SeaDream Yacht Club has introduced its 2013 Amazon pre and post-voyage Land Adventures to Machu Picchu.

SeaDream II will sail the Amazon River beginning February 10, 2013 departing from Barbados. Offered as a 20-day voyage; Barbados to Iquitos, Peru, or two 10-day voyages; Barbados to Manaus, Brazil or Manaus to Iquitos. New in 2013 are two 7-day Upper Amazon voyages sailing from Iquitos, Peru roundtrip. SeaDream is nimble enough to go upriver, deep into the Peruvian rainforest.

In total, SeaDream has eight Amazon voyage options in 2013. James Cabello, Manager of SeaDream’s Land Adventures said “our land packages have been tailor-made to include comfort and authenticity. I’ve scouted out the best experiences with highly qualified guides.” Voyages 21308, 21310 & 21311 offer a 6-night or a 4-night pre-voyage program. Voyages 21307, 21308 & 21310 offer a 5-night or a 3-night post-voyage program. Highlights of Pre and Post Voyage Adventures to Machu Picchu:

• Visit Urubamba Valley, the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
• Get up close with llamas, fall in love with alpaca, and see ancient weaving techniques still in use.
• Enjoy a gastronomic feast at Wayra Ranch, hosted by Chef, Pedro Miguel Schiaffino.
• Watch stunning equestrian demonstrations of the Peruvian Paso horses set to Marinera music.
• Tour the fortress of Ollantaytambo.
• Take a spectacular 3 ½ hr. ride aboard the Orient Express luxury train, the Hiram Bingham (brunch served while the spectacular Andean scenery passes by).
• Relish the views while having afternoon tea at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge Hotel.
• Watch the sunset with only a handful of others at Machu Picchu, where you’ll stay overnight.
• Wake up in Machu Picchu and experience sunrise from your elegant, peaceful hotel.
• Tour Cusco (“Archaeological Capital of the Americas”) and its Inca walls.
• Visit Cusco’s Pre-Columbian Art Museum by night, dining at the Museum’s restaurant featuring Novoandina cuisine.
• In Lima, savor an authentic Peruvian lunch followed by a panoramic tour of the “City of the Kings”.

For more details about SeaDream’s Amazon voyages and associated Adventures to Machu Picchu contact your travel professional or SeaDream Yacht Club at 1 800 707-4911 or visit www.SeaDream.com.

Sacred Valley

June 9-16, voyage #21218A: Sail 7-nights from Piraeus (Athens) roundtrip. This is the President’s Voyage, hosted by SeaDream’s President, Bob Lepisto.

October 13-25, voyage #11239: Sail 12-nights from Piraeus (Athens) to Barcelona

October 20-27, voyage #21235: Sail 7-nights from Nice to Barcelona

$500 savings is taken from SeaDream’s website Book Today & Save pricing. Request “Club Savings” at time of booking. Contact your travel professional or SeaDream for more details.

During the annual trans-Atlantic voyages each spring and fall, SeaDream I & II provide a healthy, fun fundraising opportunity for guests and crew. We coined it “Steps for Charity” and it is a walk to raise funds for a select charity.

Each day, weather permitting, interested guests and crew walk around deck 6; 16 laps equals one mile. They walk for as long as they like, keeping tally of their miles. It’s a great way to get in some exercise and fresh air for a good cause. This year’s recipient of the funds raised onboard is LIVESTRONG, The Lance Armstrong Foundation. Their mission is to inspire and empower people affected by cancer.

Guests and crew donate based upon miles walked. In addition, the crew takes photos during the course of the voyage and creates a keepsake DVD available for purchase. The revenue from the DVD sales is also donated to the charity. For nonprofit organizations, every dollar counts. SeaDream II raised $460 during the spring crossing for LIVESTRONG.

To learn more about this organization, visit www.livestrong.org

Celebrations of mothers and motherhood occur throughout the world; many of these can be traced back to ancient festivals, like the Greek cult to Cybele, the Roman festival of Hilaria or the Christian Mothering Sunday celebration.

No matter the country or religion, the day is meant to honor and celebrate women and motherhood. To make the day special, one often gives flowers, breakfast in bed and gifts in appreciation of mothers. Think about the mothers closest to you; your wife, your mother, your grandmother, your sister, your aunt, your best friend…

Finding a special gift can be a daunting task. Need a little help preparing for the big day? We’ve got the perfect gift for the mothers nearest and dearest to you; a SeaDream Mediterranean voyage!

