Try A Gulet Cruise With Saga

Gulet cruising is a signature Turkish experience and features small-ship style with a real up-close-and-personal taste of the local culture and cuisine.

And now you can unwind on an authentic gulet cruise, passing beautiful bays and golden beaches, on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast with Saga Holidays this summer.

 

Their holidays travel in a flotilla of up to three boats, where life on board is friendly and relaxing, with the captain and two crew taking care of guests.

Gulets are two-mast wooden sailing boats, refined for modern holiday-makers’ comfort by providing eight en suite cabins with air-conditioning. The former fishing or sponge diving boats each have a different character and décor to make the sailing experience totally unique.

Mealtimes are a special experience on this all-inclusive option. Guests can tuck into local produce, in Turkish meze style, while dining on the deck overlooking the sea. A free bar is open from 9am to midnight, serving local alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

The round-trip from Marmaris via Ekincik Bay allows plenty of time to explore towns and villages or join walking tours. Of course, for those who would prefer to laze on the beaches, they will be spoilt for choice.

The 7-night gulet cruises cost from £949 per person, departing Gatwick from May to June and September and October. The price includes travel insurance and cancellation cover, return flights, full board, free bar open 15 hours a day, two excursions and a Saga tour manager.

More Info: call 0800 0923082 or visit www.saga.co.uk/turkey

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Saga's Treasures Of The Caribbean

We're on to Day 4 of our wonderful Saga Week with Saga Cruises, and today's story takes a rather different form, with a fun look at a typical Caribbean cruise...

Sunshine, Moonlight, Good Times, Boogie - the Pirates of the Caribbean party was rocking to The Jacksons’ dance track as Saga Sapphire sailed out of St Lucia.

If ever there was an anthem for our cruise, this was it. With the rum punch flowing, passengers spilled from the deck to the balconies, synchronising dance moves, singing to the music and shimmying under the stars.

We had started the day by gliding through the rainforest canopy on an aerial tram and, as temperatures reached 28C, we cooled off with a swim in Marigot Bay, a picture-postcard cove where filming of the Dr Doolittle movie took place.

Still buzzing from the party, we docked in St Vincent and arranged a trip to the tiny island of Bequia (above). A glistening guard of flying fish raced our speedboat across the 6,000ft-deep rolling sea, only dropping back when we entered Admiralty Bay.

On the waterfront we chose Mac’s cafe for lobster pizza and the pre-requisite rum punch al fresco while midnight-blue hummingbirds hovered within arm’s reach. Our One Day in Paradise was over too soon. We had joined the jet-set for a day by sharing the cost of a speedboat between a group of eight.

Another indulgence was to take a 45-minute helicopter ride from Antigua to Montserrat, the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean before a volcano erupted in 1997.

Next stop was nearby St Kitts, after a gentle overnight sailing we grabbed a cab to tour the island. Other passengers opted for the scenic railway, once the sugar train which transported cane to the mills. We stopped off­ at Ottley’s Plantation Inn, a 15-minute drive from the port. This 35-acre estate was once a haunt of Princess Margaret - and no wonder - with the poolside dining area offering panoramic views over the sea to Nevis. We, too, were treated like royalty at this friendly and surprisingly laid-back retreat. We took a stroll round the estate to walk off lunch to admire the beautiful gardens.

And so on to Martinique (above), with its very French feel. Snorkelling was the order of the day. Prospect, our guide, showed us the way and we jumped into the clear, clear water like a bunch of excited schoolchildren. With beginners’ luck a turtle swam alongside and everyone on the ship heard about it for days.

Saga Sapphire sailed on to Trinidad where we found Port of Spain empty on ‘the morning after the night before’ Fantastic Friday carnival celebrations. We drove past Queen’s Park Oval and talked about the days when the West Indies cricket team were at their peak – and how Brian Lara once scored 375 and 400 against England. Ouch.

