Voyages Of Discovery Celebrate Chelsea Flower Show

The highlight of the horticultural calendar, the Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower Show, celebrates its centenary year in 2013 and Voyages of Discovery is inviting passengers to be part of the festivities on the British Isles and Chelsea Flower Show cruise, available from £1,299 per person (based on two people sharing).

The 12-day cruise is in partnership with the RHS and features a full selection of shore excursions to some of the UK's finest gardens including La Seigneurie Gardens (St Peter Port, Guernsey), the Eden Project (Cornwall) and the grounds of Cawdor Castle (Invergordon).

The highlight of the cruise, though, will undoubtedly be the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, where green-fingered passengers can explore a wide range of spectacular gardens – including 16 show gardens – and a range of floral exhibits. NADFAS Guest Speaker, Joanne Kidd (Lecturer in Creative Studies, Design and the Historical Background to Plant Materials and Gardens) will also share her knowledge and passion for all things green with passengers on board the cruise.

The British Isles and Chelsea Flower Show voyage departs from Portsmouth on May 14 and calls at St Peter Port, Fowey, Waterford, Dublin, Kirkwall, Invergordon, Greenwich and Dover before returning to Portsmouth. The price includes transfers, all onboard gratuities, service charges and port taxes, a comprehensive Guest Speaker programme and all meals and entertainment.

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

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New Short Cruises From P&O

P&O Cruises has added nine short cruises, ranging from two to five nights, to their impressive line-up for 2013, visiting the Channel Islands, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Classical singing sensations Jonathan Antoine and Charlotte Jaconelli, who shot to fame in this year’s Britain’s Got Talent, will appear on Azura’s four-night cruise on April 18. Their first album is now certified gold and was the highest ever entry by a classical album into the main album chart. This cruise provides an opportunity to see them before the start of their UK tour next summer.

Available on a choice of family-friendly large and mid-sized ships from April to July 2013, all short break cruises conveniently depart from and return to Southampton, available to book from today. Prices start from £199 per person for a two-night cruise on Azura in April. The full line-up of short cruises is as follows:

April

• Departing April 16, a two-night cruise on Azura calling at St Peter Port, from £199 per person for a Vantage Fare.
• Departing April 18, a four-night cruise with opera duo, Jonathan & Charlotte from Britain’s Got Talent on Azura stopping at Zeebrugge and St Peter Port, from £319 per person for a Vantage Fare.
• Departing April 22, a three-night cruise with a special celebrity guest on Azura calling at Zeebrugge and St Peter Port, from £249 for a Vantage Fare.
• Departing April 25, a two-night cruise on Azura calling at St Peter Port, from £199 for a Vantage Fare.

May

• Departing May 27, a four-night cruise on Ventura calling at Zeebrugge and St Peter Port, from £349 per person for a Vantage Fare.
• Departing May 31, a three-night cruise on Ventura calling at Zeebrugge and St Peter Port starts from £249 for a Vantage Fare.

June

• Departing June 3, a five-night cruise on Ventura calling at Amsterdam and St Peter Port, from £449 per person for a Vantage Fare.

July

• Departing July 14, a two-night cruise on Oceana calling at St Peter Port, from £249 for a Vantage Fare. 
• Departing July 16, a three-night cruise on Oceana calling at Zeebrugge and St Peter Port, from £349 per person for a Vantage Fare.

Added due to an increasing demand for shorter cruises, these escapes are an ideal introduction to a cruise holiday for couples, families, groups or even single travellers as some of the ships have sought-after large single cabins. They also make an ideal Christmas present or value for money alternative to a city break.

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

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Russell Watson Hits High Note With P&O

Classical singing star Russell Watson is to perform on two short break cruises with P&O Cruises in 2013. The world famous tenor will appear on new three and four-night sailings from Southampton in May and June.  The first departure is a three-night cruise to Belgium and Guernsey departing on Aurora on May 18, with prices starting at £299 per person.

