Happy New Cruise Year!

By Editor Simon Veness

It's a very Happy New Year to cruise-goers everywhere, and a great new year to be looking forward to, with six new ocean-going ships, a whole bevy of new river-cruise vessels and numerous other milestones, including the 100th anniversary of the Panama Canal.

And it's a very big year for us at World of Cruising, too. With new owners and a new-look magazine set to debut this month, we are ready to take our market-leading coverage to whole new levels in 2014.

Not only do we jump from four to six issues a year, but we also have new art and design, new features, columnists, destinations and ways to be involved. We will continue to provide the best coverage, but we will also be sharper, smarter and more user-friendly.

Regular readers will still get to enjoy award-winning writers like Gary Buchanan, John Honeywell (aka Captain Greybeard), Jo Foley, Andrew Maclear and others - confirming World of Cruising as THE experts in the field of cruising and cruise ships of all types - but we will also be adding new features from the likes of Andy Harmer (the Director of CLIA UK), Sue Parker and Silver Travel Advisor, as well as great new destination features like Three Of A Kind and Where Next.

You will also see more focus on the three main areas of Ocean, River and Adventure cruising, plus a new-look World of Spas section sponsored by Champneys resorts and spas. 

Our January issue also boasts our essential - and exclusive - Cruise Planner, with a ship-by-ship look at ALL the choices of the various cruise lines worldwide. Others have tried to copy our unique formula for providing an at-a-glance guide to the immense array of options on offer, but only World of Cruising has the tried and trusted, reader-approved method.

So, if you're looking to set sail in 2014, whether for the first time or the 100th (!), be sure to check out all the details, advice and info with us first. And you'll be sure of a VERY happy New Year!

PS: If you like our New Year photo, be sure to see more at Tech Beasts!

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.

World Of Cruising To Be Official Magazine For 2016 Olympics

In the latest issue of World of Cruising magazine we celebrate our 15th anniversary with an edition packed full of exciting articles and features. Join Gary Buchanan as he sets sail for Africa and enjoys a remarkable cruise-safari experience, whilst Captain Greybeard gives us his thoughts on the future of Liverpool cruise port and the QE2. 

Elsewhere, we've got reviews of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Breakaway and Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas and a special feature on the culinary delights being served up on the QM2 - a must-read for food and dining enthusiasts.

For you adventure-cruise buffs, Steve Newman has a piece on the incredible Sea of Cortes with its whales, baby sea lions and snorkelling attractions with Un-Cruise Adventures. 

World of Cruising is one of the world’s most popular cruise magazines. You can view the latest digital edition by clicking below or alternatively, visit our subscribe section where you can take advantage of our latest subscription offer and enjoy having every issue delivered straight to your front door before it goes online. 

Check out the interactive magazine here (click on the pages to open the online edition): www.worldofcruising.co.uk.

PS: Did our headline Fool you? Did you check the date...?!

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.

Get Ready For Our Spring Issue!

We're now putting the finishing touches to our Spring issue, with some real treats in store for our readers. Our Cover Story theme for this edition is Into Africa, as our contributing editor Gary Buchanan puts together a special 'cruise-safari' experience through Southern Africa, taking a Silversea voyage around South Africa and Mozambique and then travelling inland to try a river-cruise aboard the luxurious Zambezi Queen (above).

It's a unique and wildlife-filled journey, capped off with a look at the pre- and post-cruise attractions of the port city of Cape Town, but that's only the start of an epic series of distinctive voyages in our latest edition.

From Southern Africa we head to Mexico's Sea of Cortes with American Safari Cruises as our adventure-cruise expert Steve Newman samples this unusual small-scale cruise style, and then it's off to South America with Holland America Line as another top writer, Yvonne Horn, takes readers on a typical voyage 'around the Horn.' Malta is also on our cruise radar, with an in-depth review of this wonderful Mediterranean hot-spot.

