The Majestic Line Team Up With Best Scottish Tours

Cruising in the highlands of Scotland has become big business in recent years, and here is news of a new tie-up between two specialist operators in the area that should make it even better (and better value) in future.

The Majestic Line have just announced a new collaboration with Best Scottish Tours to provide a wonderful land and sea experience of Argyll and the Hebrides this Autumn.

This new 10-day 'Castles and Clans of Mull and Glencoe' tour will provide a unique insight into Scotland's incredible Clan history, with a 6-day cruise on The Majestic Line, visiting iconic castles such as Duart Castle, seat of the Clan Maclean, and Castle Stalker, ancient stronghold of the Stewart Clan. 

This will be followed by a 4-day land tour provided by Best Scottish Tours visiting, for instance, the ancestral home of the Clan MacLeod at Dunvegan Castle on Skye and Scotland's most famous castle, Eilean Donan, in the West Highlands. The cruise departs from Oban on October 11 and 18.

More info: call 07748 360 148 or visit www.themajesticline.co.uk. 

The next edition of World of Cruising will be out on March 17, and you can see the current 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.

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

Majestic's New Wildlife Partnership

Innovative small-ship cruise company The Majestic Line,has confirmed their partnership with one of the country’s top wildlife guides, providing an exciting land tour on their new 2014 Hebridean cruise, named ‘Around Mull: Wildlife Explorer’.

The new voyage is aimed at guests keen to discover the many extraordinary diverse and rare species that make this island one of the premier hotspots for wildlife in the UK. The company’s crew of four have sailed these sheltered waters for many years and have first-hand experience of spotting incredible wildlife throughout the cruising season, including basking sharks, porpoises, Minke whales, otters, white-tailed and golden eagles.  

Guests can soak up an abundance of wildlife in comfort and style aboard Majestic's pair of mini cruise ships, enjoying exceptional hospitality against a stunning backdrop of mountains, remote white sandy beaches, and ancient castles.

More info: call 07748 360 148 or visit www.themajesticline.co.uk. 

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.

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

Majestic Line's New Wildlife Explorer

Exclusive Scottish small-ship cruise company The Majestic Line is to launch a new, dedicated ‘Wildlife Explorer’ cruise for 2014. 

This new 6-night cruise is aimed at guests keen to see at first hand the rich variety of animal, bird and marine life that thrives on the pristine Hebridean coastline in the Highlands of Scotland.

The new ‘Around Mull: Wildlife Explorer’ cruise will tour the unspoiled natural beauty of the Isles of Mull, Iona and Treshnish. Anchorages include Loch Spelve on Mull, well-known for its playful otters and white-tailed eagles, where guests can enjoy walking through an ancient oak forest, or exploring on the magical island of Iona, famed for its holy Abbey and white sandy beaches, where the elusive corncrake is often seen and heard. Guests can take a trip by boat tender into Fingal’s Cave on Staffa to see at first hand the incredible rock formations and wildlife there as well as exploring Lunga Island to spot colourful puffin colonies.

This new cruise also features an additional full day land tour of Mull to discover more about the island’s wild inhabitants, flora and fauna. Trips to dramatic Duart Castle, ancient seat of the Clan Maclean with its turbulent history and spectacular setting, and Tobermory, Mull’s vibrant and colourful main town, will ensure guests also experience the wonderful heritage of this very special area of Scotland. The price of a 6-night cruise in 2014 is from £1,880 per person.

More info: visit http://www.themajesticline.co.uk/ or call 01369 707951.

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!

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.

Majestic's October Bonus

Specialist Scottish waterways cruise company The Majestic Line has a series of special offers for a late-autumn voyage in their unique 12-passenger vessels.

With remaining departures on October 12 and 19, Majestic are featuring a special 10 per cent discount on both cruises.

The Heritage and Wildlife of Mull & Glencoe 6-night cruise visits dramatic Duart Castle, home of the Clan MacLean, and the pretty town of Tobermory on Mull before navigating the magnificent sea lochs of Loch Sunart and Loch Linnhe, cruising past picturesque Castle Stalker on the way to Glencoe.

