Richard Branson confirms launch of Virgin Cruises

Richard Branson

After months of speculation, it’s all systems go for Virgin Cruises. Richard Branson has done planes and he’s done trains. Now the serial entrepreneur is ready to complete the full set from Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s memorable sixties song.

Branson finally fulfils his Trains And Boats And Planes ambitions (OK it should be Ships, but it’s too late for a rewrite) and he promises to change cruising for ever.

He has $1.7 billion finance in place to fund the building of two ships, which will be based in Miami or Fort Lauderdale, but a start date for operations has not yet been announced “for competitive reasons” according to a Virgin statement.

Branson said this week: “We plan to shake up the cruise industry and deliver a holiday that customers will absolutely love. They'll be sailing on the latest ships offering great quality, a real sense of fun, and many exciting activities all delivered with the famed Virgin service."

He has secured financial backing from alternative investment firm Bain Capital, whose managing director, Stephen Pagliuca, added: “There is a unique opportunity here to help build the next great cruise line serving travellers from around the world. Virgin Cruises will help reshape consumers' expectations of what a cruise experience can be.”

Branson has brought in Tom McAlpin as Virgin Cruises president. He was part of the management team that founded Disney Cruise Line in 1996 and has also been CEO of the ultra luxury The World, Residences At Sea.

McAlpin said: Cruise guests deserve something better and different to what is being offered today, and Virgin Cruises is committed to creating breathtaking experiences for them and a new generation of guests.”

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Start the New Year in style and head to the Caribbean with Celebrity Cruises

Beat the January blues and soak up the sunshine in Mexico, snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of Grand Cayman and sip local rum in Jamaica with Celebrity Cruises. Join Celebrity Silhouette on a nine-night Western Caribbean fly/cruise from £1,529 per person (based on two people sharing a balcony stateroom). 

Price includes return flights from London Heathrow, transfers, one night pre-cruise hotel accommodation and a seven-night cruise departing from Fort Lauderdale  and calling at Cozumel, George Town, Falmouth and Labadee (Haiti) before returning to Fort Lauderdale for the flight home; meals and entertainment onboard the ship and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price based on 10 January UK departure. 

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Love Boat stars reunite to christen Regal Princess

It was a night of love, or possibly L-U-R-V-E, as the stars of TV comedy The Love Boat gathered for the christening of cruise ship Regal Princess this week.

Six actors from the original cast acted as godparents and a host of performers who made guest appearances had walk-on parts in the lavish ceremony in Port Everglades, Florida.

Two Princess ships were used as locations for filming the series which ran for 10 seasons in the late 70s and early 80s.

Gavin MacLeod, who played Captain Stubing, was joined in the naming by Fred Grandy (Gopher, the chief purser), Ted Lange (Isaac, the bartender), Bernie Kopell (Doc, the ship’s doctor), Lauren Tewes (Julie, cruise director) and Jill Whelan (Vicki, the Captain’s daughter). Together, they pulled a ship’s telegraph to send 50 bottles of Champagne crashing against the ship’s hull - marking the start of celebrations of Princess’s 50th anniversary next year - and a final bottle by the ship’s pool.

The galaxy of stars also included Don Most, who played Ralph Malph on Happy Days; Jamie Farr, the cross-dressing Corporal Klinger from M*A*S*H; Florence Henderson, the mother in The Brady Bunch; singer Jack Jones;  Golden Globe and BAFTA winner Diane Ladd; Falcon Crest star Lorenzo Lamas; Doris Roberts, the mother-in-law in Everybody Loves Raymond; Marion Ross, Mrs Cunningham in Happy Days; Frank Sinatra Jr; Dallas actress Charlene Tilton; Knots Landing’s Joan Van Ark; and Adrian Zmed from T.J.Hooker, among many others.

Star of the show, though, was singer-comedienne Charo, who appeared in eight episodes of the Love Boat and was a regular on Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In. She brought the house down with a flamboyant flamenco guitar performance.

A video tribute to the company’s history included reminiscences from founder Stan McDonald, now 94 and enjoying retirement in Seattle, and glimpses of the Duchess of Cambridge launching sister ship Royal Princess in Southampton last year, and Princess Diana christening an earlier ship of the same name.

Princess Cruises’ president Jan Swartz said the event was not just about love, but about passion - “50 years of passion and a passionate founder who believed travellers could be drawn to the seas.”

