Cruise News Round-Up - P&O, Crystal & Paul Gauguin

Yikes, but it's a busy week for cruise news! The stories and press releases have been pouring in thick and fast - so fast, in fact, we have had to turn to a round-up story today to include as many as possible.

So, with no further ado, here is the hot-off-the-press latest...

P&O Cruises has added departures from seven regional airports on selected Fly-Med cruises on Ventura for this summer. The direct regional charter flights will be available, at no extra cost, on 16 Fly-Med cruises across seven regional airports, namely Bournemouth, Belfast, Cardiff, East Midlands, Glasgow, Newcastle and Stansted. Flights are also available from London, Manchester or Birmingham as standard.

A variety of seven and 14-night fly-cruise holidays are available from March to October as Ventura sails from either Venice or Genoa, round the Greek Islands, Dalmatian coast, French Riviera and iconic cities like Rome, Venice, Naples, Dubrovnik and Florence. Book by February 28 to receive additional free on board spending money to use for drinks, shore excursions, spa treatments or fine dining.

More info: visit www.pocruises.co.uk or call 0843 373 0111.

Crystal Cruises has announced the latest perk to its All Inclusive luxury cruise experience: free Wi-Fi for Crystal Society members, the line’s “club” of repeat guests, starting this autumn. Effective with Crystal Serenity’s September 19 New England/Canada sailing and Crystal Symphony’s October 15 Panama Canal cruise, each Crystal Society guest will receive 60 minutes of complimentary internet access for every day of the cruise.

Crystal Society members can use the new complimentary access time wirelessly via iPad, iPhone, laptop or other wireless device or on Crystal’s own Computer University@Sea 27” dual-compatible iMac computers. A multi-million dollar Wi-Fi upgrade rolled out in recent months will help guests enjoy maximum onboard connectivity.

More info: call 020 7399 7601 or visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk.

Paul Gauguin Cruises is introducing two exciting new itineraries this summer that take in the amazing destination of Papua New Guinea. The 11-night Fiji to Australia voyage departing June 14 is a unique voyage that charts a course to popular and undiscovered ports from exotic Fiji to the Great Barrier Reef, while the 12-night Australia to Fiji voyage departing August 18 is the same as the above but in reverse.

Islands visited include Vanuatu, Guadalcanal, whose very name is synonymous with a turning point of World War II, and by Papua New Guinea itself, the second-largest island in the world. Prices start from £4,290 per person for 11 nights accommodation in an ocean view stateroom with all meals, soft drinks, selected alcoholic beverages and gratuities. Also included is airfare from Los Angeles.

 

More info: call  020 7399 7691 or visit www.pgcruises.com.

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Ponant Heads Down Under

Those looking for a cruise on the more exotic side are increasingly spoiled for choice these days - and that choice is about to get even broader with the latest news from boutique French operator Compagnie du Ponant.

Ponant's new itineraries for the winter 2014/2015 season include seven innovative cruises to Australia and New Zealand, with the new itineraries taking passengers to the South Pacific Ocean and Oceania. Destination highlights include not only Darwin, the Great Barrier Reef, Sydney, Melbourne and Tasmania, but also Auckland and Rotorua, cradle of Maori culture.

The voyages will all aboard the sleek and stylish yacht-like cruiser L’Austral, with 132 staterooms and suites, and a high-quality array of public rooms and dining choices.

Highlights of the eye-catching programme Down Under include:
 

• Combining wide open spaces with the delicate “French Touch” on board the latest generation luxury yacht.
• Zodiac® outings with experienced naturalist-guides to explore unspoiled wildlife.
• Expedition programmes designed to explore Australia’s most emblematic sites and meet the Aborigines.
• Snorkelling in the turquoise blue waters of the Great Barrier Reef.
• Discovering New Zealand, an archipelago on the edge of the world, and Maori culture.

Ponant offers seven departures between December 12, 2014, and February 2015 on board L’Austral, from just €2,150 per person, cruise only.

More info: call 0800 980 4027 or visit www.ponant.com.

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Celebrity Solstice Heads Down Under

Another thing of beauty will share Sydney Harbour when premium cruise brand Celebrity Cruises sends its award-winning Celebrity Solstice to Australia and New Zealand for the first time in the winter of 2012-13.

Australians will enjoy the return of the Celebrity Cruises brand to the region this coming winter with the deployment of the 1,814-guest Celebrity Century while her subsequent replacement will be the 2,850-guest Solstice (above).

Upon arriving in Australia, Solstice will present a series of 12 and 13-night sailings between Sydney and Auckland. The season also will include a circumnavigation of Australia, consisting of two sailings between Sydney and Perth (Fremantle). Many of the itineraries include overnight stays in Sydney.

Celebrity will also continue to offer its popular Australia/New Zealand cruise-tour programme geared toward guests who wish to combine a land-based holiday with a cruise.

