Novelist Ruth Rendell on Saga Sapphire cruise

Crime writer Ruth Rendell will be headlining Saga’s Meet-the-Author series on Saga Sapphire’s Baltic Treasures cruise in May 2015.

More formally known as Baroness Rendell of Babergh, Lady Rendell is celebrating the 50^th anniversary of her career as an author. She will take part in a Q & A session with passengers who will each receive a copy of her new novel The Girl Next Door. The best-selling novelist travels the world but has chosen Saga for her first luxury cruise. She said: “I never usually take holidays but this one looked rather nice."

The Saga Sapphire Baltic Treasures cruise sails from Southampton for 16 nights on 6 May 2015. Prices from £2879.  Ports of call include Ronne, Stockholm, Helsinki, St Petersburg overnight stay; Tallin Riga,  Warnermunde  Ijmuiden. The ship will sail through the Kiel Canal on the outward and return journey.

Price includes VIP chauffeur service all meals and entertainment, free wifi, daily afternoon tea,24-hour room service, welcome cocktail party, unlimited quality tea and coffee, all gratuities, porterage, shuttle bus to town centres from port of call and travel insurance and cancellation cover.

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Ben Fogle talks about Celebrity Cruises' visits to three Scandinavian capitals.

Adventurer and TV personality Ben Fogle takes a whistle-stop tour of three Scandinavian capitals in a guest blog post for Celebrity Cruises,  for whom he works as a shore expedition advisor. Join him on a whistle-stop video tour of Stockholm, Helsinki and Copenhagen.

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Luxury Cruising - At A Bargain Price

Today's latest offer needs no real introduction - it is just a chance to sample sea-going luxury at a great price as Seabourn has released a selection of eye-catching offers for those seeking some excitement this summer. 

Take your pick from:

7-Day Adriatic & Greek Isles, departing August 23: A 7-day cruise on Seabourn Odyssey from Venice to Athens calling at Sibenik, Kotor, Bay of Kotor, Corfu, Fiscardo, Gythion, and Rethymnon on Crete. A complimentary upgrade is available from Ocean View to Veranda stateroom.

Prices start from £1,899pp for cruise only, with fly/cruise prices from £2,619, based on two people sharing a suite, fully inclusive of all tips and gratuities, fine dining, open bars and fully stocked mini bar.

7-Day St. Petersburg & The Baltic departing June 29: A 7-day cruise on Seabourn Quest from Copenhagen to Stockholm, calling at Tallinn, St Petersburg and Helsinki. Again, a complimentary upgrade is available from Ocean View to Veranda stateroom.

Prices start from £1,999pp for cruise only, with fly/cruise prices from £2,429, based on two people sharing a suite, fully inclusive of all tips and gratuities, fine dining, open bars and fully stocked mini bar.

More info: 0843 373 2000 or visit www.seabourn.co.uk.

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All Aboard For Saga’s New Antiques Seashow

Calling all fans of BBC's Antiques Roadshow - you can take to the sea with Saga Cruises AND enjoy your favourite TV show on a special voyage to northern Europe this May.

In keeping with Saga's style of adding onboard value to the entertainment and lecture programmes, Roadshow presenters Paul Atterbury and Ian Harris (above) will lead a fascinating series of talks, master-classes and valuations on board the Saga Sapphire's sailing to the Baltic.

They will be joined by valuer Clive Steward-Lockhart, who is also a familiar face on the show, and archaeologist and antiquities lecturer Dr Ann Birchall, who will give fascinating talks on underwater archaeology and life in the classical world.

Guests will also be able to join a hosted antique-hunting shore excursion, where the experts give hints and tips along the way during this new A Voyage the Baltic cruise.

Saga Sapphire will sail from Dover on May 19, heading to the Baltic via the Kiel Canal,  a 60-mile channel through the German countryside. The journey ends when passing the Canal lookout station, which uniquely plays the national anthem of each ship as it passes.

Blending the imposing grandeur of St Petersburg with the refined grace of Helsinki and the stylish allure of two ports in Sweden, Stockholm and Gothenburg, this cruise celebrates northern Europe's great maritime heritage, as well as that of the the new Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which have each celebrated more than two decades of independence.

Tallinn in Estonia is acclaimed for its fairytale skyline of turrets and spires, while there is great shopping in Latvia's Ventspils and, from the Hansa port of Klaipeda, in Lithuania, passengers can visit the 13th century Memelburg Castle.

