Crystal's Lord of the Rings Adventure

Known for its ingenuity in global adventure, Crystal Cruises is offering an exclusive new dinner experience on the “Hobbiton” set used for the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the new prequel film. 

The unique shore-side opportunity will debut just days after The Hobbit opens worldwide when Crystal Symphony calls in Tauranga during a New Zealand/Australia holiday cruise beginning December 20. The Crystal Adventure will also be offered on a January 29 voyage through the region.

The two local cultures of New Zealand and “Middle Earth” will come alive, starting with a private,  after-hours guided tour of the village movie set. From Frodo and Bilbo Baggins’ Hobbit holes to the Brandywine Bridge, guests will enter buildings and stroll rolling hills, while learning about the massive efforts undertaken to build the site. On the grounds of the hobbit-frequented Green Dragon Inn, with a beautiful sunset view overlooking the lake and Mill, guests will enjoy a bevy of  extraordinary local wine and beers, a traditional Kiwi barbeque and other fresh dishes served by waiting staff in Lord of the Rings garb.

The cost of the Hobbiton dinner and village exploration is $265/person. A second Lord of the Rings-themed Adventure is also offered on both cruises, visiting Edoras’ home, Mt. Potts Station and Lodge, and New Zealand’s Southern Alps from Christchurch.

The December 20 voyage - which also offers gourmet holiday cuisine, festive décor, a Master Photographer capturing memories and a complimentary New Year’s Eve extravaganza in Sydney Harbour - overnights in Auckland before sailing through Tauranga, Napier, Christchurch, Dunedin, Sydney (double overnight), Melbourne (overnight) and Dusky, Doubtful and Milford Sounds. All-inclusive “Book Now” fares for the 16-night Christmas/New Year’s sailing start from £7,600 per person. 

The January 29 cruise also stops overnight in Auckland then overnights in Tauranga and proceeds through Napier, Wellington, Picton, Christchurch, Dunedin and the Sounds before concluding with an overnight in Sydney. All-inclusive “Book Now” fares for the 13-night sailing start from £4,672 per person, with £1,563 in savings if booked by December 31.

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

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Europa's 2013 Highlights

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is happy to announce the arrival of their 2013 Europa international brochure, including seven exciting itineraries operating in English and German. The six-star MS Europa is offering cruises to the South Seas, New Zealand, Australia, the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Peninsula, Norway, the Baltic and the Mediterranean next year, with three new ports of call on its international itineraries: Palmerston Atoll/Cook Islands, Picton/New Zealand and Algiers/Algeria.

Highlights on Europa in 2013:

South Seas Winter: The Europa will be exploring the South Pacific islands in January 2013 for hiking, swimming, and snorkelling in untouched islands, hidden away in the lagoons of the Oceania. The South Seas itinerary is from January 19-February 6, from Papeete/Tahiti to Auckland/New Zealand, with stops in Bora Bora and Raiatea in French Polynesia, Rarotonga, Aitutaki Atoll, and Palmerston Atoll in the Cook Islands, Neiafu and Nuku’alofa in the Tonga, and the Fiji Islands. Rates for this itinerary start at $7,700 per person, based on double occupancy.

New Zealand Winter: Breathtaking fjord landscapes and vast green fields offer magnificent sights to be discovered while hiking, kayaking or by a helicopter ride in the North and South Islands of New Zealand. This itinerary is from February 6-22, from Auckland to Sydney, with stops in Tauranga, White Island, Napier, Wellington, Nelson, Picton, Lyttelton, Akaroa, Port Chalmers, and Stewart Island. Rates start at $9,220 per person, based on double occupancy.

For bookings, be sure to follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's leading adventure and luxury cruise 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.

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