Time Spent At Sea

Stay and Cruise In Sea of Cortes With American Safari Cruises

2012-01-28T00:01:00.000-08:00

Travellers needing an escape to sunny Baja have one more reason to book a luxury Sea of Cortés yacht adventure with American Safari Cruises. All new reservations for cruises departing by April 14 receive one complimentary hotel stay at Casa Natalia, a boutique hotel in San José del Cabo, Mexico. The 22-guest, upscale yacht Safari Quest sails week-long 'Aquarium of the World' adventure cruises from La Paz, Mexico, through April.

The offer is good only for guests flying into Cabo. The Safari Quest package includes transfers between airport, hotel and the yacht in La Paz, plus one complimentary night either pre- or post-cruise at the award-winning European-style Casa Natalia. Breakfast is included at the hotel. Transfer between Cabo and La Paz is via private shuttle.

Sailing round-trip from the picturesque town of La Paz, the yacht explores amidst the hundreds of islands and islets in the Sea of Cortés. The itinerary includes exploration of Isla Partida, Isla San Jose, Isla San Francisco and Isla Espíritu Santo. A flexible and unhurried cruising philosophy promises time to seek out wildlife, including many different species of whales, dolphins and sea lions, which are all prevalent in the wildlife-rich waters.

Cruise fares start at $3,995 per person based on double occupancy. The inclusive cruise includes all from-the-yacht activities and equipment; transfers; exquisite meals; fine wine, premium spirits and microbrews; and all port charges, taxes and fees. The 22-guest Safari Quest features a hot tub, Tempurpedic mattresses, heated tile floors in all bathrooms and upper category balconies. An all-American crew has a guest-crew ratio of 2 to 1.

For booking details, be sure to check with the UK's leading adventure cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd, on 0800 008 6677 or www.cruiseline.co.uk.

On The Frankincense Trail With Voyages of Discovery

2012-01-27T01:00:00.000-08:00

Join Voyages of Discovery’s luxury small ship MV Discovery on two new itineraries for 2012 - The Frankincense Trail and Oman to the Holy Land.

Explore the ‘Desert Kingdom’, the Lost City of Ubar and Lawrence of Arabia’s Petra on The Frankincense Trail from just £899 per person, based on a March 23 departure (two people sharing an inside cabin). The price includes return flights from London, transfers and a 13-day voyage departing from Muscat (Oman, overnight) and calling at Salalah (Oman), Sharm-el-Sheikh (Egypt), Aqaba (Jordan) and the final port of Safaga (Egypt, overnight).

Oman to the Holy Land is an extended version of the Frankincense Trail, cruising along to other major historical hotspots such as Israel, Cyprus and Turkey and costs from just £1,399 per person (based on a March 23 departure and two people sharing an inside cabin). The full voyage lasts 25 days and, after 2 overnights in Safaga, continues to Sharm-el-Sheikh (Egypt), Sokhna (Egypt), Ashdod (Israel), Haifa (Israel), Limassol (Cyprus), Fethiye (Turkey), Kusadasi (Turkey) and the final port of Istanbul (overnight).

The price for both cruises includes all meals, entertainment and gratuities on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees, plus onboard lectures from a team of renowned Guest Speakers.

For booking details, be sure to check this link with the UK's leading cruise agents, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Wine Experts To Lead Six Silversea Voyages

2012-01-26T00:01:00.000-08:00

Silversea Cruises has chosen renowned wine experts Lyn Farmer and Richard Nurick to host a Wine Series enrichment programme on six voyages this year.

On each wine-themed cruise, discerning travellers with a passion for fine wines will enjoy sampling great vintages and learning about the tradition and art of wine-making in special tastings and lectures. Depending on the itinerary, guests may also have the chance to explore some of the world's most celebrated wine regions on optional guided shore excursions.

The following Wine Series voyages will be hosted by Lyn Farmer:

Voyage 3203: Silver Shadow departs Auckland February 4 on a 19-day sailing to Fremantle (Perth) with calls in Napier, Wellington, Picton, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Port Lincoln, and Albany. Fares start at £6,599.

Voyage 4210: Silver Whisper departs Monte Carlo May 1 on a 12-day sailing to Southampton with calls in Palma de Mallorca, Cadiz, Portimao, La Coruña, Bilbao, Bordeaux and Le Verdon. Fares start at £3,899.

Voyage 1220: Silver Cloud departs London August 13 on a 14-day sailing to Monte Carlo with calls in Saint-Malo, Bordeaux, Bilbao, Lisbon, Cadiz, Malaga and Sete. Fares start at £4,999.

Voyage 1232: Silver Cloud departs Buenos Aires December 22 on a 16-day sailing to Valparaiso (Santiago) with calls in Montevideo, Punta del Este, Puerto Madryn, Stanley (Falkland Islands), Punta Arenas, Laguna San Rafael, Puerto Chacabuco and Puerto Montt. Fares start at £6,199.

Richard Nurick will host the following:

Voyage 4220A: Silver Whisper departs Southampton July 26 on a nine-day sailing to Lisbon with calls in Bordeaux, St. Jean de Luz, Bilbao, Gijon, La Coruña and Vigo. Fares start at £3,899

Voyage 4220B: Silver Whisper departs Lisbon August 4 on a nine-day sailing to Southampton with calls in Oporto (Leixoes), Bilbao, Bordeaux, Saint-Malo and Honfleur. Fares start at £3,899.

All fares are per person, based on double occupancy for a Vista Suite. Silver Savings is a capacity-controlled programme and subject to availability.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Late Deals from AMA Waterways

2012-01-25T00:01:00.000-08:00

Top European river-cruise operator AMAWaterways have just announced a series of tempting reduced fares for this year, featuring three different cruises on the Rhone, Mosel, Rhine and Danube.

Here are the highlights:

April 13, Black Sea Cruise: Sail from Budapest along the Danube through Romania, Croatia, Serbia and Bulgaria to the Bulgarian port of Rousse, including passing through the `Iron Gates’, the narrow divide between the Balkans and Carpathian mountains, to conclude the cruise with an excursion to Bucharest.

This week-long luxury cruise now costs from £1,187 per person (previously £1,654), with all meals, free wi-fi, free use of on board bicycles, daily tours and excursions and all port taxes.

May 24, Rhone cruise: A late evening stay alongside the largely abandoned medieval town of Viviers, including an after-dinner 'ghost walk' through streets that once were home to 30,000 people, is part of this 7-night luxury river cruise from Lyons to Arles on board the luxury cruiser AmaDagio. With plenty of time in each port call, overnight stays during a week of castles, vineyards, wine tastings, fine wine and excellent cuisine include the cobbled medieval towns of Lyon and Touron, the rural riverside town of Vienne for an evening stroll past the waterside cafes, and Arles, home to Vincent van Gogh during his most productive last years, where some of his greatest works were painted.

The week-long cruise now costs from £1,837pp, (previously £2,277), with all meals, free wi-fi, free use of on board bicycles, daily tours and excursions and all port taxes.

July 18; Cruise past Europe’s steepest vineyards in the Mosel Valley and along one of the most beautiful stretches of the Rhine through the Rhine Gorge, with its castles and medieval half-timbered villages, from Luxembourg to Nuremberg along the Mosel, Rhine, Main and Main-Danube Canal. The seven-night sailing departs from Remich (Luxembourg) and includes a late evening stay in Rudesheim, with its narrow streets lined with wine taverns, and in the lovely town of Koblenz and city of Frankfurt, allowing time to sample the relaxed evening ambience.

This week-long voyage now costs from £1,487pp, (was £1,841), again with all meals, free wi-fi, free use of on board bicycles, daily tours and excursions and all port taxes.

For booking details, follow this link to the river cruise specialists of the Cruise Line Ltd.

Seabourn's Free Upgrades On Select Cruises

2012-01-24T00:01:00.000-08:00

Ultra-luxury cruise line Seabourn has welcomed in the New Year with the offer of free upgrades on selected popular European cruise-only and fly/cruise itineraries. For UK travellers seeking a luxurious ocean-bound adventure, before the height of summer, Seabourn’s early-season fully inclusive cruises offer exceptional value and variety.

Whether guests opt for the charm and style of the chic 208-passenger ships Seabourn Legend and Spirit or the sleek design and modern comfort of the larger, 450-passenger Seabourn Odyssey, the luxury and comfort of a Seabourn voyage is hard to beat.

All itineraries listed below offer the free suite upgrade:

10-Day Italy & Adriatic, April 5; Seabourn Spirit - ports of call: Malaga, Menorca, Naples, Lecce, Dubrovnik, Sibenik, Pula and Venice. Prices: £1,999pp cruise only, £2,419pp fly/cruise.

9-Day Mediterranean, April 11; Seabourn Legend - ports of call: Athens, Cesme, Mykonos, Corfu, Crotone, Messina, Naples and Rome. Prices: £1,799pp cruise only, £2,189 fly/cruise.

12-Day Atlantic Odyssey, March 21; Seabourn Odyssey - ports of call: Fort Lauderdale, transatlantic, Funchal and Lisbon. Prices: £1,699pp cruise only, £2,499pp fly/cruise.

Prices are all per person, based on double occupancy and fully inclusive of all tips and gratuities, fine-dining, open bars and a fully stocked mini-bar in each suite.

For booking details, see this link for UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Norwegian Cruise Line Introduce Kids Upgrade

2012-01-23T00:01:00.000-08:00

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has announced it is revitalising its current youth programme and will implement a new best-in-class programme fleet wide in order "to better meet the needs of the growing family holiday market."

The re-branded programme will be introduced on Norwegian Gem in mid-February and will be rolled out to all of the line’s Freestyle Cruising ships subsequently. The current programme, NCL’s Kid’s Crew, has been in place since 1999 and will be renamed, with the age groups being redefined to better address the skills and interests of children. The new age groups will be: three to five years; six to eight years; nine to 12 years; and two teen groups, 13 to 14 and 15 to 17 years. There will also be programming for babies and toddlers from six months to two years.

The new fully developed and enhanced curriculum tailored to each age group is being produced in conjunction with The King’s Foundation and Camps, a UK-based organisation that provides high quality sport and activity programmes designed to make a positive impact on children. More focus will be placed on sporting activities, arts and crafts, theatre and technology.

The company has engaged Cirque Du Jour, a New York-based company that specialises in teaching children real circus skills such as scarf juggling, ball juggling, plate spinning, clowning and acrobatics. Circus workshops and shows will also be offered for the entire family.

The youth programmes will also be expanded to utilise other areas of the ships, including the sports courts, rock walls, theatres, lounges and public spaces and will feature more family events such as parades and scavenger hunts. In addition, other family activities will be offered, including Nick Jr. story time, family trivia and special arts and crafts sessions.

For all NCL booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Crystal Combine Fitness with World Exploration

2012-01-22T00:01:00.000-08:00

Crystal Cruises is combining fitness with its regular world exploration on more than a dozen 2012 cruises, offering expanded Pilates and yoga programmes, including Pilates Reformer, starting this month.

Dedicated instructors from high-profile institutions will teach complimentary classes on both Crystal Symphony and Serenity on nine sailings each throughout the year. Serenity’s group Pilates programme utilises new Reformer equipment, while Symphony offers classic floor training utilising mats, exercise balls, rollers and other core-strengthening accessories.

Men and couples-only yoga instruction provides new approaches to the more traditional Yoga practices also offered. Travellers can attend several classes per day during their cruise or arrange private one-on-one sessions of either interest.

The 18 sailings with enhanced fitness instruction include:

World Cruise/Australia, Asia, Trans-Pacific (winter/spring): Yoga and Pilates – 18th Jan, 7th and 26th Feb and 13th and 31st March.

Caribbean, Central and South America: Yoga – 6th and 20th Feb and 3rd March; Pilates – 27th Jan.

Panama Canal: Yoga – 21st April; Pilates – 31st Oct.

Trans-Atlantic: Pilates – 19th March, 8th May, 15th Sept and 9th Dec,

Trans-Pacific (autumn): Yoga – 25th Nov and 8th Dec .

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Carnival's Free Caribbean Cabin Upgrade

2012-01-21T00:01:00.000-08:00

Here's a neat incentive to join a sparkling Caribbean cruise with Carnival Cruise Lines this year - a FREE cabin upgrade for the sailing in March.

Sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida – just a short hop away from the thrills of Orlando - to the heavenly Western Caribbean, the voyage features visits to Cozumel, Mexico’s only Caribbean island (brimming with silver and colourful crafts) and beautiful Belize, boasting its own special brand of eco-tourism and the world’s second largest barrier reef, before cruising on to the new Mahogany Bay resort on scenic Isla Roatan, and then Costa Maya, gateway to ancient Mayan temples and white sand beaches of the Mexican mainland.

The ship involved, the spectacular 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream, features some of the best resort amenities afloat, including deck after deck of spacious private balconied staterooms offering breathtaking panoramas, plus 18 bars and lounges, a duty-free shopping mall, a huge Cloud 9 health spa and gym, including a hydrotherapy pool, “Serenity” deck areas for adults only, a glittering casino, a 2,400sq ft children’s area, four swimming pools and several cascading water slides.