The 14-night cruise costs from £2,368 per person, with the price including VIP door-to-door chauffeur service, all meals and snacks, 24-hour room service, welcome cocktail party, entertainment and lectures, all gratuities, porterage, travel insurance and cancellation cover.

More info: call 0800 056 8986 or visit saga.co.uk/cruises.

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Princess Unveil All-Inclusive Packages

Princess Cruises has broken the mould of modern, big-ship cruising by announcing an ‘all inclusive’ package on one of its UK-based ships for the first time.

The offer, which forms part of the Princess Cruises 2015 Europe programme, will be available on 10 sailings in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe on board Caribbean Princess (above). The 3,000-passenger ship will set sail from the UK during spring and summer next year and include a fully inclusive drinks package for all guests who book within the special promotional period.

Other 2015 highlights include a reduced deposit of £99 per person on all Europe cruises and an increased number of sailings across the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

The cruise line has also revealed that Royal Princess, which was launched by HRH the Duchess of Cambridge last year, will return to the UK for spring and summer 2015. The ship will sail out of Southampton for a series of British Isles round-trips, including calls at Liverpool, Edinburgh and Belfast. She will additionally tour the Baltic on a 12-night tour in June of next year, including visits to Copenhagen, Stockholm and St Petersburg.

Paul Ludlow, Princess Cruises managing director UK and Europe, said: “2015 is all about choice as our Europe-based ships will make 150 departures and visit over 120 destinations. European cruises are booming in popularity and as such we’ve provided something for everyone, including destinations and packages to suit a wide range of tastes and budgets.

“It is particularly fitting that Royal Princess will sail round-trips of the UK, as it will give people across the country the opportunity to welcome a ship that was so warmly received here last year."

The 2015 cruises will go on sale on March 11 at 3pm. The complimentary drinks package and £99 deposit are available on all 2015 cruises booked before June 30.

Caribbean Princess

The Caribbean Princess will spend the summer (Apr-Sep 2015) on ten sailings from Southampton to Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, with the complimentary drinks package on all bookings made between March 11 and June 30, 2014.

Programme highlights include:

• Four 14-night Mediterranean Adventurer cruises, sailing round-trip from Southampton to the Western Mediterranean.
• One 14-night North Cape and Summer Solstice departure in June which sails north to the Arctic Circle during the peak Midnight Sun period.
• One 7-night Scandinavia cruise, departing from Southampton via Copenhagen.

Prices start from just £979pp.

More info: visit www.princess.com or call 0843 373 0333. 

 

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Have A Drink On Celebrity!

Yes, it's New Year's Day, and yes, a few people may be nursing a hangover, but that doesn't stop the special offers arriving in our Inbox. And, once the effects of last night fully wear off, you may like to consider taking a drink on Celebrity Cruises!

They are offering a special deal for a free drinks package among their 'pick 2 of 3' offer for their Scandinavia & Russia cruises aboard Celebrity Eclipse (above) this summer.

Here are the full details:

Delve into the culture and history of Scandinavia and Russia while enjoying any two of the following offers: a complimentary drinks package, worth up to $1,400; up to $300 on board spend; or fully paid gratuities. All available with a 14-night ex-UK cruise aboard Celebrity Eclipse. now from just £1,749 per person (based on two people sharing a balcony stateroom).

The price includes the cruise departing from Southampton and calling at Copenhagen (overnight), Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg (overnight), Berlin (port of Warnemunde) and Le Havre before returning to Southampton; meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price based on a May 24 departure and offer valid until February 28.

More info: call 0845 456 0523 or visit www.celebritycruises.co.uk.

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Go Ex-UK With VoD

It must be ex-UK cruising week this week as the rush to promote cruises that sail to and from various British ports is definitely on! We highlighted this popular - and growing - phenomenon with Swan Hellenic yesterday and, lo and behold, here are some more ideas from Voyages of Discovery, another specialist line who feature UK ports of departure.

