Crystal Cruises new selection of Boutique Adventures available on its 2015 Asia voyages.

Crystal Cruises has released a new selection of Boutique Adventures which are available on its 2015 Asia voyages. The experiences include dim sum making and mixology in Hong Kong; immersing guests in the day and life of a Shanghainese in Shanghai; and learning how Sumo wrestlers stay in shape in Tokyo.

Crystal’s 2015 Asia itineraries collectively call in Ho Chi Minh City and Chan May, Vietnam; Kota Kinabalu, Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi, Surabaya, Bali, Semarang, Jakarta and Belawan, Sihanoukville,  Pusan, Taipei/Keelung,  Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sanya, Dalian, Xiamen, Yantai and Beijing, Osaka, Aomori, Otaru and Tokyo. Until 2 January, all-inclusive cruise only fares for the 2015 Asia season start from £1,145 per person.

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Crystal Cruises celebrates 25th anniversary milestone with parties and special guests

Crystal Cruises announces a celebratory twist for its Experiences of Discovery theme cruises for 2015, when the line will mark its 25^th anniversary of cruising. During six designated sailings – in addition to more than a dozen themed cruises focused on culinary, musical, theatrical, political and athletic pursuits – Crystal guests will be treated to commemorative parties and receptions, where they will rub shoulders with Crystal’s top brass. 

Of these, four voyages will be Crystal’s first-ever “Captain’s Cruises”, where former captains will rejoin Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity to regale travellers with their memories. The four cruises, and hosts, include:

• 11 April, Asia (Hong Kong to Tokyo) with Captain Reidulf Maalen, the captain of Crystal’s first ship, Crystal Harmony, when the company began sailing in 1990
• 4 May, Southern Trans-Atlantic (Miami to Lisbon) with Captain Glenn Edvardsen, a 21-year Crystal veteran and the youngest Crystal captain when he joined the line in 1999.
• 12 June, Northern Trans-Atlantic (New York to Dover) with Captain Helge Brudvik, captain of Crystal Symphony in its inaugural year, retired from Crystal since 2000.
• 19  December, Caribbean/Brazilian Holiday (San Juan to Rio de Janeiro) with Captain John Økland, who retired in 2012 after 15 years with Crystal.

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Cunard packages shorter worldwide cruise sectors

Cunard has shorter worldwide cruises available and reveals its new Flagship Collection of premium hotel stays which can be combined with these departures to make cruise and stay holidays.

Sectors of the full World Cruises enable passengers to create shorter holiday options that take in key destinations of interest.  Featured durations range from 8-42 nights.

The new Flagship Collection offers a premium selection of pre and post-cruise hotel stays enhanced with special benefits, and features properties in Auckland, Cape Town, Dubai, Fort Lauderdale, Hong Kong, Rio de Janeiro, Singapore and Sydney.

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Great world cruise offers from Planet Cruise

Planet Cruise are highlighting a range of Cunard & P&O Cruises 2016 World Cruises. The offers include lots of free spend and other available gifts.  

Amongst the cruises on offer are:

Southampton to New York. 

Up to £260 spend and £86 Bon Voyage gift pack. Transatlantic crossing on Cunard's Queen Mary 2.  Departs 10 January 2016, for eight days; from £1,079 pp

Hong Kong to Singapore

Free Bon Voyage gift worth £125 on P&O's Aurora. Departs 12 March 2016 for eight days; from £1,549. Ports  of call include Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam

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Princess Are Big In Japan

Princess Cruises has identified Japan as one of cruising's big new hot-spots after one of its busiest ever Januarys. With this time of year typically being 'Wave Season' and a huge period for cruise bookings, Princess is reporting triple digit growth on its routes in and around the Far East island.

Bookings were evenly split between passengers opting for a round tour of Japan and those preferring to take in the likes of Tokyo and Nagasaki as well as neighbouring countries, including Russia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Elsewhere, the Panama Canal - which celebrates its 100th anniversary in August 2014 - has also proved popular, with booking numbers more than doubling. The Caribbean, a traditional cruise favourite, similarly fared well, with a sharp increase in passenger numbers.

