Save Big With A Holland America Med Cruise

Enjoy early summer sunshine, with us here at World of Cruising whilst avoiding the peak summer crowds, on a fantastic value Mediterranean cruise with Holland America Line. Departing June 20, this 11-night Rome to Barcelona cruise starts from just £1,049pp, saving guests up to £1,000. This includes return flights, transfers and full board accommodation (all prices are based on two people sharing an inside stateroom).

This Mediterranean Explorer cruise departs from Rome, and the first port of call is beautiful Naples, from where Pompeii and Capri can be visited. The ship then heads south to Palermo in Sicily, famed for its stunning cuisine and summer produce and then calls at Tunisia’s La Goulette, home to bustling markets and medinas. 

Sailing back to Italian shores, the ship visits Livorno, where excursions to Florence and Pisa are available, before moving onto Calvi, rumoured to be the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, the glamorous Monte Carlo, and Marseille. The cruise ends in Barcelona on July 1, but guests can spend an extra night onboard the ship before disembarking in order to enjoy a more in-depth experience of the city.

More info: 0843 374 2300 www.hollandamerica.co.uk

The next edition of World of Cruising will be out this week, and you can see the current version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

Onboard Credit Or Stateroom Upgrade With Azamara

It's not unusual at this time of year for cruise lines to be offering all manner of incentives to book with them, featuring some extremely tempting lures, like onboard credit, free shore excursions, hotel stays pre- or post-cruise, or even full stateroom upgrades for early bookers.

 

Well, this month, boutique line Azamara Club Cruises are offering the choice between $1,000 onboard credit and a free stateroom upgrade when booking a grand French Riviera voyage on their Azamara Journey in September. 

 

Guests will be able to immerse themselves in an array of European destinations, with late and overnight stays at each port to enjoy the likes of the nightlife of Saint Tropez and beaches of Calvi, on a seven-night Provence and Rivieras fly/cruise from £2,151 per person (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom).

This price includes flights from London Heathrow, transfers and the week's cruise departing from Barcelona and calling at Marseilles overnight, Sanary Sur Mer (late stay), Saint-Tropez (late stay), Calvi (late stay) and Portofino (late stay) before arriving in Monte Carlo for an overnight stay before the flight home. The cruise also includes selected standard spirits, wines and international beers; complimentary bottled water; soft drinks; speciality teas and coffees; meals and room service; housekeeping and dining gratuities; a bespoke AzAmazing Evenings event; and all relevant cruise taxes/fees.

Price is based on September 13 departure and this offers runs until March 31.

More info: 0844 493 4016 or visit www.azamaraclubcruises.co.uk.
 

Our new edition is now out - see more on this link! Or, to subscribe with our special limited time offer, go to our subscriptions page.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

Star Clippers Get Arty In 2013

Tall ship specialist Star Clippers is again offering the opportunity to learn sketching and watercolour painting on two `Art Afloat’ cruises in 2013.

This is the third year running the company has operated these exciting themed voyages, which have been a great success among guests, regardless of existing artistic ability. On the voyages, participants can learn to paint and draw, or hone existing skills, in the company of successful British artist Richard Nichols, who specialises in seascapes and coastal scenes.

Richard will run workshops on each cruise using a variety of media, aimed at all levels of experience and helping artists to capture the dazzling turquoise of the sea along the Croatian coast, the texture of a cream sail filled with wind, or the ochres and terracottas of the houses lining the chic little bay of Portofino. 

 

Included in the price of the cruise is a special artist’s backpack that converts into a seat for sitting and sketching on location. The backpack contains sketchbooks, paper, watercolours, brushes and pencils, so guests do not need to supply any equipment. 

 

Against a backdrop of a beautiful tall ship under full sail, in some of the Mediterranean’s most stunning locations, the two voyages between them visit the French Riviera and, new for 2013, the beautiful Croatian coastline, sailing out of Venice, one of the most alluring cities in the world for artists. 

 

The ‘Art Afloat’ cruises are: 

 

Monaco round-trip on Star Clipper, seven nights, departing April 27 and calling at Calvi, Bonifacio, Costa Smeralda, Portoferraio, Lerci and Santa Margarita (for Portofino). From £1,599 per person including flights to Nice, transfers, full board on the ship, all art equipment, daily tuition and welcome cocktail party. For travel by rail with a one-night stay in Monaco before the cruise, the price per person is from £1,849. 

 

New for 2013, Venice round-trip on Royal Clipper, eight nights, departing September 27, and calling at Kotor, Dubrovnik, Hvar, Rovinj and Piran, with a night in Venice before the cruise. From £1,995 per person including flights to Venice, transfers, one night’s B&B accommodation in Venice, full board on the ship, all art equipment, daily tuition and welcome cocktail party.

 

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

New `Rail and Sail’ Tall-Ship Cruises

Star Clippers is offering a new selection of 'Rail & Sail' departures for summer 2011, allowing guests to take the train directly from the UK to the south of France to join one of its magnificent tall-ship sailings, completely avoiding airports and flying.

The company’s tall-ship cruises from Cannes or Monaco operate between June and October and new rail-cruise packages cost from £1599 per person, including all meals, return rail travel from London, a night’s B&B pre-cruise accommodation in a 4-star hotel in Monaco or Nice, non-UK transfers to and from the ship and all port taxes.

The sailings are on board Star Clippers’ four-masted, head-turning tall ship Star Flyer, departing from Cannes or Monaco on 4th June, 10th September and 1st October 2011.

On 4th June and 1st October, the ship sails from Cannes to Calvi (Corsica), the Costa Smeralda (Sardinia), Giglio (Italy) and Lerici (Italy), returning to St. Tropez and Monaco 7 nights later.

On 10th September, Star Flyer departs from Monaco for a 7-night sailing to L’Ille Rousse, Corsica, Portoferraio (Elba), Portofino (Italy), Hyeres Island and Sanary-sur-Mer (France), St. Tropez beach and town, returning into Cannes on 17th September.

Sail cruises cost from £1599 for an inside cabin and £1739 for an outside cabin, including return travel from London, non-UK transfers to and from the ship, one night’s B&B, all taxes and 7 nights cruising, with all meals.

For more info, visit www.starclippers.co.uk or contact the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

French Riveria and Greek Islands Reductions

By guest blogger Steve Newman

The French Riveria and the Greek Islands have always been major attractions for a cruising holiday, and the chance of late booking reductions can make them even more attractive. With that in mind, why not have a look at two short cruises from luxury Tall Ship sailing company Star Clippers?

Departing from Cannes on 25th September, the company has a 4-night tall-ship cruise along the French Riviera to Calvi, Corsica, Portofino and Cannes for £649pp (was £730), sailing on the head-turning Star Flyer and including all meals on board and free places for up to two children (accompanying two adults) in their own cabin, paying just port taxes of £85 per person.

The Flyer (above) with its four masts and 36,000sq ft of sails is fully stabilised and has two pools; massage and beauty treatments; water sports equipment; library; internet access; indoor/outdoor bar; and a Sloop Shop. The ship has a smart-casual open dining policy and there are seven cabin grades. from the luxurious Owner’s Cabin with whirlpool bath to inside cabins. Fully 81 of the 85 cabins have a porthole or open on to the deck.

The company is also offering a £200 saving off its 3-night 'Cruise & stay’ short break, also on board Star Flyer, departing from Athens on 28th September, sailing the Greek islands of Mykonos and Santorini, now from just £799 per person (was £999), including all meals and a night’s B&B accommodation in Athens at the 5-star St. George Lycabettus Hotel on 28th September.

For more information, log on to http://www.starclippers.co.uk/

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.