The £460 million Regal Princess carries 3,560 passengers and has its own TV studio and one of the biggest spas at sea. The almost identical sister ship Royal Princess will be sailing from Southampton throughout next summer, in competition with P&O’s Britannia - being built to a similar design - and Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas.

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Swap chunky knits and overcoats for swimsuits and sunscreen with Celebrity Cruises

Relax on sandy beaches, marvel at island waterfalls or even get a head start on some Christmas shopping in the tax-free retail haven of St. Thomas with Celebrity Cruises. Join Celebrity Equinox on a 12-night Caribbean fly/cruise from £1,545 per person (based on two people sharing an interior stateroom). 

Price includes return flights from London Heathrow, transfers, one night pre-cruise hotel accommodation and a 10-night cruise departing from Fort Lauderdale and calling at Charlotte Amalie, Basseterre, Bridgetown, Roseau and Philipsburg (St. Maarten) before returning to Fort Lauderdale for the flight home; meals and entertainment onboard the ship and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price based on 20 November UK departure. 

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Bask on beaches this December with Celebrity Cruises

Head to the sun-soaked Caribbean this winter and explore the island of Dominica, taking in the waterfalls and hot springs, or wander around Barbados (above) with Celebrity Cruises. You can Join Celebrity Equinox on a 12-night Caribbean fly/cruise from £1,339 per person (based on two people sharing an interior stateroom).

Price includes return flights from London Heathrow, transfers, one night pre-cruise hotel accommodation and a 10-night cruise departing from Fort Lauderdale and calling at Charlotte Amalie, Bridgetown, Roseau (Dominica) and Philipsburg before returning to Fort Lauderdale for the flight home; meals and entertainment onboard the ship and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price based on 11 December 2014 UK departure.

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Princess Cruises brews up Seawitch beer to toast 50th anniversary

Princess Cruises is launching a new beer to help toast its forthcoming 50^th anniversary. Seawitch West Coast IPA – named after the line’s logo – was developed exclusively for Princess by with US-based Strike Brewing Company.

The beer will be introduced on board Princess Cruises’ newest ship, Regal Princess, when it provides the setting for Princess Cruises’ 50^th anniversary celebrations in November this year. Seawitch will be available across the fleet by early 2015.

Princess Cruises will officially launch its 50^th anniversary year with the naming ceremony of Regal Princess on 5 November in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

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Cunard packages shorter worldwide cruise sectors

Cunard has shorter worldwide cruises available and reveals its new Flagship Collection of premium hotel stays which can be combined with these departures to make cruise and stay holidays.

Sectors of the full World Cruises enable passengers to create shorter holiday options that take in key destinations of interest.  Featured durations range from 8-42 nights.

The new Flagship Collection offers a premium selection of pre and post-cruise hotel stays enhanced with special benefits, and features properties in Auckland, Cape Town, Dubai, Fort Lauderdale, Hong Kong, Rio de Janeiro, Singapore and Sydney.

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Daley Takes Plunge With Royal Caribbean

British icon Tom Daley has been taking to the sea to help launch a new athletic competition that highlights Royal Caribbean's new line-up of cruises in the Caribbean - and it looks like he's having fun!

In fact, 19-year-old Tom - the Olympic high diver and star of ITV daredevil show Splash - was actually taking part in the "Caribbean Cup Challenge," an imaginative new programme designed to promote the cruise line’s latest sailings. 

Daley, Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe and American gymnast Gabby Douglas all competed in a variety of athletic challenges, including surfing (above), rock-climbing and dodgeball on board the line's mega-ship Allure of the Seas. 

And, of course, they are all activities guests can enjoy on the 220,000-ton ship as part of the amazing variety of sporting amenities on offer, notably the FloRider surf pool and the amazing Zipline ride. Royal Caribbean are also offering some special-priced deals on Allure's seven-night Western Caribbean fly/cruises this year, starting from just £1,249 per person (based on two people sharing an interior stateroom).
 
This new price includes a £100 discount, flights from London Heathrow, one night's pre-cruise hotel stay and the seven-night cruise departing from Fort Lauderdale and calling at Labadee (Royal Caribbean's private beach island), Falmouth in Jamaica and Cozumel  in Mexico before returning to Fort Lauderdale; plus all meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on March 22 departure.

More info: call 0844 493 2061 or visit www.royalcaribbean.co.uk.