Paul Ludlow, Princess Cruises Managing Director for UK and Europe, explained: "January is hugely significant for the cruise industry as it's our busiest time of the year for bookings. As a result, this demand is enormously encouraging and testament to Princess' wide range of global destinations and welcoming service.

"I'm pleased to see Japan is proving so popular as it's an incredible part of the world that's now more easily within reach of the UK. The prospect of exploring its culture, cuisine, art and history, all from the comfort of our ships, is an increasingly sought-after combination."

Japan cruises are available from £665 per person (cruise only).

More info: call 0843 373 0333 or visit www.princess.com.

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Enjoy A Shorter Asian Cruise With Crystal

Those looking for a taste of the exotic but not able to indulge in the longer cruise options for regions like the Far East might be keen to know about something we've just spotted here at World of Cruising, with Crystal Cruises creating 19 new “Crystal Getaways” in Asia and the surrounding region for 2014.

Time-strapped travellers now have almost twice as many options to enjoy an ultra-luxury, all-inclusive cruise in Japan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Mauritius, Africa and Australia next year. 

The Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity voyages range from five to 10 nights, making them ideal to either enjoy on their own or combine with time ashore. Carved out from longer sailings, the “Getaways” cost from as little as £1,070 per person, double occupancy, if booked by January 3. 

Packed with local overnights, some of the choices include:

5 nights, from £1,070 per person: Feb 17, Shanghai (overnight), Hong Kong (two nights).

6 nights, from £1,836 per person: Apr 3, Ho Chi Minh City (overnight), Chan May, Hong Kong (overnight).

7 nights, from £1,142 per person: Feb 10, Tokyo’s port of Yokohama (overnight), Osaka (overnight), Nagasaki, Shanghai.

10 nights, from £2,861 per person: Mar 10, Singapore (overnight), Jakarta, Mauritius.

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

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Around The World In 180 Days, Part 2

Jules Verne's hero Phileas Fogg may have done it in 80 days but here at World of Cruising magazine, we think there are better ways to go Around The World, and that quicker is not necessarily better. Happily, it seems Oceania Cruises agree with us, with a journey that has a LOT more offer.

Earlier this year, Oceania announced a first-of-its-kind 180-Day World Odyssey in 2015 aboard their mid-sized ship Insignia, departing Miami on January 10 and returning to the Florida port fully six months later (and putting poor old Phileas in the shade!).

Now it seems the idea has proved so popular, they are ready to do it all again, in the second half off 2015.

So, the newly refurbished 684-guest ship will embark on a SECOND Around The World In 180 Days voyage from Miami on July 8, 2015. And, while the first World Odyssey sails south through the Caribbean to South America, then Africa, the Indian Ocean, Far East, Japan (above) and around the South Pacific, returning to Miami via Central America and the Panama Canal, the new 180-day voyage will be completely different.

 

Embarking at the height of summer, Insignia will sail north to Canada and New England and then cross the Atlantic to majestic Greenland and Iceland. She will visit some of the most alluring ports in the Mediterranean before staying for multiple days in magnificent Asian cities, including Mumbai, Rangoon, Singapore and Hong Kong. Guests will explore Africa from Kenya to Cape Town and the continent’s western shores before concluding the voyage with a holiday season of island-hopping in the azure waters of the Caribbean.

 

Reservations for this second World Odyssey are now open and there are early-booking savings of up to 70 per cent if booked by March 31.

More info: call 0845 505 1920 or visit www.oceaniacruises.com.

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Seabourn's World Offers

Here at World of Cruising, we know you like a bit of luxury. After all who doesn’t? So when these two cruises from luxury cruise line Seabourn arrived, with tempting offers for those seeking some excitement this winter, we thought these would definitely be of interest

The first is a 26-Day sector of the World Voyage, departing March 14 on Seabourn Sojourn from Hong Kong to Mumbai. Amongst the ports of call are Halong Bay, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Ko Kood, Bangkok, Singapore, Phuket, Colombo, Cochin, Marmagao and Mumbai (or Bombay as the locals still call it!).

