Cruising's Getting Cool?

By Editor Simon Veness

OK, it may be several years late arriving at this conclusion, but a recent story in The Observer's travel pages insists that cruising is cool and becoming increasingly popular with the younger generation.

The story (which you can see on this link) cites a recent ABTA survey, which says that many in the 16-24 year age-group would now consider a cruise as opposed to the usual trip to Ibiza or Malia.

And it is certainly true that there are a greater number of cruise options for the teen and young adult market these days, including many speciality rock and pop cruises featuring the likes of Pulp, Papa Roach, Sister Hazel and Gaelic Storm.

There is a Rock Boat cruise, a Monsters of Rock sea-going festival and Kid Rock's "Chillin' The Most" Cruise. There is a company dedicated to rock music at sea - Sixthman - and even a nautical website devoted to following your favourite bands, ThemeCruiseFinder.com, which lists no less than NINETEEN such voyages in 2014.

But here's the catch - it's nothing new. It's just that the mainstream media have only just discovered it's happening.

That Rock Boat Cruise? It's the 14th such example, while Kid Rock is on his fifth rockin' cruise. In fact, it's just another example of what cruising has been all about - in ALL its many facets - for years.

Because cruising long since realised that they need to appeal to people across the board, not just those who retired or won the lottery. All those tired old myths about cruising? They ARE tired old myths.

So, while The Observer may think they have discovered a new phenomenon, it is all part and parcel of how cruising has been re-inventing and re-presenting itself for today's audience in the past 15 years.

And it's just another reason why you should stick with World of Cruising for all the REAL insight into this still-growing holiday type.

Have you subscribed to World of Cruising magazine yet? We have a very special, limited-time offer to save 50% off a full year's subscription, which includes six issues PLUS our new year-end Cruise Directory. That means a year's worth of Europe's leading cruise publication will be only £15. Check out the special rate on this link!

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.

MSC's New Balearic Bliss

Bask on beautiful beaches and go wild in famous clubs with MSC' unique new itinerary - from just £599 per person, including flights

With seven days of stunning sights, beautiful beaches and legendary Balearic beats, MSC Orchestra’s 2013 summer cruises are the perfect formula for sun worshippers seeking the very best of the Balearic Islands and other top Mediterranean spots. With fly-cruise prices starting from just £599 per person, there has never been a better opportunity to experience the best of the Balearics.

From 14 June to 18 October 2013, MSC Orchestra will depart every Friday from Genoa on a diverse western Mediterranean itinerary spanning the magnificent monuments of Rome and Palermo to the Balearic beaches of Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza, as well as the charming old town of Villefranche-sur-Mer on the French Riviera.

Specially tailored to include Spain’s famous party islands and their mythical day-to-night transformation, the itinerary includes an overnight call in Palma de Mallorca and a day and night in Ibiza. Travellers can explore these popular night spots on their own or make the most of organized excursions such as Ibiza Sunset, a trip to the celebrated sunset strip and world-famous Café del Mar for a spectacular sundown, or Playa D’en Bossa By Night, for an unforgettable evening with the international party crowd at famous nightclubs Space, Ushuaia and Bora Bora.

During the day, travellers can bask on popular beaches or enjoy Ibiza’s lesser known scenic and cultural spots; the quaint villages, quiet coves and local markets which reveal another face of the island. An excursion to neighbouring Formentera is another great option, for a visit to the charming town of Es Pujols and the soft, white sands of an island known for the ravishing beauty of its coastline.

Additional highlights include Italy’s stunning capital city, Rome, the beautiful treasure-trove of palaces, castles and churches to be discovered in Palermo, and the fabulous Côte d'Azur region of the French Riviera, including Nice and Monaco, just a short journey away from Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Between the calls of this incredibly varied itinerary, travellers will enjoy the fantastic leisure and entertainment facilities on board MSC Orchestra, including swimming pools, state-of-the-art fitness centre, and Bali concept MSC Aurea Spa, or carry on the party in the ship’s bars, lounges and the R32 disco.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, 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.

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

Be AzAmazed With Azamara

As part of Azamara Club Cruises’ 2013 European season, newly refurbished duo Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey will launch AzAmazing Evenings, exclusive, custom-designed events which will immerse guests in the cultures that intrigue them. The inclusive night touring experiences are bespoke and authentic to the destinations in which they take place. 

The new season also marks the inclusion of boutique wines, international beers and select standard spirits in the ships' restaurants, bars and lounges when open. Travellers eager to experience Europe can also take advantage of up to $2,000 credit per stateroom against the voyage fare when booking flights through the line’s ChoiceAir feature. 

