SINT MAARTEN/BVI - Small ship cruise line Windstar's new Island Experiences program will feature Olympic legend Mark Spitz during its January 31 Caribbean sailing. 

Windstar’s vessels call at Port St. Maarten weekly with the Wind Surf in port last Saturday.

Spitz, who famously won seven swimming gold medals at the 1972 Munich Games, will serve as host during the ship's stop at Prickly Pear Beach, a secluded nature reserve in the British Virgin Islands.

He will conduct an on-board lecture on the Yachtsman's Caribbean and join guests for dinner as well as taking swimming classes during the day.

"We are thrilled to have a renowned athlete like Mark Spitz join us for the launch of our new Island Experience," said Hans Birkholz, Windstar Cruises' chief executive officer.

"Our Private Events were designed for our guests to really experience the local culture in an exclusive way. The new Island Experience will allow them to feel like they are on their own slice of paradise for the day."

The Island Experience Private Events program will all feature beach and sporting activities such as volleyball, snorkeling, and bocce ball, along with a beach barbeque.

Besides BVI, Island Experience Private Events are also scheduled for “Mayreau Private Beach Getaway,” “St. Lucia Getaways in Paradise,” and “Isla de Coiba: Tropical Beach Delights,” Panama.

The cruise line said more celebrity hosts will be announced in the coming months.

Windstar Cruises operates a fleet of small luxury cruise ships known for its intimate yacht style experience and unique voyages to the world’s best small ports and hidden harbors.

Its three recently renovated sailing yachts carry just 148 to 310 guests and cruise to 50 nations, calling at 150 ports throughout Europe, the South Pacific, the Caribbean, and Central America.

In May of 2014, Windstar launched Star Pride, the first of three newly acquired power yachts. In May of 2015 the company will launch Star Breeze and Star Legend. The power yachts, with a capacity of 212 guests each, will double the size of Windstar’s fleet, making the company the market leader in small ship cruising with 300 or fewer passengers, with a total of 1,242 berths.

The additional capacity will open up new itineraries such as voyages to Southeast Asia, Arabia, Iceland, and beyond.

Windstar was recently listed on Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious Gold List, coming in as the #3 cruise line in the world.

MALAYSIA - Tourism leaders in Malaysia are peddling the country's eco-tourism credentials with the recent roll out of a raft of new tour packages for cyclists.

To kick off the 2015 programme, Tourism Malaysia will promote a new guide book 'Discover Malaysia by Bicycle' at the ASEAN Tourism Forum on January 22.

The packages focus mainly on cycling enthusiasts from Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand and include three-day tours of Kuching, Kota Bharu and a four-day Taman Negara cycling package.

"Through these packages, domestic and international tourists will be able to explore more destinations in Malaysia through cycling," said Tourism Malaysia's deputy director-general of promotions, Azizan Noordin.

The packages are being marketed through 32 local tour agencies.

Tourism Malaysia has been promoting cycling tours since 2011 and sold over 5,000 packages during 2013. (TravelMole)

BERMUDA - Chief executive officer of the Bermuda Tourism Authority Bill Hanbury has laid out plans for a new marketing strategy for the island, focusing on sports tourism, its British traditions as well as its 'island soul.'

Hanbury says Bermuda will be marketed as an 'Atlantic' destination rather than a 'Caribbean' destination and as a place to vacation year-round.

"Global visitors desire sports and recreational experiences," Hanbury said, detailing plans to aggressively promote Bermuda golf.

BTA will set up a golf tourism advisory board, and an on-island concierge service to enable visitors to book tee times easily.

It also pitching to athletic teams as an ideal warm weather training destination, and running, cycling and triathlon events could play an important role.

"Our winter weather is delightful compared to the US, Canada and the UK," Hanbury said, adding that BTA will allocate more marketing dollars to shoulder season promotion, focusing initially on the north-eastern US and Canada. (TravelMole)

CARIBBEAN - The year-long bidding war for control of the French owned Club Med resort group may have found a winner.

Club Med has resorts all over the world: Caribbean, Mexico/Florida, The Alps, Europe and the Mediterranean, South America, Asia, Indian Ocean and Africa.  The resorts in the Caribbean can be found in The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Turks & Caicos Islands.

The company is expected to back an offer from Fosun International, a consortium led by Chinese billionaire Guo Guangchang.

Rival bidder, Italian tycoon Andrea Bonomi's Global Resorts investment firm has said it will not raise its offer again and will withdraw its last bid.

Shanghai based Fosun International, owned by Chinese billionaire Guo Guangchang, increased its latest offer to $29.55 on December 17.

Fosun has worked with Club Med for several years on new developments in China and the Club Med board and CEO Henri Giscard d'Estaing had backed the Fosun bid due to its expertise in the Asia market where Club Med sees the most promising long term growth.

Investors hope the new owners will invest in expanding markets like China to widen the client base previously dominated by Europeans.

Fosun hopes to attract China's growing middle classes with high end resorts. (TravelMole)