Thursday, 3 July 2014

Silversea expands 'Silver Select' promotion



 Silversea Cruises has expanded its Silver Select promotion beyond Alaska and the Mediterranean to include 21 additional sailings in the Caribbean.

The Silver Select promotion enables guests to personalise their voyage with a choice of three enticing offers: a two-category suite upgrade, a £300 per person credit towards the purchase of the Silversea Air programme, or a $500 per person on-board credit that can be used for shore excursions, spa treatments, speciality restaurants and more. Silver Select is available on new bookings made by 31st August 2014 for select voyages sailing in the Caribbean, Alaska and the Mediterranean.

The Silver Select promotion is available on the following 2014-2015 Caribbean voyages with fares starting from £1,550 per person:

SILVER SPIRIT
Voyage 5436: Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale, 10 Days, 24th November – 4th December
Voyage 5436A: Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale, 8 Days, 4th – 12th December
Voyage 5437: Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale, 10 Days, 12th – 22nd December
Voyage 5438: Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale, 15 Days, 22nd December – 6th January
Voyage 5501: Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles, 16 Days, 6th – 22nd January

SILVER CLOUD
Voyage 1436: Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale, 7 Days, 5th – 12th December
Voyage 1437: Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale, 10 Days, 12th – 22nd December
Voyage 1502: Fort Lauderdale to Barbados, 9 Days, 16th – 25th January
Voyage 1504: Barbados to San Juan, 9 Days, 11th – 20th February
Voyage 1506: San Juan to San Juan, 7 Days, 27th February – 6th March
Voyage 1507: San Juan to San Juan, 7 Days, 6th – 13th March
Voyage 1508: San Juan to San Juan, 7 Days, 13th – 20th March
Voyage 1509: San Juan to Fort Lauderdale, 7 Days, 20th – 27th March

SILVER SHADOW
Voyage 3505: Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale, 10 Days, 10th – 20th March
Voyage 3506: Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale, 14 Days, 20th March – 3rd April
Voyage 3507: Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale, 13 Days, 3rd – 16th April
Voyage 3508: Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco, 18 Days, 16th April – 4th May

SILVER WHISPER
Voyage 4428: New York to Barbados, 10 Days, 27th October – 6th November
Voyage 4429: Barbados to San Juan, 7 Days, 6th- 13th November
Voyage 4431: San Juan to Barbados, 7 Days, 18th – 25th November
Voyage 4433: Barbados to Fort Lauderdale, 7 Days, 12th – 19th December
Silver Select is still available on several 2014 Alaska and Mediterranean voyages with an extended booking deadline of 31st August. Here's a small sampling:

ALASKA
--Silver Shadow:
Voyage 3426: Seward to Vancouver, 7 Days, 28th August – 4th September
Voyage 3428: Vancouver to San Francisco, 11 Days, 13th – 24th September

MEDITERRANEAN
--Silver Spirit:
Voyage 5426: Istanbul to Istanbul, 9 Days, 20th – 29th August
Voyage 5433: Athens to Rome, 14 Days, 17th – 31st October
Voyage 5434: Rome to Barcelona, 9 Days, 31st October – 9th November
--Silver Cloud:
Voyage 1432: Istanbul to Athens, 9 Days, 22nd – 31st October
Voyage 1433: Athens to Rome, 12 Days, 31st October – 12th November
--Silver Wind:
Voyage 2432: Barcelona to Rome, 9 Days, 12th – 21st October
Voyage 2433: Rome to Athens, 10 Days, 21st – 31st October

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Mr Sulu boldly goes across the Atlantic on QM2


George Takei, Star Trek’s Mr Sulu, has left the helm of USS Enterprise to take on a new challenge. He is to appear on board Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 during a Transatlantic crossing later this month to present a special screening of his biographical documentary, To Be Takei.
The film looks at the roles the 77-year-old actor has played in real life as well as on screen,starting from his childhood in US internment camps for Japanese-Americans in the Second World War, through to his latest career as a social media phenomenon with more than seven million Facebook followers.
It has been shown at the Sundance Festival and will be screened on QM2 during the July 28 voyage from New York to Southampton, weeks ahead of its official US premiere scheduled for August 22.
George will also make two appearances speaking to an audience of passengers. The first presentation will cover the communities which have influenced his life; the second is about his 50-year Hollywood career.
“The documentary gives viewers an honest look at me and my career, and I’m looking forward to the discussion with fellow passengers,” Takei said.  “With such an impressive history of guests over the past 10 years, Queen Mary 2 is a wonderful place to share stories and laughter.”  


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Day Four With Hurtigruten In Greenland


Well what a difference a day makes! Everyone now on the excursions they wanted and the Expedition Team settling down nicely to get everything running along smoothly. The Hurtigruten jackets you get given are really great for going out on the deck at night (I say night but it's perpetual daylight up here.) or early morning for whalewatching.

Today we visited Qasigiannguit and the kindergarten children came down to the harbour to sing us some Greenlandic songs. They then went on to the top of the ship on Deck 7 to the panoramic lounge which is quite an experience for these people.


We had  a fabulous walk around the settlement with a host of activities prepared by the local people. I went and had a look at an exhibition of hunting and fishing gear, an open peat-house, clothing and tools from the late Thule culture with locals dressed in period costume reenacting by the museum, craftwork displays at The Women’s House and a dog sled demonstration/explanation which was fascinating. In fact there was so much going on I missed the choir singing at the church.


