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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Holiday Like Bond With Voyages of Discovery

The latest James Bond film Skyfall premieres later this month so, as talk turns to martinis, high-speed car chases and code breaking, recollect your favourite 007 moment on a Bond-inspired cruise with Voyages of Discovery.

The film Golden Eye was inspired by creator Ian Fleming’s Jamaica estate – known by the same name – and the films Dr. No and Live and Let Die were also shot nearby in glamorous locations in the Caribbean, and you can visit these destinations for yourself on board MV Voyager on the 'Caribbean Gems' cruise to uncover their colonial history, stunning landscapes and vibrant cultures. 

The 17-day voyage is available from £1,999 per person (based on two sharing an inside cabin) and departs from Barbados on December 20, calling at St. Lucia, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Grenada, Tobago, Margarita Island and La Guaira (Venezuela), Curacao, Bonaire, Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) and Montego Bay (Jamaica).

The price includes return flights from a major London airport and relevant transfers, talks by eminent Guest Speakers, meals and entertainment on board, all on board gratuities and all relevant port and airport taxes/fees.

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

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Star Clippers Sets Sail For Cuba

Tall ship specialist Star Clippers is to sail to Cuba in 2014 for the first time, offering a spectacular series of itineraries exploring the island in depth, visiting stunning beaches and anchorages, colonial towns and villages and with a pre and post-cruise option to stay in historic Havana, famous for its cigars, nightlife, architecture and the legacy of Hemingway.

The Cuba programme will be offered on the 170-passenger Star Flyer (above), which will split the winter of 2013/14 between Costa Rica, where the ship has already operated two highly successful seasons, and the Caribbean. She will sail four itineraries taking in Cuba, as follows:

February 2, 2014: 14 nights, Costa Rica to Cuba via the Panama Canal, calling at Drake Bay and Golfito (Costa Rica); Isla Gamez, Isla Iguana and Balboa (Panama); San Andres and Providencia (Colombia); George Town and Little Cayman (Cayman Islands) and Casilda (Cuba). From £2,440, plus £245 port charges, cruise only.

February 16 and 23 and March 2, 9 and 16, 2014: Seven nights Cuba and Cayman Islands, departing Cienfuegos and calling at Cayo Blanco; Casilda (for the historic town of Trinidad, rich with colonial architecture); Little Cayman and George Town, capital of Great Cayman; Cayo Largo (Cuba), Archipelago de los Canarreos; returning to Cienfuegos. From £1,185, plus £120 port charges, cruise only.

March 23: Six nights round-trip from Cienfuegos, calling at Archipelago de los Canarreos; Punta Frances; Cayo Largo; Casilda; and Cayo Blanco, from £1,015, plus £105 port charges, cruise only.

March 29: Cuba to St Maarten, departing Cienfuegos and calling at Montego Bay and Port Antonio (Jamaica); Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic); the British Virgin Islands; and Philipsburg. From £1865pp, plus £190 port charges, cruise only.

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

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Florida & Freedom With Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas will sail 26 new cruises between May and October 2013 every Sunday from Port Canaveral of Florida’s Space Coast. The cruises – alternating between seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries – will also feature stars of DreamWorks entertainment such as Alex the Lion, Po the Dragon Warrior, Shrek and Fiona.

The proximity of Port Canaveral to the theme-park packed destination of Orlando means  holidaymakers can combine the cruises with three and four-night stays at Universal Orlando Resort and enjoy unparalleled savings. The package to experience the best of land and sea in one amazing holiday includes hotel and shipboard accommodations, multi-day passes to Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure, complimentary admission to select live entertainment venues at Universal CityWalk and ground transfers between airport, hotel, theme parks and the ship at port.

On board the ship, families can continue their entertainment theme with activities from the DreamWorks experience such as character breakfasts, parades and themed shows. 

On the Eastern Caribbean sailing, guests will call at St. Thomas, St. Maarten and CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas. The Western Caribbean itinerary calls at Falmouth, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; Cozumel, Mexico; and Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beach destination on the north coast of Haiti.

Freedom of the Seas’ summer 2013 season is now open for bookings. Prices for a nine-night fly/cruise including return flights from Manchester airport, one-night’s pre-cruise hotel accommodation and a seven-night cruise including all meals and entertainment costs from £1,595 per person for departures in June 2013.  

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

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Last Call For A Caribbean Break on Braemar!

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.

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Peter Sissons and Terry Neill Cruise with Fred. Olsen

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is proud of its philosophy ‘It’s all about the people’ and the cruise line is famed for its personal touch. Part of the pleasure of a cruise is to meet new people and enjoy stimulating discussion – perhaps learning something new along the way. An eclectic mix of speakers appears as part of Fred. Olsen’s cruise enhancement programme, Vistas, which covers a host of fascinating topics that guests can enjoy at no extra cost.

Two very different speakers featured in the 2012/13 Vistas programme are veteran newscaster and broadcaster, Peter Sissons (above), and the Northern Ireland footballer and former Spurs and Arsenal manager, Terry Neill.

Thought to have been Britain’s longest-serving TV news presenter, with a career spanning 45 years, Peter Sissons is best known for his long and distinguished career with the BBC. Having worked for both ITN and Channel Four – where he won three consecutive BAFTAs – he joined the Corporation to present Question Time and the Six O’Clock News. Latterly, he presented the Nine O’Clock News from 1994 until it moved to its present ten o’clock slot.

