After more than 10 years, Windstar Cruises is returning to the Canary Islands with two new seven-day sailings in November aboard the 148-passenger Wind Spirit.

Wind Spirit departs Lisbon, Portugal on Nov. 14 and visits the cosmopolitan city of Casablanca and seaside resort town of Agadir, Morocco, on the northwest coast of Africa before sailing to ports of Lanzarote, Las Palmas and Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands.

On the Nov. 21 sailing Wind Spirit will depart Santa Cruz de Tenerife and cruise to Las Palmas, Lanzarote, Agadir and Casablanca before arriving in Lisbon.

Cruise rates start at US$1,999 per person, double occupancy.

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

From now through September of next year, Celebrity Cruises will offer a series of seven-night itineraries aboard three of its ships in Alaska.

Paired with a fully escorted land tour, these cruises offer travellers an even greater opportunity to explore one of America’s most majestic landscapes.

Celebrity has opened its 2010 Alaska bookings and travellers purchasing a cruise by June 17 will be eligible for an onboard credit of US$100 per stateroom.

Throughout the 2010 Alaska season, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Mercury and Celebrity Millennium will offer a total of 58 Alaska sailings from six home ports -- San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Seattle, Seward and Vancouver.

After sailing one 11-night “Ultimate Alaska” cruise from San Francisco to Vancouver, departing on May 10, 2010 and offering a port line-up that includes Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point and Sitka, Alaska, Celebrity Infinity will offer 18 consecutive seven-night “Alaska Tracy Arm Fjord” cruises departing on Fridays and sailing roundtrip from Seattle, Washington.

New to Celebrity’s offerings in Alaska, these seven-night voyages are named for the 51-km-long passage the ship will make through the narrow Tracy Arm Fjord.

At the end of the fjord is Sawyer Glacier, the face of which is 60 metres high. Infinity’s seven-night itinerary also includes visits to Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria, as well as a cruise through the Alaska Inside Passage.

Go to www.celebritycruises.com for details.

Cunard Line has revealed itinerary and design plans for its newest ocean liner, Queen Elizabeth, which is scheduled to enter service on Oct. 12, 2010.

Reservations open April 2. Queen Elizabeth will feature the unique Cunard traditions linking it with sister ships Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria.

The vessel will also debut some new features giving it its own “style and personality.” Queen Elizabeth is named after Cunard’s first Queen Elizabeth, the famed Cunard ship which was launched in 1938 as the world’s largest liner.

The new ship will reference its predecessor in interior grandeur, décor and style, but with a modern twist.

From the outside, its distinctive black and red livery will hint at the experience that differentiates a Cunard liner from a modern-day cruise ship.

According to officials, this will be most evident in the ship’s adherence to liner decor, with elegant double and triple height public rooms, intricately detailed interiors replete with rich wood panelling, mosaics, gleaming chandeliers and cool marbles.

As a successor to Queen Elizabeth 2, the ship will also reflect this great liner via artwork and memorabilia and will have its own “Yacht Club,” named after the lively aft lounge on QE2. Offering guests 270-degree views and the perfect setting for activities and gatherings during the day, it will double as an evening venue for cocktails and dancing.

Queen Elizabeth’s maiden 2010 season will consist of six voyages, calling on 32 distinct ports in 18 countries.

Its Maiden Voyage will depart from Cunard’s homeport of Southampton on Oct. 12, en route to the Atlantic Isles.

The 13-night voyage will call at Vigo (for Santiago de Compostela), Lisbon, Seville (Cadiz), Gran Canaria (Las Palmas), Tenerife (Santa Cruz de Tenerife), La Palma (Santa Cruz de La Palma) and Madeira (Funchal).

Fares start from US$2,995 per person. The ship will then embark on five celebratory inaugural voyages.

Visit www.cunard.com for more.

Holland America Line has added additional savings and incentives to its Vacation Stimulus Plan.

Guests can now take advantage of free or reduced cruise fares for a third or fourth person in a stateroom, as well as 25% discounts on most pre- and post-cruise hotel packages.

New program elements also include no deposits required on third and fourth guest bookings.

These new benefits are in addition to original elements of lowered fares, deposits reduced by 50%, a 25% savings on standard Cancellation Protection Plan and suspended fuel supplements for cruises.

All Vacation Stimulus Plan incentives are available on 2009 sailings departing after May 1 and all 2010 cruises.

See your travel agent for additional information.