Great lecture on photography this evening  and information on Ummannaq where we're going tomorrow. Worried about my waistline. I'm having far to much bread and desserts.


www.hurtigruten.co.uk



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Seabourn to Visit West Africa


This autumn Seabourn is giving guests the opportunity to visit some of the least-discovered parts of Africa’s west coast, while enjoying a six star experience.
With a maximum capacity of just 458 guests, Seabourn Sojourn is able to explore parts of the world that many other ships are unable to reach, including lesser-known towns on the islands of Cape Verde and Bom Bom Island (São Tomé and Príncipe), and along the coasts of Namibia, Angola and Senegal.  

Join Seabourn Sojourn on a 32-day South African Line Voyage fly/cruise from £6,279 per person (based on two people sharing a suite).
Price includes flights from London, transfers and a 32-night cruise departing from Barcelona (Spain) and calling at Gibraltar (UK), Tangier (Morocco), Casablanca (Morocco), Arrecife (Canary Islands), Las Palmas (Spain), Santa Cruz (La Palma, Spain), Mindelo (Cape Verde), Praia (Ilha de Santiago, Cape Verde), Dakar (Senegal), Banjul (Gambia), Bom Bom Island (São Tomé and Príncipe), Luanda (Angola), Walvis Bay (Namibia) and Luderitz (Namibia) before arriving into Cape Town (South Africa).
Price is based on 19 November 2014 departure.

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Wednesday, 2 July 2014

MSC Cruises sets ambitious target for UK growth


 
The Mediterranean specialist MSC Cruises has pledged to more than TREBLE the number of UK guests it carries within three years. Its ambitious 200,000-passenger target coincides with the launch of two new mega-ships in 2017, quickly followed by one more in 2018 and another in 2019, between them adding over 21,000 berths to its ultra-modern fleet.

Central to the growth plan will be the launch of dedicated weekly British Airways charter flights to Venice and Genoa in 2015, delivering passengers to six MSC Cruises ships operating out of those ports next summer.

By operating its own charter flights, MSC Cruises will make cruising around the Med easier to book, a better customer travel experience and better value. To cater for the expected increase in demand, MSC Cruises has upgraded its call centre technology and is adding reservation staff at its London headquarters.

Furthermore, MSC Cruises is rolling out a new pricing structure that will ensure the best deals are always available to holidaymakers who book early. As well as accessing the lowest prices, early bookers will be eligible for upgrades and other onboard benefits.

The four vessels currently on order represent an investment of more than €2.3 billion and will take the fleet to 16 ships – with a total capacity of over 61,000 guests. The cruise line also has an option for three more ships for delivery by 2022.

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Regent Seven Seas Air Upgrade for £99 Per Person


Guests booking any Autumn-Winter 2014/15 Caribbean sailing with Regent Seven Seas Cruises® can enjoy an air upgrade for just £99 per person return with British Airways 'World Traveller Plus' and Virgin Atlantic's 'Premium Economy' seats.

Between the 1 - 31 July, guests who book any new Caribbean sailing departing between December 2014 - April 2015 will be able to take advantage of this offer and begin their ultra-luxury, all-inclusive cruise holiday in style, before they even step aboard Seven Seas Navigator®.

The offer is also applicable on the line's peak season sailings over Christmas, New Year and the school holidays, subject to airline availability, and is available on all sailings roundtrip from Miami.

For further information or to book, call Reservations on 02380 682280, contact your specialist cruise agent or visit www.rssc.com  


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Holland America Grand Voyage


Holland America has announced details of its 2015 Grand World Voyage cruise. ms Amsterdam departs from Fort Lauderdale on 5 January 2015 on a cruise that will span 114 days and call at 45 ports in 25 countries on six continents.   Plus, for guests who have less time on their hands, eight segments ranging in length from 22 to 57 days are available from departure ports along the route.

Book by 31 July 2014, and receive Early Booking Amenities and savings
Reservations are open for ms Amsterdam’s 2015 Grand World Voyage, and guests who pay in full by 31 July 2014 will receive a 3% discount off the cruise fare.  Early Booking Amenities for full Grand World Voyage guests who book by 31 July 2014 also include prepaid hotel service charges, shipboard credit, luggage delivery service and a complimentary shore excursion or champagne for select stateroom categories.

Prices start from £11,782pp for the 114-day Grand World Voyage departing 5 January 2015 from Fort Lauderdale. Segments also starting on 5 January include a 30-day segment to Auckland from £3,122pp and a 35-day segment to Sydney from £3,829pp.  A 27-day segment from Auckland to Singapore departs 5 February 2015 starting from £3,062pp and a 46-day segment from Auckland to Dubai is available from £5,242pp. A 22-day segment from Sydney to Singapore departing 10 February 2015 starts from £2,473pp and the 41-day segment from Sydney to Dubai starts from £4,653pp. There is a 57-day segment from Singapore to Fort Lauderdale departing 4 March starting from £6,244pp whilst a 38-day segment from Dubai to Fort Lauderdale departing 23 March is also available and starts from and £3,946pp.

Cruise fares are per person, based on two sharing an inside stateroom. Fly cruise prices are available upon request.

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