A Classical Cruise Of The Hebrides

Guests joining Hebridean Island Cruises’ music-themed cruise, A Classical Cruise of the Hebrides, will be able to enjoy two exclusive performances from artists at the celebrated Mendelssohn on Mull festival, whilst on the voyage.

The luxury cruise line is one of  the  sponsors for the annual classical music event, which celebrates its 25^th anniversary this year. Young violin soloist Colin Scobie will be performing Mendelssohn’s Hebridean Overture for passengers inside Fingal’s Cave, which provided the original inspiration for the piece. Guests will also be able to enjoy a special concert by a string quartet from the festival after the ship has called at Duart Castle.

A Classical Cruise of the Hebrides starts from £5,090 per person (based on two sharing an outside cabin), departing from Oban on July 2 and calling at Jura and Port Ellen, Staffa and Ulva, Tobermory, Muck and Ardnamurchan, Fort William and Craignure before returning to Oban. 

The price includes transport between Glasgow and the ship or free car parking, meals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, shore excursions and gratuities and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. All 2013 Hebridean Island Cruises bookings also come with the added benefit of free single trip travel insurance. Terms and conditions apply – see website or brochure for details.

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

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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.

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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