Celebrity's New Destination-Rich Options

Destinations are the most important part of a cruise, and it is always interesting to see when cruise lines increase their destination quotient with more or new ports of call. With that in mind, Celebrity Cruises has created two new, destination-rich itineraries for guests on Celebrity Century in 2015. The new sailings will replace three previously scheduled 12 and 14-night sailings in Asia in order to reposition the ship to Europe for the 2015 season.

The new itineraries – a 14-night sailing from Singapore to Dubai departing on March 22, and a 15-night Suez Canal cruise from Dubai to Rome on April 5 – will offer the perfect combination of immersive experiences on land and luxurious days at sea.
 

• The 14-night sailing from Singapore to Dubai will feature visits to Muscat and Cochinas well as three ports entirely new to Celebrity, New Mangalore, Goa and Mumbai. The sailing culminates with an overnight stay in Dubai.
• The new 15-night itinerary from Dubai will be highlighted by passage through the Suez Canal and visits to Ashdod, Rhodes and Athens before arriving into Rome.

Guests with bookings on Celebrity's previously scheduled cruises departing on March 22, April 5 and 17, 2015, are being contacted to offer the opportunity to be re-accommodated on the two new sailings or on their choice from among 12 itineraries in Asia on Celebrity Century or Celebrity Millennium. Guests who opt to re-book will be able to do so at the lowest available rate if moving to selected sailings in the same level of accommodation and will receive onboard credit of $200 per stateroom or $400 per suite.

More info: call 0844 493 2043 or visit www.celebritycruises.co.uk.

 

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Big Savings With Voyages of Discovery & Swan Hellenic

Here's a great offer today for those looking ahead to next year - and beyond. Save up to 10% AND receive up to £200 onboard credit with selected 2014/2015 cruises when you book with Swan Hellenic and Voyages of Discovery by the end of the month.

 

Join Swan Hellenic in its diamond anniversary year and visit South America, India and the Mediterranean. Ancient history fans can join the 15-day Pyramids & Petra cruise, where passengers can experience transits of both the Corinth and the Suez Canals, before exploring the Greek/Turkish city of Nicosia (Cyprus) - the only divided city in the world. Prices start from £2,165 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin, inclusive of the early booking discount), based on an October 22, 2014, departure.

Those looking for some guaranteed winter sun can join Voyages of Discovery’s East Africa and Indian Ocean Gems cruise to discover remote white sandy beaches in Mauritius, exotic wildlife in Madagascar – the oldest island in the world – and enjoy the hustle and bustle of Zanzibar. Price starts from £2,474 per person (based on two sharing an inside cabin), based on a December 18, 2014, departure.

All prices include return flights to/from the UK (for fly cruises), all relevant overseas transfers, meals and entertainment and the Guest Speaker programme on board. Cabin numbers will not be allocated at the time of booking. Bookings must be made before May 31, 2013, to qualify for early booking offers.

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

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Take A Voyage Of Discovery In 2013/14

The new Winter 2013/14 season with Voyages of Discovery sees MV Voyager heading to the Far East with 21 new ports of call for the brand, including Dubai, Tokyo and San Remo through to itineraries in India, China, Myanmar, South Korea and Japan.  

The line's newest ship will also call at the bustling port of Bangkok (Thailand) and berth right in the heart of the city - a completely new venture for Voyages of Discovery, made possible due to the small size of Voyager. Voyages of Discovery is also offering a 5% early booking discount on all Winter 2013/14 bookings made by October 31. 

Highlights of the programme include:

• Asian Capitals and the Magic of Vietnam – A 19-day cruise from £2,399 per person. Passengers can explore Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Singapore and Hong Kong before taking in the scenery of UNESCO listed beauty spot, Ha Long Bay (Vietnam). Price is based on a January 2, 2014, UK departure.

• Treasures of Asia – A 16-day cruise from £1,999 per person. Guests can discover the nature and wildlife in Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. Highlights include a visit to Thailand’s bustling capital of Bangkok, Mount Kinabalu National Park (Malaysia) and the Angkor Wat temple (Cambodia). Price is based on a February 17, 2014, UK departure.

