CroisiEurope take Belle de l'Adriatique set to Athens and Istanbul

Cruising further east: CroisiEurope's MS Belle de l'Adriatique

CroisiEurope is introducing a new Athens-Istanbul itinerary for winter 2014/15 onboard the 200-guest MS Belle de l’Adriatique, which spends the summer based in Dubrovnik. Between November and March the vessel - a cross between an ocean-going cruise ship and a river boat -  will offer an eight-day cruise on the Aegean and Marmara Seas, exploring the incredibly rich culture and heritage of this region. 

Starting in Athens, the cruise will take in Patmos, Kusadasi and Pergamon before finishing in Istanbul. Highlights will include the Acropolis, Cape Sounion and the Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits. There will be a choice of excursions available such as the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian in Patmos, the ancient Greek ruins of Ephesus and Pergamon, and the Basilica Cistern, Galata Tower, Grand Bazaar and Spice Market in Istanbul. On board, a guest lecturer will enhance the guest experience by giving talks about the destinations visited and placing them within historical context.

Prices for this eight-day cruise start from £926 per person for accommodation in an outside cabin with all onboard meals, complimentary beer and wine at lunch and dinner as well as open bar throughout the voyage (not including Champagne, special wines or fine brandies), onboard entertainment and port taxes.

Book a November, December or January cruise before 30 October to receive a discount of £170 per person.

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Head east for late Mediterranean sun, advises Bolsover Cruise Club

It’s not too late to sail away on a Mediterranean cruise, says Bolsover Cruise Club. who have confirmed that there is good availability this autumn for tours of the warmer Eastern Mediterranean.

Here are three deals for October still available to book through Bolsover Cruise Club:

Celebrity Reflection

Departs: 6 October 2014 for 11 nights. Flights: Return from Manchester to Rome.

Route: Rome, Santorini, Istanbul, Ephesus, Athens, Mykonos and Naples.

Prices: Inside £999; Ocean view £1,299; Balcony £1,879.

Celebrity Silhouette (Above )

Departs: 18 October 2014 for 14 nights. Flights: Return from Birmingham to Rome.

Route: Rome, Valletta, Argostoli, Jerusalem (Ashdod, overnight in port), Haifa, Ephesus, Athens, Catania  and Naples.

Prices: Inside £1,125; Ocean view £1,425; Balcony £1,535.

Cunard, Queen Elizabeth

Departs: 31 October 2014 for 7 nights. Flights: Return from London to Venice.

Route: Venice, Korcula, Heraklion, Rhodes, Ephesus and Athens.

Prices: Inside £799; Outside £849; Balcony £999.

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Holland America's Roman Empire Special

Holland America Line is offering an 11-night' Roman Empire' cruise from just £399 per person, or a fly-cruise from £909pp, this autumn, including a free upgrade from an Inside Stateroom to an Ocean View. 

Departing on October 20 from Athens and ending in Rome, this voyage explores the very best historical sites of the Roman Empire and the Eastern Mediterranean. 

Kicking off with a pre-cruise night on board MS Noordam in Athens, guests have ample time to explore this fascinating city before sailing to Turkey, ancient Ephesus (the port of Kusadasi) and the Greek island of Rhodes. This unusual itinerary then heads further east, taking in Haifa in Israel, which is known as the gateway to Jerusalem. The ship moves onto Limassol in sunny Cyprus followed by a call at Katakolon in Greece, where guests have the chance to travel to the ancient olive grove where the original Olympic Games were born. This cruise then journeys onto Italy for an original taste of the Roman Empire, visiting Messina in Sicily and Naples before making its final call in Rome itself.

The offer includes full board accommodation and is based on two people sharing on Noordam. The fly-cruise price includes flights from London to Athens and Rome to London, as well as transfers. 

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

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New Offers From Oceania

                              

We love it when some really tempting new 'latest offers' roll into our Inbox - and here is a great example, courtesy of Oceania Cruises.