This 9-night Caribbean fly/cruise onboard the Dream starts from just £1,099 per person, including a free upgrade from an inside to a sea-view stateroom. This holiday departs from London on March 1 and includes scheduled flights between London and Orlando, one night pre-cruise hotel (room only) and a 7-night cruise, full board basis per person based on inside twin accommodation.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Oceania Introduce Pre-Book & Save Excursions

2012-01-20T00:01:00.000-08:00

Oceania Cruises is introducing more than 1,000 new tours and excursion packages that allow guests to custom-design their destination experience and enjoy significant savings. This product enhancement is in addition to previously announced new beverage packages. Both constitute the third phase of the line’s ongoing Pillars of Distinction initiative.

3 new ways to explore

Commencing with the 2012 European season, Oceania will offer three distinct sightseeing options and more than 1,000 new excursions worldwide, many designed for the traveller who may be experiencing ports for the second or third time. In each case, guests enjoy substantial savings by booking prior to the sail date. Package highlights include:

· A la Carte – As before, individual shore excursions can be purchased in advance or onboard the ship. However, starting with the 2012 Europe season, guests who book excursions prior to sailing will enjoy 10 per cent off on-board prices.

· `Your World’ Collection – This option offers guests the flexibility to select a combination of excursions that most appeals to them and save 25 per cent off on-board prices. The minimum number of excursions per package varies based on the number of ports on the itinerary. For example, on a voyage with eight ports, the minimum is five excursions.

· Unlimited Passport Collection – Designed for travellers who wish to fully experience
a destination in depth, this package offers unlimited shore excursions throughout the voyage – a saving of up to 40 per cent. Guests pay a set fee for the entire cruise and will be able to book an unlimited number of excursions. Package prices will vary based on the number of ports on the itinerary. For example, the package price for a cruise with seven ports is $699 per person. As an added bonus, guests who purchase the Unlimited Passport Collection also receive discounts on limited-availability tours.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Get In The Mood For Love With Fred. Olsen!

2012-01-19T00:01:00.000-08:00

Cruise guests aboard Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ four ships can expect a mood of romance on board this coming Valentine’s Day, February 14.

Whilst at sea, guests will be able to enjoy the atmosphere of the day; the bars and restaurants will be decorated in St Valentine’s-themed decorations, like red and white balloons; there will be a Valentine’s-themed quiz during the day, and the flavour of this theme continues during the 'Show Time' in the evening.

There will then be heart-shaped cakes, pastries and chocolate delights served at the St Valentine’s Grand Tea Dance during the afternoon while special cocktails will be available, and the formal dinner in the evening will carry a 'Hint of Red' dress code.

There is still limited availability on Fred. Olsen’s 15-night 'Brazilian Amazon' fly-cruise (M1203), departing from London Gatwick or Manchester airport on February 2 to join Braemar in Bridgetown, Barbados. Ports of call include: Santarem (Brazil), Parentins (Brazil), Manaus (Brazil, overnight stay) and Scarborough (Tobago), returning to Bridgetown (Barbados) for the flight back to the UK. Braemar will be at sea on St Valentine’s Day, arriving in Scarborough on February 15.

Prices for this cruise start from £1,019 per person, based on an inside, twin-bedded cabin, subject to availability, and include return charter flights, all food and entertainment on board, port and airport taxes, and all transfers.

For more booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's leading cruise agent specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Costa The Toxic Cruise Line

2012-01-18T07:06:00.000-08:00

It has to be said. Someone has to get angry about this. And something needs to be done, not just about Captain Gutless, Francesco Schettino, the skipper of the ship he drove onto an Italian island, but also about the cruise line that allowed him to perpetrate this brand of arrogant stupidity.

Because, the more that comes out of the tragic case of the Costa Concordia, the more it is clear this was NOT the first time the ship had 'buzzed' the island of Giglio. And someone back at Costa HQ in Genoa knew about it, and did nothing.

Capt Gutless was given a tacit green light for his little manoeuvre on Friday night that has so far cost 11 innocent people their lives, with another 24 still missing.

And with the tenacity and courage the Italian authorities are so far showing in tackling this utter tragedy, I doubt they will stop at indicting just the captain (and his senior officer). The sad fact is, Costa is the toxic cruise line, a pariah in sea-going circles, who allowed criminal behaviour to carry on under their very noses; if not encouraged then certainly tolerated.

And that, in today's international age, will not go unnoticed.

There is still a lot more to come out about the sad circumstances of the Concordia. The whole nature of the evacuation needs to be investigated and detailed. There are sure to be stories of great heroism among many of the Costa crew, as well as the passengers.

There is no stain of moral bankruptcy to be levelled at the vast majority of the 1,000 crew members, who had to operate in the most extreme of circumstances. And the vast number of Costa staff worldwide will be equally appalled at the behaviour of Capt Gutless.

No, this level of sheer, dumbfounding stupidity occurs only at the top, with those who knew and allowed the rogue captain to operate with impunity.

And the forthcoming enquiry should have them in the dock as well as so-called 'Captain' Schettino.

Jewish Heritage Themed Cruise with AMA Waterways

2012-01-18T00:01:00.000-08:00

Trace the Jewish heritage of the Danube from the comfort of a luxury river cruiser with AMA Waterways in 2012.

With a selected daily touring programme of Jewish Heritage excursions that include synagogue visits, Jewish districts, museums, monuments and other landmarks of significance to Jewish history, all led by knowledgeable guides, these cruises represent a really different aspect of European river-cruising.

The cruises pass through Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary and highlights include a special visit to the tomb of Chatam Sofer, the famous rabbi, a visit to Oskar Schindler's house in Regensberg, and Room 600 at the Nuremberg Palace of Justice. Passengers will also visit the Jewish Museum, Judenplatz and Old Synagogue, Sigmund Freud House (outside), Jewish Cemetery and Jewish Quarter in Vienna.

The 7-night `Jewish Heritage’ Blue Danube cruise between Budapest and Nuremberg, departing October 17, costs from £1,775 per person, including all meals, wine with dinner, free Wi-Fi and free use of on-board bicycles, excluding flights.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury river-cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

European Waterways Bring in 2012 with Panache!

2012-01-17T00:01:00.000-08:00

European Waterways is delighted to announce a new addition to its fleet, the 12-passenger luxury vessel Panache, bringing its portfolio of luxury hotel barges on offer to 21.

The 128ft Dutch hotel barge will embark in April and May 2012 on 6-night round-trip ‘Tulip Cruises’, starting and finishing in Haarlem, visiting the spectacular Keukenhof Gardens with the largest display of flowers in the world, the world-famous Delft pottery and the cheese centre of Gouda. There will also be an optional excursion to the amazing Floriade 2012, World Horticultural Expo in Venlo (April 5 to October 7).

Panache will then reposition via Belgium, Paris and Champagne to cruise the beautiful Canal de la Marne au Rhin from Mittersheim to Strasbourg in Alsace-Lorraine between June and October. This is a region with a unique mix of French and German cultures, Baroque and Romanesque architecture.

The new vessel is a beautifully-appointed hotel barge with spacious public areas and six air-conditioned double/twin en-suite cabins, each bathroom having twin hand-basins and oversize showers with massage jets. There are large panoramic windows in the saloon for viewing the passing countryside and the barge has been fitted out in traditional yacht style with brass and mahogany fittings. A large sundeck and heated spa pool complete the picture.

The on-board crew of six comprise the Captain, Master Chef, Deck Hand, Tour Guide and Hostesses. Their extensive knowledge of the region, escorted private excursions, together with the availability of 12 bikes and even a tandem, combine to ensure passengers will have the opportunity to explore the surrounding areas in detail.

Guests can expect to enjoy regional dishes such as Sea Bass with Cucumber and Smoked Eel and Roasted Duck à l’Alsacienne, accompanied by fine wines such as Gewurztraminer Reboltz and Sylvaner Cuvée Réserve. The all-inclusive prices lead in at £2,790 per person in a twin/double suite and at £25,600 for a whole boat charter.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury river cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

It's A New York Breakaway

2012-01-16T00:01:00.000-08:00

Norwegian Cruise Line’s new state-of-the-art 4,000 passenger ship, Norwegian Breakaway will sail from her year-round home port of New York City to the Bahamas, Florida and the Caribbean during her inaugural winter season next year.

Following a summer inaugural season sailing seven-night cruises from New York to Bermuda, Breakaway will embark on a series of 25 seven-night cruises to the Bahamas & Florida beginning on October 13, 2013. The ship will also sail two 12-night Southern Caribbean itineraries on January 5 and 19, 2014.

Her ports of call will include stops in Nassau, NCL's private island in the Bahamas, (Great Stirrup Cay) and Port Canaveral in Florida along with three relaxing days at sea. These sailings run to April 27, 2014.

The ship’s 12-night Southern Caribbean cruises weill include Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Barbados and St. Kitts, along with five sea days. Currently under construction at Meyer Werft in Germany, Breakaway will be 144,017 gross tons and is scheduled for delivery in April 2013.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's leading cruise agent specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Garden Festivals and City Breaks

2012-01-15T00:01:00.000-08:00

Keen gardeners should seize the opportunity to visit the World Horticultural Expo in the Netherlands between April 5 and October 7 on a choice of four AmaWaterways' luxury river cruise itineraries. The show, which takes place only every 10 years, covers 66 hectares of parkland and consists of five horticultural worlds and themed zones, connected by wooded areas, with 100 exhibitors from around the world.

Each day also features a cultural programme of music, dance, literature, theatre and visual art from all over the world.

AMA's seven-night Enchanting Rhine cruise, from Amsterdam to Basel, is a typical example, with departures starting on April 19 and costing from £1,459 per person, including all meals, wine with dinner, free Wi-Fi and free use of on-board bicycles, but excluding flights.

River cruising means seeing more in less time, never having to unpack or re-pack, with three of Europe’s most spectacular and historic cities - Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest - on many itineraries.

For more booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury river cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

The Costa Concordia Tragedy

2012-01-14T19:39:00.000-08:00

The news and social media have been bursting with coverage of the tragic Costa Concordia accident on Friday night, when the 114,500-ton vessel hit rocks off the coast of Italy and listed catastrophically, leading to three deaths and another 40 still being classed as 'missing' at the time of writing.

There has been a massive amount of information and mis-reporting in the course of the following 24 hours, with wild speculation and, frankly, some out-and-out ignorant news reports from the supposed mainstream media. The rush to judgement (and sensationalism) is all too familiar.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims of the incident and the thousands of survivors who are still trying to deal with the aftermath. Several dozen were injured in the chaos and a handful are severely so. They should also be foremost in the authorites' minds right now.

But, brushing aside the torrent of witless coverage, what can we learn and, more importantly, what does the cruise industry need to learn about the events off the island of Giglio on Friday night? At face value it is inconceivable a modern, large passenger ship should have got into this kind of difficulty. Contemporary thinking says that the fact they are so large is their chief safety feature. Yet, if that is not the case, what conclusions should we draw?

First of all, let's decide what the incident wasn't before we assess what it was. This wasn't the Titanic tragedy and it wasn't an indictment of the cruise industry. It wasn't a systemic failure of any kind and, while the loss of life is sad beyond words, it wasn't the kind that merits bringing out the list of great maritime disasters.

Reports of "women and children first" at the lifeboats just don't ring true but obviously need investigating. It is just one of many, many facets of how the crew handled the emergency that need to be put under the spotlight. And they will.

But let's not bury the cruise industry as somehow completely careless of passenger safety. Thousands of people survived this incident and some comments of "it's lucky the ship was so close to land" completely miss the point. It was because the ship was so close to land that caused the problem in the first place. If it had ben further out to sea, nothing would have happened.

So, what was it, and what questions need to be answered?

First off, the authorities need a full and frank account from Captain Francesco Schettino, one of the two senior officers arrested on Saturday night. This was a regular, weekly route for the ship but many maritime observers are concerned the course took the ship between Giglio and the mainland. Was this regular practice or was the Captain cutting corners in order to save fuel?

That is question No 1 for the inquiry. No 2 is why no distress call was issued after hitting the reef. The evcuation was already under way before coastal authorities were notified and even the crew on board seemed to down-play the severity of things in the first hour or so. Again, the captain comes under scrutiny as this would have been his call.

The lack of coherent and consistent announcements also seems to have been another problem on board and this IS a worry for ships with multi-national passenger lists. Was most of the announcing done in Italian - as has been reported - and why were the British, American, German and other nationalities so badly informed about events?

Some reports also indicate a few of the lifeboats malfunctioned or the crew in charge did not handle the equipment well, and this is another key area the inquiry must probe.

However, the big issues remain, and they are twofold - first, did the sheer number of passengers involved cause a problem. If that is the case, every major cruise line will have to re-evaluate their safety drills and procedures. Have any of them actually performed an evacuation at sea with 3,000-plus passengers and, if not, why not?

You can be sure the U.S. Coastguard in particular will be paying close attention and all American-ported cuise ships will be asked this question in the days ahead.

Secondly, and perhaps the biggest issue of all, as the ship began to list, there were clearly major problems with continuing to load and use the lifeboats. The starboard side, which ended up completely under water, is a particular concern. The key question here is, is this an over-looked logistical problem or was the Concordia lifeboat drill just badly botched?