• Ancient Worlds and Modern Masterpieces – A 15-day cruise from £1,599 per person where passengers can experience the Suez and Corinth Canals. Price is based on an April 7, 2014, UK departure.

Guests can enjoy Voyager’s newly-enhanced features, including three restaurants offering a range of dining options and al fresco dining and flexible seating, the refreshed library area and the Lookout Lounge, which provides panoramic views from the front of the ship. Almost 90% of the cabins are outside cabins and 30 have balconies. All of the public areas on board will benefit from a light refurbishment including new art work and soft furnishings.

All Voyages of Discovery standard fares include return flights from the UK on fly cruises, all relevant overseas transfers, gratuities and service charges, meals and entertainment and the Guest Speaker programme on board the ship. A complimentary chauffeur service is available on higher grade cabin bookings. 

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

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Fred Olsen Sign Up Explorer Tim Severin

Explorer, author and historian Tim Severin is the latest illustrious name to join Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Vistas programme as a special guest speaker. Perhaps best known for his Viking Series of historical novels, Tim’s new association with the cruise line is especially appropriate given the company’s Norwegian heritage.

During a spectacular career, Tim has: retraced the footsteps of Sindbad the Sailor, sailing from Muscat to China; steered a Bronze Age galley to seek the landfalls of Jason and the Argonauts and Ulysses; ridden the routes of the first Crusader knights across Europe to the Holy Land; travelled on horseback with nomads in Mongolia to research Genghis Khan; traced the origins of Moby Dick amongst the aboriginal sea hunters of the Pacific; and sailed a leather boat across the Atlantic from Ireland to Newfoundland, recreating the route taken by Irish monk St. Brendan the Navigator. One of his most recent quests has been to identify the ‘real’ Robinson Crusoe.

This eminent explorer and author will feature on ‘East of Suez: History and Culture,’ a sector of Black Watch’s 2012 World Cruise’. Departing from Southampton on January 11, this 32-night voyage covers the cruise as far as Singapore. Ports of call are Gibraltar, Cueta, Valletta, Port Said, then a transit of the Suez Canal, Sharm el Sheikh and Safaga. Tim will be joining in Safaga and stay aboard for the visits to Salalah (Oman), Mumbai (for an overnight stay), Cochin, Port Blair (Andaman Islands) and Singapore.

Prices start from £2,379 per person, based on two adults sharing an outside, twin cabin, Grade ‘D’. The cost includes return flights from Singapore to London and transfers, accommodation and all meals and entertainment on board, as well as port and airport taxes. There is no extra charge for taking part in Vistas activities.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Regent Offer Four New Early Winter Voyages

Regent Seven Sea’s free and unlimited shore excursion programme is designed to bring out the best of each destination and provide a carefully considered and safe way to explore off the beaten track destinations. Sailing on the all-suite, all-balcony Seven Seas Voyager, where guests are one of only a few hundred, the line has announced four new cruises taking in the best of the Eastern and Western Mediterranean, enabling guests to experience free excursions to some of the world’s holiest and most ancient cities.

The four new itineraries include calls to fascinating ports such as Ephesus, Safaga and Haifa as well as a transit of the Suez Canal and extended overnight stays at Ashdod and Petra, to provide an unforgettable east-meets-west experience. Choose from:

Luxor to Limassol: 8 nights, Nov 12

Calling at Petra (overnight), Sharm El Sheikh, transit Suez Canal, Ashdod (overnight), Haifa, Limassol. Balcony Suite from £ 2,675 per person.

Limassol to Barcelona: 8 nights, Nov 20

Calling at Alanya, Rhodes, Ephesus, Valletta, Barcelona (overnight). Balcony Suite from £2,350 per person.

Barcelona to Ashdod: 8 nights, November 28

Calling at Barcelona, Valletta, Rhodes, Limassol, Haifa, Ashdod (overnight). Balcony Suite from £2,330 per person.

