Monday, 4 April 2011

Cruise Celebrity For Less Than £75 Per Night

Here's a great little special offer this week: Join Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Solstice (above) for a 12-night Mediterranean & Greek Isles fly/cruise this summer from just £899 per person (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom). That’s less than £75 per person per night.

The pride includes return flights from London Heathrow, transfers and the 12-night cruise, departing Barcelona and calling at Civitavecchia (for Rome), Naples/Capri, Santorini, Ephesus, Mykonos and Valletta before retuning to Barcelona; meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees (based on May 26 departure).

For more info, see
www.celebritycruises.co.uk or visit specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

A 'Royal' European River Cruiser

eWaterways, the niche and river cruise experts, continue to expand their luxury cruise portfolio with the addition of five-star river yacht Royal Crown. The luxury cruiser renowned for its private members’ club feel and bespoke client service will begin a new sailing programme with eWaterways this April, offering an authentic exploration of some of Europe’s most iconic cities via historic rivers and lesser known waterways. To promote the launch, there will be NO single supplement for solo travellers throughout 2011.

Royal Crown will launch 10 thoughtfully assembled itineraries across 12 European countries for a rediscovery of popular destinations such as Prague, Vienna and Budapest from a more intimate, relaxing perspective. Taking in the myriad sights along the enchanting Rhine; encountering the less familiar but infinitely beautiful Mosel as it winds through the Black Forest or enjoying the magnificent Danube as it traverses fairytale landscape on its way to the Black Sea, each cruise ensures that every stage of the journey is an awe-inspiring and integral part of the travelling experience.


On the Dutch Golden Age Journey, guests will see up close the charming canals and gabled town houses of 17th century Amsterdam onboard the Royal Crown II, the river yacht’s private sloop, before setting sail on the Ijsselmeer for the picturesque port towns Hoorn, Enkhuizen and Volendam. Those opting for a longer cruise holiday, such as the two-week Grand Europe Journey. will follow in the steps of the Romans as they voyage to celebrated cities including Budapest, Vienna, Bratislava and the Bavarian region.


At full capacity, Royal Crown caters for just 88 guests in a total of 44 luxuriously appointed cabins with flatscreen TVs and fully-stocked mini-bars to promise an all-inclusive and sophisticated cruise holiday. Often described as an 'Orient Express on Water', the river yacht exudes 1930s glamour and style with Art Deco design and bespoke butler service.

The 52-strong team caters to each individual’s needs with every comfort onboard considered, from the choice of pillow to a favourite drink, everything is taken care of. The traditional ambiance and décor is propelled into the 21st century with modern facilities, including a deluxe spa, golf putting area, well-equipped fitness room and 24-hour multimedia business lounge. On each cruise, guests - and particularly solo travellers - will enjoy a luxurious offering: exquisite fine dining, classical music concerts and, of course, Europe’s most stunning vistas, all at great value.

For more info, visit www.ewaterways.co.uk or contact the river-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Sunday, 3 April 2011

Seabourn's 2012 Europe Season Now Open!

Seabourn is delighted to offer up an expanded array of voyages in Europe during 2012. The luxury line's six stylish ships will explore an unprecedented 165 different destinations among the continent's landmark cities, historic sites and natural splendours on cruises from seven to 19 days. The extended eight-month season, from April to November, is now open for sale, and itineraries, fares and other details can be viewed on www.seabourn.com.

Popular European itineraries include:

Greek Isles & Golden Treasures – Seabourn Quest – 7 days

Departures: 10 August, 21 September 2012
Athens to Istanbul: Mylos, Mykonos, Patmos, Kusadasi, Khylos, Troy. Fares start from £2,450pp based on two people sharing a Seabourn Suite.

Adriatic Gems & Venice – Seabourn Spirit – 10 days
Departures: 15, 25 April; 5, 15, 25 May; 4, 14, 24 June; 3, 13, 23 July; 2, 12 September 2012
Ports of call: Venice, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Split, Rovinj. Venice round trip, with option to stay overnight in Venice. Fares start from £2,240pp based on two people sharing a Seabourn Suite.

Idyllic Rivieras & Spain – Seabourn Legend – 10 days
Departures: 20 April; 10 May; 7, 27 June; 17 July; 6, 26 August; 15 September
Rome to Monte Carlo: calling at Elba, Portofino, Cannes, Sanury-sur-mer, Barcelona, Menorca, Collioure, Porquerolles, and Monte Carlo. Fares start from £2,800pp based on two people sharing a Seabourn Suite.

The full 2012 cruise season in Europe starts from £1,890 per person, including return air, based on double occupancy. For bookings, visit www.seabourn.com or see the UK's leading luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Saturday, 2 April 2011

The Cruise Line Expands Its Client Services

Cruising specialists The Cruise Line are renowned for realising that you may have unique needs and requirements that go beyond the time when you are first looking around to book your cruise. From dietary requirements to the need to ensure there are lifts (or, if you're reading this in America, elevators) as well as stairs on your chosen vessel, there are a myriad of considerations to take into account. To ensure their service continues to meet the highest standards, they have now expanded their affiliate programme to include the travel website Silver Travel Advisor.