What more could a mother want…visiting spectacular European ports over the course of 7-nights aboard a luxurious yacht. Having her stateroom neatly kept and looked after day & night, dining on award winning cuisine breakfast, lunch & dinner. Enjoying complimentary wine and open bar with all gratuties included. Being served by an attentive crew of 95. To sail aboard SeaDream is to be truly pampered. The memories last a lifetime and that is the best gift of all.

Thinking about your budget, we’ve made a list of the lowest fares available this May – October. Consider either sending Mom with a guest of her choice, or joining her with the extended family. Click on voyage dates for more details.

June 9 – 16: Piraeus (Athens) roundtrip Starting at $3,799 per person

June 16 – 23: Piraeus (Athens) roundtrip Starting at $3,499 per person

July 8 – 14: Piraeus (Athens) roundtrip Starting at $3,999 per person

July 14 – 21: Piraeus (Athens) – Civitavecchia (Rome) Starting at $3,999 per person

July 21 – 28: Dubrovnik – Piraeus (Athens) Starting at $3,999 per person

Aug. 11 – 18: Nice – Civitavecchia (Rome) Starting at $3,999 per person

Aug. 18 – 25: Dubrovnik – Civitavecchia (Rome) Starting at $3,999 per person

Aug. 25 – Sep. 1: Civitavecchia – Piraeus (Athens) Starting at $3,999 per person

Sep. 1 – 8 Barcelona – Nice: Starting at $3,999 per person

The voyage begins with three days yachting the Greek Islands visiting Delos, Mykonos and Rhodes. Delos is one big outdoor museum; an uninhabited island covered with archaeological sites. Mykonos is more cosmopolitan and the day may be spent exploring shops and cafes amid the white washed buildings that hug the picturesque harbor. In Rhodes, join Bob Lepisto and a guide for a hike to the ancient Lindos Acropolis. In the afternoon explore the medieval Old City of Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Along Turkey’s Turquoise coast, SeaDream anchors off the charming beach of Fethiye. It is from here, guided by an archaeologist guests may tour the remarkable ancient cities of Xantos and Letoon (UNESCO World Heritage Sites). The second call along the Turquoise coast is Göcek, a popular destination for yachtsmen. Its secluded bay is a peaceful, quiet settlement with lovely restaurants and cafes perfect for sampling local cuisine. The liveliest town on the coast is Bodrum, where SeaDream II will stay overnight. Historians may visit the Bodrum Castle, the Carian Princess exhibit and the Ancient Mausoleum, which is Bodrum’s oldest antiquity. Bodrum is also a great dive site and for those certified, SeaDream offers a one tank dive. The last port of call before returning to Athens will be the unspoiled island of Hydra, Greece. Hyrda’s rugged terrain is in contrast to its gentle charm. The historical town on the waterfront is easily discovered on foot and offers visitors delightful seafood from the Aegean.

Voyage fares begin at $3,799 per person and include ocean view accommodations, all gourmet meals, wine with lunch and dinner, open bar with selected premium brands, gratuities, complimentary water toys, mountain bikes and more. SeaDream Yacht Club’s twin yachts, SeaDream I & II accommodate a maximum of 112 guests and are favored for their elegant informality, state-of-the-art facilities and personal service provided by a crew of 95. 

For further details contact your travel professional, visit www.SeaDream.comor phone 800 707-4911.

SeaDream's President, Bob Lepisto

The traditional Tomato and Mozzarella di Bufala Salad, revisited by the Chef

Plum Tomato, Blanched and Peeled
Mozzarella cheese, Sliced
Fresh Basil
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
Green Olive, Chopped
Linguini, Deep Fried to be crispy
Romaine lettuce, Shredded for garnish
Pesto sauce
Balsamic vinegar, reduced to a drizzling consistency
Cracked Black pepper, for garnish

1. Cut the Peeled Tomatoes into Quarters. Take the pulp away

2. Marinate the tomatoes with Olive oil, Basil, Salt and Pepper.

3. Chop 1/4 of Marinated Tomatoes and mix with Chopped Green Olives.

4. Start putting the Tomato slices in a ring, first at the bottom and then inside rim.

5. Put a slice of Mozzarella and then the olive /tomato mix and then Mozzarella again.

6. Cover it with Tomato slices.

7. Press on top to make a firm structure.

8. Garnish with Spaghetti Strands and Lettuce.

9. Drizzle with Pesto Sauce and Balsamic Reduction.

Buon Appetito!

If you’ve dreamed of sailing the Greek Islands by luxury yacht, now is your chance!

Don’t miss the opportunity to save.  This summer SeaDream Yacht Club is offering great values on Greek Voyages.

