Celebrity's Expanded Europe In 2014

Celebrity Cruises has announced its European sailings for 2014, with six ships sailing in the region, including two from the UK. Guests can choose from 12 brand new itineraries including new seven-night sailings taking in Mediterranean gems from Barcelona to Venice, 12 and 13-night Classical Mediterranean cruises and 13night Istanbul overnight sailings. Next yeart will also include calls at 102 ports in 30 countries with five new ports of call – Zadar (Croatia), Porto Torres (Sardinia), Almeria (Spain), Sochi (Russia) and Lerwick (Shetlands). 

The cruise line’s newest and most luxurious ships, including recently launched Celebrity Reflection, will all sail their 2014 summer seasons in Europe, with Celebrity Eclipse and Infinity both sailing from UK ports. Celebrity Equinox will also repeat her 12-night Italy and Greek Isles sailings, calling at ports including Rome (Civitavecchia), Santorini and Athens (Piraeus). Fly/cruise prices start from £1,799 per person (based on two people sharing an interior stateroom).

Celebrity Constellation will continue to sail 12-night Norwegian Fjords, Scandinavia and Russia, and Arctic Circle sailings from Amsterdam. A new 14-night Amsterdam to Istanbul itinerary includes a new port of call for Celebrity in Almeria. Celebrity Reflection, will again sail a series of 10 and 11-night Eastern Med cruises from Civitavecchia, including her spa-inspired AquaClass Suites and the ultra-luxurious Reflection Suite - the first to include a glass shower extending over the edge of the ship. Celebrity Silhouette will continue 11-night Italy and Croatia and 12-night Adriatic cruises.

The line's new itineraries include: 

• Seven-night Greek Isles cruises from Venice. Fly/cruise prices start from £1,399 per person.
• 12-night Eastern Med and Greek Isles sailings where guests can island hop around Rhodes, Mykonos and Crete (Chania). Fly/cruise prices start from £1,649 per person.
• The 14-night Holy Land cruises head to historic ports of call including Alexandria (Egypt), Jerusalem (Ashdod, Israel) and Haifa (Israel). Fly/cruise prices start from £1,499 per person.

All prices based on two people sharing an interior stateroom. 

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

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OperaBabes Return To Fred. Olsen

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines have a real treat in store for fans of classical music this summer as Boudicca’s 14-night ‘Scandinavia and St. Petersburg’ cruise combines stunning Baltic ports with a theme of Classical Music, through its award-winning onboard enrichment programme, Vistas. The highlight of this cultural cruise will be live performances by The OperaBabes, making their third appearance with Fred. Olsen, who are set to electrify audiences with Puccini’s aria ‘O mio babbino caro’, made famous by Maria Callas, amongst their repertoire. 

As part of the Music theme, guests can enjoy fascinating talks, as well as star quality live entertainment. Hosting the theme is music expert Peter Hudson, who will be speaking about the great Maria Callas, renowned as the finest opera singer of the 20^th Century. Peter is a passionate opera-lover, who has been giving talks and lectures about Maria  and her fascinating, tragic life story for more than 20 years.

The OperaBabes – Rebecca Knight, soprano, and Karen England, mezzo soprano – will join this cruise in Copenhagen on August 11. Boudicca departs from Liverpool on July 31, calling first at Kristiansand in Norway. Founded by King Christian IV in the 17th Century, it boasts some of Norway’s finest beaches. Next is Visby in Gotland (Sweden), the setting for hundreds of historical sites, including burial mounds, medieval churches and fortresses, with many treasures from the Viking era. Moving further east, the ship then calls into Tallinn, the lovely capital of Estonia, with its domed churches and cobbled streets, one of the most popular ports in the region and always a delight to visit.

A major highlight of the cruise is the magnificent city of St. Petersburg, Russia’s most European city and a treasure trove of fine art and architecture. There is an overnight stay here and guests can choose an optional tour to visit the ballet or enjoy a classical music performance. The next port is Finland’s attractive and cosmopolitan capital, Helsinki, created by the czars as a ‘miniature’ St. Petersburg. On the return voyage, the final port of call is another capital – Copenhagen in Denmark – which has so much to offer; from the delightful Tivoli Gardens to the charming Little Mermaid statue and the colourful buildings of the former sailors' district, Nyhavn, there really is something for everyone. Two relaxing days at sea bring Boudicca back to Liverpool.

Prices for this cruise start from £1,599 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside, twin cabin, and include all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes. The OperaBabes will perform live during the cruise, and there is no extra charge for enjoying the Vistas ‘Classical Music’ themed activity and entertainment.

