Grab An MSC Med Bargain Break

Those looking to banish the January blues might well be tempted by the latest offer to hit the World of Cruising inbox, which offers an immediate cure for our miserable winter.

MSC Cruises are featuring a holiday on board their splendid MSC Splendida, cruising the Mediterranean from only £399 per person, with a free upgrade from an inside to a balcony cabin.

This offer is available on selected Med winter sailings, departing from Genoa, from now until February 15.

On board, guests will be treated to the stylish surrounds synonymous with the MSC fleet. The ship boasts a variety of restaurants, sports facilities (including a fully fitted gym and squash courts) and the award-winning Aurea spa, as well as an exclusive solarium to soak up some winter sun.

MSC Splendida also hosts the luxurious MSC Yacht Club. A ship within a ship, the Yacht Club offers luxury and privacy, with exclusive services including 24-hour Butler service, a Sun Deck Complex only for Yacht Club guests and luxurious designer suites.

Ports of call on the cruise include Marseille, Barcelona, La Goulette, Palermo and Civitavecchia (for Rome), with a variety of interesting excursions on offer. From the bustling Provencal markets of Marseille to the vibrant sights and sounds of Barcelona, there is something to suit every taste.

Book a cruise now to enjoy this exclusive late availability offer.

More info: call 0844 561 1955 or visit www.msccruises.co.uk.

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Christmas Comes Early With MSC

Until October 31, MSC Cruises is offering an amazing early Christmas gift for young and old alike, with free return flights, onboard credits and upgrades ALL on offer for Mediterranean cruises this Christmas.

Why not treat your loved ones to the ultimate Christmas getaway and book a Mediterranean Cruise on board MSC Splendida or MSC Fantasia this December?

Guests can choose one of these early Christmas treats:

Free return flights from London and transfers to and from the port for the first two passengers in the cabin.
£200 free onboard credit per person for the first two passengers in the cabin.
Free ‘Allegrissimo’ drinks package plus tips for the first two adults in the cabin.
Free upgrade to a balcony cabin. 

 

      The ‘Pick Your Gift’ offer applies to bookings made on board Splendida (7-night Mediterranean cruise departing 21 December) or Fantasia (11-night Mediterranean cruise departing 17 December).

MSC Splendida’s itinerary will take in the Mediterranean ports of Genoa, Marseille, Barcelona, La Goulette, Palermo and Civitavecchia (for Rome), returning to Genoa. Cruise-only prices start from just £719 per person with return flights available on request at an additional £290 per person.

Meanwhile, MSC Fantasia will visit the ports of Genoa, Katakolon, Heraklon, Haifa, Piraeus and Civitavecchia (for Rome), returning to Genoa. Cruise-only prices start from just £899 per person with return flights once again available upon request at an additional £290 per person.

On board both ships, guests will be treated to all the festive trimmings, from lavishly-decorated trees and Yuletide presents to carol singing and traditional Christmas masses. Meanwhile, MSC’s experienced chefs will be busy in the kitchen conjuring up a dazzling array of traditional seasonal favourites.

More info: visit www.msccruises.co.uk or call 0844 561 1955.

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Explore The Ancient Med With Fred!

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ guests can escape the chill of the autumn and head for sunnier climates and warmer waters on Black Watch’s 28-night ‘Ancient Monuments of the Mediterranean’ voyage, departing from Dover on October 19. A history-lover and sightseer’s dream, this cruise uncovers ancient lands and some of the best-known architectural wonders in the world.

The first port of call is Lisbon, Portugal’s bustling capital. Here, guests can expand their knowledge of the Alcobaca Cistercian Monastery, or discover the history of Alcobaca and its connection to medieval Portugal at this World Heritage Site, before exploring the charming little town.

Black Watch then visits La Goulette (for Tunis) in Tunisia; the medina is its historic heart, with a network of alleys, souks and the Eighth Century Al-Zaytuna Mosque, a direct contrast to the palm trees and café terraces of the new town. Close-by are the ruins of Carthage and Sidi Bou Said, quite possibly Tunisia’s most beautiful village.

Next stop is Izmir, in Turkey, before reaching iconic Istanbul. Ornately-decorated buildings rub shoulders with art galleries, museums, restaurants and boutiques. Guests can visit the Topkapi Palace, or take a tour of the Byzantine heritage of the city, taking in some of the impressive monuments and mosques; a highlight is the Basilica Cistern, a huge underground reservoir built in 532 AD.

After calling at Canakkale, where guests can join a tour to the fabled city of Troy, Black Watch makes its first call in Greece at Volos, which boasts many exquisite finds from the early 20th Century and modern archaeological excavations at the Volos Archaeological Museum and Makrinitsa. The voyage then heads to Greece’s main commercial port of Piraeus, which has practically melded with Athens. The awe-inspiring Parthenon, sitting atop the Acropolis, Cape Sounion, Corinth and Delphi – with its impressive Temple of Apollo – make this one of the most historically-significant destinations on this cruise.