In theory, a ship should never sink or list so quickly as to make lowering lifeboats impossible, so the maritime safety folks will be looking at this in great detail. It is therefore vital the Italian authorities quiz every one of the crew on lifeboat duty and get the truth of what happened on Friday night.

But, the bottom line remains this:

The cruise industry has a safety record which is the envy of all other modes of transportation; for the millions who cruise every year, it is not even likely to be an issue; and there is no reason to suggest this sounds the 'death knell' for the cruise industry (as several media outlets have speculated to a head-scratching degree).

If anything, this will actually make the industry safer and more conscious of the issues involved. So let's not rush to say the Costa Concordia is something which it isn't. And, for once, let's have a responsible approach from the media and a reporting of the facts - not the fiction.

Simon Veness

Save Big With Hurtigruten This Spring

2012-01-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

With every season in Norway holding its own unique appeal, there is always something different to see and experience. Thanks to a new special offer from Hurtigruten, it is now possible to travel for less and save up to £456 per person on selected departures this spring.

Available on the 12-day Classic Round Voyage, 11-day Norwegian Discovery Voyage, seven-day Classic Voyage North and six-day Classic Voyage South, guests can take advantage of the special prices on various dates during March, April and May when booking an unspecified inside or outside cabin before March 31, which will then be allocated on arrival.

More importantly, a voyage with Hurtigruten offers passengers the opportunity to get closer to the shores, coastline and communities of Norway as the ships call at over 34 ports of call, many of them not visited by the larger cruise ships.

The ultimate journey is the full Classic Round Voyage from Bergen in the south to Kirkenes in the north, taking guests high above the Arctic Circle and back to Bergen. There is no better time to enjoy a voyage than during spring – a time of true awakening when the daylight returns, snow begins to melt and the landscape emerges in a riot of colour from its crisp, white winter blanket.

The Classic Voyage now costs from £1,536pp (a saving of up to £456); price includes 12 days full voyage with full board on the ship and fuel supplement. The Norwegian Discovery Voyage now costs from £1,442pp (saving up to £429); price includes 11 days voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes and back to Trondheim, full board on the ship and fuel supplement. Voyage North now costs from £1,067pp (a saving of up to £319pp); price includes seven days voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes, full board on the ship and fuel supplement. The Voyage South now costs from £840pp (saving up to £250pp); price includes six days voyage from Kirkenes to Bergen, full board on the ship and fuel supplement.

In all cases, flights are extra and price is based on two sharing an unspecified outside cabin on selected dates in March and April. Book before March 31 for savings.

For booking details, see this link to UK cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd.

Check Out The Big Cunard Sale

2012-01-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

Cunard Line has a wonderful offer to start the new year, with a value-for-money approach to their usual high-quality style and a 10% off booking incentive that runs until February 29.

The iconic line, who promise to over-deliver in their attention to detail, quality and attainable price-point, are featuring the ‘Your Cunard Sale’ for all voyages currently on sale in 2012 and 2013, if booked by the end of next month. Highlights include:

· Queen Mary 2's grand seven-night transatlantic crossings between Southampton and New York, which start at just £799 per person, including a flight in the opposite direction (M233, 15-22 Dec 2012).

· Queen Victoria's varied 2012 itineraries, including a 3-day voyage from just £399 per person (V211, 5-8 May 2012), and a 7-night fjords sailing from only £749 per person (V228, 13-20 Dec 2012).

· Queen Elizabeth, in her maiden season of Mediterranean fly-voyages, offers nine-night sailings from £1,099 per person (Q216, 28 Aug-6 Sep 2012); 14-night Caribbean voyages are also available from just £1,649 per person, plus complimentary spending money of $100 per person (Q302, 6-20 Jan 2013)

· The most spectacular value for money in the Big Sale period is offered on Cunard’s two World Voyages, which sail round-trip from Southampton in 2013. Queen Mary 2’s eastward 106-night full world voyage begins at just £10,699 per person, while for those booking the liner’s prestigious Grill accommodation, savings can amount to more than £12,000 per person. Complimentary spending money of $350-$1,600 per person completes the offer.

Queen Victoria’s westward 105-night circumnavigation starts at £10,899 per person, plus $350 complimentary spending money. Sectors of the World Voyage are also available, such as the 18-night sailing from Dubai to Southampton (8-26 April 2013) featuring Aqaba for Petra, Sharm el Sheikh, Sokhna for Cairo, the Suez Canal, Rome and Lisbon, with prices including the outward flight from just £2,399 per person and $75 complimentary spending money.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

New Reduced Fares from Regent Seven Seas

2012-01-13T00:01:00.000-08:00

Another day, another round of great cruise fare savings! Here's one from the ultra-deluxe Regent Seven Seas, with new low prices on several Caribbean cruises:

Western Caribbean, round-rip Fort Lauderdale, Seven Seas Navigator, 10 nights: Departures: February 27, March 19; £2,984 per person based on two people sharing an H category Ocean View suite. Itinerary: Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Belize City, Santo Tomas, Roatan, Costa Maya, Fort Lauderdale.

Eastern Caribbean, round-trip Fort Lauderdale, Seven Seas Navigator, 11 nights: Departs: March 8; £3,242 per person based on two people sharing an H category Ocean View suite. Itinerary: Fort Lauderdale, Grand Cayman, San Juan, St Thomas, St Barts, Saint Maarten, Tortola, Cayo Levantado, Great Stirrup Cay, Fort Lauderdale.

All fares include FREE flights and transfers, FREE unlimited shore excursions (choose up to 37 on these voyages), all-inclusive onboard, fine dining, premium spirits and fine wines, gratuities, taxes and entertainment.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Watch the Transit of Venus With Paul Gauguin Cruises

2012-01-12T06:28:00.000-08:00

Experience one of the rarest of predictable astronomical phenomena, the Transit of Venus, during Paul Gauguin Cruises seven-night Tahiti & the Society Islands voyage, departing Papeete on June 2. The Transit of Venus will last six hours and will not occur again until 2117, so this is your last chance to see one!

Because you can actually see a planet move across the disk of the sun, transits provide a unique opportunity to watch the solar system in motion. For a Transit of Venus to take place, the planet must be located in line with both the Earth and the sun. This positioning doesn’t happen very often due to the track of Venus’ orbit.

A telescope is necessary to even notice a transit, so the Transit of Venus was not observed until 1639. Since that time, there have been only five such Transits. The most recent was in 2004 and, before that, over a century ago, in 1882. There were no transits during the 20th century.

On June 5, the ship will be at anchor off the island of Bora Bora and safe solar-viewing tools will be available under the direction of an onboard solar expert. Guests will take a look through the solar telescope then wait a few minutes before looking again. Venus will have moved and they will have seen Venus pass Earth against the backdrop of the sun – a truly exhilarating experience. Venus will be visible against the surface of the sun all afternoon, barring clouds or other weather-related impediments.

Joining this sailing is Bill Kramer, an acknowledged expert in solar eclipse prediction mathematics, who will provide guests with in-depth information on this rare astronomical event. The seven-night voyage onboard the newly refurbished Paul Gauguin departs Papeete, Tahiti, on June 2 and visits Raiatea, Taha’a, Bora Bora (overnight) and Moorea before arriving back into Papeete. Prices from £4,140 per person include return economy flights from the UK, overseas transfers, a night in Los Angeles and use of a day room post cruise.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

SeaDream Yacht Club's New Brochure For 2012/13

2012-01-12T05:01:00.001-08:00

SeaDream Yacht Club has introduced a newly-designed, glossy, 64-page brochure reflecting SeaDream’s yachting lifestyle and featuring the 2012/13 voyage schedule, destination information, pricing and a comprehensive look at the chic, twin, 344ft vessels SeaDream I and II.

The new brochure details SeaDream’s Caribbean, Mediterranean, Amazon, Black Sea and Trans-Atlantic voyages. In 2012, the deluxe line will feature 102 different ports in the Mediterranean, with 17 in Greece alone. SeaDream’s onboard amenities include all gourmet dining, open bar with select premium brands, gratuities, golf simulator, complimentary mountain bikes and a water sports marina with motorised and non-motorised water toys.

Popular Mediterranean itineraries commence in May with the 112-guest, SeaDream I sailing the French & Italian Rivera itinerary, while her twin, SeaDream II starts the summer with sailings in the Greek Islands.

The 2012/13 brochure also details a number of new voyages. Among them are: the Amazon River, with SeaDream II sailing from Barbados to Iquitos, Peru, round-trip on two 20-night voyages beginning February 13, 2012. SeaDream II returns to the Amazon in 2013 and offers a shorter, 7-night upper-Amazon itinerary sailing Iquitos round-trip. Additionally, the brochure highlights expanded ports of call in Turkey (10 ports) and Croatia (11). This year also includes calls to Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Albania and Russia.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

January Savings With Star Clippers

2012-01-12T05:01:00.000-08:00

Tall ship sailing specialist Star Clippers is offering generous discounts of up to 20% on selected voyages on the line’s three square-riggers for bookings made by January 31. In addition, returning guests qualify for an extra 5% discount. The savings apply to exciting and romantic cruises under sail in the Caribbean, the Baltic, the Western and Eastern Mediterranean, Central America and on transatlantic crossings during 2012.

Examples of savings off Star Clippers’ 2012 voyages include:

· Up to 10% off Mediterranean cruises on Star Clipper, now from £629 per person for four nights, round-trip Venice, departing July 28

· Up to 10% off Mediterranean cruises on Royal Clipper, now from £702 per person for four nights, round-trip Rome, departing June 5

· Up to 10% off Baltic cruises on Star Flyer, now from £499 per person for three nights Amsterdam-Hamburg, departing May 16

· Up to 20% off Costa Rica cruises on Star Flyer, now from £824 per person for seven nights round-trip Puerto Caldera, departing December

· Up to 20% off Caribbean cruises on Royal Clipper, now from £932 per person for seven nights round-trip

Barbados

, departing various dates in December

· Up to 20% off Caribbean cruises on Star Clipper, now from £824 per person for seven nights round-trip St Maarten, departing various dates in December

· Up to 20% off transatlantic crossings, now from £980 per person for 14 nights on Star Clipper, Las Palmas-St Maarten, departing November 10.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

French Polynesian Marquesas Islands

2012-01-12T00:01:00.000-08:00

The most remote archipelago in the world, the French Polynesian Marquesas Islands have long been an inspiration for artists, writers and adventurers who come for the region’s wild beauty and cultural heritage. Aranui 3, the only ship to sail the 2,200 mile round trip from Papeete to all six inhabited islands in the Marquesas archipelago, has just released its 2012 and 2013 dates and prices, including some special discounts.

Departing every three weeks, year-round, the Aranui 3’s 14-day adventure cruise follows in the footsteps of Paul Gauguin, Herman Melville and Robert Louis Stevenson, to name just a few of its famous visitors. Famous 19th century French artist Gauguin, painted his last picture on Hiva Oa and is buried in Calvaire cemetery overlooking Atuona, capital of the south Marquesas group. The Gauguin Cultural Centre was opened in 2003 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the painter’s death and features numerous reproductions of his work and writing from his famous Tahitian period.

Aranui 3 offers travel in comfort. Doubling as a cosy passenger ship as well as a cargo carrier, she features 86 fully air-conditioned cabins (including 10 large suites with balconies), two comfortable lounges, a swimming pool and gym, while a full programme of lectures on Marquesan history, culture and art are all part of the experience. English is widely spoken onboard and all presentations are given in English and French.

The vessel, which has been in operation since 2003, delivers regular supplies - from bulldozers and beer to boats and brake pads - to the islands’ remote valleys, some of which are totally secluded and have no road access to the main villages.

While the ship’s crew loads and unloads cargo at each island destination, passengers are taken ashore by wooden whaleboat or barge and welcomed by locals with flower garlands, dancing and music. Four-wheel drive jeeps driven by locals then take participants on spectacular safaris over the mountains to explore mysterious, unspoiled jungles and to experience the fascinating and individual culture of each of the islands.

Prices for 2012 start from £3,100 per person sharing a standard twin-bedded outside cabin with private facilities, including all meals with wine, all land-based sightseeing excursions and taxes. However, during 2012, three departures on board the freighter-cum-passenger ship are being offered at a 10% discount: 17 March, 9 June and, for seniors aged over 60 only, 22 September, bringing the starting price down to £2,805 per person sharing a twin cabin.

Flights to/from Papeete, Tahiti are not included in these prices. Air France and Air Tahiti Nui fly to Papeete (via Paris and Los Angeles), with prices from around £1,750 return.

For more booking details, be sure to check with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

Set Sail For Alaska In 2012!

2012-01-11T07:19:00.000-08:00

We know we are often ahead of trends (as well as creating them), but it seems our big Alaska feature in the Winter edition (see it online on this link on pages 19-30) has created real cruise demand in 2012.

So much so, in fact, that several cruise agents have dubbed this year 'The Year of Alaska,' highlighting all the great quality, style, wildlife opportunities and value of cruising in America's 49th state.

Chief among them are The Cruise Line Ltd, who have even published their own brochure with all the best cruises, land tours - including the amazing Rocky Mountaineer train - excursions, sights and extra options for sailing in this magnificent part of the world. Choose from the large-scale experience of Princess Cruises, Holland America and Celebrity or the small-scale, deluxe style of American Safari Cruises, Regent Seven Seas or Silversea.