This new travel review website that encourages older people to share their travel and holiday experiences online, has appointed a range of highly experienced, mature travel professionals to offer travel advice to site visitors.


You have the chance to leave reviews about your cruising experiences and read other members' posts and, each week, a Star Review looks in depth at a particular destination or company. This week’s review is by our own Steve Newman, who describes his impressions of a Star Clippers cruise in the Caribbean and there is link to the World of Cruising magazine, which continues to bring you the best articles, reviews and features concerning cruising and the luxury lifestyle.

If you’d like to read more, check out the interactive magazine or why not take a look at the superb
subscription offers
and enjoy having every World of Cruising issue delivered straight to your door.

The Cruise Line see this latest link-up as just one more link in the chain of the excellent service they offer to their clients. So, if you’re a ‘Silver Cruiser’ and prefer expedition cruising, like the people above landing on Staffa in the Hebrides, or prefer to remain on the observation lounge with a gin and tonic, you can find all this and more by logging on to www.cruiseline.co.uk/the-cruise-line-affiliates.

And, for the huge range of cruises on offer for all ages, go straight to The Cruise Line website.

AMA Waterways New Offers

Once again river cruise specialists AMA waterways are offering huge savings. Take a look at this latest selection from the boutique river-cruisers:

25th April : Tulip Time Cruise, saving £427 per person

A 7-night cruise on board AmaCello through Holland's spectacular bulb-fields, now from £1,329pp (was £1,756), with accommodation in a spacious cabin with French balcony. The spring flowers are at their best from mid-March through to mid-May and this is the perfect time to discover the beauty and history of the Dutch and Belgian waterways. As with all AMA cruises, prices include all meals, champagne breakfasts and wine with dinner; free Wi-Fi and free use of onboard bicycles and daily excursions.

8th May: Enchanting Rhine, saving up to £460pp

A 7-night luxury cruise along the Rhine, from Amsterdam to Basel visiting Cologne, Kloblenz, Rudesheim, Worms, Heidelber, Strasbourg, Breisach and Basel, sailing through majestic historic cities and towns, can now be booked from £1,425pp (was £1,885).

14th May : Legendary Danube with £457pp saving

A 7-night Danube River cruise from Nuremberg to Budapest, with prices from £1,595 per person (was £2,052pp), this sailing cruises through the charming towns and beautiful vistas of Hilpoltstein, Regensburg, Passau, Salzburg, Linz, Melk and Vienna.

14th May: Rhone and the Provence with £457 saving per person

A 7-night luxury river cruise along the Rhone, from Lyon to Arles, visiting Trevoux, Vienne, Tournon, Viviers and Avignon, with wine-tasting in beautiful wine growing regions where such famous wines as Beaujolais, Côte du Rhône and Chateauneuf-du-Pape are produced, can now be booked from £1,595pp (was £2,052).

For more info, visit www.amawaterways.co.uk or contact the river-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Friday, 1 April 2011

Voyages of Discovery ‘Cruise Party’ to Celebrate Royal Wedding

Millions of Britons are expected to hold street parties to celebrate Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton this year – and guests on board Voyages of Discovery’s 'French and Spanish Sojourn' cruise will be joining in the royal fun, but at a street party with a twist – on a ship! Guests needn’t worry about missing the event as Voyages of Discovery will be televising the wedding onboard the MV Discovery for all to see. Revellers will be commemorating the marital union whilst cruising the picturesque borders of Spain and France from as little as £499 per person.

Price includes a 7-night cruise departing from Portsmouth and calling at Ferrol/La Coruna, Bilbao, Le Verdon, Nantes and St Peter Port, Guernsey, before eturning to Portsmouth; all meals, entertainment and gratuities on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees - no hidden extras, plus accompanied by expert guest speakers.
Price is based on April 23 departure.

For more info, visit www.voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk or the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Cunard's Royal Flush

Here's a fun little press release from Cunard this week: The three most famous ships among UK adults, according to a new survey, were all named by The Queen.

The YouGov survey, which included a random sample of 2,065 adults and weighted to represent the population as a whole, showed the most recognised ship in unprompted responses from the general public is Cunard's former flagship Queen Elizabeth 2, closely followed by the company's current flagship Queen Mary 2, and the newly-launched Queen Elizabeth.

The survey also targeted those who had cruised in the last five years and the top three most recalled ships again comprise Cunard's total current fleet! In first place is Queen Mary 2, followed by Queen Victoria - named by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall in 2007 - and then Queen Elizabeth. Other findings in the survey, which was commissioned by Carnival UK and conducted last November, also show Cunard deliver against the key attributes which are important to cruisers in such areas as food quality, service standards, trustworthiness and standard of accommodation.

For information about Cunard Cruises, visit www.cunard.co.uk or contact luxury cruise agents The Cruise Line Ltd.