Prior to his successful life in journalism, Peter studied alongside some famous classmates. Growing up in Liverpool, he was at junior school with John Lennon and Jimmy Tarbuck and then attended the Liverpool Institute, where, among his fellow students, were both George Harrison and Paul McCartney. Many people will remember Peter as the newsreader who was trusted with the momentous task of announcing to the nation the death of the Queen Mother in 2002 – and was castigated by some (and applauded by others) for wearing a burgundy tie, rather than a black one!

He left the BBC in 2009 to concentrate on writing his memoirs, since published under the title ‘When One Door Closes’, and promises to be a fascinating speaker on Boudicca’s 23-night cruise to the Mediterranean, departing from Portsmouth on October 12, 2012. The cruise visits Portimăo (Portugal), Ibiza (Spain), Valletta (Malta), Piraeus for Athens (Greece), Alexandria (Egypt) for an overnight stay, Tripoli (Libya), Algiers (Algeria) and Gibraltar, before returning to Portsmouth. Prices are from £2,379 per person.

From a very different world comes William John Terence (‘Terry’) O’Neill. Born in Belfast in 1942, Terry has been involved in football from his earliest days, playing as a junior for Bangor before moving to Arsenal in 1959. In the early 1960s, he made 29 league appearances for The Gunners, and was also a regular player for the Northern Ireland team. He became Arsenal captain in 1968 and played 275 games for them, scoring ten goals in total. He moved to Hull City in 1990, as one of the youngest ever player/managers, and was later manager of Tottenham Hotspur, returning to his beloved Arsenal as its manager until his retirement from ‘the beautiful game’ at the early age of 41. Since then, he has run a number of successful sports bars in London, and still commentates on Arsenal games for Arsenal TV.

Neill will be speaking on Boudicca’s 35-night voyage to the Caribbean, departing from Southampton on January 19, 2012. The cruise visits Tenerife, Barbados, Curacao, Colombia, Jamaica, Cuba (for an overnight stay in Havana), the Turks and Caicos Islands, St Maarten, and the Azores, before returning to Southampton. Prices are from £3,249 per person.

Prices are based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade ‘I’ and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment onboard, including the celebrity speakers, and port taxes.

Find out more at www.fredolsencruises.com or contact the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Navigator's New Caribbean Deployment

Royal Caribbean has announced the redeployment of Navigator of the Seas for the 2011-12 winter season from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean.

The ship will reposition to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale and sail a range of five to nine-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries starting on November 20. Navigator will also offer a 14-night transatlantic sailing from Rome to Port Everglades, departing November 6, and a 15-night return cruise to Rome on April 14, 2012.

The 3,114-passenger ship will alternate six-night Western Caribbean itineraries with eight-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries. Ports of call on the six-night sailings include Grand Cayman, the newly-opened historic Falmouth Port (Jamaica) and Labadee (Haiti). The eight-night sailing features calls at St. Maarten, St. Kitts, San Juan (Puerto Rico) and Labadee.

A seven-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary, departing on January 8 and 22 excludes the call at St. Kitts from the eight-night itinerary, while a seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary, departing January 15, adds a call to the six-night itinerary at Cozumel (Mexico). A special nine-night New Year’s cruise, departing December 30 adds a call at St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands) to the eight-night Eastern Caribbean voyage.

In addition to the Navigator itineraries, Royal Caribbean fans have a wide range of Caribbean cruise options onboard 15 of the world’s largest and most innovative cruise ships, sailing from nine American ports throughout winter 2011-12.

For more info, visit www.royalcaribbean.co.uk or the UK's spcialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Fred Olsen's Caribbean Braemar Games!

By guest blogger Steve Newman

You can now join Fred Olsen's Braemar (above) for a unique 15-night Caribbean/Cuba cruise on December 9 this year.

Flying from London Gatwick or Manchester, the grand voyage begins in Bridgetown, Barbados, with ports of call at Willemstad (Curacao), Oranjestad (Aruba), Ocho Rios (Jamaica), Costa Maya and Cozumel (Mexico), Havana (overnight), George Town (Grand Cayman) and Montego Bay (also Jamaica) for flight home.

Fred Olsen's 'Late Saver' fares are from just £1,141 per person, based on an inside twin bedded cabin, subject to availability, and includes charter flights, all food and entertainment on board, port and airport taxes, transfers and fuel supplement.

(Please note: cabin numbers are not confirmed until embarkation; Manchester flights have very limited availability)

This cruise also features Flagship Golf, an exclusive package designed for golfers who want to incorporate their favourite sport into a cruise holiday. This is available on all the company's ships in the fleet, and on a variety of cruises from the UK to destinations including the Mediterranean, Canaries and Baltic, and fly-cruises to the Caribbean.

There is an additional charge of £425 per person for Caribbean fly-cruises, and £375 per person for all other cruises.

You can also learn more about Fred Olsen's offerings at The Cruise Show at Birmingham NEC on October 16-17 and at London's Olympia next March (26-27). For more great deals on Fred Olsen's Caribbean cruises, check out top specialist agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

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