Spend Christmas at sea on a Saga cruise

Forget the cold winter and the cooking over Christmas and the New Year on a sunshine Saga cruise. There are still a few cabins available on Saga Sapphire or Saga Pearl II.

Christmas in the Canaries

Have yourself a merry little Christmas on Saga Sapphire’s (above) 20-night Christmas in the Canaries cruise. This special sailing includes a chance to spend the night in Marrakech and watch the fireworks over Madeira on New Year’s Eve.
Cruise on the chic and friendly Saga Sapphire from Southampton on 21 December with further ports of call including four of the Canary Islands, Agadir, Casablanca, Lisbon and Gibraltar.  Price from £3,699

A Mediterranean Christmas

Saga Pearl II will be sailing into the sunshine on a Mediterranean Christmas cruise which will give passengers time to explore the glorious historic cities of Rome, Nice, Florence and Barcelona, as well as the contrasting islands of Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily.
Christmas Day will be spent at sea so passengers can get into the full Christmas spirit and on Boxing Day Saga Pearl II will sail in to Almeria, just the place to walk off the excesses!

A highlight of this festive 23-night cruise will be the spectacular fireworks over the harbour in  Valletta, in Malta, on New Year’s Eve. Price from £4,099, departing Southampton on 21 December

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Saga's Garden Voyage With Chris Beardshaw

We thought here at World of Cruising that Cruisers who also love their gardens would be well advised to take notice of this opportunity to combine a great holiday with the hobby as TV garden designer and RHS Chelsea gold winner Chris Beardshaw (above) will be aboard Saga Cruises' Floral Delights to the Canaries voyage in December.

Beardshaw will be sharing his expertise and love of gardening with passengers during talks and a question-and-answer session.

Chris, a long-standing member of Radio 4’s Gardener’s Question Time, explained: “There are always lots of people wanting gardening advice and tips - this is something I really enjoy and am very used to doing. I will also be joining a garden tour, as well as presenting new talks focusing on projects behind the show gardens at RHS Chelsea, including The Arthritis Research UK Garden, which was awarded Gold and People’s Choice Award in 2013.”

Chris knows the Canary Islands but has not visited all of the destinations and gardens on the itinerary. He added: “It is wonderful to have the opportunity to visit gardens and in December, when we are sailing, the climate will be much better than at home. I really enjoy seeing plants in differing habitats and often end up wishing I had the conditions to grow many of the plants that thrive in that part of the world.”

Saga Pearl II will sail to the floral island of Madeira and then on to Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, where green-fingered guests will be able to stroll through glorious sub-tropical gardens as well as explore dramatic volcanic landscapes and lush banana plantations. The ship will also call at Agadir in Morocco, and Lisbon, where the city’s botanical garden and former royal summer place of Queluz will fulfil any keen gardener’s delight.

The Floral Delights of the Canaries cruise lasts 13 nights and costs from £1,569, departing Southampton on December 8. The price includes UK mainland travel service, all meals, daily afternoon tea, 24-hour room service, all on-board gratuities, entertainment and activities, welcome cocktail party and Captain’s dinner and travel insurance.

More info: call 0800 50 50 30 or visit saga.co.uk/cruises.

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Saga, The Canaries and Moorish Morocco

We're up to Day 6 of our marvellous Saga Week here on Time Spent At Sea and on the World of Cruising website, and we have some super spring sunshine to deliver today...

Saga Pearl II is one of Britain's most popular ships, and her classy array of amenities really come into their own on longer voyages. Like this one to the Canaries and Morocco, with plenty of wonderful sea time, in April, 2015.

Sailing from Southampton, the first port of call is beautiful Funchal in Madeira. The island is famous for the varied and luxuriant scenery, from mountain slopes covered with vines to picturesque villages and a profusion of wild flowers. 

Following Madeira, Saga Pearl II heads for the Canaries and four superbly contrasting ports of call, from Santa Cruz on 'the beautiful isle' of La Palma; San Sebastian on the rugged, cone-shaped island of La Gomera; and Santa Cruz on the mountainous main isle of Tenerife; to the volcanic scenery of Arrecife on Lanzarote. It is an in-depth and up-close look at this amazing island range.

Next stop will be Agadir on the Morrocan coast. The city itself was largely destroyed by an earthquake in the 1960s so today it is filled with broad, palm-lined avenues edged by cafés and blossoming parks. The city is still a real mixture of old and new, though, as you wander

past the modern restaurants and shops and encounter colourful bazaars, spice-scented souks (left) and lofty minarets.

