justin and Wente wineries, Italy’s Castello Banfi and Chile’s Santa Alicia Winery.

On many of the voyages, guests will also have a chance to explore some of the world’s most celebrated wine regions on guided shore excursions.

Go to www.silversea.com for details.

Celebrity Cruises has announced that Celebrity Eclipse – the third in the five-ship Solstice class series – will be based in Southampton, England, in summer 2010, offering cruises to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

The ship also will also hold its launch celebrations in Southampton.

“Celebrity Cruises has enjoyed a strong relationship with the UK and Ireland market and experienced steadily increasing guest numbers in recent years,” said Celebrity president Dan Hanrahan.

“Investing in the future of that relationship with Celebrity Eclipse home porting in Southampton is an exciting development for our business. In 2009, we have an enormous opportunity with our two newest ships – Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox – both based in Europe. Our presence will significantly increase in 2010, as Celebrity Eclipse leads the charge to further maximize the potential of the UK and Ireland market.”

Among the ground-breaking features guests can anticipate onboard each 2,850-guest Solstice-class ship include: The Lawn Club, a half-acre recreation area featuring real, growing grass; a Hot Glass Show in partnership with The Corning Museum of Glass, offering live glassblowing demonstrations; 10 widely varied restaurants, including the main “Grand Epernay” dining room, inspired by old Hollywood glamour; and a new category of accommodations, AquaClass, presenting a range of spa-inspired amenities, including dream-enhancing TV programming, a welcome kit with teeth whitening sample, exclusive access to the Mediterranean-influenced specialty restaurant, Blu, and complimentary access to the Persian Garden within the extensive AquaSpa facilities onboard.

Sail on over to www.celebritycruises.com for more.

Teeing off near the dramatic cliffs at New Zealand’s Cape Kidnappers, rafting the raging waters of New Zealand’s Rangitaiki River and feeding kangaroos and koalas are a sampling of the new outdoor adventures available on Crystal Cruises’ February and March Australia/New Zealand itineraries.

Crystal Serenity’s 12-day Feb. 17 cruise from Auckland to Sydney navigates Milford Sound and calls at New Zealand’s Tauranga, Wellington, Dunedin plus a maiden call in Napier, while the 18-day March 1 itinerary from Sydney to Singapore visits Australia’s Melbourne, Adelaide, Fremantle/Perth, Broome; and Indonesia’s Bali and Semarang, plus a maiden call in Komodo Island.

New outdoor adventures include: Waitangi, New Zealand – Swim with the dolphins – and perhaps penguins and orcas; Tauranga, New Zealand – Rafting on the Rangitaiki River; Melbourne, Australia -- Relish the fine wines produced at Penfolds; Adelaide, Australia – Visit Southern Australia’s Barossa Valley for exclusive wine tasting at Jacob’s Creek, Peter Lehmann Winery and Yaldara Estate; Dunedin, New Zealand – Explore the filming locations of Lord of the Rings by helicopter, as well as other breathtaking New Zealand landscapes and the Misty Mountains; Bali, Indonesia – Ride an elephant at the Bali Elephant Safari Park, then venture into the Bali Bird Sanctuary; and Komodo Island, Indonesia – Explore Komodo National Park, the habitat of the dragons of the same name, and likely spot a few as they hunt for food and greet visitors.

Other highlights include the Borobudur Temple in Indonesia and the annual Art Deco Weekend festival in Napier.

Go to www.crystalcruises.com for more.

Royal Caribbean International will operate a seven-night roundtrip itinerary for its inaugural season from the homeport of Dubai with bookings now open Vacationers can choose among 13 sailings, from January through April 2010, aboard Brilliance of the Seas to destinations in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman.

Guests aboard will have ample time to explore the Dubai with overnight stays at the beginning and conclusion of the voyage and the port-intensive itinerary will also include a call at Oman’s capital of Muscat, and maiden ports of call at Mina Sulman, Bahrain; and Fujairah and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Vacationers also can choose among two repositioning cruises, both 14-night itineraries, between Barcelona and Dubai via the Suez Canal.

The Jan. 4, 2010 sailing from Barcelona will call at Aqaba, Jordan, and three Egyptian ports: Alexandria, Safaga, and Sharm El Sheikh. The April 19 return voyage will call at Safaga, Sharm El Sheikh, Alexandria and Muscat.

Visit www.royalcaribbean.com for additional information.