Thank you for being one of more than 7,400 subscribers to our weekly travel newsletter, .  This week we tell you about some "Readers' Choice" award-winning cruises, interesting doings in Kansas City and four great deals on cruises departing in January 2012.

Weekly Cruise Deals from Cruise Guide Network

Start 2012 with a cruise bargain! This week we feature deals on 4 cruises departing in January. Cruise to the Bahamas or the eastern Caribbean on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian or Celebrity. Priced from just $50 per night:

http://www.cruiseguidenetwork.com/bargains.html

 

 

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has announced that the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City is now the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center (excuse us, we'll get the name changed on our site soon).  Starwood also operates The Westin Crown Center across the street and plans to spend $20 million to renovate the public spaces in the two hotels. They're both next door to the Crown Center Exhibit Hall and near the Sea Life aquarium and LEGOLAND Discovery Center (both scheduled to open in 2012).

 

 

Readers' Choice Awards for Cruises

Porthole Cruise Magazine recently announced the 2011 Readers' Choice Awards. Winners include Royal Caribbean Allure of the Sea for best mega-ship, Carnival Cruise Line for best value, and Costa Cruises for best Mediterranean itineraries. This is the 13th year the magazine's readers have selected their cruise favorites.


This Week's New (or Improved) Hotels

The Fairmont Mayakoba Riviera Maya (in the Playa del Carmen area just south of Cancun, Mexico) is experimenting with a "cruise style" food option.  Pay a flat fee and eat as much as you want, wherever you want (with some restrictions, of course).

Calling itself a "luxury boutique" hotel, the Renaissance Atlanta Midtown is now open on the north side of downtown Atlanta.  Formerly the Hotel Palomar, the new 4-star Renaissance has 287 guest rooms and 17 suites, the 4,445 square foot High Ballroom and a 442 gallon salt water aquarium in the lobby.