Prices for this cruise start from £6,859pp for the fly/cruise, with cruise-only prices from £5,669pp, based on two people sharing a suite, fully inclusive of all tips and gratuities, fine dining, open bars and fully stocked mini-bar.

If that’s not enough, the line are also offering a 22-Day segment of Seabourn Sojourn's World Voyage departing April 9 from Mumbai to Venice, and calling at Salalah, Aqaba, the Suez Canal with a daylight transit of the Canal, Ashdod, Haifa, Rhodes  Kusadasi, Kerkira, Dubrovnik and Triluke Bay.

 

Prices start from £5,999pp for fly/cruise, with cruise-only prices from £5,049pp, based on two sharing a suite, fully inclusive of all tips and gratuities, fine dining, open bars and the fully stocked mini-bar. 

 

More info: call 0843 373 2000 or visit www.seabourn.co.uk.

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P&O's World In 2015

P&O Cruises is offering two amazing world cruises for 2015, collectively visiting 69 unique destinations in 38 different countries and covering some 61,470 nautical miles.  

Arcadia is sailing a 106-night full World Circumnavigation exclusively for adults with single cabins available, and Aurora is sailing a 105-night South America and Pacific Adventure for families, couples and solo travellers alike. Both sail round-trip from Southampton and are now on sale.

At 106 nights with lead-in Vantage Fares from £9,999 per person, Arcadia’s cruise is a classic world voyage, with the destination and port-rich cruise featuring five maiden calls, to Bitung (Indonesia), Darwin (Australia), Lahaina (Maui, Hawaiian Islands), Manila (Philippines) and Sanya (Hainan, China). It also features extended calls in San Francisco, Honolulu, Sydney (above), Hong Kong, Dubai, Safaga and Sokhna (Egypt) to enable passengers to enjoy once-in-a-lifetime experiences in these ports, from tours of ancient civilisations visiting lavish tombs, temples and palaces in Egypt to the hustle-bustle of modern city life in Hong Kong.

Aurora’s South America and Pacific Adventure is family friendly with more time spent in New Zealand, including a cruise through its famed Milford Sound. The cruise features three maiden calls for the ship, to Akaroa (New Zealand), Rarotonga (Cook Islands) and Moorea (French Polynesia). Lead-in Vantage Fares for this cruise start from £9,299 per person.

Extended calls on Aurora will be in Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, Sydney and San Francisco so passengers can take in these cities’ breathtaking sights during the day as well as into the night.

P&O managing director Carol Marlow said: “A world cruise offers so much more than an extended holiday, it’s an experience of a lifetime, an adventure on an epic scale. How else can you visit so many destinations around the globe, enjoy a whole host of once-in-a-lifetime experiences and immerse yourself in new cultures, countries and sights while travelling in consistent style and comfort?

“Our two world cruises for 2015 are no exception and offer excellent value for money. With prices from £89 per person, per night for our South America and Pacific Adventure on Aurora, it’s a fantastic way to see the world without having to compromise on home comforts. Booking early also means passengers receive the best value, with our Price Promise protection, and they can enjoy all the benefits that booking early affords, such as being able to secure their preferred choice of cabin and dining option.” 

 

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

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Tauck’s Treasures of South-East Asia

Tauck has announced a new 16-day land and sea exploration of Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore centered around an 11-day cruise aboard the new luxury small ship, Le Soléal. Scheduled to launch this summer in Italy, the 466ft ship has a capacity of 264 passengers and will also be featured on selected 2013 sailings of Tauck’s cruise exploration of Iceland.

Tauck’s new “Treasures of South-East Asia” itinerary will kick-off with an included two-night exploration of Hong Kong featuring accommodations at the Kowloon Shangri-La and guided sightseeing, and it will conclude with a two-night stay in Singapore (also with in-depth guided sightseeing) and accommodations at the Marina Bay Sands.