The twin ships will sail European waters through November, calling at familiar favourites such as Monte Carlo, Ibiza and Santorini, as well as some of the more hidden gems such as Sochi in Russia, host to the 2014 Winter Olympics; Cassis in France; and Propriano and Palamos in Spain. For an even more culturally-rich experience, guests can combine two, three or more consecutive sailings that repeat almost no ports and multiply their choices of AzAmazing Evenings and destination immersion.

Throughout the season, guests may also pair their holiday with a sailing that coincides with some of the region’s top cultural events, including the Monaco Grand Prix on 23 May or the British Open on 14 July.  For example, Azamara Quest’s seven-night, Seville April Fair sailing includes an opportunity for guests to experience Seville’s annual spring celebration, including a spectacular midnight fireworks show.  The ship, which sails to many destinations that larger ships cannot get to, docks in the heart of the city, just a short walk from all the festivities.

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.

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

Yoga In The Med With Star Clippers

Tall ship sailing specialist Star Clippers is offering a springtime yoga and meditation-themed cruise on its flagship, the 227-passenger Royal Clipper, under the tuition of acclaimed expert Raphaella Rose.

Departing Lisbon on April 28, the seven-night voyage includes calls at Portimao, Tangier, Cartagena, Ibiza and Palma, ending in Barcelona. The yoga programme will include two daily sessions out on the ship’s sun-warmed teak decks under thousands of square feet of billowing sails – the ultimate relaxing environment for body and soul, enhanced by the fresh sea air and the spring sunshine.

Each class is open to all guests and suitable for all levels, with no prior experience required. All classes and lectures are optional and run alongside the ship’s regular activities. For guests who also want to follow a healthy or vegetarian diet during the sailing to complement their yoga practice, Star Clippers’ breakfast buffets feature an abundance of fresh, seasonal fruits, and guests can select from a variety of salads at lunchtime and vegetarian options at dinner.

Raphaella’s classes are suitable for all levels of experience. Her speciality is Ishta style yoga, a highly personalised form of yoga that embraces Hatha postures and Tantric and Ayurvedic philosophy. Tantra offers specific meditation techniques and tools to calm the mind, while Ayurveda with posture modification aims to rebalance the individual mentally and physically.

Australian-born but currently based in Barcelona, Raphaella has practiced yoga for 16 years and taught regular classes since 2005 in the USA, Britain and Spain, running regular retreats alongside her class schedule. Prices are from £1,590, cruise-only, including full board, all yoga classes and all port taxes.

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

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

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.

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.

Broadcaster Michael Nicholson Aboard Fred. Olsen

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has announced that renowned TV correspondent Michael Nicholson, OBE, MA (above), is the latest in a line of glittering speakers to join its Vistas cruise enrichment programme. Michael will be the guest speaker on Boudicca’s 23-night cruise to the Mediterranean, D1223, departing from Portsmouth on October 12, 2012.

Nicholson is best known as a seasoned and highly-acclaimed foreign correspondent, reporting on wars and natural disasters the world over. He has reported from no fewer than 18 war zones during his long and illustrious career, including Nigeria, Biafra, Vietnam, Cambodia, Beirut, Israel, Cyprus, Congo, Rwanda, The Falklands, the Balkans and both Gulf Wars. Michael was ITN’s first Bureau Chief in South Africa, based in Johannesburg; he reported on news from all over Africa between 1976 and 1981, then journeyed overland back to the UK with his family – a 14,000-mile journey that took six months.

Cruise guests can enjoy Michael's fascinating and informative talks in the comfort and elegance of Boudicca on this exciting Mediterranean itinerary, which visits Portimăo (Portugal), Ibiza (Spain), Valletta (Malta), Piraeus (for Athens), Çanakkale (Turkey), Istanbul (Turkey), Kusadasi (Turkey), Gozo (Malta), Mahon (Menorca) and Gibraltar, returning to Portsmouth. Prices for this cruise start from £2,179 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside, twin cabin, Grade ‘I’, and include all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes.

There are also ‘Double Savings’ available on this cruise of up to £1,000 per cabin (depending on cabin grade), if booked by February 29, as featured in Fred. Olsen’s "Captains’ Collection 2012/13" brochure of 73 specially-selected, ex-UK cruise deals. Fred. Olsen‘s ‘No Fuel Surcharge Guarantee’ also applies on all bookings made by January 31, for departures from January 1 onwards, so value for money is guaranteed. There is no extra charge for taking part in Vistas activity.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

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.