VoD's ‘Classic Baltic’ explores some of Europe’s most beautiful capitals with an extended stay in St Petersburg and a visit to the world-renowned State Hermitage Museum in its 250^th year. The chic Scandinavian capitals of Copenhagen and Stockholm, along with Russia’s fascinating capital Moscow, combine to create an itinerary which explores the home of some of the world’s oldest existing monarchies. Prices for this 16-day cruise start from £2,019 per person and it departs on May 30

Or you can join a dramatic full circumnavigation of the British Isles. ‘National Treasures of the British Isles’ is a partnership with the National Trust and explores historic houses, beautiful gardens and remarkable cities. Highlights of the cruise include Royal Edinburgh, Scotland’s vibrant capital, the Giant’s Causeway, one of nature’s most unique works of art, and the ‘Holy Island’ of Lindisfarne. Although close to home, guests will be surprised by the wealth of new experiences they will enjoy. Prices for this 14-day cruise start from £1,569 and it departs on May 4

More info: visit www.voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk or call 0843 221 8501. 

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Three More Of A Kind!

It's another three-for-the-price-of-one in today's Special Offer category, with each of Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises featuring some great deals, for the short-term only.

Take your pick from:

Family fun in the Fjords with Royal Caribbean

Get active next summer by exploring the Norwegian mountains as well as scaling the onboard rock-climbing wall, enjoying a round of golf and hitting the basketball court on Adventure of the Seas on a week-long Norway cruise (above) from £749 per person (based on two sharing an interior stateroom).

The price includes the seven-night cruise departing from Southampton on May 23 and calling at Kristiansand, Alesund, Flam and Stavanger before returning to Southampton; plus all meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees.

More info: call 0844 493 2061 or visit www.royalcaribbean.co.uk.

Discover Scandinavia & Eastern Europe with Celebrity

Join Celebrity Cruises and explore the beauty of the Baltic's most renowned capital cities on board Celebrity Eclipse on a 14-night cruise from only £1,421 per person (based on two sharing an interior stateroom).

This price includes meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees, while the voyage departs from Southampton on June 7 and calls at Copenhagen on an overnight stay, Stockholm, Tallinn St. Petersburg on an overnight stay, Klaipeda (Lithuania) and Gdansk (for Gdynia in Poland) before returning to Southampton.

More info: call 0845 456 0523 or visit www.celebritycruises.co.uk.

Italian festivities with Azamara

Guests will be treated to a private “Festival Piedigrotta” at the Agrumeto Gardens in Sorrento, with singers, actors and musicians bringing old Naples to life as part of the Azamazing Evenings event on Azamara Quest's 11-night Mediterranean Easter fly/cruise from £2,735 per person (based on two people sharing an interior stateroom). The event is included in the cruise price.

The price also includes flights from London Heathrow, transfers and selected standard spirits, wines and international beers; complimentary bottled water; soft drinks; speciality teas and coffees; housekeeping and dining gratuities; the bespoke AzAmazing Evenings event; and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. It departs from Nice on April 11 and calls at Civitavecchia (for Rome), Sorrento, Siracusa, Valletta, Trapani and Livorno (for Florence and Pisa) before returning to Nice for the flight home.

More info: call 0844 493 4016 or visit www.azamaraclubcruises.co.uk.

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Grab a HAL Baltic Bargain!

Holland America Line is offering a fabulous 14-night Baltic cruise from just £799pp (less than £60pp per night) on their June 29 departure round-trip from Dover.

Guests can also enjoy full board accommodation as well as £30 onboard spending money when upgrading to an Ocean View Stateroom for just £1. This offer is based on two people sharing a stateroom on MS Ryndam (above).

The exploration of Scandinavia and Russia first heads north to Copenhagen, city of the Little Mermaid, then on to quaint, medieval Tallinn in Estonia. A fantastic highlight of the cruise is a two-day call in St Petersburg, with opportunities to discover the gorgeous art and jewellery collections of the Tsars at the Hermitage Museum, Catherine the Great’s palace or even travel to visit Red Square in Moscow. 

Next, the ship visits Helsinki in Finland, and spends two days in Stockholm, also offering guests the chance to visit the scenic town of Visby on the island of Gotland. The final days see adventurous stops in Warnemunde, from where visits to Berlin are also a possibility and a day  at sea – perfect for relaxing.

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

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Great Offers From Oceania

It's bargain time at the World of Cruising Inbox today, with the latest array of special offers dropping in from Oceania Cruises. And very tempting they are, too...!