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Holland America's Caribbean Bliss

Holland America Line have the perfect cure for any early-winter blues with a special Caribbean cruise offer, sailing to Puerto Rico, St Maarten and Grand Turk in November.

Guests will get the chance to stroll around the old town walls and narrow streets of San Juan, with its buildings covered by blue stone brought over as ballast on Spanish ships; enjoy a full day at the stunning, award-winning private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay; and take advantage of the superb snorkelling, parasailing and horse-riding excursions on offer throughout.

The MS Westerdam calls at Grand Turk, San Juan and St Maarten as well as Half Moon Cay, before returning to Fort Lauderdale in Florida.

On board, Westerdam’s Crows Nest lounge offers amazing views and, at night, becomes a fashionable nightclub whilst The Pinnacle Grill is reservations-only, offering a superb and intimate alternative dining experience.

This 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise costs from £1,239pp, including return scheduled flights, a one-night shore stay either side of the cruise, transfers and full-board accommodation in an inside stateroom. It departs November 2.

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

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Holland America's Panama Canal Bonanza

To celebrate the Panama Canal’s 100th anniversary next year, six Holland America Line ships will sail 28 full and partial transits of the Canal throughout autumn 2013 and spring 2014. Ranging in length from 10 to 22 days, the extensive itinerary options provide guests with more ways to experience the Panama Canal than any other cruise line.

From September until April, MS Amsterdam, Statendam, Veendam, Westerdam, Zaandam and Zuiderdam will transit the Canal from six departure cities, including Veendam’s new departure from Boston, going between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

The programme's highlights include:

Mexico and Costa Rica transit
Sail on the Zaandam from San Diego to Fort Lauderdale on a 14-night cruise and explore Cabo San Lucas, Santa Cruz, Huatulco and Puerto Chiapas, Mexico; and Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica. A whole day is then spent transiting the Panama Canal from Balboa to Cristobal before the ship moves on to its final port of call, Cartagena, Colombia. Fly-cruise prices start from £2,169pp on a September 19 departure, based on two sharing an inside cabin.
 

Overnight in Panama and private Caribbean island visit
Get an in-depth Panama and Caribbean experience on a 17-night cruise on the Zuiderdam, departing October 1, with fly-cruise prices starting from just £2,439pp, based on two sharing an inside cabin. Sailing from San Francisco, the ship overnights at Fuerte Amador so guests can get an extended experience of Panama City’s sights, sounds and flavour before making a full transit of the Canal itself. The ship then moves on to Cartagena and Half Moon Cay, the line’s private Bahamian island.

Cruise through rare tropical fjord

On February 8, the Veendam departs from San Diego on a 14-day scenic cruise taking in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica, one of only three tropical fjords in the world. A whole day is spent transiting the Canal from Balboa to Cristobal followed by a call in Cartagena, before the ship moves north to Fort Lauderdale. Fly-cruise prices start from £2,219pp, based on two sharing an inside cabin.

NB: All fares are per person, double occupancy and do not include government taxes.

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

 

And don't forget you can read a full Panama Canal cruise report in the Summer edition of World of Cruising magazine!

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Celebrity's Caribbean Bliss For 2014-15

Celebrity Cruises have announced another set of destination-rich, modern luxury cruise holidays for their 2014-15 season, opening with “Priority Access” and exclusive offers for members of Celebrity’s Captain’s Club loyalty programme on a variety of Caribbean getaways.

Six ships will provide guests with Celebrity's modern luxury ambience, on a collection of itineraries visiting 25 destinations in 19 countries. Every ship in the region will feature the cruise line's popular, spa-inspired AquaClass accommodations, whose guests enjoy exclusive access to the speciality restaurant, Blu, and complimentary access to the Persian Garden and Relaxation Room in the AquaSpa. 

From Miami and Fort Lauderdale in Florida, Celebrity will have the youngest fleet of ships presenting seven-night itineraries, and an incredible variety for guests to choose from, with 4, 5, 7, 10, 11 and 14-night Caribbean holidays. Newest ship Celebrity Reflection – with its all-glass shower in the luxurious Reflection Suite, along with entirely new AquaClass Suites and Signature Suites – will offer 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailings round-trip from Miami on Saturdays from November 2014 to April 2015, with visits to some of the region’s most popular ports: San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas; and St. Maarten.