We have been big fans of Alaska and the benefits of cruising here for many years and our editor also highlighted the region in a feature three years ago (see it on this link), but it remains true that a cruise is the ideal way to see what is genuinely the Big Country.

For more booking details, be sure to contact The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677 or www.cruiseline.co.uk.

Along the Mekong - AmaWaterways’ Land-Cruise

2012-01-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

Interested in the grand way to visit Vietnam and Cambodia, with time to explore on land as well as along the magnificent waterways of this part of the world? Look no further. AmaWaterways' Riches of the Mekong 15-night land-cruise includes two nights in vibrant Hanoi followed by an overnight stay aboard a luxury junk in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay.

This wonderful tour then continues, via a short flight, to Siem Reap (Cambodia), the gateway to the amazing Angkor Archeological Park to experience tours of world-renowned sites such as Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King, the Bayon and the newly-reopened Baphuon Temple.

The journey continues with a 7-night voyage along the Mekong River from Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), calling into the bustling capital of Phnom Penh and numerous points of historical and scenic interest, including Kampong Chhnang, Oudong, Tan Chau, Sa Dec, Xeo Quyt and Cai Be.

Along the way, guests visit floating markets, rainforests and Buddhist monasteries; ride an oxcart and a trishaw and participate in the delicate craft of rice-paper making.

The full 15-night land-cruise costs from £2,422 per person and includes hotel accommodation, excursions and all meals, wine, beer, local spirits and soft drinks with meals on board, while the seven-night cruise-only option costs from £1,060 per person, including excursions and drinks.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

It's The New-Look Minerva

2012-01-10T05:01:00.000-08:00

Here's a chance to be among the first to sail aboard the new-look Minerva of Swan Hellenic - head to the Med aboard the newly refurbished ship on a 14-day 'Postcard from the Mediterranean' fly-cruise from just £1,495 per person (based on inside cabin accommodation). Highlights include visits to history-rich Rome, Athens and Istanbul, all of which can now be enjoyed via the breathtaking views from the ship’s new observation lounge.

Guests can also discover the delights of Sorrento (Italy), pick up some gems in the bustling medina in Sousse (Tunisia) or learn something new from one of Minerva’s experienced Guest Speakers on topics such as wine, music and ancient history.

The price includes return flights from London, transfers and the 14-day voyage departing from Civitavecchia (Rome) and calling at Naples (overnight), Sorrento, Palermo, Sousse, Valletta (Malta, overnight) and Piraeus (for Athens) before arriving at Istanbul for another overnight stay. It also includes includes a tailor-made programme of shore excursions, talks by eminent guest speakers, meals and entertainment on board, all gratuities and all relevant cruise taxes/fees, on a March 29 departure.

For booking, be sure to check this link for the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Wine & Tulips With AMA Waterways

2012-01-10T00:02:00.000-08:00

AmaWaterways’ 2012 season of wine-themed cruises gets off to an auspicious start with a President’s Wine Cruise from March 29, featuring the Company’s Provence and Spain itinerary and the debut of the luxury river cruiser MS AmaDagio on the Rhone.

The itinerary takes guests through some of France’s most renowned wine regions and includes complimentary wine-themed shore excursions and winery visits, onboard lectures, wine tastings and wine pairings at meals. Highlights are the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Arles and Avignon; the beautiful villages of Viviers, Tournon, Vienne and Trévoux and excursions to the Beaujolais wine region.

The cruise is hosted by AMA President Rudi Schreiner and Executive Vice President Kristin Karst, accompanied by Carissa Chappellet of Chappellet Winery in Napa Valley and Archie McLaren, founder of the Central Coast Wine Classic.

The Wine Cruise takes place from March 29 to April 5 on the Rhone from Arles to Lyon, and costs from £1,645pp based on two sharing a cabin, including port taxes and all meals, excluding flights.

Or you can take in the Dutch bulb fields in bloom in spring time and include a trip to the amazing Keukenhof Gardens, where there are millions of tulips creating a dazzling carpet of colour.

AMA's seven-night Vineyards of the Rhine and Moselle cruise from Amsterdam to Remich (Luxembourg) costs from £1,595pp per person for a French balcony cabin, departing on April 1, based on two sharing a cabin, including port taxes and all meals, excluding flights.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury river cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

It's A Fantasy Float-Out

2012-01-09T07:26:00.000-08:00

Disney Cruise Line are now firmly on course for the arrival of their new Disney Fantasy vessel in March with the official float-out today of the 128,000-ton ship at the Meyer-Werft Shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.

The second new ship in as many years, DCL will unveil the ship with inaugural events in both New York and Port Canaveral (Florida) in March, when Fantasy will also start regular 7-day Caribbean voyages from the line's purpose-built terminal just 45 minutes from Walt Disney World.

Numerous bloggers and Tweeters were in Papenburg for the big event - which included the inevitable Disney speciality of fireworks - and you can see the best of them on the following links from Stewart Chiron (@CruiseGuy) and Chris Owen (@orlandoChris):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht7gemvtv2s&feature=youtu.be&a

http://www.chriscruises.net/2012/01/cruise-video-disney-fantasy-float-out-ceremony/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

You can also read the full report on Disney Cruise Line's own website, here: http://dclnews.com/galleries/2012/01/09/disney-fantasy-float-out/#photo-1

Don't forget you can also follow World of Cruising on Twitter at www.twitter.com/worldofcruising or just @WorldofCruising.

Voyages of Discovery Down Under

2012-01-09T06:05:00.000-08:00

You know it's the New Year when the cruise sale offers pour in thick and fast. Here's a typical example to start the week:

Guarantee yourself some sunshine this year by joining Voyages of Discovery on a last-minute winter cruise.

South East Asia & Australia - from £1,699 per person (based on two sharing an inside cabin), a saving of up to £1,370. Price includes return flights from London, transfers and a 23-day voyage departing from Manila (Philippines, overnight) and calling at Sandakan (Borneo, Malaysia), Bitung (Indonesia), Ambon (Indonesia), Darwin, Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Brisbane and Newcastle before arriving at Sydney (overnight stay). Price is based on January 21 departure.

Australia & the Indonesian Islands - from £2,199 per person (based on two sharing an inside cabin), a saving of up to £370. Price includes return flights from London, transfers and a 26-day voyage departing from Sydney and calling at Brisbane, Townsville, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Darwin (overnight), Komodo (Indonesia), Bali (Indonesia, overnight) and Semarang (Indonesia) before arriving at Singapore. Price is based on February 7 departure.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Behind the Scenes With Celebrity

2012-01-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

Celebrity Cruises is now offering guests an inside look into the world of its cruise ship operations with the new “Celebrity Inside Access,” which takes guests on a rare journey behind the scenes of the Celebrity fleet, including to the bridge and other non-public areas.

The Inside Access programme invites guests to join two exclusive activities, the “See How It’s Done Tour” and the “Bridge Sail Away Experience.” Here's how they work:

The See How It’s Done Tour guides a small group of guests through several otherwise non-public areas of the ship, including the bridge, mooring deck, crew gym, theatre, engine control room, prep rooms and the main dining room galley. At each area, guests have the opportunity to interact with expert members of the crew. Each tour is followed by a lunch hosted by an officer in the main dining room.
The Bridge Sail Away Experience offers guests the opportunity to join the navigational team on the bridge as the ship sails from port. Beginning 30 minutes before and concluding 30 minutes after departing, guests are given a tour and an overview of the bridge conducted by a senior Celebrity officer. Guests also have the opportunity to meet and take photos with the ship’s captain.

The Inside Access programme is now offered on all ships and available for purchase onboard, with the See How It's Done Tour available at $150 per person and the Bridge Sail Away Experience at $75 per person.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

It's The Antiques Cruise Show With Fred Olsen

2012-01-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is offering three cruises in 2012 with ‘Antiques’ as the special topic, through its acclaimed onboard enrichment programme Vistas. On each cruise, there will be celebrated experts from the world of antiques, sharing their knowledge and passion with like-minded guests.

Each of these experts appears as an appraiser on the BBC’s celebrated and long-running Antiques Roadshow. Antiques-collecting is one of the UK’s most popular pastimes; the popularity of antiques fairs and auctions continues unabated, with TV shows like the Roadshow, Cash in the Attic and Flog It all going from strength to strength. So, what better way to indulge an interest in antiques than taking a cruise to some of Europe's most interesting cities, brimming with a wealth of art and antique collections, in the company of the most knowledgeable experts in the field?

The Fred. Olsen experts are:- Lars Tharp, Will Farmer, Marc Allum, Clive Stewart-Lockhart and Paul Viney, and guests can join these fascinating experts free of charge on the following Fred. Olsen cruises in 2012:

Black Watch, 13-night ‘The Baltic with Norway’ voyage, departing Dover on June 24 and calling at Kiel (Germany), Tallinn (Estonia), St. Petersburg (Russia, overnight), Helsinki (Finland), Turku (Finland), Copenhagen (Denmark) and Kristiansand (Norway), before returning to Dover. Prices start from £1,699 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside, twin cabin Grade E. The price includes all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes. The Vistas theme on this cruise is hosted by Lars Tharp and Clive Stewart-Lockhart.

Boudicca, 12-night ‘Stockholm & St. Petersburg’ cruise, departing Newcastle on September 14 and calling at Stockholm (Sweden), Tallinn, St. Petersburg (overnight), Ronne (Denmark) and Kalundborg (Denmark), before returning to Newcastle. Prices start from £1,559 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade E. The antiques experts on this cruise are Marc Allum and Will Farmer.

Braemar, 12-night ‘St. Petersburg, Helsinki & Stockholm’ voyage, departing Dover on September 22, calling at Warnemünde (for Berlin), Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg (overnight), Rǿnne, Copenhagen and Oslo before returning to Dover. Prices start from £1,519 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade I. Hosting the Vistas ‘Antiques’ theme will be Lars Tharp and Paul Viney.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Put Your Best Foot Forward In 2012 With Swan Hellenic

2012-01-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

Did you over-indulge during the festive period? Then put your best foot forward in 2012 with Swan Hellenic and resolve to spend more of 2012 outside enjoying the natural world courtesy of their invigorating voyages.

Embrace the great outdoors on Vintage Iberia and Italy this spring and mark your first milestone with a Levada hike. Take in the best views of Madeira from the eastern flanks of the Paul de Serra plateau as you walk along the island’s unique irrigation channels. Go on to enjoy the rest of the cruise seeing more of Europe’s finest landscapes and landmarks on other guided city walks visiting Seville, Tangier and Malaga.

This cruise costs from £1,495 per person and includes return flights from the UK, transfers, a 14-day voyage departing from Funchal (Madeira) and calling at Cadiz (Spain), Seville (Spain), Tangier (Morocco), Malaga (Spain), Palma de Mallorca (Spain, above) and Livorno (Italy) before arriving at Livorno (Italy); meals, entertainment and gratuities on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees, plus onboard lectures from a team of renowned Guest Speakers. Price is based on a March 16 departure.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury adventure cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

PS: For more info and insight on Swan Hellenic, be sure to check out this feature in the Winter edition of the magazine.

Oriana Returns After Major Refit

2012-01-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

P&O Cruises welcomed Oriana back into Southampton recently after a month-long dry-dock refurbishment which transformed the ship so it is exclusively for adults. The refit saw the addition of 27 new cabins and the introduction of an Ocean Grill restaurant by Marco Pierre White, now proving very popular on P&O's Adonia.

The multi-million pound overhaul to the ship named by HM The Queen in 1995, also includes the addition of Sorrento, the new Italian restaurant concept also launched on Adonia, but this time with an outdoor dining area; a newly designed aft deck with bar; refreshed decoration in the public areas and Oasis Spa, which also now features thermal loungers and a dedicated aerobics floor; and a new look to the Al Fresco Mediterranean cafe. Oriana departed on her latest 97-night world cruise yesterday (January 5).

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's leading cruise agent specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Into Africa - New Safari-Cruise With AMA Waterways

2012-01-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

Here's a wonderful and thrilling new opportunity to combine a river-cruise with an African safari - the MS Zambezi Queen from AMA Waterways.

The luxury river-cruise line is marking its 10th anniversary in 2012 with the addition of an exclusive new ‘Africa Safaris and Wildlife Cruise’ programme, which includes a four-night cruise aboard the beautiful Zambezi Queen, specially-designed for wildlife viewing on the Chobe River in Botswana and Zambia.

The ship travels along the banks of Botswana's Chobe National Park, home to one of the densest populations of wildlife in Africa. Here, guests will encounter elephants, leopards, lions and buffalo on excursions by boat or open-air vehicle, a visit to a local village, an authentic dining experience and delicious cuisine on board, all preceded by a choice of three extensive land tours into the heart of Africa, from the expanses of the Serengeti to the awe-inspiring Kruger National Park and the towering landscape of Kilimanjaro.

Each tour concludes with two nights in Victoria Falls, one of the most magnificent sights in the world.