Between their stays in Hong Kong and Singapore, Tauck guests will spend 11 days cruising aboard Le Soléal with ports of call including Hai Phong, Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Throughout their journey, guests will enjoy a wide array of unique experiences highlighting the history and culture of South-east Asia, beginning with a dim sum culinary experience, market visits and other activities in Hong Kong.

In Vietnam, guests will travel on a day trip to explore Hanoi, sail on Ha Long Bay aboard a 

traditional junk, and visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of My Son. There will also be a tour of the Cao Dai Temple in Da Nang, an  experience of daily life at a Vietnamese school and a local farmer’s home, and an exploration of historic, sprawling Ho Chi Minh City. Tauck’s guests will also learn about Singapore’s rich multiculturalism during tours of its Chinatown, Little India and Little Arabia neighborhoods, and explore its history during a visit to the Asian Civilisations Museum.

The Treasures of South-East Asia journey is priced from $9,990 per person (double occupancy, plus air), with southbound departures scheduled for October 28 and November 19, and a reverse-itinerary, northbound departure slated for November 8. Each departure is virtually all-inclusive, with all shore excursions, gratuities, port charges, airport transfers, luggage handling, onboard alcoholic drinks and much more built into the price.

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

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Ponant's Asian Collection

Boutique French cruise line and five-star expedition specialist Compagnie du Ponant has just opened bookings for its brand new Asian Collection itineraries for the winter season 2013-14. From modern empires to ancient kingdoms, passengers are invited to discover Asia’s treasures and explore the diversity of a mysterious and captivating continent.

For the first time, Le Soléal (132 staterooms and suites), the latest addition to the fleet this July, will be sailing for Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Borneo, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India and the Maldives. During the cruise, Ponant invites passengers to discover Asia in a more intimate way: mooring as close as possible to the shore to grant unrivalled access to protected sites whilst offering first rate comfort, elegance and 5-star service. Guests onboard will include experts, historians and lecturers ready to share their passion with the passengers.

A comprehensive programme of shore excursions will include some of the world most outstanding UNESCO World Heritage sites, and all 17 Asian itineraries promise to offer much more than a cruise: a genuine travel experience. Sample cruises include:

JAPAN 
Leaving Otaru, Le Soléal sets out to discover Japan’s kaleidoscope of traditions, beliefs and way of life. From Kanazawa to Hiroshima via Busan, the 8-day cruise ends in Osaka, the new beating heart of Japan. Departure, October 15, from £1,882 per person. 

VIETNAM
The 12-day Hong Kong-Singapore cruise takes in the most important sites and exceptional landscapes of Vietnam, with excursions including a junk boat trip to the heart of the majestic and mysterious Ha Long Bay, the discovery of Hanoi, Saigon and the Imperial City of Hue, or sailing down the Cai River. Pre and post-cruise excursions are on offer for those who want to explore Hong Kong and Singapore. Departure October 30, from £3,298 per person. 

INDONESIA
Bali, Gili Islands, Komodo, Brunei and Borneo...this 14-day cruise ventures into the very heart of Indonesia, from wild Sarawak to Sandankan, home of large congresses of orangutans, traditional villages and the cosmopolitan port of Makassar. Departure January 4, 2014, from £3,081 per person.

MYANMAR & SRI LANKA 
Departing on a 9-day voyage from Kuala Lumpur to Colombo via Malaysia, Thailand and Myanmar, Le Soléal calls at Penang (first British trading post in the Far East in the 19^th century), Phuket, Trincomalee and Hambantota, on a cruise rich in discovery. The itinerary exceptionally includes four days in Yangon to explore the Shwedagon Pagoda, Bagan temples, Mandalay, the cultural capital, and the former royal city of Amarapura. Departure March 14, 2014, from £3,036 per person.

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

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SeaDream's New Brochure Bonus

SeaDream Yacht Club has introduced a newly-designed, full-colour, 80-page brochure reflecting their yachting lifestyle and featuring the 2013/14 voyage programme of their chic, twin vessels SeaDream I and SeaDream II. For the first time, all voyages are shown in pounds sterling.

