The rivers are alive with The Sound of Music

Saga’s Salzburg and the beautiful Wachau Valley river cruise features a two-night hotel stay in the musical city of Salzburg to ensure guests have time for a few of their ‘favourite things’ during the special anniversary year of The Sound of Music.

The city offers much more, too, with the magnificent cathedral and narrow lanes lined with burgher's houses, cobbled streets and horse-drawn carriages. Salzburg was the birthplace of Mozart and his former home can be found on Getreidegasse.

The cruise will visit  Vienna where in the evening guests can enjoy an optional after-dinner concert in the heart of the city featuring works by Mozart or Strauss.

10 nights from £1,498 departing Heathrow (with local flight options from Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester, Newcastle and Norwich) to Munich on 23 April and 21 October 2015. Extend the holiday by two nights in Vienna from £249.

The cruise is exclusive to Saga passengers and the price includes UK travel service, two nights in hotel, all meals, wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on the ship, welcome cocktail party, entertainment and activities on the ship, two excursions, all gratuities, porterage and travel insurance.

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Crystal Offer Free Regional Flights

Crystal Cruises is making ultra-luxury cruising even more affordable with the offer of complimentary regional flights from selected airports on all of its 2014 European voyages when booked by February 28. 

These free regional flights are available from Aberdeen, Belfast City, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Jersey, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle with the purchase of Crystal’s regular fly/cruise package. These flights are in addition to the flights from London that are included in all European fly/cruise packages. 

About Crystal Cruises: In 2014, the 922-guest, 50,000-ton Crystal Symphony and the freshly re-firbished 1,070-guest, 68,870-ton Crystal Serenity (above) cruise through the Middle East, Africa, Caribbean, South America, Antarctica, Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Black Sea, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, South Pacific, British Isles, Baltic Sea, Arctic Circle and New England/Canada. 

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

Have you subscribed to World of Cruising magazine yet? We have a very special, limited-time offer to save 50% off a full year's subscription, which includes six issues PLUS our new year-end Cruise Directory. That means a year's worth of Europe's leading cruise publication will be only £15. Check out the special rate on this link!

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Live Like A Sultan With MSC In UAE

Those looking for a luxurious sunshine break need look no further than  a Dubai cruise with MSC Cruises from just £699 per person, including return flights with Emirates from Glasgow, Birmingham, Newcastle or Manchester.

From November 23 until March 29, MSC Lirica is offering 18 8-day/7-night cruises from Dubai, calling in Abu Dhabi and Khor al Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates and Muscat and Khasab in Oman, with an exciting overnight stay in Dubai. For shopaholics, this incredibly rich itinerary is nothing less than the voyage of a lifetime

The region’s legendary shopping is every bit as eclectic, and whether bartering for traditional goods at a bustling souk or spending money in style in colossal malls, this glittering giant of the desert has truly perfected the art of shopping.

 

Glitz, glamour and retail therapy in Dubai

 

For instant immersion in the glitz, glamour and luxury goods of modern Dubai, Retail Therapy, Dubai Style is the perfect excursion. On this unique tour dedicated entirely to shopping, travellers will start with a leisurely amble through Souq Madinat Jumeirah, before visiting two of the world’s largest shopping centres, the Mall of the Emirates, strategically located in the heart of 'New Dubai', and the Dubai Mall, complete with Olympic-sized ice rink, huge aquarium and underwater zoo and the beautiful Dubai Fountain display.

 

Other excursions combine fascinating sight-seeing with serious shopping, including Sunset Dhow Cruise And Shopping and Dubai At Night From The Burj Al Khalifa, which starts with a fascinating 360-degree view of Dubai from the 124^th floor of the world’s tallest building and ends with a trip to the Dubai Mall, while the Discover Dubai & Lunch At The Burj Al Arab is a tour of old and new Dubai, includes stops at the aromatic spice market and the huge gold souk.

 

Bustling souks in mystical Muscat

 

Several MSC excursions in Muscat include visits to the magnificent Muttrah Souk, one of the country’s most popular attractions for tourists and locals alike. This mystical labyrinth of narrow, fragrant alleyways is bursting with shops offering a wide range of goods including typical Omani souvenirs and jewellery.

 

With return flights with Emirates, MSC guests will also enjoy the facilities of one of the world’s leading international airlines. The airline offers all the mod-cons, from spacious seating to a generous 30kg baggage allowance. Cruise prices start from just £699 per person for departures on December 14 and January 11, and from £799 for departures on January 4, 18 and 25.

More info:  visit www.msccruises.co.uk or call 0844 561 1955.

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Silversea Add Belfast To UK Flight Programme

Award-winning Silversea has announced Belfast as the latest UK route to be added to its extensive flight programme. The luxury line will introduce the new route to all of its worldwide voyages, with Belfast also included in the complimentary return economy air programme on selected voyages for the remainder of 2012 and 2013.

Silversea maintains relationships with most international carriers to ensure the best airfares and schedules are available to its guests, offering complimentary economy air on 95% of all voyages. Guests can also take advantage of Silversea’s attractive upgrade rates to Business and First Class.

With all-suite accommodations, butler service and all-inclusive indulgences such as gourmet cuisine inspired by Relais & Châteaux, Silversea offers itineraries to the most vibrant and intriguing of destinations while its smaller ships allow access to rarely-seen harbours off the beaten track and can also dock right in the heart of a city rather than anchoring offshore, allowing guests more time to explore.

Belfast will be the ninth air city in the Silversea UK Air Programme, adding to Aberdeen, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Jersey, London, Manchester and Newcastle.

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

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Hurtigruten Brings The Northern Lights Even Closer

For many, seeing the Northern Lights is a ‘must do’ on their wish list and, thanks to Norwegian cruise specialist Hurtigruten, it just got even easier for anyone in northern England and Scotland to fulfill this once-in-a-lifetime dream.

Direct flights from Leeds Bradford and Edinburgh are now featured for the first time, plus an additional Manchester date due to the sell-out success of the original date on March 5.

The flights to Bergen tie in with a 12-day cruise along the Norwegian Fjords, where the Northern Lights are regularly spotted during the winter months.

This is the first time Hurtigruten has offered cruises with flights direct from Leeds Bradford or Edinburgh.

The cruise is a 12-day voyage from Bergen in the South to Kirkenes in the far north of Norway, just a few miles from the Russian boarder. The ship will call at 34 ports along the way, most of which are never visited by the larger cruise liners.

There is simply no better way to experience the Northern Lights than by sailing through the sheltered coastal waters of Norway. It is also widely reported this winter is expected to be one of the best years for solar activity and therefore spotting the Lights.

In addition, throughout the 12 days, a wide range of winter activities can be enjoyed, with everything from snowmobiling and husky dog-sledding to a trip to the North Cape or a Lofotor Viking feast.

Choose from:

CLASSIC ROUND VOYAGE – LEEDS BRADFORD – 25 January from £1199 per person including direct return flights from Leeds Bradford Airport to Bergen, 11 nights full board on the ship, transfers and taxes. Based on two sharing.

CLASSIC ROUND VOYAGE – EDINBURGH – 5 February from £1369 per person including direct return flights from Edinburgh Airport to Bergen, 11 nights full board on the ship, transfers and taxes. Based on two sharing.

CLASSIC ROUND VOYAGE – MANCHESTER – 16 February from £1369 per person including direct return flights from Manchester Airport to Bergen, 11 night’s full board on the ship, transfers and taxes. Based on two sharing.

For more info, visit www.hurtigruten.co.uk or the UK's leading adventure-cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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