AMA's three new Africa itineraries, ‘Stars of Africa’, 'African Sunsets’ and 'Golden Trails of Africa’, range from 16 to 19 days, commencing in June 2012 with prices from £5622pp, excluding flights and transfers.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Strictly Goes To Sea With P&O

2012-01-04T00:01:00.000-08:00

P&O Cruises will have top names from the highly-rated BBC programme Strictly Come Dancing on two Oriana cruises in 2012 to entertain and inform passengers - and fans of the lavish ballroom dance spectacular.

Guest can choose from a 12-night Canary Islands cruise on May 28 and a 14-night Norwegian Fjords cruise on July 14, when they can learn how to jive, foxtrot, rumba, quickstep and more from the professionals and join acerbic judge Craig Revel-Horwood for a night in the theatre.

As some of Strictly’s most loved professionals show off their award-winning routines, passengers will also be able to see a collection of the exquisitely intricate costumes worn by the celebrities and stars in this series.

Prices for Oriana’s Canaries cruise start at £1,349 per person. It sails round-trip from Southampton and calls at Ponta Delgada, Horta, Madeira, Gran Canaria, Lisbon and Vigo. The 14-night fjords cruise starts from £1,599 per person, again round-trip from Southampton, calling at Stavanger, Alesund, Trondheim, Ny Alesund, Tromso, Bergen, Eidfjord and Hardangerfjord.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's leading cruise agent specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Costa's First World Cruise In 17 Years A Deliziosa Success

2012-01-03T09:11:00.000-08:00

Rounding off a successful 2011 for Costa Cruises, the Costa Deliziosa (above) has embarked on the first Around-The-World Costa cruise in 17 years.

With the 2011-2012 tour fully booked months in advance, the European cruise giant is now preparing to offer the itinerary again in 2013.

The 100-day historic cruise that departed Italy on December 28 will tally up 37 calls and 250 excursions to some of the world’s most fascinating locations across five continents, following the routes of the great navigators of the past.

The journey is split into three segments, named in tribute to great explorers – Christopher Columbus: Savona to France, Spain, Madera, Antilles, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Panama Canal, Mexico and California; James Cook: California to Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia and Singapore; and Marco Polo: Singapore to Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, the Arab Emirates, Oman and the Red Sea.

Those interested in the progress of the Costa Deliziosa can connect live with two webcams installed on board the ship by visiting Costa’s website, www.costacruise.com.

Five theme-oriented celebrations will be held on the seas during the journey with a total of 2,300 passengers onboard to join in the festivities and special shows.

Costa also has two other epic cruises on offer for 2012 for travellers looking to explore the world from a unique viewpoint. The Great Cruise to Four Continents on Costa Victoria will set sail on March 7, and the Great Cruise to the Other Side of the World departs on September 19.

The 2013 Around-The-World tour will depart Savona, Italy, on January 6 and return on 16 April, once again aboard the Costa Deliziosa.

Going Cruising? Try A Kayak!

2012-01-03T00:01:00.000-08:00

Kayaking in the far-flung corners of the world is an experience guaranteed to refresh any adventurer’s soul. From the icy waters of Antarctica and the European Arctic, to the remote, forgotten shores of Russia and the tropical fjords of Papua New Guinea, Aurora Expeditions’ kayaking journeys bring you up close to a maze of wildlife and nature.

Exploring the fascinating, wildlife-rich waters of our world’s most untouched continent – Antarctica - is an experience hard to beat, gliding silently past ice floes topped with sleeping seals and pondering penguins. Seabirds soar above, while curious leopard seals and agile Adele penguins play around kayaks that paddle the pristine bays and hidden channels, with cracking ice falling from glaciers to create small waves.

Paddling the sub-antarctic islands of South Georgia is also a rare privilege and a wildlife lover’s dream, kayaking among thousands of breeding king penguins and lively fur seals. Here, you can journey deep into glacial bays as black-browed and wandering albatross, prions, terns and petrels soar overhead, while elephant seals loll on beaches watched over by multitudes of macaroni and rock hopper penguins.

The icy waters of Greenland and Spitsbergen are a maze of massive sculpted icebergs, ice-choked fjords and sheltered bays. Paddling the pack ice, you can keep watch for polar bears, walrus, whales and narwhals.

From gazing at sea-life through crystal-clear waters, to paddling among uninhabited tropical islands, sea kayaking around Papua New Guinea is another unparalleled experience, discovering hidden waterways and the quiet of this tropical paradise. Here you can come face-to-face and kayak with locals who live daily on the water with paddle in hand.

All Aurora Expeditions kayaking expeditions are led by experienced guides, paddling in small groups of no more than 12 to gain intimate access to beautiful coastlines in some of the world's most remote destinations. Kayaking prices are not included in the voyage price but start from only $850 in Antarctica, AU$995 in the European Arctic, $995 in Russia and AU$995 in Papua New Guinea.

Prices include use of kayaks and paddles, dry suites and guide. Intermediate experience is required. Advice on gaining kayaking experience can be provided for you to practice your techniques prior to your voyage.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's adventure cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Lindblad Open Up Prime Time Visits To Galapagos

2012-01-02T00:01:00.000-08:00

In today’s travel world, savings never go out of season. And, with its equatorial temperatures and year-round wildlife, neither does the Galápagos experience. New for 2012, Lindblad Expeditions (with National Geographic) is offering lower seasonal rates to those who travel during less traditional vacation periods.

The beauty of this special opportunity lies in the true year-round appeal of one of the world’s most magical destinations. The Galápagos Islands are defined by consistency, a place where the sun rises and sets at the same time, and where the temperatures stay in the same range, year-round. The only reason for labels such as “peak” and “off-peak” is the fact more people travel at peak periods because of traditional holiday times.

Now, thanks to Lindblad, Galápagos Prime season rates begin at just $4,750 per person for a 10-day voyage on the 96-passenger National Geographic Endeavour, or $5,450 per person on the 48-passenger National Geographic Islander (based on double occupancy in a Category 1 cabin). Both are expedition ships equipped for genuine exploration, and add yet another layer of discovery with kayaks and Zodiacs that carry guests even closer into this world of natural wonder.

And, to make travel there even more affordable, those who book an expedition before March 31 will receive complimentary flights on select 2012 departures from either New York or Miami, or receive upgrades to business class on the New York/Guayaquil flights for only $500 round-trip. This offer is limited to new bookings only and subject to availability.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's adventure cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Southampton's £10million World Cruise Windfall

2011-12-29T09:28:00.000-08:00

P&O Cruises will boost the local Southampton economy by some £10million in January as around 6,000 people depart on four world cruises from the South Coast port for the first time.

Collectively, the four cruises will visit 148 ports of call and highlights include overnight stays in Buenos Aires, New Orleans, Sydney and Cape Town, as well as scenic cruising in the Amazon, Cape Horn, Beagle Channel and the Amalia Glacier in Patagonia.

All four ships will be flying the 175th Anniversary flag as P&O kicks off a full year of celebrations to mark the 175th anniversary of the formation of the famous Peninsular Steam Navigation Company.

World cruises offer unrivalled value for money with prices for the 2012 itineraries starting at £82 per person per night, including all meals, entertainment and accommodation on board. They are also increasingly seen as the ideal way to travel the world in comfort and style.

The record quartet of 2012 world cruises are:

· Aurora (pictured, above), 98-night westabout full world circumnavigation, departing January 4
· Oriana, 97-night eastabout full world circumnavigation, departing January 5
· Arcadia, 109-night Grand Odyssey, departing January 9

· Adonia, 87-night South America Grand Adventure, departing January 13

A number of cabins are also still available on the full Aurora world cruise, with prices from £8,799 for the 98-night voyage. A range of shorter sectors of the world cruises are also available and priced from £1,349 for a 17-night voyage from Southampton to Dubai on board Oriana.

For booking details, be sure to check with the UK's leading cruise agent specialist of The Cruise Line Ltd on this link.

Cruise Tidings of Comfort & Joy

2011-12-24T06:34:00.000-08:00

On behalf of myself, Simon Veness, and all the staff and design team at World of Cruising magazine, we would like to wish all our subscribers and Blog readers a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

The Winter edition should be with you by now, along with a quick preview of 2012, and we sincerely hope you have enjoyed all our efforts in 2011. We are always open to suggestions, ideas and feedback for more cruise content, so please don't hesitate to drop us a line here, on our main website (www.worldofcruising.co.uk) or by email to woc@cruiseline.co.uk.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

2011-12-24T00:01:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone and just a few lines to thank you for all your support during the year. Steve has to go in to “Dry dock for refurbishment” over the holiday period and will be back in service on January 2nd.

However, there are loads of goodies already lined up, among which are a stunning safari/wildlife river cruise in East Africa from AMA Waterways, “Strictly Dancing” with P&O and new cruises in Antarctica and The Galapagos.

In the meantime, there are FREE copies of World of Cruising magazine on offer through the The Cruise Line’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/TheCruiseLine. All you have to do is ‘like’ the Facebook page and then send your postal address to info@cruiseline.co.uk and they’ll send one out in the post to you. Hurry whilst stocks last!

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year to you all.

Fred. Olsen Launches ‘Captains’ Collection’

2011-12-23T00:01:00.000-08:00

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has launched a new brochure of 73 specially-selected, ex-UK cruises for 2012/13, offering exceptional value for money – the ‘Captains’ Collection’. All the featured cruises offer additional savings and selected cruises offer both Double Savings and Free Onboard Spend for selected cabin grades, including both Boudicca and Braemar’s Christmas cruises for 2012, so there are superb deals to be had for early bookers.

The special rates are applicable on bookings made by February 29. Guests booking earlier – by January 10 – can also benefit from free coach travel or car parking, making the offer even better value for money. Fred. Olsen’s ‘No Fuel Surcharge Guarantee’ also applies on all bookings made by January 31, for departures from January 1 onwards, so value for money is guaranteed.

The ‘Captains’ Collection’ brochure includes cruises on all four Fred. Olsen ships: Balmoral, Braemar, Black Watch and Boudicca, sailing from a variety of convenient regional UK ports. Destinations include Norway, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the British Isles, Iberia, Canada and the Canary Islands. Savings can be up to £500 per booking, and discounts vary, depending on the cabin grade and duration of the cruise. On a cruise of 14 nights or more, savings range from £100 on a single cabin to £500 for a suite.

For example, Braemar’s ‘The Azores & the Canaries’ cruise (M1208), a 14-night voyage from Dover on April 14, visits Lisbon (Portugal), Arrecife (Lanzarote), Santa Cruz (Tenerife), Santa Cruz (La Palma), Praia da Vitoria (Azores) and Ponta Delgada (Azores) before returning to Dover, now has prices from £1,229 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade ‘I’. Prices also include all meals, onboard entertainment and port taxes, representing exceptional value for money.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's top cruise agent specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Tour In Royal Style

2011-12-22T00:01:00.000-08:00

With members of the Royal family set to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by touring the globe in 2012, why not follow in their footsteps and embark on a majestic adventure of your own with Royal Caribbean?

Follow in Prince Harry's footsteps and visit The Bahamas on board the world’s biggest cruise ship Allure of the Seas, on a nine-night Eastern Caribbean fly/cruise from £1,516 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin). The price includes return flights from London Heathrow, one-night pre-cruise hotel accommodation, transfers and a seven-night cruise departing Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and calling at Nassau (Bahamas), Charlotte Amalie (St Thomas) and Philipsburg (St. Maarten) before returning to Fort Lauderdale; all meals and entertainment on board; and all relevant cruise taxes/fees, based on a March 4 departure.

Or follow the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall Down Under on Radiance of the Seas on a 20-night Australia & New Zealand fly/cruise from £2,585.00 per person (based on two sharing an inside cabin). This price includes return flights from London Heathrow, one-night pre-cruise hotel accommodation, transfers, and an 18-night cruise departing Perth (Australia) and calling at Albany, Adelaide, Melbourne, Hobart (all Australia), and Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Dusky Sound, Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington (all New Zealand) before arriving in Sydney; all meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on an October 28 departure.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's leading specialist cruise agents, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Costa Favolosa Makes Maiden Dubai Call

2011-12-21T00:01:00.000-08:00

Costa Cruises opens its sixth consecutive season in the Emirates with the inaugural call in Dubai of the flagship Costa Favolosa, the largest and most advanced ship ever deployed in the region.

From December 16 to April 6, Favolosa will be sailing on seven-night cruises in the exotic seas of the Arabian Gulf, with two days in Dubai, one-day stopovers in Muscat (Oman), Fujairah (UAE), Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Khasab (Oman) and ending with a further overnight stay in Dubai.

The Jewels of the Emirates cruise also has an itinerary reminiscent of A Thousand and One Nights, offering a tantalising mix of past and future, unspoiled oases and stunning futuristic architecture, dune surfing, mosques and skyscrapers.

This year’s route features the additional port call of Khasab, which boasts towering cliffs and deep blue waters. Thanks to the positioning of Favolosa, Costa will make 58 port calls in the United Arab Emirates in winter 2011/2012.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

See The World Horticultural Expo With Uniworld

2011-12-20T00:01:00.000-08:00

Uniworld have announced the first details of their Gems of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands Cruise that includes the magnificent Floriade exhibition.

Floriade, the World Horticultural Expo, is held every 10 years in Venlo, Holland, and runs from April 5 to October 7, with visitors having the opportunity to enjoy the world’s most exquisite and exceptional flowers, plants, trees, fruit and vegetables, with many exciting, innovative and educational attractions and activities.