Guests can then see the engineering wonder of Neptune’s staircase on our Loch Ness & the Caledonian Canal 6-night cruise leading to Loch Ness, with its ancient Castle Urquart shrouded in myth and legend. The area is full of romance and mystery, with amazing scenery. This cruise is one-way, following the entire Caledonian Canal between Oban on the west coast and Inverness on the East.

2014 cruises now available at this year's prices for a limited time only

Majestic's 2014 calendar of nine unique cruises is now available on the website, currently at this season's prices. Unfortunately, they will soon be putting prices up due to their own increased costs but not yet! Book your 2014 cruise now and benefit from this year's prices.

For more info and bookings, see Majestic's website at www.themajesticline.co.uk. More more adventure-cruise ideas, be sure to follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury cruising 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.

World of Cruising - Winter Edition

Phew! Well the 'Big Push' to get our Winter issue finished and off to the printers in the immediate aftermath of our amazing trip to Hawaii has paid dividends, as everything was done and dusted yesterday and is now awaiting the finished article.

We aim to have copies back and our to all our subscribers by December 20 - just in time for Christmas! - and there is a LOT for readers to enjoy, over and above the 8-page special on the Hawaiian islands (sunset, above) with Norwegian Cruise Line.

Just to start with, we have our annual Cruise Planner, our look at ALL the lines and ALL their ships, that has now become a cruise industry standard and is essential reading for anyone planning a cruise anytime soon. This year's version is up to a bumper 12 pages as there is more info than ever before to pack into this Planner.

For a seasonal treat we have a look at Christmas cruising - or Santa at Sea, as we call it - while there is also an in-depth preview of the forthcoming (June 2013) Royal Princess of Princess Cruises. Contrbuting editor Gary Buchanan also casts his eye over the ultra-deluxe style of SeaDream Yacht Club, and what makes them stand out from the crowd.

For destination features, we have the Adriatic coast of Croatia and a trip to Bangkok, while there is also a distinctive journey along the Ganges in India with Assam Bengal Navigation Co. Our man Steve Newman  takes a trip with The Majestic Line in Scotland and historian Peter Newall details the amazing Heritage Collection of P&O. 

For those looking for some winter sun, we offer the blissful South Seas style of Paul Gauguin Cruises in and around Tahiti and we also have a special Passenger Perspective on the foodie cruise style of Oceania Cruises.

Of course, there is also our usual array of news, views and comment from our unrivalled range of columnists, including Captain Greybeard, Cruise Radio, the Admiral and, making a very welcome debut for us, Stewart Chiron, aka, The Cruise Guy.

With our regular World of Spas section, taking a look at the benefits of Yoga, among other things, it all adds up to the best read on cruising anywhere in the world. Just make sure your subscription is up to date...!

PS: Our day-by-day Blog of our grand Hawaii expedition will return tomorrow!

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.

Something To Look Forward To This Winter

We are now in full planning stages for our Winter edition (publishing December 20) and have a fine array of enticing features to look forward to, which should help to stave off the winter cold.

With some winter sun in mind, we will be heading first to Hawaii (above), for a look at what makes these islands such a special cruise destination in the company of Norwegian Cruise Line (the only line to sail among the islands year-round). It should be the ideal winter warmer and we look forward to making this our Cover Story for the new edition.

Tahiti and the South Seas are also on the menu, along with the blissful style of SeaDream Yacht Club on the French Riviera and the unique Ganges River voyages of Assam Bengal Navigation.

For more river-cruising style, we take a classic Rhine voyage with AMA Waterways, while we also take a look at the sparkling Adriatic coast of Croatia and visit Bangkok for an overnight stay.

When it comes to cruise ship style, cruising's No 1 writer Gary Buchanan will offer a detailed preview of 2013's Royal Princess of Princess Cruises and Steve Newman will sample the distinctive closer-to-home style of The Majestic Line in Scotland.

Of course, there will be lots more in the way of ship features, cruise news, reviews and all your views and comment. But hopefully this whets your appetite for the months ahead. Just be sure to have your subscription up to date!

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.