The highlights are as follows:

The all-new autumn 2013 Costa Rica programme sees SeaDream’s first sailings across the “top” of South America, its first visit to Gatun Lake and Nicaragua, Costa Rica, itself, with inaugural sailings through the great Panama Canal. Typical voyages such as SeaDream I’s 7-night Caldera round-trip 'Costa Rica & Panama Discovery' sailing on November 30 start from £2,266pp, including all fees, handling and port tax.

The brand new autumn/spring 2013/14 Asia programme aboard SeaDream II features 18 different departures, and visits almost every nation with a coast in Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar (Burma), East Timor, Indonesia, New Guinea, Vietnam, Cambodia and Hong Kong. Sailings range from 7 to 14 nights and the programme kicks off with an inaugural trans-Suez and a trans-Indian Ocean sailing.

A typical 7-night itinerary such as 'Asian Fantasia' round-trip from Singapore on April 4, 2014, costs from £3,095pp, while a typical longer voyage such as her 14-night 'Voyage of the Warrors' sailing from Cairns to Bali departing on February 1, 2014, costs from £5,995pp.

An exciting highlight of the summer 2014 Northern Europe season sees SeaDream operating its first cruise from Britain, a 14-night Baltic Capitals voyage departing on August 30 round-trip from Dover, with lead-in early booking fares starting from £6,655pp. After the inaugural round-trip UK sailing, SeaDream I heads for Lisbon, then Rome and on to Athens to join her sister ship in the Mediterranean through to the end of the summer.

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

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Winter Escapes With Silversea

Silversea has announced a selection of blissful Winter Sun voyages that all include complimentary airfare. The offer is available on select voyages including Asian and Caribbean cruises that are sailing in early 2013 and include generous onboard spending credits of up to $1,000 per suite. The credits can be used towards a wide range of onboard purchases, including shore excursions, spa treatments and premium dining.

Choose from:

AFRICA – Voyage 2302: Soar over South Africa’s magnificent Drakensberg mountain range by private helicopter, enjoy a city tour of Port Elizabeth and experience the Addo Elephant Park – 126,000 acres of bush country home to 300 elephants. Silver Wind sets sail on January 15 on a 10-day round-trip voyage from Cape Town. Prices start from £3,050 per person.

MEDITERRANEAN – Voyage 2305: Discover the Souks and Raids of Medina, experience the scenic interior of Madeira on a guided tour through the island's 'levadas' and explore the unusual vineyards of Lanzarote. Silver Wind sets sail on February 22 on an 8-day round-trip voyage from Las Palmas. Prices start from £1,650 per person.

ASIA – Voyage 3306: Sail the wondrous seascape of Ha Long Bay aboard local junks, discover the colourful streets of Hoi An and experience a local perspective on wartime memories and the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels. Silver Shadow sets sail on March 6 on a 9-day voyage from Hong Kong to Singapore and prices start from £2.650 per person.

ASIA – Voyage 3307: Explore the culture and heritage of Kuala Lumpur, discover your artistic side while learning the traditional art of Batik in Penang and take in the splendid natural beauty, landmarks and history of Phuket. Silver Shadow sets sail on March 15 on a 7-day round-trip voyage from Singapore. Prices start from £1,950 per person.

All prices based on double occupancy in a Vista suite and include free economy round-trip flights. 

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

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Winter Far East Special From Holland America

Holland America Line is offering an 11-night luxury cruise of Thailand, Vietnam and China from just £749 per person this winter. 

Departing from Singapore on December 1, the cruise heads for Thailand's spectacular eastern islands and calls at Koh Samui before making an overnight stop at Laem Chabang for two full days exploring the colourful capital of Bangkok. Next port of call is Pho My in Vietnam, where guests can immerse themselves in the bustle of Ho Chi Minh city or even take an authentic Vietnamese cooking course. 