As part of the cruise, Uniworld's itinerary also visits Cologne, where guests can enjoy a guided tour of the Old Town area with its Romanesque churches, Renaissance City Hall, Medieval houses and UNESCO-designated Cathedral (one of the tallest Gothic buildings in the world). Afterwards, there is a visit to a typical tavern and exclusive tasting of Kölsch, the popular local brew served in test tube-like glasses.

The voyage then stops off at the quaint village of Königswinter, which lies at the foot of the Siebengebirge. Guests will experience an exclusive visit to Castle Drachenfels, which boasts a stunning panoramic view of the Rhine Valley.

Brussels highlights include a local expert city tour, exclusive chocolate demonstration and tasting at Planet Chocolate Factory while, in Antwerp, it's possible to enjoy a local tour, followed by an afternoon at leisure to allow guests explore the city’s fine shopping and museum collections. Next, there is a walking tour of Maastrict followed by a full day at Venlo for Floriade.

For booking details, be sure to check with the river-cruise experts of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Get A Balcony Upgrade With Celebrity

2011-12-19T00:04:00.000-08:00

The offers are coming in thick and fast this week - and some more pre-Christmas cheer! How about this one: join Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Eclipse on a 14-night Iceland and Fjords cruise from just £2,473 per person (based on two people sharing an oceanview stateroom) this summer.

This price includes a free upgrade from an oceanview to a balcony stateroom (if booked by January 31) and a 14-night cruise departing from Southampton and calling at Reykjavik (Iceland), Akureyri (Iceland), Klaksvik (Faroe Islands), Geiranger (Norway), Molde (Norway), Flam (Norway) and Bergen (Norway) before returning to Southampton; all meals and entertainment on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees.

Plus, guests receive FREE car parking in Southampton port or a complimentary coach transfer to the port, if booked by January 31. Price is based on a July 7 departure.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's leading cruise agent specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Cruise The Canaries With Royal Caribbean (And Save 20%!)

2011-12-18T00:01:00.000-08:00

Here's a great weekend offer to get you thinking about some Winter sun: Join Royal Caribbean on a 12-night Spain and Canary Islands cruise-only from £950 per person (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom).

This bargain price includes a 20 per cent discount on the original brochure price, with the voyage departing from Southampton and calling at Funchal (Madeira), Tenerife, Las Palmas, Lanzarote and Vigo before returning to Southampton; all meals and entertainment on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees.

PLUS, you can receive free car parking in Southampton port or a complimentary coach transfer to the port if booked by February 29. Price is based on May 9 departure.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's leading cruise agent specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

NCL's Big Changes For 2013

2011-12-17T00:01:00.000-08:00

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced its summer deployment for 2013/2014, with a four-ship deployment in Europe – continuing with two ships based in the region year-round.

New to the European fleet is Norwegian Star, which replaces the Sun in the Baltic, further increasing the capacity in this popular cruise destination. Further highlights include the addition of a third ship in Alaska, sailing seven-night ‘open jaw’ itineraries between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Whittier, Alaska.

In Europe, Norwegian Epic (above) returns for her third season, sailing seven-night Western Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona from May 5, 2013, to October 13. A new itinerary features five ports of call in three countries - Spain, Italy and France - and a call to Palma in Majorca.

Norwegian Jade returns to Venice in May for the summer season and will offer alternating seven-night Greek Isles and seven-night Adriatic, Greece and

Turkey

itineraries. In the Autumn/Winter, Jade repositions to Rome (Civitavecchia) for a series of eight 10-night Eastern Med and nine 11-night Mediterranean & The Holy Land itineraries from October 26, 2013, to April 12, 2014.

In Alaska, beginning May 20, 2013, Norwegian Sun’s northbound itinerary to Whittier departs Vancouver on Mondays and will cruise the Inside Passage, Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier and make stops in the Alaskan favourites of Ketchikan, Skagway and Juneau.

Beginning May 18, 2013, Norwegian Jewel will sail a series of 18 seven-night Sawyer Glacier itineraries from Seattle every Saturday, with stops in Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway and Victoria (British Columbia).

Pride of America will continue as the only US-flagged vessel sailing among all four of Hawaii’s main islands, offering seven-night inter-island cruises that depart Honolulu every Saturday. Ports of call include: an overnight in Kahului (Maui); Hilo and Kona (on the Big Island); an overnight in Nãwiliwili, (Kauai); and an afternoon cruise along the breathtaking Nãpali Coast.

For a shorter cruise option, Norwegian Sky will continue sailing three and four-night cruises to the Bahamas year-round from Miami through April 25, 2014.

For booking options, be sure to check out this link with the UK's leading cruise agent specialsts, the Cruise Line Ltd.

Hurtigruten's Rare Port Calls

2011-12-16T00:01:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wanted to sail along the coast of France, or call at Agadir in Morocco onboard a ship with a relaxed and informal atmosphere? Hurtigruten is offering guests the chance to do just that when it takes its unique sailing experience outside its traditional destinations on a host of special European voyages in 2012.

The one-off sailings onboard Hurtigruten’s expedition ship, MS Fram, will take place during the spring and autumn and incorporate some of Europe’s most beautiful cities.

With six voyages to choose from, the schedule will include the south-western coasts of Portugal, Spain and France, the eastern Baltic coastline and St Petersburg in Russia, and will extend to the far north of Europe to Scotland, Iceland and Greenland. There is also a spring voyage around Norway’s fjord area for those who would like to see a little more of this beautiful landscape.

For booking details, be sure to see this link with the UK's leading adventure-cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Silversea's Monaco Grand Prix Experience

2011-12-15T00:01:00.000-08:00

Guests sailing on the nearly sold-out Silver Spirit voyage on May 24, 2012, are in for a special treat. Silversea is offering an optional two-day "70th Grand Prix de Monaco" land package. Spirit guests will have the opportunity to experience the thrill of a Formula One race at Europe's most glamorous motor-race during the ship's overnight visit on May 26.

On Saturday, guests will enjoy witnessing the time trials (practice runs for the drivers and their cars) from Tribune K reserved seats. From this section of the grandstand, guests will see cars racing towards them at tremendous speed, slow down and then accelerate, before making the next turn.

In the evening, guests attend an invitation-only cocktail reception hosted by the ship's captain and a former Grand Prix driver, followed by a themed dinner of Mediterranean and Monegasque cuisine served in La Terrazza. On Sunday, guests return to their same reserved seats for the exciting race itself. The tour includes escorted transfers and a gift package of spectator essentials featuring Bushnell binoculars, an official "70th Grand Prix de Monaco" programme, souvenir drawstring bag, hat, seat cushion and protective earplugs.

Priced at $1,799 per guest, this special two-day, mid-voyage land adventure is only offered on Silver Spirit's May 24 voyage (No. 5213), sailing from Barcelona to Rome. It requires advance booking through Silversea's reservations department by January 24. However, since space is limited, the tour may sell out before the booking deadline.

For Silversea booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Great Springtime River Cruise Offers From Swan Hellenic

2011-12-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

With the popularity of river cruises surging, Swan Hellenic is proud to offer a selection of diverse itineraries next spring from as little as £1,525 per person. The rich mix of culture and history can be easily enjoyed at a leisurely pace on one of the elegant vessels from the A-Rosa fleet.

Take your pick between the Rhone or Danube and discover the heart of Europe, visiting its famous abbeys, palaces and cultural hotspots. With plenty to see and do, find out for yourself why river cruising is fast becoming the preferred alternative holiday.

Cruising the Danube – Sail from £1,525 per person; price includes return flights to Munich, transfers and a 8-day cruise departing from Passau (Germany) and calling at Melk (Austria), Esztergom (Hungary), Budapest (Hungary), Bratislava (Slovakia), Vienna (Austria) and Durnstein (Austria) before returning to Passau. Price is based on April 29 departure.

Cruising the Rhone – Sail from £1,725 per person; price includes return flights or rail, transfers and a 8-day cruise departing from Lyon and calling at Chalon-sur-Saone, Tournus, Mâcon (overnight), Viviers, Arles, Avignon (overnight) and Vienne before returning to Lyon (overnight). Price is based on May 19 departure.

Prices for all cruises include meals and entertainment on board, meals, entertainment, gratuities and all relevant cruise taxes/fees.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury river cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Go Down Under This Winter With Voyages of Discovery

2011-12-13T00:05:00.000-08:00

Here's a great pre-Christmas deal that is worth passing on this week: Save up to £1,370pp and snap up a great deal on Voyages of Discovery’s recently reduced South-East Asia and Australia cruise.

A remarkable melting pot of Asian and Latin cultures thick with history and flavour, Manila promises an exciting start to a voyage inviting you to meet the ‘Wild Man of Borneo’ and immerse yourself in local life on charming Indonesian islands. ‘Tamed’ territory, Darwin is an eclectic blend – modern city, Asian village and frontier town.

‘Untamed’ Australia comes in its rich rainforests and then the underwater riches of the Great Barrier Reef. Sample life on the Gold Coast with its miles of glorious beaches, or stroll along with some of the Hunter Valley’s finest wines before sailing into the ‘Harbour City’ – its twin icons Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge stealing the limelight.

With an itinerary carefully crafted to get the most out of each port of call and bring to life destinations with renowned Guest Speakers and excursions, a cruise with Voyages of Discovery is a cruise you’ll never forget.

This 20-night cruise now costs from as little as £1699 per person (based on two people sharing an inside guarantee cabin). The price includes return flights from London, transfers and the voyage departing from Manila (Philippines, overnight) and calling at Sandakan (Borneo), Bitung (Indonesia), Ambon (Indonesia), Darwin, Port Douglas, Brisbane and Newcastle before arriving at Sydney for another overnight stay. Price is based on a January 21 departure.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's adventure cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

One Week To The New Edition!

2011-12-12T06:27:00.000-08:00

The Winter edition of World of Cruising magazine goes to the printers this week and should be back with us next Monday (Dec 19) for distribution to all our subscribers - just in time for a good Christmas read!

The latest issue is absolutely packed with the exotic and the desirable; long-distance cruising and closer-to-home varieties; winter ideas and festive touches. It journeys from Japan to Alaska and the Caribbean to the Med. And all in the inimitable style and high-quality design you have come to expect from Europe's leading cruise publication.

Our cover story is a unique close-up look at Alaska, through the twin perspectives of Princess Cruises and the new Alaskan Dream Cruises, with some fabulous photography and brilliant story-telling. Then we take a Viking voyage in the company of Fred. Olsen Cruises and head to the FarEast to look at the growing cruise destination of South Korea.

Need some winter sunshine? Go straight to out feature on Caribbean voyaging with SeaDream Yacht Club, a real tropical tonic. Or how about another look at the Asian Far East, this time with Orion Expedition Cruises and their first ever visit to Japan?

Back on home ground, we have a feature-length look at Swan Hellenic's Minerva from her new home base of Portsmouth (and just prior to her big winter re-fit), and then head north again for a look at the Norwegian Arctic of Hurtigruten in the region of Spitsbergen, truly one of cruising's great adventure frontiers.

For river cruising, we head to Russia and a unique journey from Moscow to St Petersburg with Uniworld, while we add a touch of pure luxury aboard Azamara Club Cruises and their unique President's Cruise. We also fofer two Passenger Perspective pieces, looking at Azamara and Cunard's Queen Victoria.

All our regular features are, of course, firmly front and centre, from the inimitable blogging style of Captain Greybeard and the inimitable Admiral, to our Aft View section, the expert Fashion pages, the essential World of Spas section, Readers Letters and the essential Cruise Planner, our annual review of ALL the ships with ALL the lines, so you can sit and plan your next voyage in perfect style.

It is all here, capped off by the best writers on the subject, from Gary Buchanan and Yvonne Horn to cruise historian Peter Newall and adventuring supremo Steve Newman.

As ever, World of Cruising is subscription-only, so, to be sure of your copy, make sure you visit our subscription page - Here!

Costa's Christmas (and New Year) Crackers

2011-12-12T00:31:00.000-08:00

Top Italian chefs Carlo Cracco and Benedetta Parodi have joined forces to combine traditional yet creative festive menus for Costa Cruises, with two exclusive menus for Christmas and New Year’s Eve specially devised by the popular culinary duo

Lucky cruisers who have chosen one of Costa’s sailings in the United Arab Emirates or the Mediterranean during the festive season will be treated to the special dishes but, as the recipes will be made available online, non-cruisers will also be able to try them out for themselves in the comfort of their own homes.

Carlo and Benedetta are both exceptional interpreters of the country’s inimitable culinary culture, based on simple high quality ingredients combined in original ways.

The festive menus are particularly special because, while consistent with Italian tradition, they are a superb blend of Cracco’s creative flair and the wholesome flavour and practicality of Parodi’s approach. Classic Italian staples for the holiday season like cotechino, a fresh pork sausage traditionally served with stewed lentils, has been reinvented as a starter with a truffle fondue, while the lentils will be used to garnish a lobster salad together with sprouts, celery and a bisque.

There are also traditional Christmas dishes on the menu, such as guinea fowl and panettone. The menu will be accompanied by a selection of fine wines produced by Aneri, an excellent quality label that has become one of Costa's partners. Highly recommended wines for the period are the Leda Bianco doc 2009 Aneri, the Pinot Nero doc 2008 Aneri and the much sought after Prosecco di Valdobbiadene doc “Aneri” N° 1.