SeaDream’s voyage fare includes ocean view accommodations, all gourmet meals, wine with lunch & dinner, open bar with selected premium brands, gratuities, use of water toys and mountain bikes…and more.

Here are a few Greek voyages to consider:

June 9- 16: Fares starting at $3,799 per person – Voyage # 21218A:

 June 16-23: Fares starting at $3,499 per person — Voyage # 21218BA:

  July 21-28: Fares starting at $3,999 per person — Voyage # 11228:

 Aug 25-Sep 1: Fares starting at $3,999 per person – Voyage # 11233:

“Book Today and Save” fares are capacity controlled and may change without notice. The fares are per person based on double occupancy. Single and third person rates are also available. Starting fares quoted are based on a Deck 2 “GTY” and do not include Government, Port, Document Issuance, Handling & Service fees.

           

A MOUTHFUL IN AMALFI - by William Tomicki

From Naples to Salerno, the art of cooking and eating  are fundamental sacraments that define the good life on the Amalfi Coast. In addition to toga-clad Roman emperors, Phoenicians, Greeks and Arabs, great travelers of the past like Goethe, Wagner and Lawrence, swooned over the culinary traditions here while discovering the beauty of Amalfi villages, their people and their ways. This continues to the present day. A beneficent mild climate and 1500 years of history has yielded unique culinary traditions. To travel and visit this area well means to know and understand local tastes and flavors.

On the Amalfi Coast, thanks to the legacy of a people with over fifteen hundred years of history, conditions have given birth to the sublime: Amalfi cuisine is based on simple and quick preparation, without too much fuss in order to preserve the fragrance and flavors of the freshest ingredients.

Any discussion of Amalfi cooking must begin with the noble lemon. The finest and most distinctive lemons in Italy come from the Amalfi Coast and the Sorrento Peninsula around the Bay of Naples. Evidence of cultivated lemon groves dates as far back as the 1st century in and around Sorrento and from the early 11th century along the Amalfi Coast.

The superior lemons produced here have been granted IGP (Protected Geographic Indication) status.  The production, process and distribution are strictly controlled. Amalfi Coast lemons are unique, a very large fruit that can reach the size of a grapefruit, with a strong scent, a juicy-sweet pulp and very few seeds. They are the secret behind the intense flavor of Limoncello, the delicious digestive liqueur made from the infusion of Sorrento lemon peel in pure alcohol. Another typical liqueur is nocino, made from Sorrento walnuts and coffee beans.

Fish and crustaceans are the star attractions on the Amalfi Coast. Add tomatoes, fresh zucchini, red peppers, olives, salad greens, herbs, peaches, apricots, cherries, oranges and the best walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds and you have the basics of Amalfi cooking. You will find an abundance of world-famous specialties like pizza, pasta, the pastiera cake, buffalo mozzarella cheese and fresh Mediterranean seafood on menus here.

Special dishes include lobster boiled on its own or cooked with tomatoes; octopus casserole; shrimp sautéed or fried lightly in breadcrumbs; and spider crab soup. No one can forget tasting the famous gnocchi alla sorrentina made with tomato sauce, basil and mouth-watering fiordilatte mozzarella, which, in Sorrento, is braided. Most dishes are neatly finished off with a dash of the characteristically sweet-tasting extra virgin olive oil, produced from local olives.

Meats are not ignored, the favorites being steaks, chicken, grilled veal, rabbit, sausage, and lamb. Gossamer slices of foie gras and Parma ham often make welcome cameo appearances.

In Sorrento restaurants and in Amalfi Coast restaurants you will drink fine wines ranging from rosso Sorrento to Gragnano, all of which come from vines cultivated in the many terraced vineyards of the region. Of course, do not miss a dessert like “sfogliatelle,” typical Neapolitan cakes in crispy layers stuffed with a special cream; baba with cream; and crisp lobster tail-shaped desserts stuffed with cream. Summer desserts–soft sponge cakes with very delicate garnishes–are sometimes covered with a mountain of fresh juicy fruit.

Restaurants and hotels not to be missed for top notch Amalfi cuisine: Le Sireneuse and the fabled San Pietro in Positano; La Tagliata in Positano; the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento; Quisi at the Hotel Quisisana and L’Olivo in Capri; La Cantinella and Palazzo Petrucci in Naples; La Caravella in Amalfi; and the Mediterranea Hotel in Salerno.