We also have the BIG ship stories, and they don't come much bigger this year than Norwegian Cruise Line's new Norwegian Breakaway, with Anthony Nicholas providing a full preview of this outstanding new-build, which is due to debut at the end of April. And then we have a special look at the onboard speciality restaurant of Todd English aboard Cunard's classic Queen Mary 2 and a historic cruising perspective by Peter Newall on the inimitable old-timer SS United States and the ongoing attempts to save her from an ignominious fate.

 

We also have a bonus for river-cruise fans, with three contrasting river journeys, on three different continents, highlighting all the delights of the deluxe Orient-Express cruiser Road to Mandalay in Myanmar; the European Waterways hotel barge Panache in the Netherlands; and the wonderful new Queen of the Mississippi of American Cruise Lines through the heartland of America.

 

Of course, our regular columnists are also well to the fore, with the award-winning style of Captain Greybeard (John Honeywell), The Cruise Guy (Stewart Chiron) and Cruise Radio (Doug Parker) adding their unique opinions and insight of the cruise world, alongside the essential World of Spas section, which takes a look at the gorgeous spa offerings of Morocco this time out.

 

With our regular News, Reader Letters and Passenger Perspective features, it all adds up to the best read on the best holiday choice from the best writers in the business. Be sure to have your subcription up to date - or join our growing band of happy readers - on this link.

 

 

 

 

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Can QE2 Come Home?

Our columnist John Honeywell, aka Captain Greybeard has highlighted the bid by the QE2London team to bring the fabled Cunard liner QE2 back from Dubai to a permanent mooring in London (by North Greenwich), as she continues to moulder and rust in the hands of owners who seem to have no interest in completing their original plans for a luxury floating hotel in the Middle East.

There are renewed fears the famous ship will be scrapped and her heritage wiped out once and for all, hence the campaign - which claims to have raised £20million already - to bring her back 'home' after almost five years of sitting idle in Dubai.

It is a fascinating question, as much for the technical problems presented in trying to get the 70,000-ton liner that far up the Thames. But would the public (and private enterprise) support such a bid, and would it be worthwhile? Can you see a future for a floating hotel in Greenwich? And would you be interested in visiting if she was there as a tourist attraction as well as a source of accommodation?

We have set up a poll on our Blogger home page (just look for the Poll symbol or icon on the top right-hand side), so YOU can have you say in the great "Bring Her Home!" debate, indicating whether you think she should return or stay in the hands of her current owners. It's sure to be THE big talking point of the cruise world this year, so make sure you have your say.

And, for the full Captain Greybeard story, see this link.

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.

Argentina v Falklands - Cruise "Cowards" Row Rumbles On

Since the Daily Telegraph highlighted the decision of more cruise lines to pull out of visits to the Falkland Islands after "intimidation" by Argentina (i.e. by the Argentinean ports saying they cannot guarantee the safety of visiting ships that also visit the Falklands), and our red-hot debate over whether this amounts to cruise cowardice - more news agencies have picked up the story and highlighted the massive iniquity in operation here.

Our columnist Captain Greybeard added a blog about it on his regular posting for the Daily Mirror, pointing out our editor's comments on the situation and highlighting the lines involved.

The Shipping Times also weighed in with more government reaction to the ongoing dispute, which, of course, dates back to Argentina's dispute of the sovereignty of the Islands, claiming them as their own while they have been a British territory since 1833 (with the 1982 War being the most obvious example of that histility).

Another Telegraph story highlights British PM David Cameron's call for the Islanders themselves to send the world a definitive message about their nationality wishes in their March referendum.

Friday's Montreal Gazette also mentioned the issue in their weekly cruise round-up, opining that "Hopefully, Argentina will grow up when it comes to allowing ships that berth in their ports to visit the Falklands." We couldn't have put it better ourselves.

And even USA Today has covered the story, asking if Argentina should be boycotted as a result of their rogue behaviour (another view we would share whole-heartedly).

It will be interesting to see if more mainstream media pick up on this theme in 2013, and if the UK's Passenger Shipping Association has any comment about it.

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.

