Virgin Cruises winter late deals from just £699

Seven night Eastern Mediterranean Cruise on Norwegian Jade from £699pp

Virgin Holidays Cruises offers seven night Eastern Mediterranean Cruise onboard ‘Norwegian Jade’ from Venice, Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos, Olympia and Venice. Price is per person based on two adults travelling, sharing an inside cabin on a full-board basis with flights from London Gatwick and transfers. Offer is subject to availability and includes all applicable taxes and fuel surcharges which are subject to change. Based on departures 18 October.

Seven night Orlando Stay and Bahamas Cruise on Carnival Sensation from £699pp

Virgin Holidays Cruises offers three nights at Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando on a room only basis, before joining ‘Carnival Sensation’ for four nights from port Canaveral, calling at Freeport and Nassau. Price is per person based on two adults travelling and sharing an inside cabin on a full-board basis and includes Virgin Atlantic flights from London Gatwick. Offer is subject to availability and includes all applicable taxes and fuel surcharges which are subject to change. Based on departure date 27 November.

14 night Orlando Stay and Caribbean Cruise on Freedom of the Seas from £1,199pp – FREE All inclusive upgrade

Virgin Holidays Cruises offers seven nights at Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando on a room only basis, before joining ‘Freedom of the Seas’ for seven nights from Port Canaveral calling at Labadee (Haiti), Falmouth (Jamaica), George Town (Grand Cayman) and Cozumel. Price is per person based on two adults travelling and sharing an inside cabin on a full-board basis and includes Virgin Atlantic flights from London Gatwick and car hire. Offer is subject to availability and includes all applicable taxes and fuel surcharges which are subject to change. Based on departure date 27 November.

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Costa Reveals Debut Season For Diadema

Costa Cruises has unveiled its inaugural cruises for the new Costa Diadema, the fleet’s future flagship that will be delivered by the Italian shipyard Fincantieri on October 30.

The first cruise sailing November 1 will be the classic preview voyage, with three new culturally rich and architecturally beautiful cities included in the itinerary: Trieste, Dubrovnik and Genoa.

The voyage will depart from Trieste with a one-and-a-half-day stopover, while the final port of destination is Genoa, Costa's home city. The ship will also make calls at Dubrovnik, Corfu, Malta and Naples before reaching its new home port.

Costa Diadema will then undertake three 7-day inaugural cruises in the western Mediterranean, with longer stopovers at Marseille, Barcelona and Savona. The cruises will offer the chance to visit both Florence and Naples, two of Italy’s most popular cities, in a single cruise. The itinerary includes calls at Genoa (only for the first cruise), Marseille, Barcelona, ​​Palma de Mallorca, Naples, La Spezia and Savona.

For the rest of the 2014/15 winter season, the new flagship will leave from Savona on seven-day cruises in the western Med, calling at Marseille, Barcelona, ​​Palma de Mallorca, Naples and La Spezia.

The 132,500-ton Diadema - with 1,862 staterooms - promises to be Costa's most glamorous ship to date, with top quality food, wine and entertainment. The interiors will be even cosier, more spacious and more modern in terms of facilities and layout, with the benefit of large, split-level rooms directly overlooking the sea and conveniently interconnected, thus evoking the atmosphere of a buzzing seaside resort.

Among the many innovations on board are new food and wine tasting treats in the shape of the Vinoteca (wine house), Birreria (beer house), Japanese Teppanyaki, Pizzeria and Gelateria. There will also be new forms of fun and entertainment on board with the Country Rock Club and the Star Laser room, featuring different styles of interactive laser games, including the Laser Maze.

Shopaholics will love the Portobello Market Piazza, the heart of a 1,100sq metre area of designer stores and retail outlets, while the purpose-built Samsara Spa located on the upper decks will offer the chance to enjoy the regenerating experience of a wellness cruise. For those wanting to enjoy the sun, sea and spectacular ocean vistas, the open-air promenade with cabanas is ideal and extends more than 500m. 

