Cross the Atlantic on Anthem of the Seas for £799

Quantum of the Seas arrives in the UK today for the first – and possibly only – time, ready for a weekend being shown off to and being tested by some of the world’s media and travel trade partners.

Sister ship Anthem of the Seas (above) comes to Southampton in April 2015, and there are already deals on offer for her Transatlantic crossing to New York departing on 27 October.

Fares start at £799 pp for the nine-night cruise (including return flight to the UK) and an additional £299 secures a two-night stay in New York. The lead-in fare is for an inside cabin complete with virtual balcony – a wall-sized screen showing the view outside in real time. Outside cabins start at £899 pp and balconies are from £999.

Some of the other itineraries Anthem will be sailing during summer 2015 include a three-night cruise to Bruges and Le Havre departing 30 April from  £499 pp (ocean view) or £549 (balcony). An eight-night cruise to France and Spain, visiting Vigo, Gijon, Bilbao and Le Havre, departing 22 April, starts at £999 pp. A 13-night cruise to Vigo, Funchal, Lanzarote, Las Palmas and Tenerife, departing 15 September, from £1,699 (ocean view) and £1,899 (balcony).

The Quantum-class vessels are among the most technologically advanced cruise ships in the world, with first-of-a-kind features including dodgem cars, the NorthStar observation pod, a RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator, and robotic bartenders. The ships have also banished traditional main dining rooms and feature so-called Dynamic Dining in a number of themed restaurants.

That 27 October departure could be the last time we see Anthem in the UK - at present there are no plans for the ship to return to Europe. Details from Iglu Cruise  0208 544 6620.

Subscribe to World of Cruising magazine here          Follow us on Facebook 

Adventure Cruising blog

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.

Fred Olsen Commemorate D-Day With Help For Heroes

We are always keen to hear about charity initiatives here at World of Cruising, and this year is especially relevant as it marks the 70th anniversary of D-Day.
 

With that in mind, we think the latest news from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will be of great interest to many as they will welcome Captain Tony Harris, Official Ambassador for the ‘Help for Heroes’ charity and motivational speaker, on its special seven-night ‘D-Day Anniversary Cruise’ aboard Braemar on June 1.

Sailing from Harwich, it calls first at Zeebrugge (for Bruges), where guests can visit the poignant Tyne Cot Cemetery – the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the world – and Memorial, to remember those who lost their lives during the First World War. Located in the famous Cloth Hall, visitors will discover the In Flanders’ Fields Museum, which presents the story of the First World War in the West Flanders front region.

From Zeebrugge, Braemar returns briefly to the UK, to Portsmouth, to pay respects to those who gave their lives at the tranquil war memorials, before stepping back in time and visiting the D-Day Museum. Then it's on to Cherbourg, which was part of the Battle of Normandy in the Second World War, before cruising on to Le Havre for an overnight stay, providing the opportunity to take a tour to the Allied landing areas on the Day of Remembrance.

Dunkirk is the last port of call on this epic cruise holiday, with time to visit the Dunkirk War Museum, which tells the story of the Allied evacuation from the town, before the ship returns to Harwich.

Prices for this commemorative cruise start from £629 per person, based on two adults sharing a twin cabin, Grade 'I', and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment, and port dues.

More info: call 0800 0355 242 or visit www.fredolsencruises.com.

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.

Celebrity Cruises With Oz Clarke

This October, gastronomes and wine enthusiasts can delve into Europe’s rich wine heritage with renowned expert Oz Clarke and Celebrity Cruises. Oz will lead a host of wine travel experiences, taking in renowned vineyards throughout France, Spain and Portugal during the spectacular annual grape harvest and provide guests the opportunity to enjoy gastronomic experiences and improve knowledge of wine through engaging and entertaining masterclasses.

The 12-night immersive holiday – designed to impress the palates of food and wine fans with some expert advice on hand – will allow guests to take advantage of the first-class restaurants and wine programmes onboard the recently refurbished Celebrity Infinity whilst travelling between Europe’s top wine producing regions.

Guests can customise their holiday with a series of package options to choose from, including:

• An intimate speciality dinner hosted by Oz, matching his personal wine recommendations to each part of a six-course Five Senses menu hosted in the speciality restaurant SS United States. Designed to stimulate all senses, this exclusive dinner costs just £69 per person.
• A series of five events hosted by Oz and Tom Forrest, a fellow wine expert. Tantalise the taste buds with a wine and cheese pairing; immerse yourself in the old world wines of France with an introduction to French wine; and brush up on your wine knowledge with masterclasses in Bordeaux wines, Spanish wine and Sherry; and a French wine masterclass. To experience all five events costs just £89 per person.

The European Immersive Wine Cruise departs during the wine harvest season from Harwich on October 12 and will call at Paris (port of Le Havre), Bordeaux (port of Le Verdon), La Rochelle, Bilbao, Vigo and Porto before returning to Harwich. It costs from just £699 per person (based on two adults sharing an inside stateroom).

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

P&O To Feature More 'Sampler' Cruises In 2012

P&O Cruises has pioneered a series of two, three and four-night voyages in recent years, and will offer more of these 'sampler' cruises than ever before in 2012.