For booking info, be sure to see this link to the UK's leading cruise agent specialists, the Cruise Line.

Broadcaster Michael Nicholson Aboard Fred. Olsen

2011-12-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has announced that renowned TV correspondent Michael Nicholson, OBE, MA (above), is the latest in a line of glittering speakers to join its Vistas cruise enrichment programme. Michael will be the guest speaker on Boudicca’s 23-night cruise to the Mediterranean, D1223, departing from Portsmouth on October 12, 2012.

Nicholson is best known as a seasoned and highly-acclaimed foreign correspondent, reporting on wars and natural disasters the world over. He has reported from no fewer than 18 war zones during his long and illustrious career, including Nigeria, Biafra, Vietnam, Cambodia, Beirut, Israel, Cyprus, Congo, Rwanda, The Falklands, the Balkans and both Gulf Wars. Michael was ITN’s first Bureau Chief in South Africa, based in Johannesburg; he reported on news from all over Africa between 1976 and 1981, then journeyed overland back to the UK with his family – a 14,000-mile journey that took six months.

Cruise guests can enjoy Michael's fascinating and informative talks in the comfort and elegance of Boudicca on this exciting Mediterranean itinerary, which visits Portimăo (Portugal), Ibiza (Spain), Valletta (Malta), Piraeus (for Athens), Çanakkale (Turkey), Istanbul (Turkey), Kusadasi (Turkey), Gozo (Malta), Mahon (Menorca) and Gibraltar, returning to Portsmouth. Prices for this cruise start from £2,179 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside, twin cabin, Grade ‘I’, and include all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes.

There are also ‘Double Savings’ available on this cruise of up to £1,000 per cabin (depending on cabin grade), if booked by February 29, as featured in Fred. Olsen’s "Captains’ Collection 2012/13" brochure of 73 specially-selected, ex-UK cruise deals. Fred. Olsen‘s ‘No Fuel Surcharge Guarantee’ also applies on all bookings made by January 31, for departures from January 1 onwards, so value for money is guaranteed. There is no extra charge for taking part in Vistas activity.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Time To Go Carnival Dreaming

2011-12-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

With the winter drawing in, there’s no better time to think about a relaxing Caribbean cruise - and Carnival Cruises have some spectacular offerings for British holiday-markers to Florida this winter.

Their weekly Western Caribbean itinerary now sails conveniently from Port Canaveral, less than an hour from the holiday Mecca of Orlando and features a truly eye-catching route, visiting Cozumel (Mexico's only Caribbean island), brimming with silver and colourful crafts); beautiful Belize, which boasts some fascinating eco-tourism and the world’s second largest barrier reef; tropical Isla Roatan; and peaceful Costa Maya, with its white sand beaches and historic Mayan pyramids.

The eye-catching 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream (above) is one of the line's newest ships (and a sister vessel to the Carnival Breeze, which is due to set sail in the Med next summer), and features some of the best resort amenities afloat, including deck after deck of spacious balcony staterooms offering breathtaking panoramas, plus 18 bars and lounges, a duty-free shopping mall, a huge Cloud 9 health spa and gym, including a hydrotherapy pool, “Serenity” deck areas for adults only, a glittering casino, a 2,400sq ft children’s area, four swimming pools and several cascading water slides.

A 9-night Caribbean fly/cruise on Carnival Dream starts from just £1,099 per person, departing London on January 20 and including scheduled flights between London and Orlando, one night pre-cruise hotel (room only) and a 7-night cruise, full board (based on inside twin accommodation). It costs just £50 per person (less than £8 per day) to upgrade to an ocean view stateroom.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's leading cruise agent specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Queen Mary 2 Returns to Service

2011-12-09T02:49:00.000-08:00

Cunard's grand Queen Mary 2 has returned to service after her most significant refurbishment in years, which saw every cabin and several public rooms receive a new look. Before she went to sea, a specially-commissioned portrait of Her Majesty The Queen was unveiled. The Queen named the ship in January 2004 and the portrait will hang in the Grand Lobby.

The refurbishment took place at the Blohm & Voss Shipyard in Hamburg, from November 24 to December 6, with work undertaken in all staterooms, the Canyon Ranch SpaClub, the Queens Grill and Princess Grill Restaurants, the Commodore Club, the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar, Sir Samuel’s Bar and Lounge and children’s Play Zone. The popular Golden Lion Pub was completely redesigned.

Peter Shanks, Cunard President and Managing Director, said: “Queen Mary 2 is an iconic leader in the world of luxury ocean travel and receives consistently high ratings by guests and the cruise industry. A ship that still turns heads everywhere she goes, she is unquestionably the pride of our fleet. We are committed to maintaining that impeccable reputation, and this significant refurbishment is an important investment on behalf of our guests.”

The 14-day refit required a team of thousands of workers replacing the equivalent of almost ten football fields of carpet and manufacturing about 18 miles of fabric into over 6,000 individual items. Over 1,250 loads were craned on to the ship and 20,000 litres of paint and varnish used.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Crystal Cruises To Feature Master Photographers

2011-12-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

Crystal Cruises is putting its trademark unique spin on cruise holiday memories by featuring award-winning Master Photographers to shoot guest portraits on eleven 2012 sailings. “The Master Collection” line-up consists of top-tier professional portrait photographers who have the distinction of being Fellows of the British Institute of Professional Photographers (BIPP) and the Master Photographers Association (MPA).

During their voyage, travellers can arrange private photography sessions on Crystal Symphony, Crystal Serenity or at exotic destinations on land with pros renowned for their portraiture. Individuals, couples or families/groups can opt for different wardrobe, locations and activities to customise their shoots.

Reservations include pre-planning consultation, unlimited shoot time, unlimited number of pictures and photo review. Final, retouched photographs will then be printed in a handcrafted, custom-bound 16”x12” embossed-aluminium album. Other framed photo and presentation product options are available for those looking to celebrate a special occasion, create a family treasure or simply treat themselves.

All products are created at Europe’s leading professional photo laboratory and shipped anywhere in the world four weeks after the end of the cruise. Operated by esteemed photography company Paragon Pixels, the programme is an expansion of the popular “Crystal Celebrations” Private Portrait Programme. Each Master Photographer will also host an informal talk giving trade tips and insight into their life and work, as well as mentor staff photographers while on board.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Singles Never Had It So Good With Swan Hellenic

2011-12-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

Travelling alone can often be expensive but, to ease singles’ travelling costs, Swan Hellenic is now offering new low single fares on a selection of spring cruises. Making sure they always go the extra mile for their solo passengers, Swan has introduced single fares from as little as £2,000 per person (available on inside Cat N only).

The reduced fares apply to a number of cruises departing from March to May, offering an exciting mix of itineraries across the Mediterranean. At discounted prices, cabins aren’t expected to be available for long so book now to avoid disappointment! Single fare voyages include:

Vintage Iberia and Italy – Cruise from £2,065 per person based on an inside Cat N only; price includes a 14-day voyage departing from Funchal (Madeira) and calling at Cadiz (Spain), Seville (Spain), Tangier (Morocco), Malaga (Spain), Palma de Mallorca (Spain, above) and Livorno (Italy) before arriving at Rome (Civitavecchia). Price is based on a March 16 departure.

Postcards from the Mediterranean – Cruise from £2,000 per person based on an inside Cat N only; price includes a 14-day voyage departing from Civitavecchia (Rome), and calling at Naples (overnight), Sorrento, Sousse (Tunisia) and Valletta (Malta, overnight) before arriving at Piraeus (for Athens). Price is based on March 29 departure.

All prices include return flights from the UK, meals, entertainment and gratuities on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees, plus onboard lectures from a team of renowned Guest Speakers.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Save Big With NCL This Winter

2011-12-07T00:04:00.000-08:00

Norwegian Cruise Line is launching its new “Norwegians set SALE in Europe” promotion where customers can save up to £400 per stateroom on European and Atlantic crossings. The sale launches today (Dec 7) and is valid on sailings of six nights or more, including in peak holiday periods. Customers can make savings on bookings made until February 29, 2012.

Guests will be able to enjoy savings from a choice of four ships as Norwegian’s largest ever European deployment arrives in 2012. Sailings included in the offer are Norwegian Epic’s ‘Western Mediterranean from Barcelona’, Norwegian Spirit’s ‘Grand Mediterranean from Venice or Barcelona’, Norwegian Sun’s ‘Baltics from Copenhagen’ and Norwegian Jade’s ‘Greek Isles from Venice’.

A seven-night Western Med voyage from Barcelona, fly-cruise, on Norwegian Epic departs on various dates between April and October, sailing from Barcelona, to Naples, Civitavecchia (for Rome), Livorno (for Florence/Pisa), Villefranche (for Nice/MonteCarlo), Marseille and back to Barcelona. It is priced from £849 per person based on an October 14 departure.

A 12-night Grand Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona fly-cruise on Norwegian Spirit also departs on various dates from April-October, sailing from Barcelona, to Toulon (for Provence), Livorno, Civitavecchia, Naples, Mykonos, Istanbul, Izmir (Ephesus) and Venice. It is priced from £1,176 per person based on an April 28 departure.

A nine-night Baltic Capitals from Copenhagen fly-cruise on Norwegian Sun departs on various dates from May-September, sailing from Copenhagen, to Warnemunde (for Berlin), Tallinn, St Petersburg (overnight), Helsinki, Stockholm and back to Copenhagen. It is priced from £1,339 per person based on a May 13 departure.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's leading cruise agent specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Oceania's Big New Year Savings

2011-12-06T00:02:00.000-08:00

Oceania Cruises, who operate four mid-sized luxury cruise ships specifically designed for lovers of good food and elegant living, is offering savings of up to £1,687 per person on selected departures between January 17 and March 29.

The offer is part of Oceania's `Explore your World’ promotion, which, on selected cruises, also gives clients free gratuities (worth up to $925 per booking) and a $1,000 shipboard credit per stateroom to spend on spa treatments, drinks, shore excursions or gifts from the onboard shops.

The sailings include a 25-night cruise from Bangkok to Beijing on board the 650-guest Nautica, departing on February 28, with port calls in Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and China, now from £3,025 (was £4,712, saving £1,687); and two cruises on board sister ship Regatta - a 21-night sailing from Auckland to Sydney, departing on March 8, now £2,541 (was £2,942, saving £401); and a 25-night voyage from Sydney to Papeete departing March 29 (now £3,025, saving £539), which also include the $1,000 per stateroom shipboard credit and free gratuities.

Then there is an 18-night South Pacific sailing departing January 17 from Papeete to Auckland on board Regatta, which now costs from £2,178* (was £2,656, saving £478), with $1,000 credit per stateroom and free gratuities.

And, in South America, the January 22 sailing on board Insignia, exploring Peru and Chile as the ship cruises the west coast of South America, now costs from £2,176 (was £3,080, saving £904), with $1,000 credit per stateroom and free gratuities.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Last Call For A Caribbean Break on Braemar!

2011-12-05T00:05:00.000-08:00

Winter 2011/12 will see the last of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Caribbean fly-cruises aboard Braemar. The cruise line is moving towards ex-UK cruises for the 2012/13 cruise season, so this could be your last chance to enjoy one of these amazing value-for-money cruises.

And Fred Olsen tell us there is still some availability on several stunning January voyages at very competitive prices. Like M1201, a 15-night fly-cruise with an exciting itinerary, that includes calls into colourful Cuba and vibrant Jamaica. Fly from London Gatwick, or Manchester on January 5 and join Braemar in Bridgetown, Barbados. Stay overnight, with time to explore the island, then enjoy a fortnight of island hopping, seeing some of the most desirable islands in the Caribbean; Bonaire, Aruba, Jamaica’s Montego Bay, Santiago de Cuba, then Turks & Caicos, Tortola and Antigua, with a scenic cruise of the Grenadines, en route back to Barbados for the return flights.

The flights are with an exclusive, fully-escorted Fred. Olsen charter, and the journey from check-in to ship is seamless and relaxed; the perfect introduction to the Caribbean way of life!

Currently, prices on this cruise start from just £1,199 per person, with a ‘Latesaver’ deal; this is based on two adults sharing an inside, twin cabin. The price is exceptional value for money when you consider it includes flights and transfers, en suite accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, and port/airport taxes; all for less than £80 per person per day

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's leading cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Viking's Valentine Bonus

2011-12-04T00:03:00.000-08:00

To get holidaymakers into the romantic spirit next Valentine’s Day, Viking River Cruises will send a beautiful bouquet of flowers to every customer who books a cruise with them between the 6th and 14th of February 2012. The Company offers scenic cruising along the rivers of Europe, Russia, China and Southeast Asia, sailing right into the heart of some of the world’s most beautiful and romantic destinations.

So, if you want to live out your very own fairytale romance in Heidelberg castle; walk hand in hand around Budapest; or stroll through the streets of the capital of love, Paris, Viking has the holiday for you this February.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's river-cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

P&O's 175th Anniversary Sale

2011-12-03T00:02:00.000-08:00

P&O Cruises is offering a special 175th anniversary discount of up to 10% on its cruise holidays during the peak “wave” period of December, January and February. Prices will start from just £599 for a seven-night voyage, such as Ventura’s March 25 itinerary to Spain and France, and £949 for a 14-night cruise such as Azura’s November 5 cruise to Gibraltar, Spain, France, Italy and Portugal.