Celebrity Silhouette – the first ship to present the interactive Lawn Club Grill – will offer alternating 7-night Western and Eastern Caribbean itineraries every Sunday from Fort Lauderdale. The Western itinerary will visit Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Cayman; Falmouth, Jamaica; and the company’s private island destination of Labadee. The Eastern version will visit San Juan, St. Kitts and St. Maarten.

Celebrity Summit will return to San Juan for her seventh consecutive season of 7-night Caribbean itineraries from October 2014 to April 2015, visiting marquee ports in the Eastern Caribbean, as well as the exotic islands of Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada and St. Lucia.

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

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More Discounts From Holland America

With the winter weather still biting, Holland America Line is offering up to £1,750 off the brochure price of sunshine cruises this Spring. Luxury Mediterranean fly-cruises start from less than £58 per person per night, whilst Caribbean fly-cruises are on offer from less than £155pp per night, each including flights, transfers and full board accommodation.

11-night Mediterranean fly cruise from just £629:

This cruise on board MS Ryndam in April includes an outbound flight from London Heathrow to Barcelona with British Airways, transfer from airport to ship and an 11-night full board cruise. After setting sail from Barcelona on April 23, the ship calls at Palma de Mallorca in the sunny Balearics and then on to historical Alicante in Valencia. The next highlight is Motril and the Moorish city of Granada, then a full day to explore Gibraltar. The ship then continues to the bustling fishing port of Portimao on the Algarve, cultural Lisbon and then La Coruna on Spain’s Atlantic coast, before sailing back to British shores and disembarking in Dover. This price is based on two sharing an inside stateroom.

9-night Eastern Caribbean fly-cruise from just £1,393:

HAL is offering this fly-cruise on board the elegant MS Eurodam this March from just £1,393 per person. Departing from London Heathrow on March 8, this price includes return flights with British Airways, a pre-cruise hotel night in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, transfers and a seven-night Caribbean cruise on a full-board basis. Departing from Fort Lauderdale, the cruise calls at Grand Turk, with its glorious beaches and diving, the old-fashioned Spanish style San Juan in Puerto Rico, St Thomas (home to the famous pirate Blackbeard and the attractive pastel hued capital of Charlotte Amelie) and Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, Holland America’s very own private island before returning to Fort Lauderdale. This price is based on two sharing an inside stateroom (upgrade to ocean view for just £20 per person).

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

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Try Yoga Under Sail

Tall ship specialist Star Clippers is offering guests a new opportunity to enjoy free daily yoga and meditation on board a yoga-themed cruise on graceful Star Flyer along the coasts of Costa Rica and Nicaragua next month. 

Under the direction of yoga teacher Melanie Camp, the programme will include two daily sessions out on the ship’s sun-warmed teak decks under thousands of square feet of billowing sails – the ultimate relaxing environment for body and soul, enhanced by the fresh sea air and the lush, tropical scenery. Each class is open to all guests and suitable for all levels, with no prior experience required. All classes and lectures are optional and run alongside the ship’s regular activities. 

For guests who want to follow a healthy or vegetarian diet during the sailing to complement their yoga practice, Star Clippers’ breakfast buffets feature an abundance of fresh, seasonal fruits, and guests can select from a variety of salads at lunchtime and vegetarian options at dinner.

Melanie Camp brings many years of teaching experience, having earned her certification in the Barkan Method and her Yoga for Seniors and Yoga Therapy certification at Duke University Integrative Medicine. She teaches in Fort Lauderdale and has conducted yoga retreats in locations as diverse as Utah, Peru and Morocco. Melanie is also is the author of Artful Yoga, a book of yoga tips featuring her original oil paintings. 

The cruise departs Puerto Caldera on February 24 and calls at San Juan del Sur; Playa del Coco; Santa Rosa National Park; Samara; Puerto Carrillo; the National Reserve of Curu; and Isla Tortuga. From £1,250 per person, excluding flights. 

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

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Seabourn's Winter Wonders

Small-ship luxury cruise line Seabourn is offering some great value cruises this winter, with 7-day voyages from just £1,299 per person - perfect for exploring some of the great historic civilizations of Western culture, away from the maddening summer crowds, and some of the Caribbean’s hottest destinations.

Take your pick from this wonderful little selection:

7-day Mediterranean Wonders

Departure Date: Nov 10

Route: Civitavecchia (Rome) to Piraeus (Athens)

Ports of Call: Naples, Messina, Crotone, Corfu, Corinth Canal and Mykonos, with prices from £1,299 per person.

