Picton Marlborough Country

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Wine Country 

Marlborough Region

The picturesque seaside town of Picton is the South Island base for the ferry service that links the main islands of New Zealand and the heart of the Marlborough Sounds. This was Majestic Princess maiden stop in Picton, gateway to the famous wine-growing region of Marlborough.

We exchanged our Dunedin shore excursions for a half-day tour through the picturesque wine country with stops at a chocolate factory and an artisan village.

Makana Confections

Makana Confections Chocolate Factory in Blenheim, New Zealand is set up like a winery / cellar door where you can watch how they make their chocolates, taste a few samples and, of course, shop for delicious chocolates and other confectionery treats. They weren't inexpensive, but they were worth every penny. Watch this video to get an idea of what your visit would be like.

Marlborough Wine Country  The next stop on our excursion was Marlborough's Artisan Hub.  Here we had time to explore the shops and have something to eat if desired.  We were in the midst of wine country with vineyards all around us.   Following that stop we headed back to the ship with our driver pointing out sights along the way and in town.   There was a local market and some shops near the pier which we visited before calling it a day.

Additional photos can be found on our Australia & New Zealand Shutterfly page

Makana Confections Marlborough Artisan Hub Picton Wine Country
Click on the image to the left for more Blog posts about this trip.

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Princess Cruises Announces Short Getaway Sailings for 2010-11

Are you looking for a short getaway cruise on the West Coast for 2010-2011? Princess Cruises has the answer with short cruises ranging from an overnight cruise to a week-long journey. These “coastal” getaways offer passengers the chance to sample the Princess experience as they explore the Pacific coastline.

Choose from among 18 sailings, including a special seven-day cruise to coastal wine regions with themed onboard presentations, four- and five-day samplers of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, plus shorter sailings of one to three nights. Princess’ seasonal getaways offer an opportunity to sail on ships that are traveling along the Pacific coast to begin or end a summer of Alaska cruises.
Princess coastal sailings for 2010-11 include:

Wine Country Coastal – A seven-day cruise geared towards wine lovers, this special sailing will offer the chance to explore the California wine regions of Santa Barbara and the San Francisco area – as well as visit the microbreweries of Astoria, Oregon. Themed excursions will be available in many ports to enhance the local wine focus. In addition, onboard presentations from guest experts will showcase the world of food and wine with demonstrations, tastings and special meals. The cruise aboard Sapphire Princess will depart from Los Angeles on May 7, 2011, sailing to Vancouver with calls at Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Astoria, Seattle and Victoria.

California Coastal – Sailing on a five-day journey down to California from Vancouver, Sapphire Princess will call at Victoria and San Francisco before arriving in “the city of angels,” Los Angeles. The sailing will depart on September 20, 2010.

Alaska Sampler – This quick roundtrip sailing from Vancouver will give travelers a taste of the 49th state, with visits to the Alaskan ports of Juneau and Ketchikan. The five-day cruise on Coral Princess will set sail on May 10, 2010.

Northwest Sampler – Royal Princess will take visitors on a four-day trip through the scenic Inside Passage with visits to Vancouver and Victoria. Sailing roundtrip from Seattle, the voyage will depart May 20, 2010.

Pacific Coastal: Los Angeles/Vancouver – Passengers can relax with two full days at sea as they cruise up the Pacific coast on these three-day journeys between Los Angeles and Vancouver. Golden Princess will offer two departures on September 26, 2010 and May 11, 2011, and Coral Princess sails on September 18, 2010.

Pacific Coastal: San Francisco/Vancouver – Several cruises travel between San Francisco’s legendary Golden Gate and picturesque Vancouver. Coral Princess offers a four-day sailing with calls in Astoria, Oregon and Victoria, BC on May 19, 2011. For a two-day option, Island Princess offers sailings on October 4, 2010 and May 14, 2011, while Star Princess sails on May 11, 2011.

Pacific Coastal: Vancouver/Seattle – These convenient overnight sailings between Vancouver and Seattle offer the perfect opportunity for a first taste of Princess hospitality. Sapphire Princess will sail May 15, 2010 and September 19, 2010. Golden Princess will offer departures on September 25, 2010 and May 14, 2011. Royal Princess will cruise on September 13, 2010 and May 18, 2011. And Star Princess will depart on May 13, 2011.

Launch Fares for overnight Coastal sailings start at $99 per person, based on double occupancy. Contact me for additional information.