Majestic Line Announces Four New Cruises

The specialist Scottish cruise company, The Majestic Line, has launched four one-off cruises for the 2012 season to tie in with highlights of Argyll and provide an exclusive experience for guests.

Majestic is one of the world's smallest sea cruising companies, sailing the Argyll Coastline on the West Coast of Scotland, with 11 guests on board each of their two vessels. The new one-date-only 6-night cruises take in unique happenings such as Highland Games and Food Festivals, as well as exploring the Heritage Icons of the area:

Taste of Arran and Argyll 6-night cruise visits the Tarbert Seafood Festival in Loch Fyne departing July 7.

Taste of Argyll Speciality Food 6-night cruise visits the eatBute Food Festival at Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute, departing September 8.

Cowal Games, Arran and the Kyles of Bute 6-night cruise visiting the world famous Cowal Gathering in Dunoon, departing August 24.

Hidden Heritage of Argyll 6-night cruise departing August 11 to island-hop to the historic icons of Argyll.

For booking details, be sure to check with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd, on 0800 008 6677.

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.

The Majestic Line New Brochure 2012

The Majestic Line's new brochure is now available for its 2012 cruises with a choice of 12 itineraries exploring the beautiful coast of Argyll on the West Coast of Scotland. The specialist Scottish cruise company provides a unique small boat cruise experience with only 11 passengers aboard its traditional wooden vessels, the Glen Tarsan and Glen Massan.

The Majestic Line is becoming increasingly popular and 2012 is filling up fast; 30 of its 60 cruising weeks are already booked out for 2012 and many others have low availability. The cruise itineraries explore the wonderful islands, tranquil sea lochs and spectacular coastlines of Argyll, a beautiful but remote area which is difficult to access by land, whereas the cruises provide a perfect vantage point from the sea.

The company provides two double cabins for single occupancy on all its cruises at no additional cost. There are still opportunities for single traveller bookings for 2012.

See more at www.themajesticline.co.uk or contact specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

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.

A Majestic Tie-Up With The Cowal Games

Specialist Scottish cruise company The Majestic Line continually looks to develop new experiences for its guests, particularly with 60 per cent of them repeat customers. With the Cowal Highland Gathering on its doorstep, linking up seemed a great opportunity for an exclusive cruise on board Majestic's boutique vessel the Glen Massan, sailing out of Holy Loch.

Guests will experience some of the best of what Scotland has to offer: a two-day visit to the fabulous spectacle of the biggest Highland Games in the world followed by an idyllic 5-day cruise to the Kyles of Bute and the Isle of Arran.

The “Cowal Games, Arran and Kyles of Bute” voyage is a 6-night cruise from Holy Loch from August 26-September 1.

The cruise begins with dinner on board followed by taking part in a traditional Ceilidh in Dunoon on the Friday night. The Saturday is a full day at the Games, culminating in the famous March Past, the landmark ceremony which is unique to Cowal - the march past and salute to the Chieftain of the Games by 3,000 pipes and drums. After dinner on board, guests will be taken to view the Cowal Games Fireworks Finale.

On the Sunday, the Glen Massan sets off to explore the Kyles of Bute and Arran with visits to Rothesay Castle and the amazing Mount Stuart House and Gardens. During the rest of the cruise, there will be opportunities to go ashore to explore the colourful villages of East Loch Tarbert, Tighnabruaich, anchor in beautiful remote sea lochs such as Loch Riddon and cruise stunning Loch Fyne to Inveraray. The Isle of Arran provides trips to Lochranza and the distillery there as well as visiting Brodick Castle and local producers of cheeses, beers and aromatics.

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

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.

Majestic Line's 'Wild' New Itinerary

Boutique Scottish cruise operator The Majestic Line has launched a new “wild” itinerary for 2011, responding to customer requests for a more remote experience: Inlets and Islands of Wild Argyll, a 6-night cruise from Holy Loch, sailing on August 13 and 27 and September 3.

Majestic is one of the world’s smallest sea-cruising companies, with only two vessels sailing the Argyll coastline on the West Coast of Scotland, each carrying 11 guests on board. With their seventh season approaching, more than half the guests are repeat customers, hence the company is keen to provide exclusive new experiences to keep tempting previous guests back on board.