 

Aug & Sept: Baltic cruises with free gratuities, from £1,332pp

Free gratuities AND a $200 onboard credit per stateroom is on offer with this 10-night 'Baltic Odyssey’ cruise from Stockholm to Copenhagen on August 24 on board mid-sized luxury ship Marina. Prices now from £1,329pp (was £3,082pp, saving £1,753pp). The $200 onboard credit is also offered on the September 3 sailing in reverse from Copenhagen to Stockholm with prices from £1,319pp (saving £1,694pp).

Venice to Istanbul, now from £1,819pp, + $200 on board credit
Oceania has a saving of £2,185 off its 12-night ‘Paths of the Byzantines’ sailing from Venice on 1,250-guest Riviera. Departing on July 13, it calls into Slovenia, Croatia, the Greek Islands and mainland and Turkey. The price of £1,819 (was £4,004) includes a $200 on board credit per stateroom.

10-night Mediterranean cruise, £1,319pp, + $300 on board credit
Take the family on an educational cruise during the school summer holidays, spending three full days (2 nights) in Haifa, and an itinerary that starts in Athens and also visits Crete, Limassol, Rhodes, Kusadasi (Ephasus), arriving into Istanbul, for a final day in the city. This ‘Sacred Sanctuaries’ voyage on Riviera now costs £1,319pp (was £3,040) and includes a $300 per stateroom onboard credit. 

 

All prices include return flights, all meals, no supplement for speciality dining, complimentary bottled water and soft drinks.

 

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

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Oceania's Summer Fab Five!

We do love a good cruise deal here at Time Spent At Sea (courtesy of the World of Cruising Inbox!), and here are some great ideas this week for fabulous voyages - with great savings - from upmarket Oceania Cruises.

June, July & August: Baltic cruises with free gratuities from £1,599pp
Oceania is including free gratuities and a $300 per stateroom onboard credit for those booking its 14-night `Nordic Explorer’ voyage sailing from Stockholm to Southampton on board luxury mid-sized ship, Marina, on July 15 (saving £2,943pp), with free gratuities and a $200 onboard credit for the 10-night `Baltic Odyssey’ cruise from Stockholm to Copenhagen on June 25 and August 24 (prices now from £1,329pp, saving up to £1817pp). 

June 28: 7-night Alaska cruise from £1,569pp, + $500 on board credit
Oceania is offering a $500 onboard credit per stateroom with select Alaska cruises this summer on the 650-guest Regatta. Departing on June 28, there is also a saving of up to £985pp off its `Coastal Alaska’ cruise, taking in Alaska’s most spectacular fjords and glaciers, including a through the Inside Passage from Seattle.

July 13: 12-night Venice to Istanbul cruise at £1,819pp

Enjoy a saving of £2,185 off thist ‘Paths of the Byzantines’ sailing from Venice to Istanbul on luxury 1,250-guest Riviera, calling into Slovenia, Croatia, the Greek Islands and mainland and Turkey. 

August 6: 10-night Mediterranean cruise + $300 onboard credit 

Take the family on an educational cruise during the school holidays, spending three full days (2 nights) in Haifa, and an itinerary that starts in Athens and also visits Crete, Limassol, Rhodes, Kusadasi (Ephasus), arriving into Istanbul for a final day in the city. Oceania's ‘Sacred Sanctuaries’ voyage on Riviera now costs £1,319 (was £3,040, saving £1,721pp), plus a $300 per stateroom on board credit.

August 10: 14-night ex-UK Baltic cruise now £1,929pp + $200 onboard credit 

Embark the luxury 1,250-guest Marina in Southampton for a two-week voyage through Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Latvia, with a full three days (two nights) in Russia. The 'Scandinavian Seranade’ cruise is offered with a saving of £2,593pp (was £4,522), and a $200/stateroom credit, with a return flight from Stockholm. 

NB: Prices include all flights (where applicable), all meals, no supplement for speciality dining restaurants and complimentary bottled water and soft drinks. 

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

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Great Late Deals From Holland America

Holland America Line is offering exceptional value on 2 no-fly cruises this May, with prices starting from just £399 per person for seven nights in the Norwegian Fjords, and £799 per person for 14 nights cruising the Baltic Sea, based on two sharing. These round-trip cruises from Dover depart on May 11 and 18 and include full board accommodation on the 1,260-passenger MS Ryndam, plus a free upgrade to an Ocean View Stateroom.