More info: call 0800 389 0622 or visit www.costacruises.co.uk.

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Saga Sets Sail With E-Book Library

Saga Cruises' adventuring voyager Saga Pearl II is setting sail later this month with an all-new e-books library curated by Penguin Books.

From November 22, passengers will be able to pick up a tablet and choose from 36 titles specially curated by Penguin’s experts, a world-first on cruise ships.

The tablets will carry a selection of Penguin titles downloaded in 12 genres, including crime and adventure, escapist fiction, travel writing, literary gems, historical fiction and celebrity biography to match Saga passengers’ reading preferences. Penguin has also donated physical copies of all 36 books to Pearl II’s library.

The ship sails from Southampton and arrives in Venice on December 3, where passengers can extend their stay in a 4 star-rated hotel for three nights. There will be a Venetian masked ball, performances from soprano Hayley Westenra, The Operababes, The Three Tenors tribute act and The Gondolier Trio, plus the opportunity to visit the ancient ruins of Cartagena, Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, mythical Corfu, historic Split and the beautiful city of Venice.

Prices for this all-inclusive cruise start from £1,679 for 11 nights (Nov 22-Dec 3), £1,999 for 13 nights (Dec 3-16) or £2,749 for 24 nights. The three-night stay in Venice costs from £399 including breakfast. The price also includes UK door-to-door travel service, all meals, soft drinks and house-branded alcohol, entertainment, gratuities, room service and travel insurance and cancellation cover.

More info: call 0800 051 3355 or visit saga.co.uk/cruises.

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Early Debut For Regal Princess

Princess Cruises has announced that the new Regal Princess will make her debut next year earlier than originally announced, with two additional Mediterranean sailings added to her maiden schedule in May. 

The ship’s first voyage, which was previously scheduled for June 2, will now be May 20, with the choice of two additional week-long Mediterranean cruises travelling between Venice and Athens. The new voyages are:

• May 20, (new maiden voyage) – Seven-day cruise from Venice to Athens including stops in Corfu, Mykonos and an overnight call in Istanbul.
• May 27, six-day cruise from Athens to Venice including calls to Kusadasi (for Ephesus), Santorini, Katakolon (for Olympia) and Dubrovnik.

Both voyages can be combined into a 13-day Grand Adventure or added on to the previously announced June 2 cruise for a full 20-day Mediterranean escape.

To ensure passengers previously booked on Regal Princess’ maiden voyage continue to have the option to sail on the ship’s first cruise, each of these passengers will automatically receive a duplicate booking on the new May 20 maiden voyage. They have until November 15 to decide if they want to take the new cruise instead of, or in addition to, their existing reservation.

Regal Princess will join sister ship Royal Princess in Europe next summer, as Princess Cruises’ two newest and largest ships sailing in the fleet. Regal will sail her inaugural season in the Mediterranean on a series of 12-night Grand Mediterranean cruises between Venice and Barcelona while Royal will sail her first season to Scandinavia & Russia featuring an overnight in St Petersburg.  

Like her sister, Regal Princess will offer its 3,560 passengers a variety of enticing features, including a soaring atrium, the social hub of the ship; a dramatic over-water SeaWalk, a top-deck glass-bottomed walkway extending more than 28ft beyond the edge of the vessel; plush private poolside cabanas; the Princess Live! television studio; a dedicated pastry shop; a special Chef’s Table Lumiere, a private dining experience that surrounds diners in a curtain of light; and balconies on all outside staterooms.

More Info: visit www.princess.com.

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Saga's New Offerings

Visit glorious horizons this spring or summer and save up to 30% on a range of exciting itineraries with Saga Cruises, onboard the stylish Saga Sapphire or Quest for Adventure. Voyage to the breathtakingly tranquil Fjordlands, to the Mediterranean’s treasured gems, the Baltic’s fairytale cities or to Ireland’s cherished landscapes. 