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

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Grab A Crystal Deal

Between now and February 28, savings of up to £1,629 per person are available on a selection of Crystal Cruises’ 2013 itineraries, with prices starting from just £1,918 per person for a seven-night all-inclusive luxury cruise in northern Europe. These savings are available on the following 12 cruises:

• April 21: 11-night cruise from Barcelona to Venice on Crystal Serenity visiting Monte Carlo, Florence, Rome, Sorrento, Sicily and Trogir. All inclusive prices from £2,825 per person (saving up to £1,151).
• May 2: seven-night cruise from Venice to Rome on Crystal Serenity visiting Dubrovnik, Kotor, Corfu, Taormina and Sorrento. All inclusive prices from £2,128pp (saving up to £627 per person).
• May 9: nine-night cruise from Rome to Istanbul on Crystal Serenity visiting Sorrento, Taormina, Santorini, Kusadasi and Canakkale. All inclusive prices from £2,437pp (saving up to £1,029).
• May 23: 12-night cruise from New York to Reykjavik on Crystal Symphony visiting Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, Halifax and St John’s. All inclusive prices from £3,332pp, including one-night pre-cruise hotel stay in New York (saving up to £1,482).
• June 8: seven-night cruise from Dover to Copenhagen on Crystal Serenity visiting Zeebrugge, Amsterdam, Oslo and Helsingborg. All inclusive prices from £1,918pp (saving  up to £932 per person).
• June 24: 10-night cruise from Stockholm to Copenhagen on Crystal Serenity visiting Tallinn, St Petersburg (2 nights), Helsinki and Berlin. All inclusive prices from £2,893pp (saving up to £1,629).
• July 6: seven-night cruise from Istanbul to Rome on Crystal Symphony visiting Kusadasi, Mykonos, Sicily and Sorrento. All inclusive prices from £2,050pp (saving up to £923).
• July 20: 10-night cruise from Stockholm to Copenhagen on Crystal Serenity visiting Tallinn, St Petersburg (2 nights), Helsinki and Berlin. All inclusive prices from £2,890pp (saving up to £1,629). 
• July 25: nine-night cruise from Istanbul to Rome on Crystal Symphony visiting Canakkale, Kusadasi, Valletta, Sicily and Sorrento. All inclusive prices from £2,680pp (saving up to £1,015).
• July 30: 10-night cruise from Copenhagen to Stockholm on Crystal Serenity visiting Berlin, Helsinki, St Petersburg (2 nights) and Tallinn. All inclusive prices from £2,890pp (saving up to £1,629).

Included in the cost of the cruise are return scheduled flights, overseas transfers and accommodation in a deluxe stateroom with picture window with all meals and soft drinks, selected alcoholic beverages, port taxes and gratuities.

For bookings, follow this link to the Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.

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Crystal's Great Repositioning Cruises

As year-round worldwide cruise ships, Crystal Cruises duo Crystal Symphony and  Serenity usually move to different regions seasonally. And, while repositioning cruises historically offer exceptional value, Crystal is making them even more attractive in 2013 by offering handsomely priced, re-invented journeys with unusual twists across the Atlantic, Pacific and American coastlines, from Northern to Southern Europe, North America to South America, and more.

New and interesting routes include:

Kobe to Vancouver (April 12) 

This “Trans-Pacific/Alaska” crossing on Crystal Symphony features Kobe (Japan, overnight); a rare visit to Petropavlosk, showcasing Russian Far East culture and natural bounties such as 68 active volcanoes; Crystal’s only Alaskan cruise in 2013, with four calls including lesser-visited Dutch Harbor and Kodiak, plus Seward and Ketchikan; and an “Ocean Views” theme featuring lively debate among world affairs experts about current issues.

New York to Reyjkavik (May 23)

A rare spring “New England/Canada Transatlantic” voyage on Crystal Symphony featuring seven ports, including Manhattan overnight; traditional New England ports Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, Halifax and St John; a new overnight in Reykjavik; and a “Wine and Food” theme with guest culinary experts and complimentary classes.

Barcelona to Dover (May 30) and Dover to Barcelona (Sept 2)

These nine-night cruises reposition Crystal Serenity between Baltic/Northern Europe and Mediterranean/Southern Europe seasons, offering: extended time in the world’s pre-eminent wine country via Bordeaux overnights; beautiful colonial-architecture-filled Lisbon; intimate southern Spain with Barcelona overnight and a Cadiz/Seville call from Dover, plus Barcelona, Málaga and rarely-visited Cartagena calls when sailing to Dover; unique UK islands Gibraltar (Barcelona-Dover) and the Channel Islands (Dover-Barcelona).

Miami to Rio (Nov 23)

Crystal Symphony moves from North to South America offering: Rio de Janeiro overnight; Caribbean stops in Barbados and Devil’s Island, French Guiana; intimate, off-the-beaten-path Brazil, including a maiden call in Natal, plus Belém, Fortaleza, Maceió and Salvador; and a “Wine and Food” theme with extra-special culinary indulgences during US Thanksgiving.

Additional 2013 repositioning cruises that offer more exclusive itineraries include: Los Angeles to New York via Panama Canal (May 6) with rare call to Charleston and a “Garden and Floral Design” theme offering shore excursions to local gardens across the eastern seaboard; Transatlantic from Dover (Sept 2) ending in Boston, a first for Crystal, and with two calls in Scotland en route; and New York to Miami (Nov 2) offering extended time in the US South-east (Charleston, Savannah and a maiden call at St Augustine), plus Baltimore, Turks & Caicos, Curacao, Aruba and a “Film and Theatre” theme.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.