World of Cruising - Winter Edition

Phew! Well the 'Big Push' to get our Winter issue finished and off to the printers in the immediate aftermath of our amazing trip to Hawaii has paid dividends, as everything was done and dusted yesterday and is now awaiting the finished article.

We aim to have copies back and our to all our subscribers by December 20 - just in time for Christmas! - and there is a LOT for readers to enjoy, over and above the 8-page special on the Hawaiian islands (sunset, above) with Norwegian Cruise Line.

Just to start with, we have our annual Cruise Planner, our look at ALL the lines and ALL their ships, that has now become a cruise industry standard and is essential reading for anyone planning a cruise anytime soon. This year's version is up to a bumper 12 pages as there is more info than ever before to pack into this Planner.

For a seasonal treat we have a look at Christmas cruising - or Santa at Sea, as we call it - while there is also an in-depth preview of the forthcoming (June 2013) Royal Princess of Princess Cruises. Contrbuting editor Gary Buchanan also casts his eye over the ultra-deluxe style of SeaDream Yacht Club, and what makes them stand out from the crowd.

For destination features, we have the Adriatic coast of Croatia and a trip to Bangkok, while there is also a distinctive journey along the Ganges in India with Assam Bengal Navigation Co. Our man Steve Newman  takes a trip with The Majestic Line in Scotland and historian Peter Newall details the amazing Heritage Collection of P&O. 

For those looking for some winter sun, we offer the blissful South Seas style of Paul Gauguin Cruises in and around Tahiti and we also have a special Passenger Perspective on the foodie cruise style of Oceania Cruises.

Of course, there is also our usual array of news, views and comment from our unrivalled range of columnists, including Captain Greybeard, Cruise Radio, the Admiral and, making a very welcome debut for us, Stewart Chiron, aka, The Cruise Guy.

With our regular World of Spas section, taking a look at the benefits of Yoga, among other things, it all adds up to the best read on cruising anywhere in the world. Just make sure your subscription is up to date...!

PS: Our day-by-day Blog of our grand Hawaii expedition will return tomorrow!

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.

New Autumn Edition Out This Week!

OK folks, stand by your letter-boxes - the all-new Autumn edition of World of Cruising magazine will be dropping through them any day now!

The latest issue is, as ever, packed full of the very best cruise writing from the sharpest and most knowledgeable collection of writers on the subject. From Gary Buchanan and Peter Newall to Captain Greybeard (aka John Honeywell) and Sarah Gilbert and Jo Foley to Guy Mansell, we have an immaculate array of travel-writing quality.

And then, of course, we have the best section of Cruise News, Views and Reviews on the high seas.

In this edition, we head to the Danube River in eastern Europe and the Rideau Canal in Canada; the Canaries and the Cape Verde Islands in the Atlantic; and Taiwan in the Far East and Italy for our essential World of Spas section.

Each destination feature is carefully chosen to showcase some of the most enticing and happening places in the cruise cosmos, as well as offer some welcome winter sun options as the autumn weather draws in.

For ship reviews, we offer the blissful L'Austral of Compagnie du Ponant, the Celebrity Eclipse of Celebrity Cruises, the Crystal Serenity of Crystal Cruises, Oceania Cruises' new Riviera and a special Passenger Perspective of the Azamara Quest.

As ever, it all adds up to the best possible read in the wide world of cruising, so make sure your subscription is fully up to date!

Oh, and don't forget to Follow us on Twitter, too - www.twitter.com/worldofcruising

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.

Summer Edition Out This Week!

Just a quick reminder, but the summer issue of World of Cruising magazine is out later this week. Please do check your subscription is fully up to date as we have a wonderful array of features and other articles in the latest edition.

Our Cover Story is a trip 'Around the Horn' of South America in the company of Holland America Line while we also travel to the amazing Galapagos Islands for more South American adventure.

We then branch out to destinations far and wide, including the Caribbean, Channel Isles, Miami and the Canadian Rocky Mountains. For ship reviews, we have the new Disney Fantasy, the Celebrity Eclipse and Silver Spirit, while also featuring Carnival's 40th anniversary and a special look at alternative dining at sea. Of course, there are also are regulars, like The Admiral, Captain Greybeard and Peter Rushton's Aft View, while we also welcome aboard Doug Parker - aka Cruise Radio - for a new column in this edition.