Save £1013 per person on the Sapphire’s Wonders of the Mediterranean:

Cruise departs from Southampton on April 14 for 22 nights, starting from £2,399 per person, on a voyage through thousands of years of civilization. Discover the treasured cities of Lisbon, Hvar and Valletta, bask in the sunshine paradises of Corfu and Gibraltar and sail on to explore the unforgettable 'floating city' of Venice. This voyage also visits Santiago de Compostela and Cartagena in Spain, Majorca and Minorca, and Sibenik in Croatia.

Save £355 per person on the Sapphire’s Fjord and Splendours:

This cruise departs from Southampton on May 21 for 7 nights, starting from £899 per person, to discover the tranquillity of Norway’s legendary and breathtakingly beautiful Fjordlands. Cruise right into the heart of the fjords, revealing picture-postcard views of lakes, glaciers, waterfalls and mountains, and discover the beautiful village of Flam, the port town of Stavanger, the lesser known village of Skjolden and the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bergen.

Save £422 per person on the Sapphire’s The Emerald Isle:

Departing from Dover on July 27 for 8 nights (from £999 per person), this action-packed cruise around Ireland reveals many of the Emerald Isle’s attractions. Enjoy the ‘craic’ in Dublin and discover this vibrant city’s historic buildings and famous Ha’penny Bridge before stopping off in Belfast to explore the sights and walk along the mysterious Giant’s Causeway. Soak-up the rugged landscapes of Sligo, Glengarriff, the charming fishing port of Killybegs, and immerse yourself in the lively character of Cork.

Save £663 per person on the Quest for Adventure’s The Cities of the Inland Sea:

This cruise departs from Dover on June 9 for 15 nights, starting from £1949 per person. From the resplendent architecture of St Petersburg’s buildings and palaces to the cultural offerings on show at the revived and unified Berlin, it journeys to the Baltic’s most fascinating and diverse cities. Discover the colourful metropolis of Amsterdam, Stockholm’s immense history, the fairytale streets of medieval Tallin and the inspiring spires and architecture of Copenhagen. This voyage also explores the historic and breathtaking cities of Helsinki, Visby (Estonia) and Oslo. Depart from Leith on June 7 for an extra two nights free of charge.

With so many great value extras included in the price of a Saga cruise, savvy travellers can set sail for less. All cruises include travel to and from the port, travel insurance, port taxes and visas, all meals, including 24-hour room service, and all gratuities on board. Travellers on the Saga Sapphire will also benefit from VIP chauffeur service. 

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

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Bag A Med Bargain With Holland America

Holland America Line is offering a fabulous 12-night ‘Mediterranean Romance’ fly-cruise from just £949 per person this autumn. Departing from Venice on October 17, the voyage combines the glamour of Italy’s coast with the history of Croatia and the Greek islands.

This cruise onboard Nieuw Amsterdam starts with an overnight stay in Venice, where guests can enjoy the value of visiting one of the world’s most expensive cities without having to book a hotel or dine ashore! The scenic cruise then continues to the walled city of Dubrovnik, beautiful Corfu, Cephalonia in Greece (where the haunting tale of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin was set), and spectacular Santorini, with its “white town” Thira on the summit. It then sails to Catania in Sicily, Naples and the wonders of city of Rome from the port of Civitavecchia before offering guests the chance to tour Florence or Pisa from Livorno. The cruise ends in Barcelona, city of Gaudi and Picasso.

This bargain offer is based on two people sharing an inside stateroom and includes 12 nights’ full board accommodation, scheduled return flights from London Heathrow and return transfers. 

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

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New Sampler Cruises From Oceania

Oceania Cruises is offering two new 'taster' cruises on board the company’s brand new mid-sized, luxury cruise ship Riviera. 