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Star Clippers Adds New 'Taster' Cruises

In response to growing demand for short ‘taster’ cruises, tall-ship sailing specialist Star Clippers has added new short-break cruises in the Baltic for 2013, in addition to Mediterranean sailings during 2012, including a five-night mini-cruise from Athens to Malta this October for just £999 per person, including flights and transfers.

Departing Athens on October 20, the 170-passenger square rigger Star Clipper sails to the picturesque ports of Monemvasia and Pilos in Greece, both relatively untouched by tourism, followed by a day at sea in which to relax on the warm teak decks, enjoying the autumn sunshine. There’s a day in historic Syracuse, Sicily, before arriving in Malta on October 25.

The company's new shorter cruises in 2013 cost from £690 per person, cruise-only, for three nights on Star Flyer (a sister ship to the four-masted Star Clipper), including the `Sailing Parade’ tall ships festival in Hamburg, to £1,025 for a five-night sailing from Monaco to Rome on Star Clipper. Other mini-cruises depart from Venice and Rome, for three and four nights respectively, on the company’s flagship, the five-masted, 227-passenger Royal Clipper.

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

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New-Look Crystal Symphony

Crystal Cruises has just finished a major $25million refurbishment of their Crystal Symphony, completing a five-year redesign plan for their luxury vessel.

The two-week extreme makeover reveals chic new major public spaces, including the Avenue Saloon, Palm Court lounge, Galaxy showroom, Hollywood Theatre, Bridge Lounge, Fantasia and Waves “junior cruisers” areas, plus the Tender Landing/passenger boarding area.  

This latest dry-dock marks the culmination of their $65 million overall project to redesign every room on board. Other new touches include enhancements to all staterooms, paddle tennis court resurfacing, sprucing of tender shuttles, more energy-efficient hull paint, galley updates and general maintenance and detailing of the entire ship. 

“In keeping with our tremendous focus on design, we wanted to create something both highly contemporary and yet extremely accessible,” says President Gregg Michel. “The ultimate result is all our guests’ favourite gathering places now feel even more welcoming, while also offering the sophistication and elegance luxury travellers look for in a holiday setting.”

Three interior design companies created the visions for the new spaces: Adfecto and SMC Design from London and KNA Design from Los Angeles, with inspiration culled from classic icons like New York’s 21 Club, Hollywood’s Coconut Grove and Palm Beach country club. With lighting being such a key creative consideration, Crystal also worked with DPA Lighting Consultants to add to the design’s drama, ambiance and environmental-friendliness.

Elegant Tea, Tunes, Cocktails, and Vistas

KNA’s redesign of signature lounges Avenue Saloon and Palm Court sets the perfect, lively backdrop for enjoying Crystal’s newly all-inclusive fine wines and custom-crafted cocktails. 

 

The panoramic-view Palm Court sparkles as the jewel in the crown on top of the ship, recalling the glamour-filled Coconut Grove of Hollywood’s yesteryear. A more intimate, modern lounge seating in buttery soft leathers surrounds a larger, spiral-design dance floor and slick, stainless and hand-tiled mosaic bar. Together, aqua, chartreuse, ash and cream jewel tones create a “light” California ambiance that helps bring the outside in during daytime tea and view-gazing. New lighting, including stunning, faceted Lucite wall sconces and shimmering Murano glass table lamps, then help to transform the space into a dreamy destination for evening dancing and drinks.  

Avenue Saloon and piano bar retains its 19^th-century gentlemen’s club feel, but incorporates updated colours, furnishings, materials and music and seating configuration.  Rich mahogany-panelled walls, leather upholstery, brass nailhead trim, sumptuous velvets and thick, lush inset rugs remind one of a days-gone-by country house. The inviting piano relocation allows for increased seating and conversation area choices, including new brass-tack couches, embossed-leaf barstools or tufted booths. New romantic lighting, sumptuous crown molding, antique-style trunk tables, custom artwork and audio systems add to the salon atmosphere.

Exquisite Theatres

Old Hollywood panache also extends into Crystal’s entertainment showrooms, the Galaxy Lounge and Hollywood Theatre, with an air of British tradition, thanks to the spaces’ two UK designers. 

 

With diamond-patterned glass doors, lustrous gold fabric panels, black Nero Marquina marble flooring and large LCD digital signage screens, a new, contemporary entrance to the ship’s live performance showroom highlights the Galaxy Lounge. Through the entry, crystal lighting features, reminiscent of a dressing room mirror and starburst-designed carpet and wall lights help create a home fitting for Crystal’s star guests and performers. New, modern mohair seating, cocktail tables and under-banquette lighting add comfort and drama. A new stage extension expands performance space by 30 per cent while tech enhancements include a new sound booth, show control systems, high-def projection, infrared video cameras, stage lighting and speaker system.