The second sailing will see Watson perform on superliner Azura on a four-night cruise departing on July 5, calling at the same destinations. Prices are from £399pp. In addition to the performance, passengers on Azura can book pre or post-performance dinner in celebrity chef Atul Kochhar’s Sindhu restaurant, or Marco Pierre White’s Cafe Bordeaux on Aurora. 

The first port of call at Zeebrugge gives passengers the day to explore the city of Bruges, with the possibility of travelling further afield to visit Brussels, Ghent or Ypres. The second call in St Peter Port provides a gateway to the island of Guernsey. 

Watson has been in the spotlight since 1999 when his performance of World Cup anthem “Nessun Dorma” at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium received a standing ovation. The Russell Watson cruise itineraries, on sale from November 1, are: 

• A three-night cruise on board Aurora (R305), departing May 18. Itinerary: Southampton, Zeebrugge, St Peter Port, Southampton. Prices from £299 per person.
• A four-night cruise on board Azura (A316N), departing June 5 Itinerary: Southampton, Zeebrugge, St Peter Port, Southampton. Prices from £399 per person. 

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

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P&O To Feature More 'Sampler' Cruises In 2012

P&O Cruises has pioneered a series of two, three and four-night voyages in recent years, and will offer more of these 'sampler' cruises than ever before in 2012.

With 13 sailings of four nights or less, these breaks provide unbeatable value for money, with prices from just £239 per person. The cruises also enable passengers to visit up to three European cities in one short break.

Each morning provides a new destination and, after a busy day exploring, passengers can enjoy P&O's stylish silver-service dining, West End-style shows and a world class spa, as well as a number of bars, pools, lounges, restaurants and casino. For families, children are also well looked after by the fully-inclusive childcare programme.

A two-night cruise on board Azura departing December 2, 2012, is priced from £249. It departs from Southampton and calls at Bruges (from Zeebrugge). A three-night cruise departing September 15 is priced from £349 and takes in Bruges and Le Havre, while a similar voyage on Oriana (exclusively for adults), departing June 16, is priced from £359.

All prices are per person and based on two adults sharing an inside cabin on a full board basis.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Great Azamara Offer

Join Azamara Club Cruises’ Azamara Journey for a seven-night Spain & Portugal fly/cruise from just £1,618 per person this June (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom).

The price includes return flights from London Heathrow, transfers and a seven-night Spain & Portugal cruise departing from Lisbon and calling at Bilbao, St. Jean De Luz, St. Malo and St. Peter Port (Guernsey) before arriving in Rouen (for Paris); meals and room service; destination-influenced entertainment and enrichment programmes; housekeeping and dining gratuities; bottled water throughout the cruise; house wines with meals; speciality coffees and teas; and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on June 25 departure.

For more info, visit www.azamaraclubcruises.co.uk or the UK's leading luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Swan Hellenic's Summer Bargain

Don’t miss out on Swan Hellenic’s 14-night ‘Rivers and Vineyards’ cruise this summer at the new lower fare of £1,375 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin). If you enjoy a fine glass of wine, then this is the cruise for you: not only does the itinerary offer a superb programme of wine-tasting across some of Europe’s most famous vineyards but guests will also be joined on board by guest speaker Christopher Campbell, Managing Director of Rothschild Waddesdon Wine, who will share his knowledge on wine varieties, regions and much more.

The price includes flights from London, transfers and a 14-night cruise departing Lisbon (Portugal) and calling at Oporto (Portugal), Gijon (Spain), Bilbao (Spain), Bordeaux (France), St Peter Port (Channel Islands), St Malo (France), Rouen (France) before arriving at Portsmouth; meals, entertainment and gratuities on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees, plus inclusive shore excursion programme and onboard lectures from a team of renowned guest speakers. Price is based on a June 8 departure.

For more information, see www.swanhellenic.com or the adventure cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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