The seven-night Viking Sagas cruise

This round trip departs from Dover on 11 May and takes in some of Norway’s most spectacular scenery and fascinating ports. Sail right into the scenic capital of Oslo to experience ancient Viking culture and the paintings of Edvard Munch. Visit pretty Kristiansand, one of Norway’s “White” towns, with traditional wooden houses, then Stavanger, in a gorgeous lake-land setting, and pretty Ulvik. While onboard, guests can also enjoy scenic cruising of Oslofjord, Lysefjord and beautiful Hardangerfjord from the decks of the ship. Prices start from £399 per person for seven nights’ full-board accommodation in an inside stateroom, based on two sharing. Free upgrades to Ocean View Staterooms are also available.

The 14-night Jewels of the Baltic cruise

This round trip from Dover departs on 18 May and heads straight to the vibrant Danish capital of Copenhagen. Guests will then spend a full day exploring the history of Berlin at Warnemunde, before sailing to the picturesque city of Tallinn in Estonia. Ryndam then makes a leisurely overnight stop in St Petersburg, before calling at the elegant Finnish capital of Helsinki. Next, the cruise is Sweden-bound, paying an overnight stop in the trendy city of Stockholm and sailing through the Stockholm archipelago on the way to the medieval World Heritage town of Visby. The ship arrives back in Dover on 1 June. Prices start from £799 per person for 14 nights’ full-board accommodation in an inside stateroom, based on two sharing. Free upgrades to Ocean View Staterooms are also available.

Whilst at sea, guests can also take advantage of the Culinary Arts Centre, which features cookery demonstrations, as well as sampling the Ryndam’s choice of elegant restaurants and lounges, and being pampered at the Greenhouse Spa & Salon.  

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

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More Yoga With Star Clippers

Tall-ship cruise specialist Star Clippers has added four new dates to its programme of yoga and meditation-themed sailings for summer 2013. Yoga expert Christel Vollmer will offer free daily yoga and meditation sessions on board the 170-passenger tall ship Star Flyer on cruises in the Baltic and the Mediterranean. 

Yoga classes on all sailings will take place in the open air, under thousands of square feet of billowing sails – the ultimate relaxation for body and soul, enhanced by the fresh sea breezes. Each cruise will begin with an Introduction to Yoga class and every day thereafter, two classes will be held: 60 minutes of power yoga in the morning and a 40-minute wind-down class at sunset, followed by meditation. 

Christel will also deliver lectures on yoga for slimming, yoga for back care and power yoga, or astanga. All classes are completely optional; the ships will continue their normal progamme of activities and ports of call and guests are welcome to do as many or as few classes as they like.

For those who want to follow a healthy or vegetarian diet during the cruise, Star Clippers’ usual sumptuous breakfast buffets, piled with fresh, seasonal fruits, and magnificent arrays of salads at lunchtime will be available, as well as vegetarian choices at dinner. 

Star Flyer’s new yoga cruises for 2013 include: Stockholm to Travemunde, seven nights, departing July 27 and calling at ports in Finland, Estonia and Denmark, from £1,490 per person, cruise only; Travemunde to Hamburg, six nights departing August 18, calling at ports in Denmark and Sweden, from £1,280 per person, cruise only; and t wo Malaga round trips, each seven nights departing October 5 and 12, calling at Casablanca, Tangier, Cadiz, Gibraltar and Motril (for Granada), from £1,435 per person, cruise only. 

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

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St Petersburg, Venice & A Total Eclipse With Star Clippers

Tall-ship specialist Star Clippers has launched its 2013/14 brochure, showcasing romantic and exciting sailing voyages in the Baltic, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and Central America on the line’s three head-turning sailing ships, Star Clipper, Star Flyer and Royal Clipper. 

The schedule features St Petersburg in Russia, the classic port of Venice and even a total eclipse of the sun in November, 2013.

Baltic Cruises on Star Flyer

Star Flyer will offer a wide variety of cruises in the Baltic, varying from a three-day taster voyage for the Hamburg Sailing Parade, a spectacular gathering of tall ships, to a 13-night Grand Voyage, from Hamburg to Stockholm, taking in unusual ports around Sweden’s beautiful southern coast. There will be also be six 10 and 11-night round-trip voyages from Stockholm, via St Petersburg, where the ship overnights. 