Next stop, Grenada, so pretty and relaxed after show time in Trinidad. At Mollinere Beach we snorkelled over James de Caries’ underwater sculptures. The 14ft-deep artwork was thought-provoking and all the better for the vast numbers of tropical fish which proved a delightful distraction.

How couldn’t we be pleased? We had woken up to a different view every day, ate breakfast in the sunshine, explored island after island and spent the evenings getting a taste for fine dining and, of course, dancing the night away.

Sunshine, Moonlight, Good Times, Boogie - and a cruise to remember forever.

Factfile: A similar cruise, Treasures of the Caribbean, departs on January 13, 2015, from Southampton. The 35-night all-inclusive cruise starts from £5,999 per person calling in at Funchal, Madeira; Porto Grande (Sao Vincente, Cape Verde); Scarborough, Tobago; Hillsborough, Carriacou Island; St George’s, Grenada; Kingstown, St Vincent; Bridgetown, Barbados; Roseau, Dominica; Little Bay, Montserrat; Blowing Pint Anguillla; St John’s Antigua; Ponte del Garda, Sao Miguel; Lisbon, Portugal; Southampton.

Price includes VIP door-to-door travel service, all house-brand alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic drinks, all meals, 24-hour room service, entertainment and porterage.

More info: call 0800 096 0074 or visit http://travel.saga.co.uk/holidays/ocean-cruise.

For a longer version of this story see our News pages at the World of Cruising website, presented by Saga Cruises, on this link.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital 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.

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Saga & The Western Mediterranean Way Of Life

Feb. 13.- It's Day Three of Saga Week here at World of Cruising magazine, with stories, features and special offers from the classic British cruise line. Today - a great Mediterranean experience... 
 

They call it the Mediterranean Medley, and it really does highlight a great range of Med port experiences, but there is a lot more en route that makes this voyage a true classic.

Just to start with, it is hard to beat for ports that provide great arts, culture and shopping, like the Catalan capital of Barcelona, the British outpost of Gibraltar and Portugal's fabulous Lisbon (above), with its colourful yellow-and-red trams and "Street of the Restaurants," plus the incredible mosaic pavements, squares and streets. 

Yet guests on this cruise will also call at quieter ports to enjoy the simpler pleasures of the Mediterranean way of life, strolling in the sun, browsing the markets and people-watching over a glass of local wine. 

To that end, there is Mahon, the ancient capital of Menorca with its Georgian Bow Window style as a legacy of British rule but Mahon still boasts attractive neo-Classical, Baroque and Romanesque buildings. Then there is the unspoilt coastal town of Propriano, situated in the Valinco Gulf on the island of Corsica, and Toulon, another beautiful coastal resort approximately 32 miles from Marseilles, with a picturesque old town of colourful markets and elegant fountains.

Valencia is one of Spain's most beautiful cities,with a lively culture and rich history. Having experienced rapid growth during the last few years, the city now rivals both Barcelona and Madrid in terms of economic importance but boasts buildings dating back to Roman and Arabic times.

Finally, dating from Roman times, the Galician city of Vigo is home to a fine natural harbour, where the English and Dutch defeated the French and Spanish fleets in 1702. Today, the attractive marinas stand in contrast to the industrialised areas of the city, while further exploration will reveal the characteristic 17th-century architecture and attractive countryside beyond. 

Saga Pearl II (above) herself recalls the same stylish surroundings and superb service that cruise-goers have come to expect from the company's elegant ships, with a smaller size that offers a more relaxed and intimate atmosphere. 

Mediterranean Medley:15-night cruise departing October 30 from Southampton and calling at Lisbon, Gibraltar, Mahon, Corsica, Toulon, Barcelona, Valencia and Vigo, with prices from £1,773 per person.

 

More info: call 0800 096 0074 or visit http://travel.saga.co.uk/holidays/ocean-cruise.

For a longer version of this story see our News pages at the World of Cruising website, presented by Saga Cruises, on this link.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital 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.