Ashdod to Dubai: 13 nights, Dec 6
Calling at Suez Canal (transit), Luxor (overnight), Petra (overnight), Cruise the Red Sea/Arabian Sea, Salalah (Oman), Port Qaboos (Oman), Dubai. Balcony Suite from £3,343 per person.

As the most all-inclusive luxury cruise line, fares include: free return flights on every cruise (or free Business Class flights on all Med sailings in suites C-MS), free unlimited shore excursions in every port, transfers and government/port taxes, concierge amenities, all fine dining including speciality restaurants, all drinks and beverages including fine wines, selected Champagnes, premium branded soft drinks, all onboard activities, 24-hour room service and in-suite dining.

For more info, visit www.rssc.com or contact the UK's specialist luxury-cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Azamara's 'Extended Voyages'

Azamara Club Cruises has launched 'Extended Voyages' which allow guests to join two, three, four or more consecutive cruises into one experience. By combining select consecutive cruises onboard Azamara Quest or Azamara Journey guests can embark on a holiday of a lifetime, ranging from 11 to 78-nights without repeated ports of call.

In addition, guests booking consecutive cruises will receive £200 per cruise, per stateroom for cruises of eight days or less and £300 per cruise, per stateroom for voyages of nine days or more for greater value. Savings double on sailings between October 1 and December 31 this year, if booked by July 31.

Guests wanting a longer adventure can book Journey's 77-night cruise from Stockholm to Civitavecchia (for Rome). Departing June 27, 2012, the sailing features 25 overnight stays, four being two consecutive nights, where guests can experience the nightlife of Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Paris and Seville. This Extended Voyage features the Norwegian Fjords itinerary, which highlights the North Seas Jazz Festival, one of the world's premiere musical festivals.

For those keen on exploring the Far East, Journey's Piraeus (Athens) to Hong Kong cruise departs on October 26, 2012. This 72-night cruise, combines six cruises - Holy Land, Egypt & Suez Canal; Luxor, Petra, Sinai & Eilat; Luxor, Petra & Sinai; The Spice Coast & Ceylon; Burma & Andaman Sea Islands; Vietnam & Thailand, Christmas and New Year - for an in-depth exploration of the region, plus an opportunity to spend Christmas and New Year in Hong Kong through a Land Discoveries excursion.

Quest departs Singapore on February 29, 2012, on a 78-night cruise, sailing from Singapore to Piraeus. This combines six cruises - Trade Routes to the Orient; Japan & Taiwan; Manila, Sabah, Borneo, Komodo & Bali; Spice Route; Petra, Sinai & Luxor; Holy Land, Egypt & Suez Canal.

For more info, look up http://www.azamaraclubcruises.co.uk/ or contact the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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MSC Lirica to be based in Abu Dhabi

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Abu Dhabi's ambition to become an international cruise hub has received a significant boost following the signing of a landmark co-operation agreement between Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and MSC Cruises that will see the company deploy one of its top vessels to the UAE capital on a home-port basis from October 2011. Abu Dhabi's Mina Zayed Port will serve as the primary embarkation and disembarkation point for MSC Lirica.

Surrounding Lirica's 19 regional forays will be repositioning cruises from and to Genoa in Italy. On October 14, 2011, the vessel will depart Genoa for a 17-day/16-night maiden voyage to Abu Dhabi, where she will begin her maiden regional season.

A southland course will take Lirica through the Mediterranean, calling at Naples and Port Said (Egypt), before going through the Suez Canal and reaching Aqaba (Jordan). The vessel stops in Salalah and Muscat in Oman, then Dubai, before reaching her home port in Abu Dhabi. The luxury ship then leaves the UAE for Genoa on March 9, 2012.

With regional tours departing Abu Dhabi every Sunday from October 28, 2011, Lirica will travel round the Arabian Gulf peninsula to Muscat, before turning round en route for the UAE's eastern emirate of Fujairah on the Indian Ocean. It will continue heading north to Bahrain, then sail southwards to Dubai, before completing its journey in Abu Dhabi.

For further information log on to http://www.msccruises.co.uk/ or visit specialist agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

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