10-day Indonesian Odyssey

Departure Date: Dec 11

Route: Singapore to Benoa (Denpasar), Bali

Ports of Call: Semarang, Java, Indonesia; Surabaya, Indonesia; Probolinggo, Java, Indonesia; Celukan Bawang, Bali, Indonesia and Lembar, Indonesia, with prices from £2,099pp.

11-day Caribbean Harbors

Departure Date: Dec 10

Route: Fort Lauderdale, round-trip

Ports of Call: Grand Turk, Prickly Pear Island, BVI; Antigua; St. Martin; St. John (Cruz Bay), USVI; San Juan, Puerto Rico, with prices from £2,199pp.

All prices are per person and based on two people sharing a suite, fully inclusive of all tips and gratuities, fine dining, open bars and fully-stocked mini bar.

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

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Holland America's Caribbean Bargain

Holland America Line is offering a five-star seven-night Caribbean cruise from just £1,299 per person this December. This price includes seven nights’ full board accommodation on HAL's 2,104-guest Eurodam, sailing on December 8.

Departing from Fort Lauderdale, the cruise heads straight for the white sands of Grand Turk, perfect for relaxation and a scuba-diving paradise. Next port of call is Puerto Rico’s atmospheric capital, San Juan, before sailing to St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. The Eurodam then makes a final call at HAL's private island, Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, before sailing back to Fort Lauderdale.

While at sea, be pampered in the Greenhouse Spa & Salon, enjoy cooking demonstrations in the Culinary Arts Theatre; and experience Eurodam’s fantastic choice of elegant restaurants and lounges.

This offer is based on two sharing an inside cabin on the 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise,  including flights from London Heathrow on December 7, transfers, seven nights’ full-board accommodation and a pre-cruise hotel night in Fort Lauderdale. 

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

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Get Set For A Caribbean Cruise Bonanza

Royal Caribbean have announced their winter 2013-14 Caribbean cruises on board six innovative ships, including new itineraries from New Orleans. 

Oasis, Allure, Independence, Freedom, Navigator and Serenade of the Seas will together offer 140 sailings on 31 itineraries that will call at 20 ports of call. Independence, Freedom, Navigator and Serenade of the Seas have all undergone recent enhancements to deliver more dining options, cutting-edge entertainment and modern on board features that first debuted on board the big new duo, Oasis and Allure.

Serenade will offer the new itineraries from New Orleans (Louisiana). Guests can be on board when the ship crosses the Atlantic and arrives in The Big Easy for the first time, on a 15-night itinerary, departing on November 27, 2013 from Barcelona. The first sailing will be a one-time, nine-night Caribbean Adventure, departing December 12, calling at Key West, Nassau, Labadee (Haiti) and Ocho Rios (Jamaica). Serenade will then alternate new seven-night Bahamas and Western Caribbean itineraries. On the Western itinerary, calls will be at Falmouth (Jamaica), Grand Cayman and Cozumel, while the Bahamas itinerary calls at Key West, Nassau and CocoCay.

Oasis and Allure will continue to alternate seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. Sailing round-trip from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, the ships will call at Nassau, St Thomas and St. Maarten on the Eastern sailing and at Falmouth, Cozumel and Labadee on the Western route.

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

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Seabourn's Free Upgrades On Select Cruises

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.

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Seabourn's World Cruise Guest Speaker Line-Up

Luxury cruise line Seabourn has announced an exciting line-up of distinguished guest speakers who will join segments of Seabourn Quest’s 109-day maiden World Cruise next year, including award-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch, jazz legend Arturo Sandoval, Princess Diana’s former chef Oliver Reschrieter and Futurist political analyst Daniel Silke.

The voyage departs January 5 from Fort Lauderdale on a unique eastbound course via South America, South Africa, the Indian Ocean, South-east Asia, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean, ending in Venice April 23. From world-renowned musicians and chefs to politicians, historians and international relations experts, the diverse group of personalities will share their expert insights with guests during various segments of the voyage. Space is currently available for guests wishing to book segments.

Segments ranging from 15 to 88 days are available starting at £4,799 per person, based on double occupancy, cruise only, and fully inclusive of all tips and gratuities, fine-dining, open bars and fully stocked mini-bar.

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

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