Next up are Kalamata and Itea, before reaching Corfu. Here, guests can relax on a tour to the Achilleion and Corfu Old Town, where the beautiful Greek countryside teems with orange, lemon, cypress and olive groves.

Black Watch then continues to Valletta, the cosmopolitan capital of Malta, known for its fortifications, architectural appeal and Grand Harbour. Guests can also gain a better understanding of the vital role Malta played in the two World Wars by visiting the Malta at War and National War Museums.

The final destination is Gibraltar, with a tour to the must-see World War II tunnels, which were excavated between 1939 and 1944, as an extension to the Great Siege Tunnels of 1779 to 1783. In total, these stretch for more than 30 miles. Black Watch then sets sail on her return voyage to Dover.

Guests on this cruise can take advantage of Fred. Olsen’s great-value ‘all-inclusive’ drinks upgrade package at just £10 per person, per night, and enjoy their holiday in style without any budget worries. Prices for this cultural cruise start from £1,372 per person (subject to availability), based on two adults sharing an inside, twin-bedded cabin, and include all accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes.

For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, visit www.fredolsencruises.com or call 0800 0355 150 (Mon-Fri, 8am-8pm; Sat, 9am-5pm; Sun, 10am-4pm).

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HAL's Autumn Med Bargain

Holland America Line is offering a seven-night luxury “Mediterranean Glamour” fly-cruise from just £739 per person this September. 

Departing from Barcelona, this price includes return flights from London, all transfers and seven nights’ full board accommodation on the line's signature-class Nieuw Amsterdam in an inside stateroom. Guests can upgrade to an Ocean View stateroom for just £50 per person, while third and fourth guests sharing a stateroom with two adults pay just £389 per person. 

This round trip from Barcelona sails on September 20 straight to La Goulette (for Tunis) where guests can explore the Tunisian capital and the nearby historic city of Carthage. The ship then calls at Palermo in Sicily before sailing to Civitavecchia, where guests can spend a full day enjoying the delights of Rome. 

The return leg of the cruise will call at Santa Margherita on the Ligurian coast of Italy, offering a chance to discover the picturesque fishing village of Portofino, before paying one final stop in glitzy Monte Carlo on the way back to Barcelona. While at sea, guests can take advantage of the Culinary Arts Theatre, which features cookery demonstrations, as well as sampling the Nieuw Amsterdam’s choice of elegant restaurants and lounges and luxurious Greenhouse Spa & Salon. 

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

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Fred Olsen - Road Show Cruise

By guest blogger Steve Newman

The Danish-born historian, lecturer and broadcaster, Lars Tharp – who is also one of the longest running experts on the BBC’s ‘Antiques Roadshow’ – will be one of the special guest speakers aboard Fred Olsen’s 23-night Black Watch cruise to the Eastern Mediterranean in May 2011.

A regular with Fred Olsen, Lars speaks on antiques-collecting, as part of the cruise line’s onboard programme of special interests, The ArtsClub. Originally trained as an archaeologist, Lars was a Director of Sotheby’s, where he specialised in European ceramics and oriental works of art. In 2008, he was appointed the Director of the Foundling Museum in London, and Visiting Professor at De Montfort University, Leicester. On this cruise, Lars will give some highly entertaining and informative talks, and will also offer to value small items brought on board by guests, in true ‘Antiques Roadshow’ style.

Lars will be on board as far as Istanbul, where he will disembark, and the ship will be joined by his ‘Antiques Roadshow’ colleague Will Farmer. Will specialises in 20th Century decorative arts, covering ceramics, glass and furniture. He studied at the Birmingham School of Jewellery, undertaking a combined BA Hons in Silversmithing and Fine Art History. Will has featured as an expert on the BBC’s ‘20th Century Roadshow’, and is now in his fourth season as an expert with the Roadshow.

This cruise also offers a wealth of opportunities to explore the Ancient World, as it visits some of the great classical cities of Greece, Turkey and Tunisia. Black Watch departs from Dover on May 18 and ports of call include Cagliari in Sicily, Kalamata (anchor port) and Piraeus (the port for Athens) in Greece, Canakkale in Turkey, with tours to the fabled city of Troy, as well as Istanbul, Valletta – capital of Malta – and La Goulette for Tunisia’s capital, Tunis.

Highlights of this cruise include the chance to explore the remains of ancient Troy, a full day to take in the sights of historic Athens, and another day in Tunis, where French colonial architecture sits cheek-by-jowl with ancient Moorish buildings.

This classical cruise is a history-lover’s dream, and the additional ArtsClub ‘Antiques’ theme, hosted by Tharp and Farmer, is especially well-suited to this itinerary.

Prices start from £2,279 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin. The price includes all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes.

If you would like to join Tharp, Farmer and other history-lovers on this cruise, find out more by visiting www.fredolsencruises.co.uk or call specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

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