Tall Ship Sailing In The Med

Tall ship sailing specialist Star Clippers is offering two wonderful opportunities to explore the history of the Mediterranean this autumn, combining the romance of a voyage through the Balearic Islands and Andalucia to Morocco with a stay in a beautiful riad in Marrakech. A second option combines a mini-cruise with both Marrakech and two nights in historic Lisbon.

Sailing on the line’s flagship, the five-masted square rigger Royal Clipper, the first voyage departs Civitavecchia, the port for Rome, on October 15. After a day exploring the dramatic medieval fortress town of Bonifacio in Corsica, the ship sets a course to Mahon, Menorca, Lord Nelson’s chosen base for the British fleet during the Napoleonic wars. There’s a day in Ibiza, best known for its nightlife but actually rich in history, from its Carthaginian origins to 500 years of Moorish rule. On board, guests can relax on the warm, teak decks, enjoy their favourite cocktail from the Tropical Bar, or help the crew raise thousands of square feet of billowing sails.

Royal Clipper next calls at Motril on southern Spain’s Costa Tropical, an easy hop from Grenada and the magnificent Alhambra Palace. Then there’s a day at Safi in Morocco, famous for its pottery, before disembarking in Casablanca for the short flight to Marrakech.

Here, guests will stay for four nights at the tranquil, four star Les Jardins de la Medina, a traditional 19th century riad inside the city’s massive terracotta ramparts, surrounded by luxuriant gardens and complete with its own gastronomic restaurant, cookery school, hammam and spa, before flying back to London on October 27. Priced from £2,585 per person, including flights, full board on the cruise, transfers, B&B at the hotel, a bottle of wine and a three-hour private tour of Marrakech.

The second option departs London on October 21, for two nights at Les Jardins de la Medina, before flying to Casablanca on October 23 to join Royal Clipper for a four-night cruise to Lisbon via Tangier, Cadiz (for Seville, the magnificent Andalucian capital) and Portimao on the popular Algarve coast. Guests disembark in Lisbon and spend two nights at the boutique Lisboa Plaza hotel. A complimentary train ticket to the beach resort of Cascais is included, as well as a Lisbon Card, for discounts on entries to the city’s museums and attractions, and free public transport, as well as the Elevador da Gloria funicular, a scenic tram that links Baixa with the Bairro Alto.

Priced from £1,725 per person, including flights from London, full board on the cruise, two nights’ B&B at the Jardins de la Medina and two nights’ B&B at the Lisboa Plaza, as well as a bottle of wine, three-hour private tour of Marrakech, the Lisbon Card and train tickets.

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

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.

OperaBabes Set Sail With Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

As part of the popular ‘Music and Laughter’ programme of cruises, with high quality, live entertainment, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is delighted to welcome back, for a second season, The OperaBabes.

Rebecca Knight, soprano, and Karen England, mezzo soprano, were discovered by a talent scout in 2001 when they were busking in Covent Garden. Their first big break came when they were booked to perform at the FA Cup Final, giving them a worldwide audience of 500 million people, and they have never looked back.

Their first album was launched to great critical and popular acclaim and reached Number 1 in the UK Classical Charts, selling over a million copies, and also reaching Number 4 in the USA chart.

They entertained guests aboard a Fred. Olsen cruise last October, to enormous acclaim, and will now be cruising once more and delighting guests with their special style of opera and glamour.

The cruise featuring this high class headline act is Braemar M1123, to Iberia, an 11-night voyage departing from Dover on October 28. The OperaBabes will join the cruise to entertain guests from November 3-8. The ports of call visited are Motril (Spain), Ibiza (Spain), Cartagena (Spain) and Lisbon (Portugal) before returning to Dover.

Prices start from £948 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade ‘I’, and include accommodation, all food and entertainment on board, and port taxes.

Find out more at www.fredolsencruises.com or contact specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

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.

Windstar's 'Rail & Sail' Voyage

- Limited Availability On One Departure Only -

Windstar Cruises is offering guests an exclusive opportunity to combine rail with sail on its June 25 Nice to Barcelona sailing.

Guests will take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Nice on June 24 and spend a night at the four-star Mercure Nice Centre Notre Dame, which is located in the heart of Nice opposite Notre Dame church, near Place Masséna, Promenade des Anglais and the old town.