The cruise continues to the port city of Da Nang, perfectly placed for exploring the charming Vietnamese town of Hoi An or the imperial city of Hue. The Volendam then calls at Ha Long Bay, where guests can experience the otherworldly landscape that make this beautiful spot so famous, or head for a day-trip to Hanoi, before sailing to Hong Kong, where the cruise ends.

While at sea, guests can also be pampered in the Greenhouse Spa & Salon, experience the Culinary Arts Centre, which features cookery demonstrations, as well as sampling the Volendam’s choice of elegant restaurants and lounges.

This offer is based on two sharing an inside cabin on Holland America’s 'Far East Discovery' cruise, departing Singapore on December 1. The price includes 11 nights’ full board accommodation on Volendam, plus, there is an offer to upgrade to an oceanview stateroom for an extra £50.

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

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Regent's New Winter Collection

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has a special offer to go with the unveiling of its new Winter Collection for 2013/14, which features voyages to South America, Asia, the South Pacific, Europe, the Caribbean and Alaska.

As part of the launch, the ultra-luxury line is offering a complimentary one-night, post-cruise luxury hotel package on all Winter Collection itineraries booked by December 31. Additional collection highlights include three new ports, five Grand Voyages with exclusive amenities, and special offers on pre and post-cruise land programmes.

Recognised as the most inclusive luxury cruise experience, all Regent sailings also include all-suite accommodations, 97% with private balconies, gourmet cuisine, premium spirits and fine wines, free shore excursions, gratuities, and a pre-cruise luxury hotel stay, at no additional cost.

2013-2014 Winter Collection Highlights

From November 2013 through to June 2014, the all-suite, all-balcony Seven Seas Voyager visits the South Pacific and Asia (above), with stops in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Bali, Vietnam, China, Japan and India, offering guests a variety of itineraries ranging from 10 – 136-nights including four Grand Voyages.

Regent also offers a specially priced three-night pre or post-cruise land programme for £318pp on select South Pacific and Asia itineraries. These include Angkor Wat, Beijing and the Great Wall of China, Hong Kong and Sydney, as well as Dubai and Kuala Lumpur, two new land programmes.

Seven Seas Mariner returns to South America where guests can sail along the mighty Amazon, cruise around Cape Horn, explore the Panama Canal and visit the largest Magellanic Penguin colony in the world. Sailings range from 10 to 70 nights including the coveted “Circle South America” Grand Voyage.

In March 2014, the 700-guest, all-suite, all-balcony ship heads back to the Mediterranean with a grand crossing from Rio de Janeiro to Barcelona featuring maiden calls in Dakar, Senegal, and Tangier, Morocco

The newly refurbished, all-suite Seven Seas Navigator explores the tropics, with 16 departures round-trip from Miami to the Caribbean, ranging from seven to 24 nights and including a maiden call in La Romana, Dominican Republic. The ship then departs Miami on April 21 for an 18-night voyage to San Francisco, transiting the Panama Canal to begin its  popular cruises in Alaska.

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

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Seabourn's Luxury 2014 World Cruise

Luxury Seabourn Cruise Line has announced their award-winning Seabourn Sojourn will sail a 116-day world cruise in 2014, encompassing destinations such as Hawaii, the South Pacific, Indonesia, south-east Asia, Australia, India, the Arabian peninsula and the Mediterranean.  

The ship will depart Los Angeles on January 4, 2014, and arrive in Venice on May 1.  Sojourn will stop at 53 ports in 20 countries and, for the first time on a world cruise, will explore Western Australia. 

Several new ports are scheduled in the land “down under,” including Geelong, Victoria; Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island; and Bunbury, Geraldton and Exmouth in Western Australia. The itinerary also includes an exciting combination of many of the world’s most popular cities, as well as smaller treasures and charming towns. In addition, there will be overnight calls in many of the world’s greatest cities, such as Honolulu, Sydney, Hong Kong and Mumbai.