Prices: from £702pp, cruise-only, for a four-night Northern Europe sample cruise on August 24, Hamburg to Texel (Netherlands), Ijmuiden and Ostend. Or, for a longer, flight-inclusive stay, sail round-trip from Stockholm on July 8 from £2,799pp, including flights, transfers, two nights in a four-star city centre hotel, a Stockholm Pass and 11 nights’ full board on Star Flyer, which sails to St Petersburg for an overnight in port. 

Cuba 
For the second half of the 2013/14 winter season, Star Flyer will reposition to Cuba to offer a series of seven-night cruises from the historic southern town of Cienfueguos, calling at Trinidad, Cayo Largo, Archipielago de los Canarreos and the Cayman Islands.  

Prices: from £1,305, cruise-only, round-trip from Cienfuegos, departing February 16, 2014.

Mediterranean Cruises on Royal Clipper
The 227-passenger Royal Clipper will sail an assortment of western Mediterranean cruises, with a series of seven-night round-trip Rome cruises in May, June and October, calling at romantic and beautiful ports on the Italian mainland as well as Sicily and the Aeolian Islands. In late June, July and August, the ship will operate 10 and 11-night cruises between Rome and Venice, followed by four new round-trip Venice sailings in September, calling at ports in Croatia, Montenegro and Slovenia.  

Prices: from £619pp, cruise-only, for a three-night taster cruise from Venice to Rovinj, Croatia and Piran, Slovenia, departing September 4. 

Caribbean

Royal Clipper winters in the warm Caribbean, alternating between Windward Islands and Grenadine Islands itineraries from her base in Barbados. 

Prices: from £1,105pp, cruise only, for seven nights, round-trip Bridgetown, departing December 7 and calling at St Lucia, Dominica, Antigua, St Kitts, Iles des Saintes and Martinique. 

Transatlantic voyages – and a Total Eclipse

All three ships offer transatlantic crossings as they move from one cruising area to the other each season. These represent a chance to escape the stresses of daily life and to commune with the sea and the stars, to read and to mingle with fellow travellers. Take the Westbound crossing on Star Flyer on October 26 from Las Palmas to Barbados for a good chance to viewing the Total Solar Eclipse on November 3, which will be visible in the north Atlantic.  

Prices: from £822pp, cruise-only, 15 nights. 

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

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New Solo Fares From Crystal

Deluxe all-inclusive specialists Crystal Cruises are offering exceptionally low single occupancy fares on an increased number of cruises to more destinations in 2013. 

Solo travellers now have a choice of a different worldwide cruise in almost every month from April to November, with single supplements from just 10 per cent. That means travellers can save as much as £500 on a private, deluxe outside stateroom on 10 varied cruises of seven to 18 nights. 

This offer applies to all new bookings made by December 31 for the following 2013 cruises in a deluxe stateroom with picture window:

• 12th April: Kobe to Vancouver – 18 nights for £4,042 cruise only 
• 9th May: Rome to Istanbul – 9 nights for £2,966 fly/cruise 
• 23rd May 23: New York to Reykjavik – 12 nights for £4,267 fly/cruise 
• 25th June: Stockholm to Copenhagen – 10 nights for £4,013 fly/cruise 
• 6th July: Istanbul to Rome – 7 nights for £2,485 fly/cruise 
• 20th July: Stockholm to Copenhagen – 10 nights for £4,010 fly/cruise 
• 30th July: Copenhagen to Stockholm – 10 nights for £4,010 fly/cruise 
• 2nd September: Dover to Barcelona – 9 nights for £3,141 fly/cruise 
• 2nd November: Rome to Lisbon – 13 nights for £3,745 fly/cruise 
• 23rd November: Miami to Rio de Janeiro – 16 nights for £4,209 fly/cruise

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

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Get Ready for National Cruise Week

It's National Cruise Week later this month (next week, in fact; September 15-23) and the first offers are starting to roll in, in advance of the UK's big annual cruise-selling bonanza. Take this one, for example:

Head to the home of the world famous school of ballet in St Petersburg, take in the tranquil beauty of the Caribbean islands or embark on the ultimate pampering holiday - celebrate National Cruise Week with a number of special offers from Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises.