The six-night sailings, which depart on November3 and 9, cost from £1,026 per person, and include a $300 shipboard credit per stateroom, free return UK flights, all meals, soft drinks and bottled water. In addition, the first 20 bookings made will receive a free upgrade from a Veranda stateroom to a Concierge Level Veranda, which includes complimentary champagne on arrival and free use of the exclusive Concierge Lounge. 

By offering the two new shorter sailings, the company is providing first-time cruisers and those who haven’t previously experienced the high-quality Oceania fleet the opportunity to sample the company’s legendary cuisine, to take a cookery lesson in the only hands-on cookery school at sea, enjoy complimentary crafts and digital photography courses in the `Artist’s Loft’, food and wine pairing and tastings in La Reserve wine-tasting centre or the opportunity to relax in the Canyon Ranch Spa. 

The first of the taster cruises embarks with an overnight stay in Venice and calls into Dubrovnik, Corfu, Messina, Sorrento and Capri before arriving into Civitavecchia on November 9. The second sector embarks in Civitavecchia and calls into Livorno for Florence and Pisa, then Monte Carlo, Marseille and Barcelona, where guests disembark on November 15 after a full day and overnight in the city. 

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

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Save Big With Four Oceania Voyages

Oceania Cruises has added four new departures to its summer 2012 offers, giving clients savings of up to 63% off published prices and a $500 per stateroom credit to spend in the onboard shops, the spa and bars.

24th May – Barcelona to Copenhagen, 16 nights now from £1,349pp: cruise from Barcelona around the entire coast of Spain and Portugal, calling into Casablanca en-route, and then up the west coast of France and on to Bruges, Amsterdam and Copenhagen. This magnificent sailing on 650-guest Nautica now saves from £1,829-£2,258pp, and guests will also receive a $500 credit. Prices include all meals, complimentary soft drinks and bottled water. Excludes flights.

26th May – Athens to Barcelona, 10 nights now from £999pp: this cruise is offering a saving of more than 50% on brand new luxury ship Riviera. The itinerary takes in the coastlines of southern France, western Italy, with a visit to Taormina (Sicily), Santorini and Kusadasi (Turkey). Prices range from £999 for an inside cabin to £1,799 for a Penthouse suite (saving £2,312), and include a $500 credit per stateroom. Price excludes flights.

13th August – Venice to Rome, 10 nights from £899pp, saving up to £2,485pp: this luxury 'foodie' cruise was originally from £2,223 and offers fine dining at sea at its best as Riviera cruises from Venice via Croatia, Montenegro, Corfu, Sicily, Sardinia, Monte Carlo and Florence to Rome (Civitavecchia). Upgrade to a Penthouse suite for £1,749pp, (was £4,284). Price excludes flights.

31st August – Copenhagen to Dover, 12 nights from £1,099: this sailing from Denmark visits the north and west coast of the UK, visiting the Shetland Islands, Scotland, Ireland and Falmouth (Cornwall) before arriving at Dover. Savings of up to £2,891 are now available off the cost of a Penthouse Suite, or cruise for just £1,099 for an inside stateroom (was £2,789). All cabin categories come with a $500/stateroom onboard credit to spend in the shops, spa, bars and cafes, while the cruise again includes all meals, including fine dining and complimentary soft drinks and bottled water. Excludes flights.

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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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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BIG Savings (And More!) with Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises has savings of up to 56% off cruises on board its mid-sized luxury cruise ships, plus an additional $1,000 on board credit per stateroom, allowing guests to make their cruise as inclusive as they want it to be. All prices are quoted per person, based on two guests sharing an inside stateroom and include all meals, complimentary bottled water and soft drinks.

Check out these examples:

7th September: ‘Jewels of the Aegean’, 12-night cruise Venice to Istanbul from £1,799pp

New ship Marina has a spectacular sailing from Venice with $1,000 onboard credit and a saving of £1,654pp. It cruises through the Aegean Sea via Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Corfu, Patras, Zakynthos and Athens before disembarking in Istanbul.