World cruises are also included in the anniversary sale, with onboard credit of up to £1100 available on bookings. Other destinations include the Norwegian Fjords, Caribbean, Canary Islands, Iceland and Mediterranean. Wave prices also start from £349 for a three-night cruise break to Bruges and Le Havre, up to to £3,059 for a 35-night Caribbean cruise.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's leading cruise specialist agents, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Lindblad Expeditions Offer New Destinations

2011-12-02T00:01:00.000-08:00

Lindblad Expeditions offer two new destinations in 2012

West African Odyssey: Exploring from South Africa to Morocco - Spanning 16 distinctive countries, the 37-day itinerary explores the entire west coast of Africa from Cape Town, South Africa, to Morocco, offering a dazzling array of cultures, scenery and wildlife. The epic adventure aboard the 148-guest National Geographic Explorer will define the term “voyage of discovery.” Rates begin at $28,480 per person, based on double occupancy.

Exploring Papua New Guinea: Cultures & Wildlife - This 16-day itinerary explores the country’s natural splendour and intriguing cultures aboard the Oceanic Discoverer, a nimble 68-guest ship perfectly suited to exploring the coral reefs and great rivers. Rates begin at $14,790 per person, based on double occupancy.

For booking details, be sure to see http://www.cruiseline.co.uk/Lindblad-Expeditions for UK adventure-cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Hurtigruten Deploys Extra Ship In Spitsbergen

2011-12-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

Captivated by the BBC’s Frozen Planet documentary that everyone is talking about? Fancy a trip to the frozen north next summer to see more of the landscape and wildlife of Spitsbergen? Polar experts Hurtigruten have just announced they will be sending an extra ship to the region next summer to meet the substantial increase in interest it is experiencing following Prince Harry’s Arctic expedition and current Frozen Planet TV programme.

Between June and August 2012, Hurtigruten will send MS Nordstjernen up to Spitsbergen to travel the west coast of the island for a total of 21 five and six-day itineraries. This nostalgic ship is well known in the Svalbard Archipelago having sailed there between 1994 and 2009 and, for many, exploring this frozen landscape and reaching the 80th parallel on a traditional ship is a perfect combination. Hurtigruten’s newest ship MS Fram will continue to sail the summer in Spitsbergen also.

Spitsbergen lies just 1,200km from the North Pole and is home to the King of the Arctic – the Polar Bear. On the journey through the light polar nights in the north of the archipelago, guests visit interesting settlements including the Russian coal mining town of Barentsburg and the Ny Ålesund research station, as well as excursions to fascinating glaciers and landscapes. In favourable weather conditions, the ship reaches the 80th parallel. An encounter with polar bears is one of the highlights of the trip, alongside walruses, arctic sea birds and of course the Midnight Sun.

POLAR ENCOUNTERS VOYAGE – From £1,614pp - A five-night ‘Polar Encounters’ voyage to Spitsbergen on selected dates in June, July and August costs includes four nights full board on the ship, one night’s B&B in a Longyearbyen hotel plus landings, sightseeing in Longyearbyen and accompanied by an expedition team (prices based on two sharing; flights are extra and can be booked via Hurtigruten from £844pp).

For bookings, click this link to visit the UK's leading adventure cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Picture: Nina Bailey

Short Breaks With Star Clippers

2011-11-30T00:01:00.000-08:00

Not enough time for a full week’s holiday? Tall ship specialist Star Clippers has launched a series of short-break holidays for 2012, with a chance to experience life on board an elegant clipper ship and explore some of Europe’s most beautiful and romantic ports, as well as themed 'extras'.

Mediterranean Treasures, April 23, 2012
Experience the joys of daily yoga and meditation on this well-being themed voyage from Malaga to Rome on the 227-passenger Royal Clipper. Experienced yoga teacher Christel Vollmer, back on board by popular demand, will offer daily classes on the warm teak decks, while as usual, guests can follow a healthy or vegetarian diet if they wish. The ship sails from Malaga to Palma, Mallorca and Mahon in Menorca and the voyage includes two days at sea for maximum relaxation in the spring sunshine. From £999 per person including full board on the ship, all yoga classes, flights and transfers.

Sail from Southampton, May 5, 2012
Join the head-turning Star Flyer on her maiden call to Southampton for a five-night sailing to Hamburg, via Amsterdam, with two days at sea. The ship, with its four masts and graceful lines, is bound to attract a lot of attention in two such important seafaring cities. This package includes five nights’ car parking in Southampton; five nights’ full board on the ship, flight from Hamburg to London and transfer back to Southampton, from £1,045 per person.

A Taste of Italy, departing June 4, 2012
Make the most of Britain’s extra bank holiday for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and take to the seas on Royal Clipper on this four-night sailing from Civitavecchia, the port for Rome. The five-night break includes one night in the heart of Rome at the four-star Marcella Royal Hotel, with a welcome bottle of wine and a tour of the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel. The following day, Royal Clipper sails to Bonifacio in Corsica; Sardinia’s ultra-glamorous Costa Smeralda; pretty Portoferraio in Elba; and back to Civitavecchia. From £1,275 per person, including B&B accommodation in Rome, full board on the ship, flights and transfers.

Venetian Romance, departing July 27, 2012
Enjoy an evening in Venice after the crowds have departed, staying the night before your cruise at the four-star superior Liassidi Palace Hotel, within walking distance of the Rialto Bridge and St Mark’s Square. The holiday includes entrance to the Doge’s Palace and a bottle of wine on arrival. Then, sail in style along the spectacular Giudecca Canal on the magnificent, four-masted Star Clipper, heading out across the lagoon and into the Adriatic, for a four-night adventure exploring some of Croatia’s most fashionable anchorages: Mali Losinj, Hvar and Rovinj. From £1,195 per person, including B&B accommodation in Venice, full board on the ship, flights and transfers.

For more information and booking offers, use this link to visit luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Costa Introduces Voyager In Red Sea

2011-11-29T00:01:00.000-08:00

Costa Cruises has announced the arrival of a new ship in the Costa fleet - the Costa Voyager. She will offer guests 416 cabins in total (accommodating 927 guests), including 16 panoramic suites and 12 suites with private balconies. Relaxation and fun will be guaranteed by three restaurants, four bars, a theatre, wellness centre and gym, treatment rooms, sauna and Turkish bath, swimming pool, disco, shopping centre and children’s club (the Squok Club).

Her arrival enhances the Italian company’s versatile fleet of ships, with a range of dimensions and differing characteristics, offering customers a series of brand new itineraries. More specifically, the technical characteristics of Costa Voyager (the former Olympic Voyager of now-defunct Royal Olympic Cruises, and more recently of Pullmantur) make her especially suitable for cruises to the Red Sea, a relatively new destination for Costa and one that will be offered throughout 2012.

Voyager's first cruise was a 15-day journey from Savona earlier this month and, from December 5 to the end of 2012, she will be offering week-long cruises in the Red Sea, departing on Mondays from Sharm el-Sheikh and calling at Eilat (Israel), Aqaba (Jordan), Safaga and Sokhna (Egypt).

For booking details, be sure to check this link for the UK's leading specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

Lindblad's Latest Adventure Options

2011-11-28T00:01:00.000-08:00

Starting this month, Lindblad Expeditions' Peruvian Amazon expedition will be the first to offer kayaking in the Upper Amazon, providing guests even more accessibility to the lagoons, small tributaries and creeks of this pristine region.

The intimate and stately vessel, the Delfin II, will be equipped with five 2-person kayaks to provide this in-depth experience. Guests will be able to enjoy the signature Lindblad Expedition, a combination of elegant accommodation, knowledgeable experts and uniquely close encounters with the nature and culture of the region.

Or how about this fabulous itinerary: Vietnam & Cambodia — Along the Mekong River, including Angkor and Saigon. Lindblad's 14-day voyage takes in the sublime temples of Angkor Wat, the floating villages and vibrant markets along the Mekong, and the cities of Phnom Penh and Saigon. Sail aboard the new 48‐guest Jahan, with accommodations of a standard not available here before. Rates begin at $7,980 per person, based on double occupancy.

To find out more, see this link to visit the UK's adventure cruise specialists, the Cruise Line Ltd.

Amazing Prices With Regent For 2012

2011-11-27T00:03:00.000-08:00

For travellers looking for a truly all-inclusive cruise at unbelievable value in the Mediterranean next spring, Christmas may well have arrived early as six-star ultra-luxury Regent Seven Seas Cruises has announced some extraordinary fares on three voyages in 2012.

Sailing on the line’s all-suite, all-balcony vessels Seven Sea Voyager and Mariner, the cruises include free flights and transfers, overnights in ancient cities including Safaga, Haifa and Istanbul, as well as all onboard dining, beverages and gratuities.

And, with the privilege of unlimited shore excursions in every port, these itineraries boast up to 38 free excursions for guests to choose from to further enhance their cruise experience. The fares for a Deluxe Balcony Suite on a 10-night Med cruise now start from just £2,153 per person.

Details of the three voyages are: Seven Seas Voyager, Dubai to Athens (17 nights), departing March 30 and calling at Muscat, Salalah, Luxor (from Safaga), Petra, Sharm El Sheikh, Cairo, Ashdod and Haifa; Seven Seas Mariner, Barcelona to Istanbul and Tarragona to Istanbul, departing April 2 and 30 (10 nights) and calling at Monte Carlo, Florence/Pisa, Rome, Capri/Sorrento, Taormina, Santorini and Ephesus.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Voyages Of Discovery Go Musical In St Petersburg

2011-11-26T00:02:00.000-08:00

Enjoy a free exclusive musical excursion in St Petersburg with Voyages of Discovery next summer on a Baltic cruise overflowing with fine art, architecture and history. As an alternative to the Mediterranean, it’s no surprise this destination is emerging as the new must-see holiday hotspot.

With a rapidly growing choice of sailings, Voyages of Discovery also make this part of Northern Europe hard to resist with amazing fares and now a free excursion to the world-renowned Hermitage in St Petersburg.

Now included in the price is a magical evening in St Petersburg at the Hermitage for a musical reception reminiscent of a performance during the reign of the Tsars. Whilst the museum is closed, guests are invited to enjoy an in-depth guided tour, a champagne reception and an exclusive performance from the State Hermitage Orchestra concert.

This exclusive offer is now available on the following cruises: Baltic Treasures (from £1,649 per person in an outside cabin), 15-day voyage departing from Harwich and calling at Kristiansand, Copenhagen, Tallinn, St Petersburg (overnight x 2), Gdynia, Szczecin, Sassnitz and transit through the Kiel canal before returning to Harwich. Price is based on June 28 departure.

Timeless Baltic (from £1,599 per person in an outside cabin), 15-day voyage departing from Harwich and calling at Copenhagen, Saaremaa Island (Estonia), Tallinn, St Petersburg (overnight x 2), Gdynia, Szczecin, Sassnitz and transit through the Kiel canal before returning to Harwich. Price is based September 3 departure. Prices for all cruises include meals, entertainment and gratuities on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees, plus onboard lectures from a team of renowned Guest Speakers.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

G Adventures New Antarctic Cruises

2011-11-25T00:02:00.000-08:00

Marking 100 years since Captain Scott voyaged to the Antarctic, 2012 is the perfect year to take a G Adventures cruise aboard the M/S Expedition to celebrate one of the world’s greatest historic expeditions.

G Adventures is offering 10% discounts on a range of Antarctic expeditions for bold travellers looking to explore this region during the cruise season (November to March). Tours must be booked by 30 November 2011 for the 2012/13 Antarctic tours departing between 7 November 2012 and 9 March 2013.

For travellers who don’t want to wait, there are still places available on selected 2011/12 departures, including the Spirit of Shackleton tour. Suitable for history fans, the voyage focuses on the adventurers and legends formed out of the ‘Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration’. The tour’s namesake, Sir Edmund Shackleton, was actually a third officer on Captain Scott’s first quest to Antarctica in 1901, making this journey a pilgrimage for travellers enticed to Antarctica by the dramatic history of its discovery.

Spirit of Shackleton. Trip code: XVSHSX; Price: From £7,189 per person; Duration: 20 days. Next available departure: 11 January, 2012

This journey takes intrepid travellers to some of the world’s most remote wilderness including the South Georgia Islands, Falkland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. Visiting historic sites of past explorers, including Sir Ernest Shackleton’s final resting place, this adventure illuminates many of the courageous legends from what is known as the ‘Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration’. There is extraordinary scenery and an abundance of diverse wildlife, including vast penguin rookeries, seal colonies and whale pods.

The 20-day adventure includes 18 nights aboard the Expedition with all meals, one night hotel accommodation in Ushuaia and Ushuaia airport transfer (depending on flight departure details), Zodiac cruises and shore landings with expert expedition team, lecture and educational programs, waterproof boots and Antarctica destination guidebook, Canada Goose expedition jacket for each guest who pays for a Category 5 Suite and expert G Adventures Expedition Guide throughout.