Classic Art Deco movie palaces inspired Adfecto’s re-do of the Hollywood Theatre, Crystal’s elegant space for feature films and presentations. New smoked wood-grain walls and velvet damson-coloured curtains create a sweeping entry, while decorative and underseat lighting provides a warm ambience and soft glow.  

Family Fun

Whether playing together or alone, Crystal Symphony’s play/games areas for kids, teens and adults have been transformed for family recreation. 

 

The dedicated Junior Cruisers’ areas, Waves (teens) and Fantasia (children), have been re-designed by Adfecto to provide versatility for a wide range of ages and activities. The areas’ divided layout has been reconfigured to create more privacy for teens and more of a welcoming, home den feel for younger children, while also allowing flexibility for the space to be opened up into one. Different sections for group activities/crafts, storytime, relaxation, videogames (Wii, PlayStation, Xbox, Kinect) and screenings (two wide-screen TVs, Blu-ray players and movie projection system) encourage personal expression. New lighting features and Bose speaker system help create different atmospheres and transform the entire space into an exclusive teen hangout at night. 

KNA has also transformed the Bridge Lounge into the classic card room, reminiscent of Palm Beach’s tennis and card clubs during the Gilded Age, with ambient sconces flanking wooden built-ins, frosted mirrors and saffron panel-covered walls.  

Best of the Rest

New electronic “do not disturb” doorbell systems -- a big success after installation on Crystal Serenity last year -- were added to all staterooms, as were new cordless digital phones.  Penthouses also received new glass shower doors. Smaller-level updates included a complete refresh of the paddle tennis court, new stoves and cooking equipment in the main galley, environmental upgrades for lighting and boilers and a new, energy-efficient hydrogel hull paint that mimics the low-friction characteristics of a shark’s skin. An update to stateroom veranda furniture is also scheduled to follow shortly after the dry dock’s end.

And Now...

 

Symphony is now sailing her first of seven all-inclusive Baltic and Northern Europe cruises this summer before sailing across the Atlantic for a New England/Canada season this autumn. Until June 30, Book Now fares for a 2012 voyage start from £2,364 per person (based on a seven-night New England/Canada cruise departing October 14), with seven- to-18-night options also offered in the Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand.

For bookings, be sure to see this link for The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's leading luxury cruise experts. 

 

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Marina's Russian Debut

Two full days in St Petersburg are included on Oceania Cruises first-ever Baltic voyages on the line’s recently launched new ship, Marina, cruising to Scandinavia and Russia. Limited availability is offered on three 10-day “Baltic Treasures” cruises, with cruise-only rates from £1,219 per person, including $500/stateroom onboard credit, free flights, all meals, complimentary soft drinks and bottled water. Departures are on July 22, August 1 & 11.

The cruise offers the opportunity to take part in Oceania's Culinary Discovery Tours to shore-side markets. The Farm-to-Table excursion visits two family-run farms, one that grows root vegetables, the other raising free-range cattle. After a three-course lunch in Visby, guests meet in the ship’s Bon Appetit Culinary Centre (the only hands-on cookery school at sea) for a “Joy of Grilling” class.

Latvian delicacies are showcased in Riga, where a local chef leads a tour of the Central Market. Back aboard ship, a “Romantic Riga” class completes the immersive experience. While in Helsinki, guests learn to make Finnish sausages and cinnamon rolls, then return to the ship for a class – and tasting – of smoked and cured salmon.

Marina’s other signature features include a Canyon Ranch SpaClub; six gourmet restaurants, including a French bistro by Chef Jacques Pépin; and a wine-tasting facility developed in cooperation with Wine Spectator magazine.

The “Baltic Treasures” itinerary, from Copenhagen to Stockholm, also includes visits to Warnemünde (a gateway to Berlin); Bornholm in Denmark; Gdynia, Poland (the port for Gdansk); and St Petersburg, where an overnight aboard Marina allows guests ample time to discover the magnificent Hermitage and Petrodvorets, Peter the Great’s imperial palace. 

For bookings, see this link for The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK’s leading luxury cruise specialists.

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Noble Caledonia's Small-Scale Baltic

