Regent's No-Fly Irish Cruise

Regent Seven Seas are offering a rare No-Fly 'Celtic Charms' cruise to Ireland next year, on their deluxe vessel Seven Seas Voyager.

The full round-trip departs from Southampton on September 2, 2013, for 10 nights and features a full round-UK and Ireland odyssey. 

The higlights include calls at Rosyth, Invergordon, Kirkwall, Portree, Belfast, Dublin, Milford Haven and St Peters Port (Guernsey), with fares starting from £4,689 per person (in an H category Deluxe Balcony Suite). 

As with all Regent voyages, the fare also includes FREE unlimited shore excursions and all-inclousive on board, with fine dining, premium spirits and fine wines all at no extra charge, as well as gratuities, taxes, and entertainment. 

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

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Swan Hellenic’s Treasures of the British Isles

Make the most of the Great British summer and join Swan Hellenic’s 15-day Treasures of the British Isles cruise in partnership with the National Trust.

The voyage visits a number of National Trust properties, including Wallington in Northumberland, Plas Newydd, the ancestral home of the Marquess of Anglesey, Greenway, the holiday home of Agatha Christie, and the magical garden of the D’Oyly Carte family at Coleton Fishacre, as well as the spectacular Snowdonia National Park and the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.

Helping bring the destinations to life on board are NT guest speakers Jeremy Pearson, the Historic Properties Advisor for Devon and Cornwall, and Adrian Tinniswood, an established author of several National Trust books. Both have lectured widely in the UK and abroad and will be able to offer their expertise on the properties visited. Other speakers on this cruise include ornithologist Tim Earl, Tresco Abbey Garden’s curator, Mike Nelhams, and theologian, the Rt Revd Stephen Platten.

Treasures of the British Isles departs from Portsmouth and calls at Port of Tyne, Edinburgh, Scrabster, Stornoway (overnight), Tobermory (overnight), Oban, Anglesey, Belfast, Isles of Scilly, Dartmouth and St. Peter Port (Guernsey) before returning to Portsmouth. 

The lead-in price of £1,905 per person is based on a special guarantee offer fare on the June 6 departure. Savings of up to £930 per person are available on this cruise for selected cabins. Prices include a tailor-made programme of shore excursions, talks by eminent guest speakers, meals and entertainment on board, all gratuities and relevant cruise taxes/fees. Special offer terms and conditions apply. 

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

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More Ireland and UK In 2013 For Silversea

Silversea have a wide raft of new calls in Ireland and the British Isles on offer in 2012 and 2013, including the quaint Irish ports Foynes and Killibegs, historic Liverpool, the Welsh duo of St. David’s and Skomer Island, and the Isle of Mull, Holy Isle, Brodick and the Isle of Arran in Scotland.

Silver Whisper departs on an 11-day round-trip voyage from Southampton on May 13 and will call at Foynes, a tiny town steeped in aviation history (the first commercial flight from the US to Europe landed here in 1939) and Killibegs, a rural fishing town from where passengers can set off for the nearby Donegal Town and Castle and the stunning, isolated landscape of the Bluestack Mountains. Fares are from £3,899 per person.

Then, when Silver Whisper  returns to Europe in 2013, her May 16 twelve-day voyage from Southampton to Copenhagen will pay an inaugural visit to Liverpool, a city that revels in a glorious past as a mercantile hub and gateway to the New World and which today is renowned for its thriving culture and heritage, as well as Ireland and Scotland. Fares are from £4,499 per person.

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

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Crystal Tee Off For Top European Golf

Crystal Cruises has lined up 10 of Europe’s most spectacular championship golf courses for exclusive, luxury play during two limited-access “Experiences of Discovery” golf-themed cruises this summer.

Hosted by 51-time PGA tour-winner Billy Casper, travellers can tee off in Spain, Portugal and Monaco during Crystal Serenity’s 13th July voyage or throughout the British Isles on Crystal Symphony’s 25th August sailing.

Courses include:

Edinburgh/Rosyth
· Gleneagles King’s and Queen’s Courses: Overnighting allows for rounds on two aristocratic moorland links.

Barcelona
· Real Club de Golf El Prat: One of Spain’s most exclusive courses, designed by Greg Norman.
· Club de Golf Masia Bach: Challenging and contemporary 18 holes designed by José Maria Olazábal.

