For Immediate Release

An Epic Civil War Journey, Iberian Tapestries, Washington Week–Election 2012 and Public Radio at Sea – Four Unique Public Broadcasting Educational Adventures

Sophisticated Cruise Specialists at Crown Cruise Vacations Assist With the Ordinary and the Extraordinary Cruises

PRINCETON, N.J. (June 26, 2012) – Crown Cruise Vacations, preferred provider of PTV at Sea events, and Artful Travelers, producers of PTV at Sea, present four unique public broadcasting educational adventures at sea.

This is a rare opportunity to cruise while meeting and interacting with fascinating experts and their featured guests at panel discussions and presentations in the areas of history, politics, culture, personal finance, health and wellness and more.

The insight and experience of these special guests are unparalleled and not available anywhere else in the world. Public Radio at Sea – and its celebration of NPR – is, quite simply, a journey unlike any other.

Additionally, private dinners and cocktail receptions allow for one-to-one conversations during an unforgettable voyage where you will have the opportunity to meet some very interesting people who may never cross your path otherwise.

Public Radio at Sea enriches, inspires and entertains with informative programming, presented by some of National Public Radio’s most acclaimed personalities.

Voyage 1 – EPIC CIVIL WAR JOURNEY– New Orleans to Chattanooga, Tenn., Aug. 9-21, 2012

Celebrate PBS’ award-winning history series American Experience in luxury, aboard the newly refurbished American Queen steamboat.

The adventure sails Aug. 9-21, 2012 (12 nights, 10 aboard plus pre- and post-voyage luxury hotel stay), from New Orleans to Chattanooga, Tenn., on the American Queen steamboat, owned and operated by the Great American Steamboat Company.

Join as Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Ric Burns and acclaimed producer Mark Samels, of television’s longest-running and most-watched history series, American Experience, present the Epic Civil War Journey. This is a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and premiere the highly-anticipated documentary “Death and the Civil War.”

Based on the best-selling book This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War by noted historian and Harvard University President Drew Gilpin Faust, the highly-anticipated documentary examines how the unprecedented death toll of the Civil War challenged American cultural attitudes about death and changed federal government policies regarding soldiers.

The Epic Civil War Journey will sail the historically rich waters of the Mississippi and Tennessee rivers, with a number of fascinating ports of call along the way allowing passengers the opportunity to explore the famed locations and battlegrounds that shaped the future of the United States of America. Burns, Samels and other special guests will share their vast knowledge on the Civil War, giving passengers extraordinary insight into both the film and a conflict that shaped the American past and present.

Prices begin at $3,995 per passenger (based on double occupancy) and include one-night luxury hotel stay both before and after sailing, land tours, multiple dining options, beverages, including fine wine, beer and spirits, and more, plus complimentary travel insurance when booked with Crown Cruise Vacations. Additional taxes and fees may apply.

Voyage 2 – IBERIAN TAPESTRIES – Barcelona to Lisbon, Aug. 13-23, 2012

Experience the best of public broadcasting aboard the #1 cruise line in the world – Regent Seven Seas.
Sails Aug.13-23, 2012 (10 nights), from Barcelona to Lisbon, aboard the luxurious all-suite, all-balcony ship, the Regent Seven Seas Mariner.

The adventure, traveling to incredible seaside ports in Spain, Morocco and Portugal, allows travelers exclusive access to some of the country’s most fascinating people – those with their fingers on the pulse of politics, history, current events, finance, and the arts.

While aboard, examine the fascinating 2012 electoral race, celebrate the brightest stars of Hollywood and discuss today’s most pressing social issues with special guests, including Robert Siegel of All Things Considered; David Fanning of Frontline; Charlie Cook of The Cook Political Report; and Michael Childers, acclaimed photographer of over 200 magazine covers.

Prices begin at $7,994 per passenger (based on double occupancy) and include return economy airfare, luxury hotel package, unlimited shore excursions, beverages, including fine wine, beer and spirits, complimentary travel insurance when booked with Crown Cruise Vacations and more. Additional taxes and fees may apply.

Voyage 3 – WASHINGTON WEEK / ELECTION 2012 – St. Louis, Mo., to St. Paul, Minn., Sept. 28-Oct. 5, 2012

A special voyage for friends of PBS’ acclaimed Washington Week, American television’s longest-running prime-time news and public affairs program.