On the return journey, the ship calls in at vibrant Lisbon, where the Portuguese capital is a true treat for cruise visitors. Set on the famous Seven Hills surrounding the River Tagus, it is strewn with majestic architecture, old wooden trams, historic Moorish features and more than 20 centuries of history.

For your mobile home for this two-week maritime adventure, the ship itself offers a range of dining options, while you can also treat yourself to a massage or sauna, a few lengths in the indoor pool, soak up the sun on the ample open deck space and then enjoy a drink in the small and intimate Sundowner bar.

 
The 14-night Canaries and Moorish Morocco cruise departs from Southampton on April 4, 2015, and calls at Funchal, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Agadir and Lisbon before returning to Southampton. It costs from £1,784 per person.

More info: call 0800 096 0074 or visit http://travel.saga.co.uk/holidays/ocean-cruises.aspx.

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Crystal's Overland Gorilla Adventure

Locking eyes with an almost-500 pound silverback mountain gorilla, with just a few feet of African forest standing in between, might not the thing most people would expect from a luxury cruise.

But Crystal Cruises are increasingly pushing back the boundaries of what's possible on a voyage, and the Gorilla Adventure is the latest possibility in their impressive Overland Adventure portfolio.

With just 600 mountain gorillas left in the world, and only a handful of active guests permitted on the excursion, Crystal’s new “Bwindi Forest Gorilla Tracking Experience” is an ultimate bucket list trip. The five-night journey is available only to guests sailing back-to-back on two of Crystal Serenity’s 2014 World Cruise segments: an 18-night March 10 voyage from Singapore to Cape Town and the following 21-night March 28 cruise from Cape Town to Southampton. From South Africa’s port of Durban, outing participants will travel deep into Uganda, then re-join the ship in Cape Town.

On non-tracking days, the group will also learn about Uganda’s wetland, savannah and forest eco-systems at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, and participate in a mock Batwa Pygmy (considered the “keepers of the forest” for more than 5,000 years) hunting party, including tribal singing and dancing. Luxury accommodation includes two nights at The Lake Victoria Serena Resort, set on the world’s largest tropical lake, and three nights at the silver-service Sanctuary Gorilla Camp.

The Bwindi Forest Gorilla Tracking Experience costs from $11,676 per person. The combined, 39-night cruise itinerary calls in Singapore (overnight); Jakarta, Mauritius/Port Louis, Durban, Cape Town, Walvis Bay, Luanda (maiden call), Bom Bom Island/São Tomé, Takoradi, Dakar, Agadir, Lisbon and Southampton.

Crystal is also offering 10 other Overland Adventures (shore excursions where guests stay inland overnight during a cruise) in Africa next year, taking guests to Nelson Mandela’s former home, through the countryside by Victorian-era railcar and on multiple safaris in Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa.

More info: call 020 7399 7601 or visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk.

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Saga's Solo Traveller Boost

Solo passengers will be able to skip the single supplement on several Saga Cruises offerings from October to December this year. 

 

Even better, some cruises are all-inclusive so it is a great time to make savings, make new friends and make the most of sailing into the winter sunshine. Choose from:

Saga Sapphire

Brendan Lynch, a finalist in TV’s the Great British Bake-Off will be cooking up a treat with talks and demonstrations during the Western Mediterranean Explorer cruise. As well as fun on board, destinations are steeped in history and offer the opportunity to discover remnants of Cartagena’s Roman remains in Spain to Lisbon’s stunning architecture in Portugal. This 16-night cruise also includes the ports of Tunis, Valletta, Palermo, and Algiers.
All-inclusive price from £1,899, departing Southampton on November 15.

Saga Ruby

Have some fun and meet the monkeys when you visit Gibraltar (above) on the Classic Mediterranean Cities cruise. Photography is the theme for this trip so you can practice your skills by taking pictures of beautiful cities including Rome, Florence and Barcelona. This 15-night cruise also includes ports of call to Lisbon, Toulon, and Vigo.
Price from £2,149 for 15 nights, departing Southampton on October 10.

Contrast the untouched greenery of La Gomera against the fascinating ‘lunar landscape’ of Mount Teide, in Tenerife, during the 14-night Autumn in the Canary Islands cruise. Colin Bryant’s Hot Rhythm Orchestra will be on board to add some lively music to the evening entertainment. Ports of call include Madeira, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Agadir and Lisbon. 
Price from £1,999, departing Southampton on October 25.