The following day they will join the intimate, 312-guest Wind Surf for a seven-night cruise from Nice to Barcelona during which they will visit the beautiful ports of St Tropez, L’lle-Rousse, Ajaccio, Alghero, Mahon and Ibiza.

Wind Surf features deluxe, ocean-view staterooms that include beds with luxury linens and mattresses, flat-screen TV and DVD player, Bose SoundDock speakers for Apple iPods, waffle-weave robes with slippers and sumptuous L’Occitane products. Guests enjoy culinary wonders in The Restaurant, Degrees, Le Marché and Candles. The ship also features a lounge, Yacht Club, WindSpa, casino, three bars, two pools, two hot-tubs, a shop, photo gallery and watersports platform. At the end of the cruise, guests will transfer to the airport in Barcelona for their return flight back to the UK.

Prices for this exclusive Rail & Sail package start from £2,450 per person including train from St Pancras to Nice, an overnight at the Mercure Nice Centre Notre Dame in Nice, transfer from hotel to ship, seven nights on Wind Surf in an ocean-view stateroom with all meals and entertainment and port taxes, transfer from ship to airport in Barcelona and flight back to the UK.

Further Rail & Sail dates will be announced shortly.

For more info, visit/www.windstarcruises.co.uk or luxury cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

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.

Big Savings on Grandeur

Here's another eye-catching bargain to start the week: join Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas for a seven-night Spanish Mediterranean fly/cruise from just £699 per person (based on two people sharing an ocean-view stateroom) this summer.

The price includes return flights from London Gatwick, transfers and a seven-night cruise departing Palma De Mallorca and calling at Barcelona, Ibiza, Malaga and Gibraltar, before returning to Palma; all meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on a July 17 departure.

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

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.

Longer Leave with Star Clippers

The extra public holiday for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29, hard on the heels of the four-day Easter weekend break and immediately prior to the public holiday on May 2, will enable holidaymakers to take up to 11 days holiday - but only three days leave from work.

Star Clippers’ head-turning, five-masted flagship Royal Clipper sets sail from Lisbon on April 23 on a seven-night cruise of Portugal’s east coast, through the Straits of Gibraltar, calling at Portimao on the Algarve, Tangier in Morocco, Cartagena, Ibiza and Mallorca, before guests disembark in Barcelona.

The seven-night cruise costs from just £1,259 per person, including all meals and return UK flights, based on two sharing.

The 170-passenger, four-masted Star Flyer departs Lisbon on April 20 on a 10-night cruise along Portugal’s west coast, through the Straits of Gibraltar and into the Mediterranean sea to Monaco. During the cruise the ship calls into Portimao on the Algarve, Cadiz (with an optional tour of Seville), Tangier in Morocco, Motril (optional tour of Granada), Ibiza, Palma and St Tropez.

The 10-night cruise costs from £1,499 per person, including all meals and return UK flights, based on two sharing.

For more info, contact http://www.starclippers.co.uk/ or the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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.

Cruise the Moorish Mediterranean and stay in a Moroccan riad

Tall ship sailing specialist Star Clippers is offering a unique opportunity to explore the history of the Mediterranean, combining the romance of a voyage through the Balearic Islands and Andalucia to Morocco with a stay in a beautiful riad in Marrakech.

This one-off cruise, on the line’s flagship, the five-masted square rigger Royal Clipper, departs Civitavecchia, the port for Rome, on October 15.

After a day exploring the dramatic medieval fortress town of Bonifacio in Corsica, the ship sets a course to Mahon, Menorca (above), Lord Nelson’s chosen base for the British fleet during the Napoleonic wars. There’s a day in Ibiza, best known for its nightlife but actually rich in history, from its Carthaginian origins to 500 years of Moorish rule. Ibiza is especially lovely in autumn, when the summer crowds have left but the sea is still warm enough for swimming.

Royal Clipper next calls at Motril on southern Spain’s Costa Tropical, an easy hop from Grenada and the magnificent Alhambra Palace. Then there’s a day at Safi in Morocco, famous for its pottery, before disembarking in Casablanca and being transferred to Marrakech.

Here, in conjunction with short break specialist Kirker Holidays, guests will spend four nights in the Riad Kniza, an exquisite town house that has been restored by one of the city’s top antique dealers, situated in the heart of the old Medina, just minutes’ walk from the famous Djemaa el Fna Square.

The riad, built around three open air courtyards, has just 11 rooms, as well as a pool, traditional hammam and roof terrace. Marrakech is a wonderful city for browsing the tangled streets of the souks, walking along the massive ramparts, soaking up the carnival atmosphere of the Square, or taking day trips into the Atlas Mountains.