Along with our essential World of Spas section, Fashion, Reader Letters, Passenger Pertspectives and Cruise News, it all adds up to the best possible read in the wide world of cruising, so make sure you don't miss it!

See more at our Subscription Page.

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.

Fred Olsen to Cruise from Liverpool

Cruising from Liverpool with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has become even easier and more convenient, with the UK Government’s announcement of its intention to lift the restrictions that had previously prevented Liverpool’s Pier Head Terminal from being used for turnaround calls – subject to the municipality's repayment of an £8.8million UK Government grant.

Fred. Olsen cruise guests in Liverpool will be welcoming Boudicca back to the city in spring/summer 2013. The cruise line is making a return to this popular departure port with 10 cruises, on a variety of exciting worldwide itineraries, between April and August.

Boudicca will be offering a wide range of itineraries from Liverpool next year, of varying durations – from a 12-night Canary Islands cruise in April to a four-night mini-cruise in August.

Fred. Olsen will also be adding Harwich and Belfast to its list of regional departure ports in 2013. Together with the return to Liverpool in 2013, this means Fred. Olsen is able to operate a vessel within only a two-hour drive from 80% of the UK population.

For bookings, follow this link to the Cruise Line Ltd, the UK experts in no-fly cruising.

And be sure to read our Captain Greybeard column in the Summer edition of World of Cruising - out next week - for the full story of Liverpool's return as a major cruise home-port. 

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.

Now Boarding - Cruise Radio!

We at World of Cruising are delighted to welcome aboard Doug Parker - otherwise known as Cruise Radio on Twitter and for his great cruise podcasts - to the magazine, starting with our Summer edition next month.

Doug (left), from Jacksonville, Florida, created Cruise Radio in 2009 and has quickly become one of the most-followed podcasts online, as well as being the foremost cruise radio broadcaster, with over 125,000 weekly listeners. With more than 10 years' experience in FM radio and a keen passion for cruising, he and co-producer Matt Basford now showcase the full array of cruise news, features and experiences on the weekly show, with regular special guests including Stewart Chiron, America's popular 'Cruise Guy', and consumer advocate journalist Christopher Elliott.

Starting with our Summer edition, Cruise Radio will have its own slot in our News pages, offering Doug's personal take on the latest news and views, with comment and opinion on the big stories of the day. And he said: "I'm thrilled to work with World of Cruising and be able to provide cruising fans in the United Kingdom with the latest cruise industry news. Through this great opportunity, I hope to able to introduce a new audience to Cruise Radio and our enthusiasm for the cruising industry."

World of Cruising editor Simon Veness added: "We are delighted to have Doug 'on board' and providing another exclusive view for our readers. It continues to add to our cruise portfolio and highlights how we stay at the forefront of all that's relevant in this exciting and ever-changing travel field."

You can look up more about Cruise Radio online at www.cruiseradio.net, subscribe for regular Cruise News updates, enjoy Video snippets and, of course, tune in to the weekly Podcast for the very latest from this cruise-savvy team. You can also download the very latest mobile app from iTunes to ensure you have all their latest news and episodes on the go!

With our already world-class line-up of writers and columnists, including award-winning British author and cruise doyen Gary Buchanan, arch blogger John Honeywell (aka Captain Greybeard), The Admiral, cruise historian Peter Newall and Aft View insider Peter Rushton, it ensures World of Cruising remains at the head of its class, being both contemporary and superbly insightful.

To subscribe to the magazine from anywhere in the world follow this link.

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.

New Edition Now Online

The latest edition of the magazine is now online and can now be seen in full. Starting with our look at the glamour and heritage of Transatlantic cruising and going on to cover the historic Gota Canal in Sweden, luxury barging in Burgundy, the amazing Norwegian Epic of Norwegian Cruise Line and the stylish Orion II of Orion Expedition Cruises in the Far East.