Since 1981, Bill Tomicki has been editor and publisher of ENTREE, www.entreenews.com, a monthly luxury travel newsletter headquartered in Santa Barbara. VOGUE Magazine called ENTREE “the Rolls Royce of travel writing.” Tomicki has been knighted in France and Portugal and holds the title of Lord Millcombe. He can be reached at wtomicki@aol.com

SeaDream’s 2012 Mediterranean season includes great opportunities to visit ports along Italy’s Amalfi Coast. We suggest these voyages (click on links for full detail):

Voyage #        Embark Date      Embark Port             Debark Port        # of nights
21217A                  May 19, 2012       Civitavecchia                         (Rome)   Venice                    11

11225                    Jun 23, 2012         Venice                                    Civitavecchia (Rome)           10

11226                    Jul 3, 2012             Civitavecchia Rome)            Venice                                    11

21221D                  Jul 14, 2012          Piraeus (Athens)                  Civitavecchia (Rome)           7

21222B                  Jul 21, 2012          Civitavecchia (Rome)           Dubrovnik                             7

21223A                  Jul 28, 2012          Dubrovnik                             Civitavecchia (Rome)           7

11232                    Aug 18, 2012        Dubrovnik                             Civitavecchia (Rome)           7

21226A                  Aug 18, 2012        Civitavecchia (Rome)           Civitavecchia (Rome)           7

11233                    Aug 25, 2012        Civitavecchia (Rome)           Piraeus (Athens)                  7

21233                    Oct 6, 2012           Civitavecchia (Rome)           Civitavecchia (Rome)           7

SeaDream II’s 2013 return to The Amazon includes a 7-day Upper-Amazon Voyage

SeaDream has announced (8) different Amazon River voyages in 2013.

Voyage #21307 sails February 10 – March 2 (20-days) from Barbados to Iquitos, Peru. It’s optional to reserve in as only a 10-day segment with Manaus, Brazil as the midway point.

Voyage #21311 sails March 23 – April 12 (20-days) from Iquitos, Peru to Barbados. It’s optional to reserve in a 8 or 12-day segment with Manaus, Brazil as the midway point.

Most unique are the 7-day Upper-Amazon voyages, #21308 and #21310; sailing from Iquitos, Peru roundtrip from March 2 and 16, 2013.

“There are currently no other luxury vessels of SeaDream’s size sailing the Upper-Amazon. In addition to it being a unique itinerary, its ideal for those preferring just a week-long voyage to explore this amazingly diverse area” said SeaDream’s President, Bob Lepisto.

Exotic ports for the 7-day Upper-Amazon voyage include Leticia, Columbia; Panelas, Brazil; Jutai, Brazil; Santo Antonio do Ica, Brazil; Amatura, Brazil; Monkey Island, Columbia and Pebas, Peru. SeaDream has arranged for a team of local experts to sail onboard all Amazon voyages including, naturalists, a botanist, a historian and an expedition leader. This “expedition team” will be taking guests on zodiac safaris, village walks and jungle treks. The team will also provide daily lectures and presentations, sharing their immense knowledge of the Amazon Rainforest and River.Near Leticia, Colombia guests will arrive by zodiac to “Monkey Island”, a sanctuary for monkeys and an opportunity to hand feed squirrel monkeys. In Panelas, Brazil guests on zodiacs will skim past massive lily pads and peer up at towering ceiba trees as they are taken to an area noted for its sloths, monkeys and Tamandua anteaters.

The diversity of plants in the Amazon is the highest of anywhere on earth. There have been more than 40,000 plant species recorded. As of June 2011, 3,000 species fish, 1,294 birds, 427 mammals, 428 amphibians and 378 reptiles have been scientifically classified in the Amazon Rainforest. After each day’s river adventures sighting pink dolphins and more, guests return to their comfortable expedition base, SeaDream II.

To compliment these Amazon voyages, guests may book a pre or post land based travel program to Machu Picchu. SeaDream has teamed up with experienced local partners and together have created insightful excursions through Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu. Tours include accommodations in five-star hotels, transportation on the Orient Express luxury train, the Hiram Bingham and more. Expertly escorted by specially selected local licensed guides, these are authentic cultural experiences designed for the sophisticated traveler.

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Click these links to see what guests are saying about their recent SeaDream Amazon Voyage experience:

http://excursionists.co.uk/

http://miraage.com/welshrarebits/

SeaDream I departed San Juan, Puerto Rico on April 14 and will sail 13 nights across the Atlantic Ocean before arriving in Malaga, Spain on April 27.  

Click this link to see what’s happening on a daily basis as they make their way to Europe: http://www.seadream.com/seadream-1-europe-bound-crossing-2012