Program Summary:

Take your puzzle solving to a whole new level under the expert guidance of Stan Newman, Newsday's crossword editor, five-time tournament champion and America's foremost mental fitness coach. Your campus for the 11th Annual Crossword Cruise is Holland America Line's luxurious Maasdam. Classes are held while the ship is at sea and include:

• "Puzzles 101": Learning from every crossword you do
• "Tackling the Toughies": Your personalized course to crack the toughest crosswords
• Word games you can play at home to boost your brain power
• Applying your crossword skills to solve "real-life puzzles"
• Creating an original crossword, to be published in Newsday

Join Stan along with your friends and fellow Crossword enthusiasts for an enriching Caribbean cruise onboard the ms Maasdam hosted by Stan Newman's Crossword University ^tm and Holland America Cruise Line. Seven incredible Caribbean ports await... romantic islands, unexplored beaches; new cultures to explore! Let Holland America take you there - in the comfort and style which is the hallmark of this truly exceptional cruise line. Guests dine on the most extensive menus at sea. Presented on gleaming Rosenthal china by crisply-uniformed staff. Alternately, for today's more casual lifestyles, the relaxed Lido is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And 24-hour room service is complimentary - perfect for intimate dining on the verandah of your spacious stateroom. You'll be amazed and delighted at the spectacular shipboard entertainment...the best at sea! Holland America offers you the freedom to do as much or as little as you please. Come aboard and enjoy the best vacation of your life.

Stan Newman's Crossword University tm P.O. Box 69 Massapequa Park, NY 11762 (516) 795-8823 - StanXwords@aol.com - Fax 516-795-6788 Dear Puzzle Friend: You're invited to join me on our 11th Annual Crossword-theme event: a relaxing10-day cruise from Ft Lauderdale, on Holland America Line's beautiful ms Maasdam. The itinerary includes 7 terrific Caribbean Portsincluding a visit to Holland America's private island, Half Moon Key. You can count on me for an entertaining program of puzzle activities while you're on board. You'll have a "full boat" of crosswords, word games, and other puzzles to keep you busy, and I'll be leading instructional seminars on improving your solving skills and creating puzzles of your own. Of course, the Maasdam has plenty of non-puzzle activities for you to enjoy, plus all the luxurious amenities you would expect from Holland America Line. Special Event Cruises, who has handled the travel arrangements for our previous ten cruises, is a first-rate company that specializes in organizing seagoing theme events at discount prices. Their people are friendly and accommodating, and I'm sure you'll find it a pleasure dealing with them. For more information, or to book your cruise, call Special Event Cruises at 1-800-326-0373. Looking for a roommate? Ask Special Event Cruises about Holland America's unique cabin share program. They will attempt to find you a cabin-mate, and if they can't, you'll get a single room at the "per person" double-occupancy rate. You must book your cruise through Special Event Cruises to participate in the crossword program. For any puzzle-related questions, please contact me directly, either by regular e-mail or e-mail at the addresses at the top of this letter. I look forward to seeing you - and puzzling you - on board the ms Maasdam. Sincerely, Stanley Newman President

Read what puzzle fans say about Crossword Cruises!

About Stanley Newman:

Formerly a Wall Street executive, his prowess in crossword solving won Newman the first U.S. Open Crossword Championship in 1982. He entered the puzzle business as a hobby the next year, founding the American Crossword Federation and starting a puzzle newsletter. After retiring from Wall Street in 1987, Newman plunged into crosswords full-time, as a puzzle creator, editor, publisher, syndicator, and mail-order bookseller - becoming the first to achieve concurrent success in five different arenas of puzzledom

Newman joined Random House in 1993 to head its Puzzles & Games imprint, and while there published over 200 titles from America's best-known sources, such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times and Games magazine. He is the author/editor of more than 70 of his own books, most published by Random House. These include books of crosswords and word games, two New York Times crossword-reference books, and the just-published 10,000 Answers: The Ultimate Trivia Encyclopedia. Newman has organized and conducted scores of puzzle and trivia events nationwide over the past 15 years, including seminars on "brain games" and trivia at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

In addition to his Random House activities, Newman has been crossword editor for the Long Island, New York newspaper Newsday since 1988, whose puzzles are currently syndicated worldwide to over 100 daily, Sunday and Internet newspapers. In 2002, he succeeded Mel Rosen as Editor of the Crosswords Club. As puzzle creator, his work has appeared regularly in People, Sport and Business Week magazines. And as puzzle solver, he holds the world's record, set in 1996 under Guinness Book conditions, for the fastest completion of a New York Times crossword: 2 minutes, 14 seconds.

You must book your cruise through Special Event Cruises to participate in this program.

All staterooms are equipped with flat screen television, DVD player, telephone,multi-channel music and hair dryer. Not all staterooms within each category have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. The Maasdam has an Internet Center offering 24-hour email and Internet access. Printers are also available. Wireless "hot spots" are available (usage fee applies). Prices INCLUDE all taxes, port charges, shipboard meals, entertainment and activities. Not included: Alcoholic beverages, sodas, Crossword University Registration Fee of $65, transportation to and from the ship and gratuities. Prices quoted based on availability and are "per person" based on double "occupancy". For "single" travelers, Holland America Line offers a "Guarantee Single Share" program which eliminates the need for a single supplement fee (call for more details). Third and Fourth persons sharing same cabin pay only $700 each. Refundable deposit required at time of booking: $600 pp; balance due on November 4, 2011. Penalties assessed for cancellations after final payment date, therefore we recommend purchasing an optional cruise protection plan. Information on trip cancellation/interruption insurance is provided at the time of booking and can be downloaded from the menu below.

For more information, or to make a reservation, contact us today at:
1.800.326.0373

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