Monte Carlo
· Monte Carlo Golf Club: Inaugural Crystal club features sweeping Mediterranean Sea views.

Valencia
· El Saler Golf Course: Pine forests and sea flank this site of several Spanish Opens.

Cádiz
· Valderrama: Voted the 15th Best International Course by Celebrated Living readers.

Belfast
· Royal Belfast Golf Club: Ireland’s oldest fairway, with Belfast Lough and Antrim plateau views.

Lisbon
· Penha Longa Golf Course: This mountainous course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Junior, is considered one of the European circuit’s best.

Dublin
· Kildare Hotel & Country Club: Inland links designed by Arnold Palmer.

Boutique excursions offer socialising during warm-up refreshments, games, lunch and “19th hole” cocktails in legendary private clubhouses, with Crystal also arranging round-trip transportation, team-pairing, carts and caddies (where available) and club and shoe cleaning and storage. 

 

Shoreside activities are complemented by a host of onboard offerings, including parties, awards, golf clinics with PGA pro John Clark, TaylorMade clubs, putting green and two driving ranges for practice-at-sea. Billy Casper will also play and mingle with guests, as well as provide tips and presentations.

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

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Swan Hellenic's French Accent

Join Swan Hellenic’s newly refurbished MV Minerva for one of three superb summer cruises this year, starting with a great 15-day French Accent cruise from just £2,330 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin).

The voyage departs from Portsmouth on July 5 and calls at Amsterdam, Ostend, St Malo (above), Bordeaux (overnight), La Rochelle, Belle Ile, Brest, St Peter Port (Guernsey) and Honfleur before returning to Portsmouth.

Or discover some of the finest landscapes, castles and scenery that France and the British Isles has to offer with a 14-day Gardens of the Celtic Fringe cruise from £2,165 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin).

This voyage departs from Portsmouth on July 19 and calls at Dublin, Portrush, Killybegs, Glengarriff, Cork, Isles of Scilly, Falmouth, St Peter Port and Rouen (overnight) before returning to Portsmouth.

Or there is the South to the Mediterranean voyage on August 1, from just £1,995 per person. Again sailing from Portsmouth, this cruise visits St Peter Port, La Coruna, Oporto, Cadiz, Malaga, Cartagena, Palma, Cagliari, Trapani and Valletta (overnight). 

Prices for all cruises 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.

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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Cruise Ex-UK In 2012 With Oceania

Oceania Cruises will be offering four ex-UK cruises and three cruises returning into the UK during 2012, enabling guests to combine no-fly cruising or cruises with a simple ferry crossing or single outbound flight to join the line’s luxurious, mid-sized ships.

Oceania's first new-build luxury cruise ship Marina will offer two ex-UK sailings in June, a 12-night round-trip from Dover (embarking June 6), calling into Scotland, the Orkney Islands and Skye, four port calls in Ireland and returning to Dover via Fowey (Cornwall); and a voyage from London to Copenhagen, via Ireland, Iceland, Faroe Islands and Norway (embarking June 18). 

British guests will also be able to disembark in the UK following a 12-night sailing on board Marina from Copenhagen to Dover, boarding in Denmark’s capital on August 31 and calling into Norway, the Shetland Islands, Scotland, three ports in Ireland (including an overnight in Dublin), and returning to Dover via Falmouth (Cornwall).

Oceania's smaller 650-guest Nautica will offer two ex-UK sailings, a magnificent 21-night round trip from Dover, departing on July 3, that calls into Scotland, Shetland Islands, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland, the Isle of Skye, Belfast and Dublin, Falmouth, Cherbourg and Zeebrugge, before returning to Dover. Nautica will also sail a 12-night cruise around the British Isles, departing from Dover on July 24, calling into Scotland, the Orkney Islands, Skye, four ports in Ireland, Fowey and Le Havre.

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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Maiden Voyages of the MS Caledonian Sky

Noble Caledonia have acquired the MS Caledonian Sky, sister ship to their MS Island Sky, to sail an inaugural series of voyages for them from May to July next year, including The British Isles, Iceland, Norway and Russia's White Sea.

Caledonian Sky accommodates a maximum of 114 passengers in 57 spacious outside suites. Many have walk-in wardrobes and some feature tub baths. There will be seven categories of suites and 16 suites will have private balconies.