19th September: `Sands of Time’, 12-night Greek island cruise from £1,199pp

Marina has a spectacular sailing from Istanbul to Athens with $1,000 onboard credit and a saving of £1,264pp. It voyages through Rhodes, Limassol, Haifa, Jerusalem, Crete, Patmos and Volos before disembarking in Athens.

3rd October: ‘Jewels of the Aegean’, 12-night Aegean Sea cruise from £1,999pp

Cruise from Venice to Istanbul through the beautiful Aegean Sea via Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Corfu, Patras, Zakynthos and Athens on mid-sized ship Insignia with a saving of £1,182 per person, plus $1,000 onboard credit per stateroom.

1st October: `Roman Revelations’, 14-night Med cruise from £1,399pp

Cruise from Istanbul to Barcelona via Ephesus, Patmos, Crete, Marmaris, Alanya, Limassol, Haifa, Jerusalem and Valletta on Oceania's Nautica, with $1,000 onboard credit and saving up to £1,467 per person.

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

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Seabourn's 2012 Europe Season Now Open!

Seabourn is delighted to offer up an expanded array of voyages in Europe during 2012. The luxury line's six stylish ships will explore an unprecedented 165 different destinations among the continent's landmark cities, historic sites and natural splendours on cruises from seven to 19 days. The extended eight-month season, from April to November, is now open for sale, and itineraries, fares and other details can be viewed on www.seabourn.com.

Popular European itineraries include:

Greek Isles & Golden Treasures – Seabourn Quest – 7 days
Departures: 10 August, 21 September 2012
Athens to Istanbul: Mylos, Mykonos, Patmos, Kusadasi, Khylos, Troy. Fares start from £2,450pp based on two people sharing a Seabourn Suite.

Adriatic Gems & Venice – Seabourn Spirit – 10 days
Departures: 15, 25 April; 5, 15, 25 May; 4, 14, 24 June; 3, 13, 23 July; 2, 12 September 2012
Ports of call: Venice, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Split, Rovinj. Venice round trip, with option to stay overnight in Venice. Fares start from £2,240pp based on two people sharing a Seabourn Suite.

Idyllic Rivieras & Spain – Seabourn Legend – 10 days
Departures: 20 April; 10 May; 7, 27 June; 17 July; 6, 26 August; 15 September
Rome to Monte Carlo: calling at Elba, Portofino, Cannes, Sanury-sur-mer, Barcelona, Menorca, Collioure, Porquerolles, and Monte Carlo. Fares start from £2,800pp based on two people sharing a Seabourn Suite.

The full 2012 cruise season in Europe starts from £1,890 per person, including return air, based on double occupancy. For bookings, visit www.seabourn.com or see the UK's leading luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Oceania's New 7-Day Med Cruises

Inspired by strong response it to its new seven-day itineraries for 2012, Oceania Cruises has created two 7-night departures in the Mediterranean this autumn, timed to take in the autumn foliage in Tuscany and the French Riviera.

The new “Tuscan Charms” cruise sails from Barcelona on October 29, calling into Civitavecchia (the port for Rome), Provence (Marseille), Monte Carlo, Portofino, Livorno and Sorrento/Capri en route, with an overnight in Livorno to allow for extensive visits to Pisa, Florence and Cinque Terra. Fares start at £1,518 per guest, based on two sharing and including all meals, soft drinks and bottled water.

“Italian Treasures,” from Rome to Venice, departs on November 5, calling at Amalfi/Positano, Taormina, Corfu, Bari and Dubrovnik. Guests also enjoy an overnight aboard ship in Venice at the end of the cruise. Fares start at £823 per guest, based on two sharing and including all meals, soft drinks and bottled water.

The cruises are on board Oceania's luxurious, 684-guest Insignia – an intimate ship with open-seating dining in four gourmet restaurants, all with no surcharge, luxurious public rooms, sumptuous accommodations, and warm, attentive service.

For more info, see www.oceaniacruises.com or contact the UK's leading luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd

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