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Saga's 'Last Chance' Arctic Explorer

Feb. 12.- It's Day Two of Saga Week on World of Cruising magazine, with a series of stories, features and special offers from the classic British cruise line. Today - a rare chance to visit exclusive Arctic destinations... 

Magdalena Bay is one of the most beautiful places on earth. There are no cars, no shops, no houses and no roads in this pristine, glistening fjord. The only trace of human life comes in the form of centuries-old whalers’ graves and the remains of whaling vats in this north-westerly region of Spitsbergen, the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago (above, at sunrise).

And Saga Cruises' Saga Pearl II will dock here for the last time during its Arctic Explorer voyage, departing June 22, when passengers will wake up surrounded by snow-capped mountains and giant glaciers.

The ORCA charity team will also be on board to help passengers watch for wildlife and record sightings. On the ship’s last visit to the region, more than 400 mammals were seen, including blue whales and humpback whales.

Nearby Ny-Ålesund will also become a final port of call, also as a result of the heavy oil ban from January 1, 2015, which means no conventional ships can sail within the borders of Svalbard’s national parks on the east and west coast of the archipelago. Polar bear

numbers equal people in Ny-Ålesund’s shimmering, icy landscape, which is the world’s most northerly inhabited settlement. Wildflowers clothe the landscape in June as warmth from the midnight sun brings them to life after the long, dark polar winter nights.

Saga Pearl II will also call in at Longyearbyen, the largest and oldest settlement on Spitsbergen, where passengers can join a glacier hike or dog-sledding trips. During the sailing to Spitsbergen, the ship will visit the Lofoten Islands, where sea eagles make their home and Tromso, with the world’s most northerly botanic garden, as well as Stavanger, Geirangerfjord and  Bergen on a historic cruise, which promises holiday memories that can never be repeated.

This amazing 15-night cruise costs from £3,099 per person, departing Dover on June 22, and includes Saga's standard VIP door-to-door travel service, all meals, 24-hour room service, all gratuities, porterage, travel insurance and cancellation cover.

More info: call 0800 056 8986 or click on this link.

For a longer version of this story see our News pages at the World of Cruising website, presented by Saga Cruises, on this link.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link.

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Saga Sets Sail With E-Book Library

Saga Cruises' adventuring voyager Saga Pearl II is setting sail later this month with an all-new e-books library curated by Penguin Books.

From November 22, passengers will be able to pick up a tablet and choose from 36 titles specially curated by Penguin’s experts, a world-first on cruise ships.

The tablets will carry a selection of Penguin titles downloaded in 12 genres, including crime and adventure, escapist fiction, travel writing, literary gems, historical fiction and celebrity biography to match Saga passengers’ reading preferences. Penguin has also donated physical copies of all 36 books to Pearl II’s library.

The ship sails from Southampton and arrives in Venice on December 3, where passengers can extend their stay in a 4 star-rated hotel for three nights. There will be a Venetian masked ball, performances from soprano Hayley Westenra, The Operababes, The Three Tenors tribute act and The Gondolier Trio, plus the opportunity to visit the ancient ruins of Cartagena, Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, mythical Corfu, historic Split and the beautiful city of Venice.

Prices for this all-inclusive cruise start from £1,679 for 11 nights (Nov 22-Dec 3), £1,999 for 13 nights (Dec 3-16) or £2,749 for 24 nights. The three-night stay in Venice costs from £399 including breakfast. The price also includes UK door-to-door travel service, all meals, soft drinks and house-branded alcohol, entertainment, gratuities, room service and travel insurance and cancellation cover.

More info: call 0800 051 3355 or visit saga.co.uk/cruises.

Have you subscribed to World of Cruising magazine yet? We have a fabulous offer for all new subscribers this year - 50 per cent OFF the regular rate AND the chance to win a cruise in our free prize draw offer. See this link!