Royal Caribbean

To Russia with love: Explore northern Europe taking in the spectacular Scandinavian landscapes and enjoy an overnight in St Petersburg to experience the nightlife in the Russian capital. Join Brilliance of the Seas on a 12-night Scandinavia and Russia cruise-only sailing May 27, 2013, from just £1,849 per person.

This price includes free regional flights, coach or car parking, an upgrade to a balcony stateroom and $100 on board credit in celebration of National Cruise Week. The cruise departs Harwich and calls at Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, St Petersburg, Tallinn and Gothenburg before returning to Harwich and includes meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. 

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd.

Celebrity Cruises

Springtime sunshine: Join Celebrity Equinox on a 12-night Venice fly/cruise on April 30, 2013, from just £1,649 per person, sailing from Barcelona and calling at Villefranche (for Nice), Livorno (for Florence), Civitavecchia (for Rome), Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik before returning to Barcelona. 

The price includes £49 regional flights, coach or car parking, an upgrade to a balcony stateroom and $100 on board credit in celebration of National Cruise Week, plus all meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. 

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

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Seabourn's Summer 2013 Selection

For those looking to plan ahead to summer next year, Seabourn offers extraordinary value on European fly and cruise-only itineraries. The 2013 European Cruise Collection offers 66 hand-picked itineraries on voyages ranging from seven to 21 days in length, exploring all corners of Europe and beyond, with some of the highlight destinations, cruises and fares including:

Mediterranean

7-Day Mediterranean Jewels; Departs June 6, 2013 on Seabourn Legend; Route, Rome to Monte Carlo, calling at Civitavecchia (for Rome), Naples, Trapani, Ajaccio, Cannes, Livorno (for Florence/Pisa), Monte Carlo and Monaco. Fly/Cruise prices start from £2,599pp.

Dalmation coast, Greek Isles & Turkey

7-Day Ephesus and Greek Isles; Departs May 11, 2013 on Seabourn Spirit; Route, Istanbul to Piraeus (Athens), calling at Canakkale, Kusadasi (for Ephesus), Cesme, Mykonos,  Rethymnon (Crete), Miso, Nisos Melos and Piraeus. Fly/Cruise prices start from £2,439pp.

Northern Europe

7-Day Baltic and St Petersburg; Departs June 11 and 25 June 2013 on Seabourn Sojourn; Route, Stockholm to Copenhagen, calling at Tallinn, St Petersburg, Helsinki and Copenhagen. Fly/Cruise prices start from £3,269pp.

Prices include return flights from the UK and are per person, based on two people sharing a suite, fully inclusive, including all tips and gratuities, fine dining, open bars and fully stocked mini-bar.

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



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Crystal's Foot-Tapping Cruises

Whether tapping one’s toes to a soulful beat or enjoying a prima ballerina dance high upon hers, guests on three of Crystal Cruises’ ultra-luxury European voyages this summer will be treated to some of the richest rising young talent from the performing arts world. 

Continuing its esteemed partnership with The Music Centre – Performing Arts Centre of Los Angeles County, the three “Emerging Artists”-themed North Cape and Mediterranean cruises feature winners of the Music Centre’s annual Spotlight Awards. 

Guests can enjoy rousing performances from the programme’s top musicians, singers and dancers, as well as a rare “sneak peek” into master training classes.

Visiting acclaimed destinations throughout Italy, Monaco, Turkey, Ukraine, Denmark, Norway and more, each sailing features a consortium of artists performing around one musical focus:

• 19^th June: 12-night cruise from Venice to Istanbul on Crystal Serenity – ‘Ballet and the Classics’ with Royal Danish Ballet dancers, opera and classical pieces brought alive.
• 8^th July: 15-night cruise from Copenhagen to Stockholm on Crystal Symphony – Jazz-themed repertoire featuring a diversified mix of jazz performers.
• 13^th August: 12-night cruise from Venice to Barcelona on Crystal Serenity – Boasting an international twist, this “world tour” through music and movement features song, guitar and regional folk dancing.

Each voyage also includes Master Classes At Sea^®, showcasing the intense mentoring and preparation required for professional career success.

Until June 30, all-inclusive Book Now fares for the Experiences of Discovery voyages start at £3,955 person, based on the 12-night cruise from Venice to Barcelona. Price includes return scheduled flights, overseas transfers and 12 nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window with all meals, drinks, gratuities and port taxes.

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

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.