Take your pick from this selection of three specially-priced stylish voyages:

August 6: 10-night Mediterranean cruise, now £1319pp
Take the family on an educational voyage during the school holidays, spending three full days (2 nights) in Haifa, and an itinerary that starts in Athens and also visits Crete, Limassol, Rhodes, Kusadasi (for the great site of Ephesus), arriving into Istanbul, for a final day in the city. Oceania's ‘Sacred Sanctuaries’ cruise on board luxury 1,250-guest Riviera now costs from £1,319 (was £3,040), saving £1721pp, plus a $300 per stateroom on board credit.

August 22: 21-night `Ultimate Panama Canal’, now £3,039pp

Oceania's magnificent sailing from San Francisco to New York visits Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, the Panama Canal and the Caribbean before reaching the Big Apple, and now has a £1,724pp saving off the lead-in fare of £3,039pp, plus $300 on board credit per stateroom and free internet throughout the sailing. The cruise is on board the 650-guest mid-sized luxury ship Regatta.

October 6: Autumn Colours, now £2,039pp
Oceania is offering $300 per stateroom onboard credit and a whopping saving of £2,173pp off its 12-night `Colours, Coasts and Coves’ sailing from New York to Montreal on board Regatta, taking in all the magnificent autumn foliage of Canada and New England as well as a series of enchanting ports of call.

All prices includes return flights, all meals, no supplement for speciality dining restaurants and complimentary bottled water and soft drinks.

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

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New Oceania Late Offers

How's this for a great little pair of special offers this week from upmarket Oceania Cruises and their fabulous new ship Marina (above)?

2nd November: Sands of Time 12-night Europe/Asia cruise, from £1,199
For an exceptional cruise through some of Europe and Asia’s most iconic destinations, Oceania is offering a saving of £1,061 per person on board their brand new luxury ship Marina. The sailing from Istanbul to Athens can now be booked from just £1,199 per person for an inside stateroom, PLUS a $1,000 onboard credit. The voyage embarks in Istanbul and continues to Ephesus, Rhodes, Limassol, Haifa, Jerusalem, Crete, Patmos and Volos before disembarking in Athens.

14th November: Splendid Escapes, 10-night Athens to Rome cruise, from £1,499pp
This magnificent sailing through some of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful and historic islands on board Marina is now from £1,499 per person, based on two sharing, including a $1,000 onboard credit/stateroom, all meals and complimentary soft drinks and bottled water.

For more info, visit www.oceaniacruises.com or the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Great Celebrity Winter Offer

Join Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Solstice for a 12-night Mediterranean & Greek Isles fly/cruise from £974 per person (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom). That’s just £81.17 per person per night.

This price includes return flights from Heathrow, transfers, a 12-night cruise departing from Barcelona and calling at Livorno (for Florence), Civitavecchia (for Rome), Naples/Capri, Chania (Crete), Ephesus (Kusadasi, Turkey), Piraeus (Athens, Greece) and Valletta (Malta) before returning to Barcelona; meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees.

Price is based on a November 4 departure.

For more info, visit www.celebritycruises.co.uk or, for bookings, contact the cruise specialist agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Greece & Turkey The Celebrity Way

How's this for the Deal of the Day? Join Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Constellation on a 12-night Greek Isles & Turkey fly/cruise from just £1,262 per person this autumn (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom).

The price includes return flights from London Heathrow, transfers and a 12-night Greek Isles & Turkey cruise departing from Istanbul and calling at Kusadasi (for Ephesus, Turkey), Bodrum (Turkey), Rhodes (Greece), Marmaris (Turkey), Santorini (Greece), Piraeus (for Athens), Mykonos (Greece) and Chania (Crete) before returning to Istanbul; meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on October 13 departure.

For more info, visit www.celebritycruises.co.uk or the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

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P&O Cruises ‘Getaway’ Fares For Adonia

P&O Cruises is now offering ‘Getaway’ prices and inclusive flights on selected Adonia Mediterranean fly-cruises.