Every night, the boats anchor in secluded bays where sun-downer drinks will be served on the outside stern deck to a sunset over the hills and sea, prior to being served a sumptuous dinner from a menu sourced locally from the sea and land.

The latest itinerary has been chosen for its beauty, tranquility, natural environment and wildlife and the opportunity to go ashore for a walk or visit a remote historical monument. There is a choice of many delightful stopovers and anchorages, but the decision on which to visit will depend on wind direction and tide and will be at the discretion of the skipper. Kintyre and Ailsa Craig are the most weather dependent. The cruising area is also rich in wildlife and the stopovers will visit places where it is most likely to be seen, but for obvious reasons they cannot guarantee particular sightings.

For more info, visit http://www.themajesticline.co.uk/ or contact the adventure cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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.

Single Travellers Cruise With No Supplement

The award winning specialist Scottish cruise company, The Majestic Line, has a policy of providing two double cabins on each cruise for single travellers at no supplement. The Majestic Line is one of the smallest sea cruising companies with two vessels each carrying only 11 guests around the beautiful coastline of Argyll on the West Coast of Scotland. The "house party" atmosphere which is created on board due to the small numbers of guests and attentiveness of the crew is perfect for guests travelling alone as they very much feel part of the group and can enjoy a truly social experience.

Marie Thoms, Majestic Line Sales Manager said "The Majestic Line is owned and run by family and friends and we can therefore decide to have such a generous policy for single travellers. Everyone in the company loves to see people enjoying themselves and we don't think that single travellers should be penalised financially. Our 2011 cruises are very well booked up but we still have eleven cruises with spaces for single travellers and we want to make sure these are taken up"

Marie also feels that the location of the cruises is ideal for people who might not be confident travelling on their own but want to experience the beauty of the Scottish Highlands. "Our Holy Loch departures are only one hour from Glasgow Airport. We can pick guests up from the airport and have them onboard our vessel "The Glen Massan", sipping bubbly and soaking in the scenery, with no travel concerns at all.

There are cabins for single travellers on both 3-night and 6-night cruises available. People looking for a single place on a Majestic Line cruise should go online to the website for available dates. www.themajesticline.co.uk/single_travellers.html

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.

A Stowaway On The Majestic Line

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Guests on the Heritage and Wildlife of South Argyll cruise with specialist Scottish cruise operators The Majestic Line got more than they bargained for during their 6-night cruise – a sneaky wee stowaway in the form of a red squirrel. The uninvited guest joined the cruise whilst their vessel, the Glen Massan, was anchored for the night in a secluded bay on beautiful Loch Riddon on the Argyll Coastline.

Although red squirrels are common on the Cowal Peninsula, there is a mystery as to how this one came to join the cruise. Martin McWhirr, the skipper of Glen Massan has 2 theories.

He said: ‘‘unday night was relatively windy, which may have resulted in the squirrel being blown from its tree overhanging the water and with it then swimming to the Glen Massan and shinning up the anchor chain. The other possibility is that it had been caught by a large bird of prey, possibly even a sea eagle which then lost its prey with it landing aboard. I can’t see any other possibilities.’’

However Jan Ferguson, Chairman of the Cowal Squirrel Group, has another opinion. She said ‘‘The most likely scenario is that he got involved in a fight with another red, probably over territory. If there was nowhere for him to run, he could have jumped into the loch and, as squirrels are good swimmers, he could have swum to the boat and climbed up the anchor chain.’’

However, she doesn’t dismiss Martin’s view. She continued: ‘‘It is very possible he was scared by a bird of prey or even a cat or dog, leading him to jump into the water.’’

The sneaky stowaway was discovered very early on Monday morning by one of the vessel’s guests, Canadian Steve Boyton, who is a professional photographer. He’d risen early to capture the stunning sunrise over the Loch, only to get the fright of a lifetime. In his attempt to capture the squirrel, the commotion awoke the crew and other guests. Further attempts to catch the squirrel only resulted in the Glen Massan’s bosun Jamie Duncan being bitten on the finger!

Further deatils on Majestic cruises can be found at http://www.themajesticline.co.uk/

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.