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Saga's South America

Saga Holidays has revealed a stunning South American adventure that promises to hit all the high points of Chile, Argentina and Brazil on a spectacular 16-night tour.

The Andean lakes, Iguazu Falls and bays of Rio de Janiero will reveal the natural wonders of the continent starting with a flight to Santiago de Chile to explore the vibrant city and San Cristolbel Hill, the forest-carpeted mountain which dominates the skyline. 

 

Guests will spend a day in the port of Valparaiso which has a bohemian vibe, lovely vistas and colonial architecture before cruising to the alpine town of Barlioche in Argentina.

Then they will spend three nights in elegant Buenos Aires, watching or joining in with the experts as they dance the tango, and then touring the Parana River Delta before flying to the stunning Iguazu Falls.

Rio de Janeiro awaits, offering plenty of time to explore the bustling city and its world-famous beaches. Saga guests can take a scenic train ride to the top of Corcovado Mountain to get a close-up view of the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, while there will also be time to visit Sugar Loaf Mountain at the entrance to Guanabara Bay.

The grand South American Adventure is priced from £3,799 per person for 16 nights, departing Heathrow from January to April and September to November 2014.

The price includes VIP door-to-door chauffeur service, return flights, airport taxes, accommodation, most meals, porterage, tour manager, travel insurance and cancellation cover. 

 

More info: call free on 0800 414 8986 or visit www.saga.co.uk/holidays.

Have you subscribed to World of Cruising magazine yet? We have a fabulous offer for all new subscribers this year - 50 per cent OFF the regular rate AND the chance to win a cruise in our free prize draw offer. See this link!

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Set Sail For Mystery With Saga!

One of the most popular voyages in the Saga Cruises calendar is the Mystery Cruise, with passengers putting their holiday in the hands of the ship’s captain. And, with all-inclusive drinks, there’s bound be a party atmosphere adventure!

Saga Sapphire’s Captain Philip Rentell (above) is a favourite among passengers and he has devised a magical, mystery tour to seven ports, in a minimum of three countries, for his fun Mystery Cruise.

Capt Rentell promises there will be three maiden ports of call, so even well-travelled passengers can rest assured they will be visiting places where Saga Sapphire has never docked before.

Only Captain Rentell and his Chief Purser will be privy to the secret destinations – and they will not accept bribes under any circumstances!

The ports will be announced once the ship has berthed and a half-day surprise tour will be included at each port. No cheating will be allowed and all passenger electronic charts will be turned off to ensure that destinations are really is a surprise!

This all-inclusive 16-night cruise, set to leave Southampton on December 1, is sure to get everyone in the mood for Christmas and there will be opportunities to buy gifts ashore and duty free items on board.

The fun, full programme of activities will also mean there will be plenty more mysteries to solve during the cruise...

Want to know more? Call free on 0800 056 8986 or visit saga.co.uk/cruises.

Prices are from £2,299, departing Southampton on December 1 and returning December 16.

The holiday includes all house-brand spirits, cocktails, beer, mixers and soft drinks, a return chauffeur service up to 250 miles each way, travel insurance, all meals onboard, including 24-hour room service, welcome cocktail party and Captain’s Dinner, unlimited tea and coffee, entertainment and activities, all on-board gratuities, port taxes and visas and porterage.

Have you subscribed to World of Cruising magazine yet? We have a fabulous offer for all new subscribers this year - 50 per cent OFF the regular rate AND the chance to win a cruise in our free prize draw offer. See this link!

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Saga Launches 2014 Cruise Collection

Join Dame Stella Rimington to uncover tales of espionage; remember the fallen 100 years after the outbreak of the First World War; or join Viking expert James Hodge in Norway - these are just three of 37 exciting new cruise ideas for 2014 unveiled this week by over-50s travel specialist Saga Cruises.

Saga has combined new and surprising itineraries in its latest brochure, with first-time ports of call, expert lecturers and fascinating history all featuring aboard Saga Sapphire and the Saga Pearl II.  There will also be some West End showtime!