Trade in the darker nights for sun-kissed shores on a Voyage to the Canaries. There are pretty villages to discover, volcanoes to explore and colourful gardens to enjoy on this 12-night cruise from Southampton, visiting Madeira, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Agadir.

All-inclusive price from £1,599, departing on November 23. 

For more info, follow this link for Saga Cruises; for more great cruise idea, see this link for The Cruise Line, the UK's leading cruise-agent experts.

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MSC's Canary Island Delights

This winter, MSC Cruises' smart mid-sized cruiser MSC Armonia will be based in the Canary Islands, offering guests two exciting new itineraries departing from Tenerife. With a series of seven-night cruises from only £639 per person, including return flights from London Gatwick, Manchester or Glasgow, there has never been a better time to get away for some winter sun. 

From November 8 until March 21, Armonia will be calling in Santa Cruz Tenerife, Las Palmas, San Sebastián de la Gomera, Funchal, Santa Cruz de La Palma and back to Tenerife, while the second itinerary features Tenerife, Las Palmas, Agadir, Casablanca and Arrecife de Lanzarote.

The two itineraries will provide the opportunity to discover the best of the Canary Isles, encompassing a blend of shopping, beaches and tourist towns, all surrounded by striking natural scenery. Highlights include visits to the National Park Caldera de Taburiente from La Palma, where guests are able to explore one of the biggest craters in the world, and the circular Las Cañadas mountain range in Tenerife.

With calls in Casablanca and Agadir, Armonia will also take in two of the most popular destinations in mystical Morocco as well as the scenic highlights of the Canaries. 

Visiting sacred mosques and magical bazaars, or simply being 'on location' in iconic Casablanca offers guests a rare experience, as well as the chance to travel further afield to the vibrant city of Marrakech. Another highlight of this itinerary is Agadir, Morocco's surfer’s paradise, where sun seekers can relax on the beach and the more adventurous can embark on an exploration of the region's rugged surroundings, the majestic Anti-Atlas mountains and the awe-inspiring Sahara desert.

A seven- night starts from just £639 per person, departing Decembe 13 or January 10, including return flights from London Gatwick, Manchester or Glasgow. The two itineraries can also be combined to offer a unique 14-night voyage.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's cruise-agent experts.

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Hurtigruten's Rare Port Calls

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.

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Silversea's 15-Day Caribbean Special

Join Silversea Cruises on a 15-day Transoceanic trip from just £3,213 per person (or £214 per day) on an all-inclusive basis. Departing October 24 from Lisbon (Portugal), Silver Cloud calls at Casablanca (Morocco), Agadir (Morocco), Arrecife (Canary Islands, Spain); Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain); St. John’s (Antigua), Roseau (Dominica) and Castries (St Lucia), before arriving in Bridgetown (Barbados).

All prices are per person, based on two people sharing a Vista Suite and include port charges, government fees and taxes. A $1000 'Passport to Luxury' onbaord credit is offered per suite (approx. £640), based on two people sharing, for use towards additional benefits such as shore excursions, spa treatments, boutiques, or select restaurants. Economy air fare is available from £799 per person.

For more information, visit www.silversea.com or the UK's luxury cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd.

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The Azores, Canary Islands and Ceramic Wonders

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Sail in the wake of European explorers to the Atlantic islands that once constituted the western barrier of the known world on a small ship luxury cruise. Zegrahm Expeditions' Azores voyage begins with a visit to Spain’s Alhambra with its amazng carvings and ceramic tile patterns (above) and the famed Rock of Gibraltar. Morocco offers a sensory-filled experience from mosques to souks in the exotic cities of Casablanca, Agadir and Marrakech.

Then spend several days exploring the Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Azores. These dramatic volcanic islands feature historic architecture, lush gardens and vineyards, seabirds, beautiful beaches and colourful markets.

Zegrahm's Clipper Odyssey is also perfect for this style of voyaging, a 110-passenger luxury expedition vessel carrying a fleet of Zodiacs, which allow passengers to land anywhere nature or curiosity dictates. All cabins have an ocean view, safe, minibar, individually controlled heat/air conditioner, in-room music system, and sitting area with sofa.

Dates
May 4–20, 2011

Activities
Archaeology, Birding, Culture, Photography, Sightseeing, Wildlife viewing

For more information, visit http://www.zeco.com/ or try the UK's leading adventure cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd.

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