And then there's the French chic of Ponant Cruises, the classic Princess Daphne, the majestic Star Clippers sail-cruising style and the unique world of Blount Small Ship Adventures in America.

Of course, there is also our top cruise blogger, Captain Greybeard, the essential World of Spas, a look at the destination of Santa Monica and the latest Spring Fashions, along with a bumper NINE pages of News and views.

And you can see it all on this link: http://content.yudu.com/A1w6yv/WOC54/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldofcruising.co.uk%2F

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.

One Week To The New Edition!

The Winter edition of World of Cruising magazine goes to the printers this week and should be back with us next Monday (Dec 19) for distribution to all our subscribers - just in time for a good Christmas read!

The latest issue is absolutely packed with the exotic and the desirable; long-distance cruising and closer-to-home varieties; winter ideas and festive touches. It journeys from Japan to Alaska and the Caribbean to the Med. And all in the inimitable style and high-quality design you have come to expect from Europe's leading cruise publication.

Our cover story is a unique close-up look at Alaska, through the twin perspectives of Princess Cruises and the new Alaskan Dream Cruises, with some fabulous photography and brilliant story-telling. Then we take a Viking voyage in the company of Fred. Olsen Cruises and head to the FarEast to look at the growing cruise destination of South Korea.

Need some winter sunshine? Go straight to out feature on Caribbean voyaging with SeaDream Yacht Club, a real tropical tonic. Or how about another look at the Asian Far East, this time with Orion Expedition Cruises and their first ever visit to Japan?


Back on home ground, we have a feature-length look at Swan Hellenic's Minerva from her new home base of Portsmouth (and just prior to her big winter re-fit), and then head north again for a look at the Norwegian Arctic of Hurtigruten in the region of Spitsbergen, truly one of cruising's great adventure frontiers.

For river cruising, we head to Russia and a unique journey from Moscow to St Petersburg with Uniworld, while we add a touch of pure luxury aboard Azamara Club Cruises and their unique President's Cruise. We also fofer two Passenger Perspective pieces, looking at Azamara and Cunard's Queen Victoria.

All our regular features are, of course, firmly front and centre, from the inimitable blogging style of Captain Greybeard and the inimitable Admiral, to our Aft View section, the expert Fashion pages, the essential World of Spas section, Readers Letters and the essential Cruise Planner, our annual review of ALL the ships with ALL the lines, so you can sit and plan your next voyage in perfect style.

It is all here, capped off by the best writers on the subject, from Gary Buchanan and Yvonne Horn to cruise historian Peter Newall and adventuring supremo Steve Newman.

As ever, World of Cruising is subscription-only, so, to be sure of your copy, make sure you visit our subscription page - Here!

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.

Spring Edition of World of Cruising

The brand new Spring edition of World of Cruising magazine will be out in the next few days, packed full of the very best coverage of the fabulous cruise business.

In Issue 50 (yes, we have now reached the half-century mark after almost 13 years!), we have a headline feature on a serene Canada and New England autumn cruise aboard the deluxe Crystal Symphony, looking at what makes this region so special as well as the truly blissful onboard Crystal style.

We also go to the Norwegian Arctic in the company of Lindblad Expeditions and look at the best places worldwide to see the best wildlife from a cruise ship, courtesy of our arch-blogger and expedition specialist Steve Newman.

For cruise ship reviews, we put the Spirit of Adventure, MS Europa and boutique little Hebridean Princess to the test, while we have a great historic perspective on the Queen Elizabeth (past and present) and also go Land Cruising once again on the magnificent Crimean Express.

As ever, there are your usual range of news, features and views, plus Readers Letters and the essential (and wonderful!) World of Spas with Jo Foley.

And we welcome a brand new columnist in 2011, the great blogger Captain Greybeard, dedicated cruise enthusiast and a great source of travel advice (as well as amusing insights into the cruise business).

All in all, it represents the best read from the best writers with the best presentation anywhere in the cruis-iverse! Make sure you have your copy by subscribing online at www.worldofcruising.co.uk.

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.