Bordered by diverse kingdoms and republics in a relatively contained area, the Baltic is perfect for exploration by ship. The history of the region is fascinating, with countries vying for commercial and political influence for over a thousand years or more. Summer is the perfect time to explore its historic shores and look back over its colourful past, from the Vikings and the Hanseatic era to more modern day events. If you are contemplating a trip to the Baltic, you may have noticed here are a number of cruises on offer aboard ships of varying sizes. You can travel with many hundreds or join a Noble Caledonia party of just 100 aboard the MS Island Sky. You join one of the finest small ships in the world, where peace, high quality service and attention to detail are the order of the day.  In addition to these benefits of small-ship cruising in the Baltic, the comprehensive itinerary has the added advantage of spending three full days in St Petersburg. Most cruises spend one day or perhaps two, but it simply is not possible to see all this marvellous city and surrounding countryside have to offer in such a short time. What makes cruises aboard Island Sky unique is the experience of travelling with so few like-minded passengers. This means disembarking with ease at each port of call, just a few buses rather than a whole fleet that will be waiting for the big cruise liners, and quality. You will not find endless entertainment and impersonal service; instead, you can enjoy some light music in the bar after dinner and informative briefings and talks by the Cruise Director and Guest Speaker. Excellent contacts in each port also mean that, for 2012, Noble Caledonia has been able to arrange some special opening/closing times on visits to Catherine’s Palace, Peterhof Palace and the Hermitage in St Petersburg. Quietvox earphones are also available for all shore excursions. This special voyage departs on July 1 for 13 nights and prices start from £4,295. Book by June 30 and save £400 per person. For more information and bookings, consult The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's leading luxury cruise specialists, on this link.

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Silversea Extend Baltic Voyages

Silversea have extended two of their Northern European voyages setting sail in June to give passengers even more of their luxury all-inclusive style in the Baltic. 

The voyages, which depart from Copenhagen on June 18 and from Helsinki on June 23, will now run for nine-days to incorporate a three-night call in St. Petersburg. Complimentary return air between Copenhagen and Helsinki is also included in the fare, along with a generous $500 onboard spending credit to use against ship facilities such as fine-dining in Le Champagne and spa treatments.

The first 9-day cruise, on Silver Whisper, calls at Warnemunde (Rostock) in Germany; Ronne and Bornholm in Denmark; Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg and Helsinki again. It costs from £2,468, including flights and onboard spending credit of $500 per suite.

The 9-day sector from Helsinki on June 23 calls at St. Petersburg, Helsinki, Stockholm, Ronne, Bornholm, Warnemunde and Copenhagen. It costs from £2,699 including flights and onboard spending credit of $500 per suite.

Highlights of the two extended voyages include a panoramic tour of Helsinki and the chance to navigate the beautiful Finnish archipelago by private sailing vessel; a ‘walk in the footsteps’ excursion of Stieg Larsson’s bestselling Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, set on Stockholm’s Södermalm Island; and a visit to the Catherine and Pavlovsk palaces, discovery of the history of Russian jewellery at the Gold and Diamond rooms of the Hermitage museum or an evening at the opera or ballet at the renowned Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.

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

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A Right Royal Celebration with Swan Hellenic

Here's a truly Royal cruise idea - celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee on board Swan Hellenic’s newly refurbished ship, MV Minerva from just £2,185 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin).

Departing from Portsmouth on May 22, passengers on the 16-day St. Petersburg and the Baltic cruise will be able to celebrate the Jubilee by taking part in ‘A Right Royal Quiz’ including musical clues taken from Her Majesty’s 60-year reign. Passengers will also be treated to a special performance of ‘Theatre Royal’ from the Shakespeare Revue Company, enacting some of the Queen’s favourite shows from across the ages, as well as a commemorative meal to mark the occasion.

To accompany the onboard entertainment, Swan Hellenic offers a programme of shore activities fit for any Queen, visiting the prestigious Mariinsky Theatre to celebrate St Petersburg’s 20^th Music Festival “Stars of the White Nights”, seeing a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Opera ‘Eugene Onegin’, and a behind-the-scenes tour with a curator at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm.

The full voyage sails through the Kiel Canal and then visits Ronne (Denmark), Visby (Sweden), St. Petersburg (overnight), Tallinn (Estonia), Gdansk (Poland) and Copenhagen (Denmark).

The price includes a tailor-made programme of shore excursions, talks by eminent Guest Speakers, meals and entertainment on board, all gratuities and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Special terms and conditions apply.

For booking details, follow this link to the The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury cruise specialists.

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Baltic Yoga Under Sail

Tall ship cruise specialist Star Clippers has added four new dates to its programme of yoga and meditation-themed cruises this summer. Yoga expert Christel Vollmer will be offering complimentary daily yoga and meditation sessions on board the 170-passenger tall ship Star Flyer on three cruises in the Baltic on 19th May, 17th June and 18th August. 

Yoga classes on all sailings will take place in the open air, under thousands of square feet of billowing sails – the ultimate relaxation for body and soul, enhanced by the fresh sea breezes. Each cruise will begin with an Introduction to Yoga class and every day thereafter, two classes will be held: 60 minutes of power yoga in the morning and a 40-minute wind-down class at sunset, followed by meditation.

Christel will also deliver lectures on yoga for slimming, yoga for back care and power yoga, or astanga. All classes are completely optional; the ships will continue their normal progamme of activities and ports of call and guests are welcome to do as many or as few classes as they like. For those who want to follow a healthy or vegetarian diet during the cruise, Star Clippers’ usual sumptuous breakfast buffets, piled with fresh, seasonal fruits, and magnificent arrays of salads at lunchtime will be available, as well as vegetarian choices at dinner.