The ‘Fly Med Getaway’ promotion applies to cruises from 10-14 nights in duration that depart between October 29, 2011, and January 3, 2012. Prices are inclusive of flights and fuel supplement. Bookings must be made by in June or July.

Named last month by global singing star, Dame Shirley Basey, Adonia is exclusively for adults and carries just 710 passengers. On board there are eight bars, including P&O Cruises signature ‘Crow’s Nest’, a library, Oasis Spa and gym, classic dining room and two speciality restaurants: Sorrento Italian and Ocean Grill by Marco Pierre White.

Sample Cruise:

D114. 3 -13 January 2012, seven nights.

Ports of call include Trieste, Venice, Koper, Hvar, Bari, Katakolon, Nauplia, Istanbul, Mytilene, Ephesus (from Kusadasi), Rhodes, Santorini, and Athens (from Piraeus).

‘Getaway’ fares from £1,452 (based on two adults sharing an inside cabin). This includes return flights, all accommodation, main meals and entertainment.

Bookings must be made by July 31, 2011. For more info, see www.pocruises.co.uk or the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Head For The Sunshine with Celebrity

Join Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Constellation for a sunshine-laden 12-night Greek Isles & Turkey fly/cruise from just £1,294 per person (based on two sharing an inside stateroom) this autumn.

The price includes return flights from London Heathrow, transfers and the 12-night Greek Isleas & Turkey cruise departing Istanbul and calling at Ephesus, Bodrum, Marmaris, Rhodes, Santorini, Athens, Mykonos and Chania (Crete), before returning to Istanbul; meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price based on September 19 departure.

For more info, visit www.celebritycruises.co.uk or contact the cruise-agent specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

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Royal Caribbean's Kid-Friendly Half-Term

Join Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas for a seven-night Eastern Mediterranean fly/cruise from £669 per adult and £599 per child (based on two adults and two children sharing an inside cabin). Plus receive $100 onboard spending money per booking if you book by April 30.

The price includes return flights from London Heathrow, transfers and the seven-night cruise departing Civitavecchia (Rome) and calling at Messina (Sicily), Piraeus (Athens), Kusadasi (Turkey) and Chania (Crete) before returning to Civitavecchia; meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on May 29 departure.

For more info, www.royalcaribbean.co.uk or visit the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Go Yoga Cruising With Star Clippers!

Tall ship specialist Star Clippers is offering guests free daily yoga and meditation in August as part of two yoga-themed cruises in the Aegean Sea on board the 170-passenger tall ship Star Clipper.

With settings including the emerald and turquoise coastline of Turkey, or the dramatic, black volcanic cliffs of Santorini as a background, yoga classes will take place in the open air, on Star Clipper’s sun-warmed teak decks, under thousands of square feet of billowing sails – the ultimate relaxation for body and soul, enhanced by the fresh sea air.

Qualified yoga teacher Christel Vollmer will be holding the daily sessions of Astanga yoga, also known as power yoga, on deck in the cool morning air, with a second session just before sunset, including meditation. Christel will also deliver lectures on the philosophy of yoga and advice for practice at home.

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.

Astanga yoga is a dynamic and powerful style of yoga based on a sequence of easy-to-learn movements called asanas. Christel’s classes, which take place in English, will be suitable for all levels and no prior experience is required. There is no upper age limit for practicing yoga; Christel herself is in her fifties, with many years of teaching experience, having trained under West Coast-based Bryan Kest, yoga guru to stars including Madonna, Cindy Crawford and Sting.

There are two yoga cruises to choose between. 'Southern Cyclades' departs Athens on August 6 and calls at Rhodes, Bodrum, the Dalyan River, Santorini and Hydra. 'Northern Cyclades', also on Star Clipper, departs Athens on August 13 and calls at Kusadasi, Patmos, Amorgos, Mykonos and Monemvasia. Each itinerary includes a day at sea for extra relaxation and contemplation.

Prices start from £1,160 per person, including flights from London (to the value of £350 per person), port taxes and full board on the ship (transfers are extra).

For more info, see www.starclippers.co.uk or the adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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