Fares for the full 116-day voyage include a value-packed menu of complimentary benefits and amenities, including:

 

• A pre-cruise Gala Bon Voyage event and luxury overnight stay in Los Angeles.
• Specially created shoreside events and exclusive shore excursions.
• Personal Valet luggage shipping service.
• Shipboard credits of £1,575 per guest.
• Private car transfers.
• Complimentary round-trip business class air or $2,500 air credit.
• Gala onboard celebrations.
• A variety of commemorative gifts.

Rates for the full voyage begin at £35,799 per person, based on double occupancy and including round-trip air and a host of other complimentary amenities. For guests who cannot sail on the entire cruise, shorter segments from 22 to 94 days are also available, with rates starting at £8,899 per person based on double occupancy, including air and certain complimentary amenities.

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

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Crystal Cruises Unveils 2014/15 Programme

Luxury line Crystal Cruises has unveiled its full year of worldwide voyages for 2014, plus itineraries up to mid-April 2015 - all of which are now open for booking. 

New seven to 89-night cruises in 2014 are among the 61 sailings on board Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, with 16 maiden calls, 194 total ports and 68 countries – including a glamorous World Cruise. 

Early 2015’s global calendar offers 15 exotic cruises and a 20^th World Cruise, as well as nine maiden calls and a return to ports Crystal hasn’t visited in more than a decade.

2014 Highlights include:

UNESCO World Heritage Sites are featured on 54 out of 61 cruises (or 89% of 2014’s itineraries), visiting 135-plus dedicated historical destinations, from the ancient - Istanbul, Dubrovnik and Tallinn - to the intriguing, Casablanca, Cartagena and Takoradi. 

World Cruise: 89-night, January to April, five-segment Los Angeles-Southampton cruise, with Crystal’s first return to West Africa since 2011. 

Fully 34% of cruises are 10 nights or less. 

New ports include Galway, Ireland; Luanda, Angola; Lombok, Indonesia; Ibiza, Spain; Oban, Scotland; Skagen, Denmark; and Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. 

Returns to places less-frequented by Crystal include the Andaman Islands; Brunei; Ghana; Helsingborg, Sweden; Ko Samui, Thailand; Zihuatanejo, Mexico; Tokyo, Japan; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Korcula, Croatia. 

Nearly every itinerary features at least one overnight stay in renowned cities, often in the city of embarkation, plus two consecutive overnights in many places such as Yangon, Shanghai, Hong Kong, St Petersburg and Ho Chi Minh City.

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

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SeaDream's Asia Debut

SeaDream Yacht Club has announced that, for the first time, they will deploy one of their twin mega-yachts, SeaDream II, to Asia for the winter season 2013/14 after the completion of her advertised summer Mediterranean season.

The first of her Asia programme departures is “Passage to the Far East”, which will depart Athens on October 12 and include a transit of the Suez Canal, excursions to Egypt’s fascinating archeological sites (accompanied by an Egyptologist) en route to Mumbai, India. Prices for this epic 15-night voyage start from £4,050 per person, including all fees and port taxes. 

 

From Mumbai, she will sail onwards via Cochin, Sri Lanka, and the Andaman Islands to Thailand, before dropping down to Singapore. This 13-night trans-Indian Ocean sailing costs from £3,995 per person, including fees and taxes.

Thereafter, SeaDream II will visit almost every coastal country in South East Asia, as well as visiting Northern Australia during a six-month programme featuring Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, East Timor, Indonesia, New Guinea, Vietnam, Cambodia and Hong Kong.

Offering 18 unique sailings in total, each voyage offers unique and exciting ports of call, each ranging from seven to fifteen nights duration. Most may be combined to create longer back-to-back holidays. Typical 7-night itineraries such as the “Asian New Year Celebration Cruise” from Phuket to Singapore on December 28, cost from £3,645 per person while a typical longer voyage such as the 14-night “Voyage of the Warrors” sailing from Cairns to Bali on February 1, 2014, costs from £5,995.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury cruising 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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Azamara's 2014 Overnight Bonanza

Offering more late-night and overnight stays in port, Azamara Club Cruises has announced the 2014 deployment of its twin boutique ships Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest.