• Hamburg to Oslo, departing May 19, seven nights from £1,490 per person.
• Warnemunde to Kiel, departing June 17, five nights from £1,035 per person.
• Oslo to Hamburg on Star Flyer, departing August 18, seven nights from £1,490 per person. 

All prices include full board on the cruise, all yoga and lectures and port charges. Flights are extra.

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

PS: Don't forget our new edition is now online, and you can see it on our main website, www.worldofcruising.co.uk.

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Discover A Summer Bargain!

Voyages of Discovery is offering a series of summer savings of up to 40% per person on 2012 cruises. With prices starting from as little as £489 per person for an eight-day cruise, including transfers and gratuities, their new Summer Sale offers value for money on all European itineraries.

All cabin grades have been reduced, meaning the higher the grade of cabin booked, the bigger the saving. The Summer Sale is valid on all bookings made before 12 April. Cruises on offer include: Voyage to the Mediterranean – 8-day cruise from £489pp, departing Harwich on 17 September calling at Leixoes (Portugal) and Barcelona (Spain; fly home). D-Day, Normandy, Dunkirk and Beyond – 9-day cruise round-trip from Portsmouth from £589pp, departing on 9 June and including Dunkirk (France) and Heligoland (Germany). Oslo and the Magic of Norway – 10-day cruise from £679pp, departing round-trip from Harwich on 25 August calling at Oslo, Flåm and Gudvangen (Norway).

Timeless Baltic – 15-day cruise round-trip from Harwich from £1,049pp, departing on 3 September and including calls at Copenhagen (Denmark) and St Petersburg (Russia). Spitsbergen and the Northern Cape – 16-day cruise from Harwich from £1,099pp, departing on 13 June and including calls at Trondheim (Norway) and Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen). A Nordic and White Sea Adventure – grand 20-day voyage from Harwich from £1,899pp, departing on 25 July and calling at the likes of Archangel (Russia) and Ørsta (Norway). Further summer cruises and offers are available.

Price includes flights and overseas transfers from/to the ship (where applicable), all gratuities, service charges and port/airport taxes, a comprehensive Guest Speaker programme and all meals and entertainment on-board. Savings are based on original brochure price. The £1,953 per person saving is based on a guest booking a category A cabin on the Nordic and White Sea Adventure sailing at original brochure price.

For booking details, follow this link to the UK's cruise agent specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Fred. Olsen Highlight Scottish Connection

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will be celebrating its Scots links with a wide choice of convenient regional cruises from Scottish ports in 2012. The cruise season begins in May, with a sailing from Greenock to the Adriatic, featuring Croatia. Cruises from Greenock also visit Iberia and Norway, before Boudicca repositions to Rosyth, for cruises to the Baltic, Norwegian fjords, Spitsbergen and Iceland.

A final mini-cruise from Rosyth to Norway and the Orkneys departs on August 10, after which Boudicca moves to her next home port of Newcastle (Port of Tyne). 

The first ex-Scotland voyage on Boudicca, a  21-night ‘Adriatic with Croatia’ cruise, departs from Greenock (Glasgow) on May 20 and has an added attraction of ‘Flavours of the Adriatic’ through Fred. Olsen’s award-winning onboard enrichment programme, Vistas. The expert speaker will be Robert Ash, a celebrity chef who runs a cookery school in Mâcon, in the Burgundy region of France, and was also a finalist on the BBC’s Masterchef.

Boudicca’s island-hopping cruise calls first into Gibraltar, then Malta’s capital Valletta, before reaching its first Croatian port, Šibenik, the relatively small size of Fred. Olsen’s ships meaning they can access such lesser-known ports. Next is glorious Venice, where the ship stays until late at night, allowing guests time to explore this legendary city of mysterious canals, before cruising on to Koper in Slovenia, then Ancona, on the east coast of Italy, before Boudicca reaches the jewel of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik in Croatia.

On the return journey, the ship calls into the Spanish port of Motril before she returns to Greenock. Prices start from £2, 269 per person, based on two adults sharing an outside, twin cabin Grade ‘E’, including all meals and entertainment on board, as well as port taxes. There is no extra charge for taking part in the enrichment programme.

Retirement Cruises, Too

Many guests taking a cruise these days are marking a special occasion, and often the holiday is to celebrate retirement, when there is at last time to relax and take it easy. For those guests, Fred. Olsen is launching a dedicated package - the ‘Retirement Celebration’ - bookable on any cruise, departing from January 2013.

The package comprises champagne and canapés served in the cabin, a greetings card and celebration cake, and is priced at £45 per person. It must be booked at least 28 days prior to departure. Full details will be in the Worldwide Cruises 2013-14 brochure, due to be launched this June. 

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

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Fred. Olsen's Diamond Jubilee Specials

As a British cruise line attracting predominantly British guests, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines plans to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee in typical patriotic style, with special ‘red, white and blue’ menus, entertainment, and much more aboard all four ships in its fleet over the Jubilee Weekend, 2nd–5th June.