The ships will sail from Dover and Southampton, with choices from four-night taster cruises in Europe to a 48-night voyage to the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa or a 35-night Caribbean cruise.

Lest We Forget …

8 nights from £1,071 per person - departs 22 July, 2014

Military experts, authors and historians offer fascinating insights into the human cost of the First World War on this cruise to Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and France. Some 100 years on, visit the islands of Heligoland, a naval base for the German Empire and the site of the first naval battle of the war; see trenches in The Somme and explore Mons, which saw the first casualties as the British Expeditionary Force held back the first German advance.

Heart of the Mediterranean

19 nights from £2,339 per person – departs 11 September, 2014

Join the celebrations as Malta celebrates 50 years of independence. On this themed history and archaeology cruise, guests will soak up the lively atmosphere with an overnight stay in Valletta on the island’s birthday weekend, as well as exploring the Moorish heritage of Almeria in Spain and unearthing the secrets of historic Lisbon, Cagliari and Tunis.

Summer in the Baltic

15 nights from £1,819 per person – departs 12 September, 2014

Join Dame Stella Rimington, former Director General of MI5, and former BBC foreign correspondent Martin Sixsmith to hear tales of double agents and espionage on this cruise to Sweden, Finland, Russia and Denmark. It also includes visits to three of Europe’s newest states – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - with an overnight stay in beautiful St Petersburg.  Learn the facts and fiction of national security, including code-breaking at Bletchley Park and undercover Cold War missions.

Mediterranean Medley

15 nights from £1,689 per person – departs 30 October, 2014

There’s no business like show business - that’s the glitzy appeal of this West End-themed cruise to Portugal, Spain, Gibraltar and France. Compare the islands of Minorca and Corsica, explore the culture and architecture of Barcelona and enjoy French Riviera atmosphere in Toulon. While on board Saga Pearl II, guests will hear anecdotes from cast and crew and enjoy fabulous music from London’s Theatre land. 

Three new adventure cruises are also offered aboard Saga Pearl II, which include £100 per person towards the cost of excursions for every seven nights spent on board. Select from the 15-night ‘Arctic Explorer’ and ‘Icelandic Explorer’ cruises or take a shorter trip:

On the Trail of the Vikings

7 nights from £974 per person – departs 5 September, 2014

Join Viking expert James Hodge to learn more about these resourceful and feared people as passengers discover Norway’s breathtaking coastline. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage waterfront of Bergen, marvel at the 222 mountain peaks surrounding the town of Molde - with the chance to sail in a replica 11th century Viking ship to the island of Haholmenaor - and take a safari in search of moose and musk-ox.

For more info, follow this link to Saga's cruise pages, or, for more adventure cruising ideas, see this link for The Cruise Line, the UK's adventure-cruise specialists.

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Saga's Best of British Cruises

Cruising around the British Isles has become big business for the cruise lines - and highly popular with cruisers - in recent years, so it is not surprising to see Saga Cruises offering some tempting round-Britain voyages in 2013.

Just take a look at these two examples:

Best of the British IslesSaga Sapphire departs August 20 for a 14-night voyage with prices from £2,801 per person. Ports of call include the Orkney Islands, Isle of Mull, Isle of Man and Guernsey.

Coast to CoastSaga Ruby departs Dover on August 16 for a 6-night voyage, with prices from £1,032 per person, cruising round the entire British mainland and over the Irish sea to Dublin and the Island of Skokholm.

Both cruises include: 

• A return chauffeur service up to 250 miles each way 
• Travel insurance 
• All meals onboard, including 24-hour room service 
• Welcome cocktail party and Captain’s Dinner 
• Unlimited tea and coffee 
• Entertainment and activities 
• All on-board gratuities 
• All port taxes and visas 
• Porterage of your luggage at the port

For bookings, check with The Cruise Line, the UK's cruising specialists, on 0800 008 6677 or www.cruiseline.co.uk.

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