The cruise line’s new 2014 programme enables guests to experience the nightlife of compelling destinations around the world that larger ships cannot reach, and includes a record 45 maiden port calls, such as the UNESCO World Geopark Langkawi, Malaysia; Maura in the Sultanate of Brunei; and the charming island-village Vila do Abraao, a favourite Brazilian getaway.

Guests can choose among 72 new voyages, ranging from four to 17 nights and visiting 240 destinations in 66 countries throughout Europe, the Far East, Central and South America, the Caribbean and the Western U.S. coast.

 

Most of Azamara's voyages are designed so travellers can combine two or more consecutive voyages for an extended travel experience and not repeat a port call. Some of the 2014 highlights include:

 

• Azamara Journey will sail 12 to 17-night voyages throughout the East and South China seas from January to April, alternating departures from Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Mumbai and Chennai. On these sailings, guests will visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as Halong Bay, Borobudur, Parambanan and Sangiran, and enjoy the nightlife of Tokyo, Shanghai and Bangkok to name a few, during their overnight stays. The ship then repositions via the Indian Ocean and Suez Canal to arrive for its European season in May.
• Azamara Quest will offer a pair of trans-Panama Canal voyages between Miami and Costa Rica, plus a new series of Sea of Cortez and Central America sailings, ranging from 10 to 14-nights. Quest will also sail an 11-night voyage to less-trodden islands of the Caribbean, such as St. John’s, St. Barth’s and Virgin Gorda, before returning to Europe in April.
• In late November, Azamara Journey will depart from Spain’s Costa del Sol to beautiful Brazil via the Canary Islands. Guests can celebrate Christmas and the New Year as they sail from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro. Meanwhile, Azamara Quest will retrace the Spice Route to the Far East and ring in the New Year in Hong Kong.

Prices start from £1,073 for a four-night Monaco Grand Prix sailing on May 22 on Azamara Quest (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom), cruise only.

 

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury cruising 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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Take A Voyage Of Discovery In 2013/14

The new Winter 2013/14 season with Voyages of Discovery sees MV Voyager heading to the Far East with 21 new ports of call for the brand, including Dubai, Tokyo and San Remo through to itineraries in India, China, Myanmar, South Korea and Japan.  

The line's newest ship will also call at the bustling port of Bangkok (Thailand) and berth right in the heart of the city - a completely new venture for Voyages of Discovery, made possible due to the small size of Voyager. Voyages of Discovery is also offering a 5% early booking discount on all Winter 2013/14 bookings made by October 31. 

Highlights of the programme include:

• Asian Capitals and the Magic of Vietnam – A 19-day cruise from £2,399 per person. Passengers can explore Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Singapore and Hong Kong before taking in the scenery of UNESCO listed beauty spot, Ha Long Bay (Vietnam). Price is based on a January 2, 2014, UK departure.

• Treasures of Asia – A 16-day cruise from £1,999 per person. Guests can discover the nature and wildlife in Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. Highlights include a visit to Thailand’s bustling capital of Bangkok, Mount Kinabalu National Park (Malaysia) and the Angkor Wat temple (Cambodia). Price is based on a February 17, 2014, UK departure.

• Ancient Worlds and Modern Masterpieces – A 15-day cruise from £1,599 per person where passengers can experience the Suez and Corinth Canals. Price is based on an April 7, 2014, UK departure.

Guests can enjoy Voyager’s newly-enhanced features, including three restaurants offering a range of dining options and al fresco dining and flexible seating, the refreshed library area and the Lookout Lounge, which provides panoramic views from the front of the ship. Almost 90% of the cabins are outside cabins and 30 have balconies. All of the public areas on board will benefit from a light refurbishment including new art work and soft furnishings.

All Voyages of Discovery standard fares include return flights from the UK on fly cruises, all relevant overseas transfers, gratuities and service charges, meals and entertainment and the Guest Speaker programme on board the ship. A complimentary chauffeur service is available on higher grade cabin bookings. 

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

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.