From £2,199 per person, including flights to Rome and from Marrakech; eight nights’ full board on Royal Clipper; four nights’ B&B at the Riad Kniza, a three-hour private tour of Marrakech, transfers and the services of a Kirker Holidays concierge.

For more information, please visit http://www.starclippers.co.uk/ or contact the adventure cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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.

Huge Savings With Royal Caribbean

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Royal Caribbean’s New Year ‘What you see is what you get’ campaign is offering huge savings on cruising in 2011. Book now and join Grandeur of the Seas on a seven-night Spanish Mediterranean fly/cruise from £699 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin). Prices will increase as demand increases and so, to guarantee the best deal, it is highly advisable to book as soon as possible.

Price includes return flights from London Gatwick, transfers and a seven-night cruise departing Palma de Mallorca (above) and calling at Barcelona, Ibiza, Málaga and Gibraltar before returning to Palma; meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on a June 19 departure.

For more information or to book, see http://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk/ or call the cruise agent specialist of the Cruise Line Ltd.

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.

All Aboard with the Archers.

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Fans of the BBC's classic long-running radio soap opera The Archers will get a treat in 2011, when Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines hosts two Archers-themed voyages as part of its popular programme of special-interest cruises, The ArtsClub. Archers aficionados will get the chance to mingle with their favourite cast members from the long-running show, whilst cruising around the beautiful Mediterranean.

Various Archers cast members will be on board both cruises. They will be available to chat to at the Captain’s Welcome Cocktail Party and will perform a 'mock' recording whilst on board - complete with all the rural sound effects fans have come to associate with this much-loved show!
Balmoral departs from Southampton on a 10-night Easter cruise on April 23, 2011, calling at La Coruna, Casablanca, Gibraltar and Portimao (where she anchors), before returning to Southampton. Prices for this cruise start at £1,014pp, based on two adults sharing an inside twin-bedded cabin. The price includes all meals and entertainment on board, plus port taxes.

The Balmoral cruise also offers the supporting ArtsClub theme of Wine, where guests can learn more about wines from around the world, and discover the onboard expert’s recommendations.

Black Watch departs from Dover on September 12, 2011 for a 13-night cruise around the Western Mediterranean, taking in Cadiz, Almeria, Ibiza, Mahon, Palma and Lisbon, before returning to Dover. Prices for this cruise start at £1,392pp, based on two adults sharing an inside twin-bedded cabin. The price includes all meals and entertainment on board, plus port taxes.

The Black Watch cruise also offers keen golfers a dedicated package, Flagship Golf, providing the ideal opportunity to play on some of the finest courses in the region whilst relaxing in the comfort of Fred. Olsen's classic liner. The cost for this package is £375 per golfer.

Find out more at http://www.fredolsencruises.co.uk/ or through specialist cruise travel agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

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.

A True Mediterranean Odyssey

By guest blogger Steve Newman

The Mediterranean's sunny climate, historic ports and enchanting cities have made it an eternally popular cruise destination. The problem arises when deciding where exactly to go, as there are a plethora of voyages on offer in this extensive region.

One option is join Saga on their Saga Pearl II for a two-week exploration around the Iberian Peninsula and into the Western Mediterranean, departing on 29 April 2011 from Southampton. This ship (above) underwent a £20million three-month refit and now recalls the same stylish surroundings and superb service that cruise-goers have come to expect from the company’s elegant ships.

She has a smaller size than most vessels (just 446 passengers, and with 60 single cabins), and offers a more relaxed and intimate atmosphere to her guests. Deluxe cabins have twin beds, some of which can be converted to a king-size on request. These cabins have a bath, with a shower and wc, and some cabins benefit from a balcony.

The wooden floors and al fresco soft sofas on the Bridge Deck and a library with over 3,000 books give the ship a real private yacht feel, while the open-dining policy of sitting with who you like enhances this feeling.

The voyage visits Lisbon, Gibraltar, Mahon in Menorca (with those wonderful steps that lead you from the harbour up in to the city) and then on to Marseilles, Barcelona, Ibiza Town and Vigo in Northern Spain before returning to Southampton.

All of the ports of call have ample time to thoroughly explore these wonderful maritime and architectural gems. However, what Saga does extremely well is the choice and standard of their excursions and I have to say those being offered on this voyage are very good indeed.

Saga are also exhibiting at the Cruise Show in Birmingham in October.

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.