This voyage sails Sept. 28, 2012, (seven nights) from St. Louis, Mo., to St. Paul, Minn. on the American Queen steamboat, owned and operated by the Great American Steamboat Company.

During the 2012 election season, Washington Week is expanding its grassroots outreach to viewers and voters by collaborating with local PBS stations for a series of Election 2012 Town Hall Events. It’s an opportunity for citizens from across the country to share their beyond-the-beltway viewpoints and become part of the national dialogue with Gwen Ifill and a roundtable of award-winning journalists.

Aboard this exclusive river cruise, join Managing Editor and best-selling author Gwen Ifill – along with a panel of America’s most engaging and insightful political analysts – as Washington Week sails the waters of the Mississippi. This early fall voyage salutes nature’s rich palette of reds, oranges and golds. During steamboating days, fascinating presentations from our esteemed guests will examine pressing political and cultural topics – from Election 2012 to current events to fine art.

Prices begin at $2,995 per passenger ((based on double occupancy) and include complimentary land tours, insurance, beverages, including fine wine, beer and spirits, and more. Additional taxes and fees apply. (A one-night luxury hotel stay is included in the voyage fare and can be added to either the start or end of your voyage to facilitate ease of transportation.)

The voyage aboard the newly-refurbished American Queen steamboat will launch with an exciting taping of the popular series in St. Louis, Missouri. Be a part of public television in the making as Ifill and her expert panelists discuss and examine the topics of the day – just weeks shy of a critical election.

Voyage 4 – PUBLIC RADIO AT SEA – Beijing to Bangkok, March 16-April 1, 2013

Experience the best of public broadcasting aboard the #1 cruise line in the world – Regent Seven Seas.

Sails March 16-April 1, 2013 (16 nights), from Beijing to Bangkok. Public Radio at Sea is learning leisure at its finest – a celebration of the exceptional programming and beloved personalities of NPR.

This unique travel experience offers an unparalleled opportunity to meet and mingle with several of NPR’s most dynamic journalists, including Special Correspondent Michele Norris, aboard the luxurious all-suite, all-balcony ship, Regent’s Seven Seas Voyager.

The adventure visits ports in China, Vietnam and Thailand, allowing plenty of time for passengers to learn from and talk with some of the country’s most enthralling people – those with their fingers on the pulse of politics, history, current events, finance and the arts.

Interact with NPR journalists and their featured guests at panel discussions and presentations on politics, culture, personal finance, health and wellness and more.  Additionally, in-depth Q & A sessions, dinners and cocktail receptions allow for more conversation throughout this unforgettable voyage. The insight and experience of these special guests is unparalleled and not available anywhere else in the world. Public Radio at Sea – and its celebration of NPR – is, quite simply, a journey unlike any other.

Prices begin at $12,349 per passenger (based on double occupancy) and include return economy airfare, 3-day pre- or post-cruise land program, unlimited shore excursions, beverages, including fine wine, beer and spirits, complimentary travel insurance when booked with Crown Cruise Vacations and more. Additional taxes and fees may apply.

To receive the amenities listed above, one must contact and book with Crown Cruise Vacations or, for more information about these exclusive PTV at Sea events, contact Crown Cruise Vacations, exclusive provider in partnership with Artful Travelers, promoters of PTV at Sea cruises. Reservations can be made directly with Crown Cruise Vacations by calling toll-free 855-788-7880 (USA/Canada) or emailing ptvinfo@crowncruisevacations.com.

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About Crown Cruise Vacations:

Sophisticated cruise specialists at Crown Cruise Vacations assist with the ordinary and the extraordinary, with travel designed to delight clients as they take dream vacations. Great value and unparalleled service are the cornerstones of Crown Cruise Vacations.

Crown Cruise Vacations is the preferred provider of PTV at Sea cruises, which enrich, inspire and entertain with informative programming presented by some of public broadcasting’s most acclaimed personalities. Crown Cruise Vacations was recently named North America’s Leading Cruise Travel Agent 2011 by the prestigious World Travel Awards, which acknowledges excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry.

Based in Princeton, New Jersey, Crown Cruise Vacations specialists are a unique team of experienced, accredited travel agents and managers with an average of over 12 years selling leisure travel. For more information, please visit us at http://www.crowncruisevacations.com/.

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