For those familiar with the Island Sky, she will feel like a second home, although there are some differences. The dining room, lounge, Lido Deck and bar are all similar. However, The Club on the Caledonian Sky has been transported to the very top deck. Here, there is a library and bar which leads out on to a lovely forward deck, with wonderful views from ceiling-to-floor windows.

For more info, check out www.noble-caledonia.co.uk or consult the UK's adventure Cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

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Serenity's Big Makeover Complete

One Hamburg shipyard, two weeks, several talented designers, 500-plus+ international staffers, 606 crew and $25 million. Such are the ingredients for the ultra-luxurious redesign of Crystal Cruises’ largest ship, Crystal Serenity. Just completed after a round-the-clock remodel at Germany’s Blohm + Voss shipyard, the dry dock was the company’s longest ever. All 535 staterooms, retail centres, outdoor pool deck, corridors and other spaces received a dazzling facelift, in addition to general sprucing of the entire outside and inside of the vessel.

Interior designer, Keith Rushbrook, principal at the Toronto-based II BY IV Design Associates summarises the vision: “We wanted modern classic elegance. We wanted Fifth Avenue – crème de la crème New York-inspired living and retail spaces that people love and look forward to spending time in.”

Sophisticated Stateroom Remodel

All of Serenity’s luxury accommodations received new appointments. While Crystal Penthouses were refreshed with new soft goods, Deluxe Staterooms, Penthouses and Penthouse Suites were completely transformed with new, floor-to-ceiling tufted headboards, bedside cabinets, sofas, curtains, pillows and custom carpets in contemporary lines and classic stone, silk, velvet, leather and crisp linen textures. The new sofas also offer more third berths – a nice feature for Crystal’s growing family clientele. Blu-ray players and flatscreen TVs were added and new modern lighting, plus an electronic “do not disturb” doorbell system, allowing guests greater personalisation of their chic accommodations.

Remarkable Retail Space Re-Do

The Apropos boutique was redesigned into three dramatic shopping spaces against a backdrop of rich Zebrano wood and herringbone rosewood, arresting black-plum-magenta carpeting and tufted leather seating. A new area is dedicated to Christian Dior cosmetics. The Dior shop is exclusive to Crystal and is the largest of its kind that isn’t land-based. Not be outshone, the Facets fine jewellery store also received a new, private sales area and a new, overall look mirroring a jewellery box, with mother-of-pearl feature wall and bevelled chrome display cabinets.

Serenity emerged from dry dock to begin a series of Baltic, British Isles and North Cape cruises. Come August, the ship sails to the Mediterranean for a variety of late summer and autumn cruises where guests can not only enjoy the resort’s new look, but exceptional value from a huge Autumn Fare Sale, with up to $2,000/couple spending credits and other amenities.

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

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Guernsey: Top Spot For Cruise Ships In The British Isles

With 76 vessels scheduled to visit this season, the islands of Guernsey hope this will be enough to once again take the top spot as the most visited British port for day calls.

In 2011, Guernsey will deliver a warm welcome to the passengers of the Queen Elizabeth, the new Cunard ship, that will make its inaugural calls to the island in September. Queen Elizabeth recalls the rich heritage of its predecessor, which bore the same name, and features Guernsey in two of its itineraries.

Situated some 140km from the south coast of England - yet only 44km from the Normandy coast of France - Guernsey is geographically well positioned on the southern side of the entrance to the English Channel.

With more than 800 years of history behind it, St Peter Port, Guernsey's capital, is one of the most picturesque seaports in Europe. A stunning location for cruise line calls, it offers quality port services and professional handling arrangements and is open 24 hours a day.

Visit Guernsey makes arrangements for a reception marquee and 'meet and greet' service to welcome cruise passengers, with a range of literature about the island provided. Cruise calls are also a firm favourite with the resident community, who offer a warm welcome to our passengers.

The new St Peter Port Trails map has proved a particularly popular aide for visitors interested in learning more about the town, with a selection of self-guided walks revealing different aspects of its heritage and attractions.

Further options for cruise visitors include exploring the island's Ruettes Tranquilles, scenic tours of the impressive 13th century Castle Cornet, visits to the beautiful sister islands of Sark and Herm, and finding out more about the Channel Islands' five-year occupation history during World War II.

For more information on Guernsey, please visit http://www.visitguernsey.com/ or, for a cruise that visits there, be sure to contact the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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