Titan and Uniworld celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Sound of Music

Elisabeth von Trapp

Titan Travel, in conjunction with Uniworld River Cruises, are marking the 50th anniversary of The Sound of Music film on selected river cruises during 2015.

The musical, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, was released in 1965 and the film went on to win a total of five Oscars and two Golden Globe awards.

To celebrate the anniversary, Elisabeth von Trapp, the granddaughter of Maria and Baron von Trapp, whose story inspired The Sound of Music, will entertain guests on a choice of 2015 itineraries with departures from May to September. Von Trapp has continued the legacy of the internationally renowned Trapp family singers and passengers on selected river cruises will be able to enjoy performances that highlight her unique and expressive style including iconic Sound of Music melodies.

Guests sailing on selected dates for the 8-day Enchanting Danube itinerary, from Budapest to Passau, will be able to join Ms Von Trapp in Salzburg at the Mirabell Chapel as she performs highlights from The Sound of Music. Another highlight of the cruise will be the chance for guests to participate in a sing-along of “Do-Re-Mi” at the famed Mirabell garden where the original scene was filmed. Von Trapp will also be performing a range of Gregorian chants, 12th-century mystic Hildegard of Bingen tunes, some early American hymns together with her own original compositions.

Guests sailing on the 10-day ‘Delightful Danube & Prague’ and 10-day ‘Danube Discovery and Prague’ itineraries will also be treated to an exclusive on-board performance by Von Trapp.

The 10-day itinerary on-board River Princess starts in Budapest and calls at Vienna, Spitz, Passau, Regensburg, Nuremberg and Prague whilst the 8-day itinerary on-board River Beatrice, which also starts in Budapest, calls at Bratislava, Melk, Vienna, Linz and Passau.

(Photo credit to Elisabeth von Trapp)

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.

Crystal's Film & Theatre Voyage

From Monroe to Gleason and Mostel to Burton, Crystal Cruises is planning a red carpet line up for its November 2 Film & Theatre voyage, presented in partnership with the award-winning Centre Theatre Group of Los Angeles. This cruise, rich with Old Hollywood immersion, features more than a dozen performers and industry speakers with material created just for Crystal, including a special spotlight on one of the industry’s most glamorous, and legendary, figures: Marilyn Monroe.

While Crystal Symphony sails along America’s colonial coast from New York to Miami, the celluloid highlights include:

Legends Brought to Life on Stage

· Internationally acclaimed Marilyn Monroe tribute artist Susan Griffiths will bring her uncanny talent to sea for the first time ever with a new live cabaret show created exclusively for Crystal, Marilyn – Memories, Music and Magic.

· Crystal favourite Jim Brochu returns with Character Man, his newest tribute to some of Broadway’s greatest character actors such as Jackie Gleason and Zero Mostel.

· LA’s Troubadour Theatre Company, or “Troubies”, will perform multiple commedia dell’arte productions onboard, including a satirical Shakespeare-meets-cinema-disco musical theatre performance of Midsummer Saturday Night’s Fever Dream.

Dinner with Marilyn

A multi-course dinner in the ship’s intimate Vintage Room featuring extraordinary wine pairings will be hosted by “Marilyn Monroe” (Griffiths) and Marilyn fan club president, Greg Schreiner, sharing tales of Tinseltown and the star’s life.

Red Carpet Beauty Tips

Leading red carpet make-up artist William Squire will present celebrity beauty secrets for guests’ everyday lives and onboard photo opportunities, including ways Marilyn hid flaws and enhanced her beauty to create her signature style - and how her look still influences style today.

Famous Fashions

Original costumes from some of Hollywood’s greatest films will be showcased in a special musical theatre production created just for Crystal, featuring Broadway veteran Karen Morrow and other special guests.

The Silver Screen

The ship’s recently-redesigned Hollywood Theatre will feature movie marathons of classic and recent films, including some of Marilyn’s greatest hits, with Turner Classic Movies film historian Jeremy Arnold providing fascinating behind-the-scenes commentary.

The 14-night East Coast and Caribbean cruise starts in New York on November 2 and visits Baltimore, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville (maiden call), Turks & Caicos, Curaçao and Aruba before finishing in Miami. All-inclusive fly/cruise fares start from £3,803 per person if booked by February 28.

Crystal’s award-winning entertainment offerings include a range of venues and performances, from cabaret nightclub to piano bar saloon; acclaimed productions to headline entertainers, and sophisticated enrichment activities to in-room Blu-ray-viewing, for all world travellers.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line. The UK's cruise specialist

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.

Unleash Your Inner Artist With Star Clippers

New `learn to’ type cruises are all the rage this year, and tall-ship specialist Star Clippers is definitely one to watch for this style of holiday as they be providing guests with the opportunity to unleash their inner artist on three art-themed sailing voyages in 2012, with the first departure on May 5.

Guests can learn to sketch and paint in the company of successful British artist Richard Nichols against a backdrop of a beautiful tall ship under full sail, in some of the world’s most stunning locations, including the Greek Islands, Spain, Morocco and the Caribbean. The week-long, sailings cost from £1,499pp, including art tuition and equipment, all meals on board, return UK flights and transfers.

Suffolk-born Nichols specialises in seascapes and coastal scenes and will run workshops on each cruise encompassing a variety of media, from sketching to water-colours, aimed at all levels of experience. Included in the price of the cruise is a special artist’s backpack that converts into a seat for sitting and sketching on location. The backpack contains sketchbooks, paper, water-colours, brushes and pencils, so guests do not need to supply any equipment.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's 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.

'Anything Goes' On Crystal's Film & Theatre Voyage

Broadway greats both current and classic will be featured in more than two dozen performances and presentations on Crystal Cruises’ “Film and Theatre”-themed voyage from San Francisco and Tinseltown to the Big Apple departing August 25 on Crystal Symphony.

Present musical revival, Tony-nominated hits “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” and cruise ship-set “Anything Goes” will be honoured with special guest lecturers and an exclusive alliance with the Roundabout Theatre Company, donating Broadway show tickets and merchandise for guests.

The star of the original “How to Succeed…,” Michele Lee, and theatre impresario John Loesser, the son of the play’s composer/lyricist, will be featured guest presenters. Performance highlights include the late Zero Mostel and Ethel Merman reincarnated on stage by actors Jim Brochu and Rita McKenzie in their respective hit biographical shows about the stars.

Guest vocalists will pay musical homage to celluloid memories using authentic costumes from Hollywood legends and screening room matinees with live introductions and post-film discussions are scheduled in the ship’s surround-sound Hollywood Theatre. Guests can also watch exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews from Broadway’s “Anything Goes” (now at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre) from the comfort of their staterooms.

The 19-night “Sea to Shining Sea” voyage starts in San Francisco on August 25 and visits Los Angeles, Cabo San Lucas, Caldera, Aruba, Grand Cayman, Miami and Charleston before arriving in New York. It will also transit the Panama Canal. Prices are from £4,997 per person including return scheduled flights, transfers, 19 nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window with all meals and soft drinks, port taxes and a $500 per person onboard credit.

For more info, visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk or 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.