For the first time ever, the Arabella, a well-loved 160-foot sailing cruise yacht, will have a wine tasting trip, where you can sip from the offered categories, comment on the wine's "nose" or just stick yours into a glass and enjoy, from as little as $999 or as high as $1,499 per person (depending on the stateroom), sharing a double cabin. This is a once-only event, departing September 26 and returning October 1, 2002.
The price includes five nights accommodation in one of Arabella's 20 elegant staterooms, each with private bath, satellite TV and phones. (The ship, which usually sails around the Virgin Islands from December through April, and the Sea Islands during the month of May, also has a salon and bar, a hot water spa and a lot of watersports equipment.)
On the Autumn wine tasting cruise, which the company hopes to make an annual event, you'll participate in presentations of wines from Long Island, Rhode Island, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket (who knew all these places grew their own wines?). The cost includes the tastings, tours (some with hors d'oeuvres), all daytime meals, a New England clambake on Cuttyhunk, an island lying 14 miles out from New Bedford, Mass., and transportation to wineries in Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. Participating vineyards include: Evening 1, Rhode Island's Sakonnet Vineyards; Evening 2, Martha's Vineyard's Chicama Vineyards; Evening 3, Nantucket Vineyard; Evenings 4 & 5, Amagansett Wines owner Michael Cinque lecturing. There's an optional dinner and Roederer Champagne tasting at Atria on Martha's Vineyard. The itinerary is from Newport to Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and Cuttyhunk.
For more information and to book, contact the Arabella people at www.cruisearabella.com or phone 800/395-1343. Their parent company is Atlantic Stars Hospitality Group, based in Newport, contact www.atlanticstars.com.