Premium concierge-style service is the hallmark of Celebrity’s four and five-night pre and post-cruise escorted packages, which include Port Douglas (Great Barrier Reef), Ayers Rock (Uluru) and Sydney. A six-night pre-cruise New Zealand package will visit Auckland, Rotorua, Queenstown and Sydney. Highlights include a full-day tour over the Great Barrier Reef and a gourmet barbecue dinner at Ayers Rock. All of Celebrity’s cruise-tours are escorted by local tour directors and include hotel accommodations, transportation, select activities, breakfast and some additional meals.

Full details will be available on March 23, when bookings for the new 2012-13 Australia/New Zealand itineraries will open for sale. Bookings for the 1,814-guest Celebrity Century’s 2011-12 Australia/New Zealand cruises are open now.

For more information, see http://www.celebritycruises.co.uk/ or contact the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Voyages of Discovery Cruise Videos

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Voyages of Discovery has launched its latest winter cruise videos following the success of its summer cruise video series. Offering an insight into what can be expected on a typical Voyages of Discovery cruise first-hand, the videos bring itineraries to life for both agents and customers.

Leading the way within the cruise industry with the two-minute video ‘brochure’, Voyages of Discovery uses onboard and destination-led footage to showcase each cruise, highlighting the discovery cruising destinations, cultural excursions and renowned guest speakers onboard. The 21-day Empires of the Sun cruise and 17-day Tales of India & Arabia voyage, both new to the winter 2011/12 brochure, are also available as cruise videos.

Accessible on www.voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk/cruisevideos, you can use the videos to experience a flavour of new itineraries and destination offerings off the beaten track in the new brochure, such as Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, Japan, Myanmar, Vietnam and China.
Brochures can also be viewed online at www.voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk/brochure.php.

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Voyages of Discovery, New Brochure

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Voyages of Discovery’s winter 2011/12 brochure is offering exciting new destinations, cruises and excursions, including a three-day visit to the vibrant, colonial Yangon (formerly Rangoon) in Myanmar and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

With MV Discovery visiting Japan and China for the first time, excursions to Kyota, the former Imperial capital of Japan, the island city of Xiamen, China, and Bund waterfront in Shanghai are also highlights of the new brochure.

The gateway to Mecca; blue waters and white beaches of Australia’s Whitsunday Islands; hustle and bustle of Phuket; and Vietnam’s colonial history also all await travellers as part of the new programme through 2011/12.

Discovery’s smaller size accommodates around 650 passengers, allowing it to visit ports and destinations which larger cruise liners are unable to, providing guests with an opportunity to discover some of the great cities, both ancient and modern, across Australia, The Orient and Middle East, while also listening to renowned guest speakers along the way.

Highlights of the new winter 2011/12 season for Voyages of Discovery include:

23-day South East Asia & Australia cruise embarking on 21 January 2011 – emerge yourself in local life in Manila and experience untamed Darwin and underwater richness of the Great Barrier Reef. Prices start from £2,599.

18-day Treasures of the Orient & Vietnam explores Hong Kong, Yangon, mystical Myanmar, the UNESCO listed Ha Long Bay and the Road to Mandalay, setting off on 18 December 2011, with prices starting from £2,549.

21-day Empires of the Sun, from £2,499, allows travellers to experience the bustling city of Shanghai, the poignant Hiroshima and a peak tram ride showcasing Hong Kong’s skyline, as well as the ever culturally diverse and contrasting Taiwan and Naga.

17-day Tales of India & Arabia from £1,999 uncovers Kirti Mandir - the birthplace of Ghandi - the Egyptian Temples of Dendera & Abydos and UNESCO listed Elephanta Caves in Mumbai

All prices include return flights from the UK, transfers, gratuities and service charges, meals and entertainment and the guest speaker programme on board the ship.

The recently launched Voyages of Discovery summer 2011 brochure second edition is already reporting a number of cruises as nearing 50% full and all itineraries are selling quickly. More information can be found at www.voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk/2011summer

Voyages of Discovery are also exhibiting at The Cruise Show on October 16-17 in Birmingham and at London's Olympia on March 26-27, 2011.

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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Be a Celebrity Down Under

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Marking their return to the region after an absence two years, Celebrity Cruises have announced their new Australia and New Zealand 2011 cruises aboard Celebrity Century, visiting 36 ports. Apart from viewing the lands of the wallaby and the kiwi, guests will also be able to call in at French Polynesia, Indonesia, the U.S. and Mexico.

Some of the fascinating places being visited include Honolulu, Auckland, Sydney and Ensenada in Mexico. The company have also included a string of places being visited for the first time, such as Bali, Darwin, Cairns, and Burnie, Tasmania.

New four and five-night pre- or post-cruise land tours are also available, which include two nights in Sydney and a full day at the Great Barrier Reef. In line with the ship circumnavigating Australia, a similar four or five-night pre- or post-cruise land tour is operating out of Perth. Both tours include a stay at Uluru (Ayer's rock) with a desert tour and full night-time dining experience.

All tours are accompanied by expert guides and lecturers and ample time has been provided for shopping! Savings are offered on back-to-back sailings and on cruises booked between 29th July and 31st September this year.

For more information, look up http://www.celebritycruises.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.

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