Cruise guests will be invited to get into the Street Party spirit with plenty of Union Flags and bunting, and will have the chance to play traditional games and join in a rousing British sing-along. There will be specially-themed menus, and each ship with serve a Jubilee Cocktail in the bars created by the onboard ‘mixologists’. Entertainment will focus on ‘British Nights’ with variety shows, and quizzes with a British theme. Raffles will also be held on board, to raise money for Fred. Olsen’s charity partner, the RNLI – a charity of which Her Majesty the Queen is Patron. Plans also include a Grand Tea Dance with complimentary sherry and cakes, as well as a prize for the best cake.

Guests visiting the beauty salon can expect to be offered special pampering packages, to make them Feel Like a Queen for the Day. In the public lounges, TV coverage of the Jubilee events will be screened, so those away from home will not miss any of the action. The ships will be at different locations around the world during Jubilee weekend:

Balmoral will be in the Norwegian fjords, on an eight-night cruise departing from Southampton on May 29. The cruise visits Bergen, Flåm, Olden, Eidfjord and Stavanger, and returns to Southampton. Prices start from £949 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade ‘H’.

Boudicca will be on a cruise to the Adriatic, departing from Greenock (Glasgow) on May 20. This 21-night cruise calls at Gibraltar, Valletta (Malta), Sibenik (Croatia), Venice (Italy), Koper (Slovenia), Ancona (Italy), Dubrovnik (Croatia), Motril (Spain), and returns to Greenock. The cruise has an additional attraction of a theme of ‘Flavours of the Adriatic’ through the award-winning onboard enrichment programme, Vistas. Prices start from £2,269 per person, based on two adults sharing an outside twin cabin, Grade ‘E’.

Braemar will be in the Baltic during the Jubilee weekend, on a 14-night cruise departing from Dover on May 31. This cruise will call at Ijmuiden (for tours to Amsterdam), Rønne (Bornholm, Denmark), Visby (Gotland, Sweden), St. Petersburg (Russia, overnight), Tallinn (Estonia), Stockholm (also for an overnight stay), and Aalborg (Denmark), before returning to Dover. Prices start from £1,199 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade ’I’.

Finally, Black Watch will spend the Jubilee weekend in the Eastern Mediterranean, on a 23-night cruise from Dover, departing on May 19. This cruise calls at Cadiz (Spain), Gibraltar, Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy), Corfu (Greece), Katakolon (Greece), Alexandria (Egypt), Valletta (Malta), Algiers (Algeria), Tangier (Morocco), Lisbon (Portugal), and returns to Dover. There is a Vistas theme on this cruise of ‘Ancient Mythology’, and prices start from £2,269 per person, based on two adults sharing an outside twin cabin, Grade ‘E’. 

All cruise prices are per person, and include all meals and entertainment on board, including special shows for the Jubilee, and port taxes.

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

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Royal Caribbean's 2013 Southampton Boost

Cruising from Southampton has become a great deal more fun with news that two activity-packed Royal Caribbean ships will set sail from the port during the summer of 2013 for the first time. Bringing more rock climbing, ice skating, surfing and great entertainment than ever before, both Independence of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas (above) will call the UK home from May 2013 until late October.

The 3,634-guest Independence has been based in Southampton since 2008 and continues to receive rave reviews from UK holidaymakers. The 3,114-guest Adventure of the Seas brings yet more cruise holiday options to the popular port.

Cruises go on sale tomorrow (March 20) and there are a host of early booking offers up for grabs, including free car parking in Southampton, free coach travel to UK departure ports, and low prices on regional flights to UK departure ports on all cruises booked of ten nights or more as part of the early booking deal.

Itinerary highlights with the new Adventure of the Seas UK-based season include:

Seven-night France and Spain cruise departing Southampton and calling at Vigo, Gijon and Bilbao in Spain, and Le Havre for Paris in France, available from £599 based on May 24, 2013, departure.

A 12-night Baltic cruise featuring destinations such as Oslo, Copenhagen, Tallinn, Helsinki and an overnight stay in St. Petersburg departing Southampton from just £999, based on a May 31, 2013, departure.

A 14-night Mediterranean Cities cruise departing Southampton on July 7 and October 13, 2013, with ports of call in Malaga, Cannes, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Valencia, Cartegena, Lisbon and Vigo from £1,199.

When Adventure of the Seas arrives in Southampton on May 5, 2013, the ship will offer a series of seven, 12, 13, 14 and 16-night cruises. An early booking offer allowing savings of up to £500 per stateroom will apply to all Adventure cruises booked by May 31, 2012.

On May 2, 2013, Independence of the Seas will arrive in Southampton following a dry dock enhancement and will offer a series of new itineraries including more shorter voyages such as two-night cruises from Le Havre for Paris and three-night cruises to Le Havre for Paris and Zeebrugge for Bruges. Independence will also offer eight-night cruises to Norway, 14-night Norway and Cork cruises, various 14-night Mediterranean cruises, and 12-night Canary Islands cruises.