With 13 sailings of four nights or less, these breaks provide unbeatable value for money, with prices from just £239 per person. The cruises also enable passengers to visit up to three European cities in one short break.

Each morning provides a new destination and, after a busy day exploring, passengers can enjoy P&O's stylish silver-service dining, West End-style shows and a world class spa, as well as a number of bars, pools, lounges, restaurants and casino. For families, children are also well looked after by the fully-inclusive childcare programme.

A two-night cruise on board Azura departing December 2, 2012, is priced from £249. It departs from Southampton and calls at Bruges (from Zeebrugge). A three-night cruise departing September 15 is priced from £349 and takes in Bruges and Le Havre, while a similar voyage on Oriana (exclusively for adults), departing June 16, is priced from £359.

All prices are per person and based on two adults sharing an inside cabin on a full board basis.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with 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.

Fred Olsen Sign Up The Osmonds!

Three of The Osmonds, perhaps the world’s best-known pop family, are to perform live on two Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ voyages on Balmoral in 2012.

Wayne, Jay and Jimmy will be bringing a touch of ‘Osmondmania’ to the high seas on L1205, a 14-night cruise of the Western Mediterranean, departing on May 12 from Southampton, and on L1206, a three-night mini-cruise to Ostende and Le Havre from the same port, departing on May 26.

The Osmonds have enjoyed a string of massive hits on both sides of the Atlantic throughout their long career, and have sold millions of albums, with several gold and platinum discs to their credit. Well known for their close harmonies, The Osmonds now perform all styles of music, from barbershop to pop, rock, country and jazz.

The Western Med voyage calls at Lisbon, Almeria, Alicante, Palma, Mahon (Menorca), Gibraltar and La Coruna before returning to Southampton. It also has a theme of ‘Drawing’ as part of the onboard enrichment programme Vistas. Prices for this cruise start from £1,549 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade ‘I’, and include all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes – and, of course, live performances by The Osmonds.

The mini-cruise L1206 is an ideal ‘taster’ for those who are new to cruising, with visits to Ostende and Le Havre before returning to Southampton. Prices for this Bank Holiday Weekend cruise start from £379 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade ‘H’. The price includes all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes.

For Fred Olsen booking details, be sure to check with specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line Ltd 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.

Cruise For A Tenor With Cunard!

Cunard has introduced a new four-night winter voyage on board Queen Mary 2, departing Southampton on December 81. With prices starting at just £599 per person, the voyage’s star entertainment will be the four-tenor classical pop group, Blake.

Peter Shanks, Cunard President and Managing Director, explains: “We have been able to introduce this extra pre-Christmas sailing because the ships' planned refit in November can be completed in less time than we allowed. Passengers on this additional voyage will not only benefit from keen pricing and top quality entertainment, but they will also be the first to experience the totally refurbished Queen Mary 2!”

In the November dry-docking, all the cabins and most of the public rooms on the ship will be refurbished. The itinerary for the Southampton round-trip voyage features Le Havre (for Paris) and Zeebrugge (for Bruges), as well as a whole relaxing day at sea.

Blake launched their first album in 2007, and saw it go straight to number one in the UK Classical Album Chart. In 2008, the group secured a Brit Award for Album of the Year. They have subsequently sold over half a million albums. This short voyage is an ideal way to experience Queen Mary 2 for the first time, and it will make an ideal Christmas break for those anxious to get into the festive mood.

For more information, vist www.cunard.com or contact the luxury crusie 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.

Short but sweet deals with Royal Caribbean

Join Royal Caribbean International’s Independence of the Seas (above) for a three-night Paris cruise-only from £299 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin). This price includes a three-night cruise, departing Southampton and calling at Le Havre before returning to the south coast port; meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on April 27 departure.

Or try a four-night cruise to that Irish gem, Cork (Cobh).

Head to the Emerald Isle this spring on Independence's four-night Cork, cruise-only from £400 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin). Price includes a four-night cruise departing Southampton and calling at Cork, before returning to Southampton; meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees.

Price is based on April 30 departure.

For more information or to book, see http://www.royalcaribbean.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.

Head to Paris with Royal Caribbean

Join Royal Caribbean International’s Independence of the Seas for a short break to the most romantic city on earth, Paris.

A three-night cruise, including a trip to the wonderful French capital, costs from just £349 per person in the spring (based on two people sharing an inside cabin).

The price includes three nights aboard Royal Caribbean's UK-dedicated vessel, sailing from Southampton and calling at Le Havre (for trips to Paris) before returning to Southampton; all meals and entertainment onboard; and all relevant cruise taxes/fees.

Independence (above) is brimming with 15 decks of activities, including Royal Caribbean's signature Flowrider surf park at sea, an onboard ice-skating rink, rock climbing wall, a children’s water park, a teen-only nightclub, mother and daughter/father and son spa facilities, basketball and volleyball courts, miniature golf course and shopping.

Price is based on an April 27 departure in 2011.

For more information, visit http://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk/ or check out The Cruise Line Ltd for a good range of deals on all Royal Caribbean voyages 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.