Whodunit? You have eight Carnival murder-mystery cruises to find out

Typically, when milk has spilled or something has been knocked over in our home, and my wife asks me: "Whodunit?", I answer: "The cats." Of course, it's actually me, but the cats just look guilty so I usually get away with it. Even Poirot would be fooled.

That's why I'm particularly excited to tell you about an upcoming eight-part series of "Whodunit Cruises" on the 2,000-passenger Carnival Paradise running from late October 2008 (Halloween night!) until December 2009. The three-night cruises sail roundtrip to Ensenada, Mexico, out of Long Beach, California.

This is true passenger participation. Assuming you've registered for the festivities in advance, you'll be given your own role to play in a murder mystery as soon as you board your cruise. Professional actors will also be onboard to add atmosphere. Activities will take place in a variety of public rooms and areas of the ship, all with the objective of solving the mystery before the end of the voyage. Clues will be slipped under stateroom doors so you can put your crime-solving skills to the test.

The whole production is coordinated by the aptly named Whodunit Productions, the leading organizer of mystery cruises, so you know it won't be cheesy (or maybe it will, but that's part of the fun). And you'll have all the usual Carnival amenities and food to keep you happy as well, assuming you aren't the murder victim.

Prices start at $348 per person, double occupancy, which includes all mystery cruise activities.

Personally, I think it was done in the balcony suite (see above) by the masseuse with the hard-boiled eggs from the breakfast buffet -- but maybe it was just the cats all along.

For bookings, call the special reservations nunber at 866/857-7080 and ask for fare code CPMM/FPMM for individual bookings or CPMG/FPMG for group bookings.

Photo from Carnival Cruise Lines.

Calling all food and wine aficionados: Silversea has a Med cruise for you

This item sent me straight to the kitchen cupboard to gorge on chips.

Not that it has anything to do with so prosaic a food, but it made me hungry, and what are you gonna do?

Anyway, the cruise in question is called the Food & Wine Aficionado Mediterranean Cruise, aboard Silversea's ultra-luxury, 382-passenger Silver Whisper departing August 16, 2008, from Barcelona to Rome.

The week-long itinerary alone makes one salivate: port calls include Menton and Calvi, France; Poltu Quatu, Sardinia; Monaco; and Livorno and Portofino, Italy.

The cruise will be hosted by Sonoma, California, restaurateur Sondra Bernstein, owner of the restaurant "the girl & the fig," and chef John Toulze of the same Wine Country eatery.

Onboard food and wine pairings will feature the food of France, Spain and Italy (no surprise there); gourmet cooking demonstrations and special receptions and walking tours will be part of the mix.

This is not a budget cruise, but you knew that. Fares begin at $4,546 per person, but they do include oceanview suites, most with private verandah; complimentary wines and spirits; open seating dining; and all onboard gratuities.

For more information on this cruise, go to the Millennium Travel website or call 800/304-6838. For more information on Silversea, click here.

Photo of Silversea suite from Millennium Travel.

Step up to the plate and cruise the Caribbean with baseball greats on MSC Lirica

Ever wanted to hone your curveball techniques under the tutelage of Hall of Famer pitcher Bob Feller? Or to test your knowledge of baseball trivia -- with one-time outfield great Tommy Davis throwing out the questions? Or just listen in while former stars like Dave Campbell and Jeff Torborg swap insider tales of baseball hijinks and lowballs?

And cruise the western Caribbean at the same time? If that sounds like your idea of heaven on a stick, grab your mitt and swimsuit and prepare to strike out for the high seas version of the hot stove league.

MSC Cruises launches the opening pitch in its new series of baseball greats theme cruises on December 13, 2008 -- a seven-night voyage aboard the MSC Lirica that features all the above-named stars and more, on hand to sign free autographs, conduct clinics and pitching contests, tell some tales, and field questions from a rapt group of passenger-fans.

Between sessions, you can take a "seventh inning stretch" from baseball to explore ports of call like Key West, Florida; Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cayo Levantado, Dominican Republic, where the cruise line keeps a private beach retreat. The cruise runs roundtrip out of Fort Lauderdale.

Cruise-only prices start at $449 per person, double occupancy, for the lowest category interior cabin. And until April 30, you can receive a free upgrade to an oceanview stateroom by signing up for a higher-category interior cabin for $629 per person, double occupancy.

Kids under 17 sail free when sharing a stateroom with two full fare-paying adults. For all passengers, government fees and taxes are additional, as is a fuel surcharge for the first two passengers in a cabin.

The December 13 voyage is the first in a series of winter 2008-2009 baseball-themed cruises. The MSC Orchestra will host baseball greats on its January 24, February 28, March 28, and March 11, 2009, Caribbean itineraries.

For more information or bookings, click here for the MSC website or call 800/666-9333 or a travel agent.

MSC Lirica photo from MSC Cruises.

Gamblers, pack your bags for Princess high rollers' cruises

Princess Cruises has announced its Princess Players Championship series over the course of seven cruises from May to November this year.

If the thought of trying your luck and skill in one of three tournaments per cruise -- slots, blackjack, or Texas hold 'em poker -- gets your competitive juices flowing, you may want to book now.
The winners of each of three satellite tournaments on six cruises will be invited to participate in the Grand Finale cruise on November 30, 2008, to the eastern Caribbean aboard the Crown Princess. You can enter just one or all three tournaments on each cruise if you'd like.

Cash prizes will total more than $100,000, and 18 free cruises are also up for grabs. Slots and blackjack players will compete for $10,000 jackpots, while the Texas hold 'em champion will receive a free entry into the 2009 World Series of Poker tournament, plus travel expenses -- a value of $11,000.

Lesser prizes for winning, placing, or showing in the earlier satellite tournaments include free Grand Finale Cruises for two (balcony cabins) and lesser cash prizes ranging from $200 to $1,000, respectively.

Entry fees range from $100 to $300 per player, depending on the game and cruise. And, except for Grand Finale contestants, you'll have to pay for your cruise as well. You don't need to sign up until you board the ship.

The cruises themselves -- let's not forget them -- range from three to nine days and cover destinations from Alaska to the Caribbean and West Coast U.S./Canada. Five different Princess ships will host the competitions, with two sailings in May and one in June, July, September, and October as well as the November Grand Finale.

For more information about the Princess Players Championship, call 888/772-6697; to book a cruise, go to the Princess website or call 800/PRINCESS or a travel agent.

And of course, good luck!

Crown Princess photo from Princess Cruises.