Further new destinations and cruises for Independence in 2013 include seven and eight-night cruises to various destinations in Norway, and a new call to Ibiza on a 14-night Spanish Mediterranean cruise.

For booking details, be sure to check this link with the UK's cruise agent specialists The Cruise Line Ltd.

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

Cunard's March Cabin Upgrade Offers

Cunard have a series of offers with outstanding value for money this month to sample their classic ocean liner travel.

Destinations include a short break where you can join Queen Victoria on May 5 or Queen Mary 2 on November 16 for a four-night long weekend for an introduction to Cunard’s legendary lifestyle. Sail from Southampton and call at Zeebrugge (for Bruges) and Le Havre (for Paris) before returning home. On offer are outside stateroom fares at inside prices, starting from just £399 per person for Queen Victoria and £499 on QM2.

Queen Victoria’s Mediterranean 16-night voyage on October 3 starts from and returns back to Southampton visiting Cadiz, Malaga, Split, Corfu, Venice and Dubrovnik. Again, outside stateroom fares at inside prices are on offer from £1,499 per person and Princess Grill fares at deluxe balcony prices from £2,399.

Queen Elizabeth sails from Southampton on July 6 and August 7 for a seven-night voyage along Norway’s scenic coastline, calling at Stavanger, Skjolden, Geiranger and Bergen. A balcony stateroom is the perfect complement to this stunning landscape, with balcony fares now at outside stateroom prices, starting at £1,069 per person.

The Queen Mary 2 then departs Southampton on August 10 for an 11-night voyage to the Baltic cities, including Hamburg, Oslo, Copenhagen, Gothenburg and Stavanger. Outside stateroom fares for the cost of an inside room are now available in March from £1,549 per person.

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

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Carnival's New European Programme

Carnival Cruise Lines has announced the launch of brand new European itineraries, with their Carnival Legend offering an exciting choice of options starting in spring 2013. The programme introduces the line’s first Norwegian fjords itinerary and an extended series of ex-UK cruises for the first time, as well as cruises to the Baltic, Mediterranean and around the British Isles.

Legend’s schedule will encompass 12-day voyages to Northern Europe all departing from Dover, along with 12-day Mediterranean cruises offering departures from the ports of Venice, Barcelona and Dover. In total, there will be 17 European cruises from April to October, visiting 34 ports across 18 countries.

Norway/Western Europe, British Isles Cruises Round-Trip from Dover from £879pp

Six 'Baltic Wonders & St Petersburg' cruises will be offered, visiting Copenhagen, Warnemunde (for Berlin), Helsinki, St Petersburg, Tallinn (Estonia) and Amsterdam. Departure dates include June 21, July 3, 15 and 27 and August 8 and 20. The June 21 sailing will visit Bruges and Brussels instead of Amsterdam.

12-day Mediterranean Cruises from £699pp

The schedule offers 12-day cruises from Venice to Barcelona departing May 4 and 28 and October 31. On these voyages, guests can tour medieval castles, sample delicious local cuisine and marvel at ornate churches and other historic architecture as they visit Dubrovnik, Messina, Naples, Civitavecchia (for Rome), Livorno (for Pisa and Florence) and Marseilles. The May 4 and October 31 departures also include Athens and Izmir while the May 28 voyage stops at Monte Carlo and Palma de Mallorca.

15-Day Transatlantic Crossings in April and November

Carnival Legend will also operate a 15-day transatlantic crossing departing Tampa on April 7 with featured ports including King’s Wharf, Bermuda; Ponta Delgada in the Azores, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca. The reverse itinerary will operate on November 12, calling at Palma de Mallorca, Malaga, Funchal (Madeira), Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands and the company's private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay.

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

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Celebrity's Summer Savings

Celebrity Cruises is offering a range of phenomenal cruise holiday prices to showcase the many diverse destinations that can be reached when sailing out of Southampton on Celebrity Eclipse this year.

The savings – some up to £1,000 per stateroom - are being offered on a wide selection of sailings during spring and summer 2012.

Dubbed ‘The Eclipse Sale,’ the offer is available on a broad selection of voyages, including a huge £1,000 off a balcony stateroom on a 14-night Iceland & Fjords cruise. With balcony staterooms starting from an incredible £999 per person, savvy travellers are encouraged to book now as these incredible prices won’t be around for long.

Offers are available on a number of selected itineraries, including:

A 14-night Iceland & Fjords cruise now available from £1,549 per person (based on two people sharing a balcony stateroom) and calling at Reykjavik in Iceland and Olden and Bergen in Norway. Price is based on an August 4 departure.

Save £800 on a 14-night Scandinavia & Russia cruise, now available from £1,499 per person (based on two sharing a balcony stateroom) and calling at destinations such as St Petersburg, Stockholm and Copenhagen. Price is based on a June 23 departure.

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.