New Offers From Oceania

Regular readers of Time Spent At Sea will know we are big fans of Oceania Cruises and their wonderful foodie style on board, with a magnificent choice of dining, all with a gourmet style and for no extra supplement. So, when the cruise offers role in, we like to highlight some of the best, and these latest ones from Oceania really take some topping.

Take your pick from:

March 28, 10-night Caribbean cruise, saving £959:
Oceania is offering a big saving on this voyage on their newest mid-sized luxury ship, Riviera. The 1,250 guest veseel will depart a round -rip cruise from Miami and call into the British Virgin Islands, Antigua, Barbados, St Lucia and St Barts. The price of £1,809pp (was £2768) also includes return flights from London, a $300 per stateroom onboard credit, all meals, and complimentary bottled water and soft drinks. 

May 5, 10-night Mediterranean cruise, saving £1,419:
This voyage also has a $300/stateroom onboard credit as it sails from Venice on Riviera. The ship will cruise down the west coast of Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and Greece, calling into Santorini and Kusadasi, before cruising the Aegean sea back to Athens. The sailing now costs £1,319pp (was £2,738).

June 28, 7-night Alaska cruise, saving £731pp:
Oceania is offering a $500 onboard credit per stateroom with all Alaska cruises this summer on board 650-guest Regatta. This departure also has a big saving off its 'Coastal Alaska’ itinerary, taking in the region’s most spectacular fjords and glaciers, including the Inside Passage from Seattle. The price of £1,569pp (was £2,300) again includes all meals, no supplement for speciality dining and complimentary bottled water and soft drinks. 

August 10, 14-night Baltic cruise, saving £2,465:
Embark the luxury 1,250-guest Marina in Southampton for an ex-UK cruise through Scandinavia (Norway, Denmark, Finland and Sweden) and the Baltics (Estonia and Latvia), with a full three days (two nights) in Russia. The voyage is now  offered at £1,929 (was £4,394), plus a $200 per stateroom on board credit, and with a return flight from Stockholm. 

August 16, 10-night Mediterranean cruise, saving £1,594:
Take the family on an educational cruise during the school summer holidays, spending three full days (2 nights) in Haifa, and an itinerary that starts in Athens and also visits Crete, Limassol, Rhodes, Kusadasi (Ephasus), arriving into Istanbul, for a final day in the city. The cruise on Riviera now costs £1,319 (was £2,913), including a $300 per stateroom credit. 

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

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New Oceania Late Offers

How's this for a great little pair of special offers this week from upmarket Oceania Cruises and their fabulous new ship Marina (above)?

2nd November: Sands of Time 12-night Europe/Asia cruise, from £1,199
For an exceptional cruise through some of Europe and Asia’s most iconic destinations, Oceania is offering a saving of £1,061 per person on board their brand new luxury ship Marina. The sailing from Istanbul to Athens can now be booked from just £1,199 per person for an inside stateroom, PLUS a $1,000 onboard credit. The voyage embarks in Istanbul and continues to Ephesus, Rhodes, Limassol, Haifa, Jerusalem, Crete, Patmos and Volos before disembarking in Athens.

14th November: Splendid Escapes, 10-night Athens to Rome cruise, from £1,499pp
This magnificent sailing through some of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful and historic islands on board Marina is now from £1,499 per person, based on two sharing, including a $1,000 onboard credit/stateroom, all meals and complimentary soft drinks and bottled water.

For more info, visit www.oceaniacruises.com or the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Grab An Autumn Bargain With Oceania

How's this for a great last-minute cruise bargain? We love the idea of Oceania Cruises at the best of times, but this could be THE deal of the autumn:

Departing September 19, Oceania Cruises’ brand new luxury cruise ship Marina (above) has a spectacular 12-night sailing from Istanbul to Athens from just £1,499 per person, PLUS $1,000 per stateroom onboard credit (a saving of £1,327pp).

The voyage embarks from Istanbul and travels to Rhodes, Limassol, Haifa, Jerusalem, Crete, Patmos and Volos before disembarking in Athens.

For more info, visit www.oceaniacruises.com or the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Regent Offer Four New Early Winter Voyages

Regent Seven Sea’s free and unlimited shore excursion programme is designed to bring out the best of each destination and provide a carefully considered and safe way to explore off the beaten track destinations. Sailing on the all-suite, all-balcony Seven Seas Voyager, where guests are one of only a few hundred, the line has announced four new cruises taking in the best of the Eastern and Western Mediterranean, enabling guests to experience free excursions to some of the world’s holiest and most ancient cities.

The four new itineraries include calls to fascinating ports such as Ephesus, Safaga and Haifa as well as a transit of the Suez Canal and extended overnight stays at Ashdod and Petra, to provide an unforgettable east-meets-west experience. Choose from:

Luxor to Limassol: 8 nights, Nov 12

Calling at Petra (overnight), Sharm El Sheikh, transit Suez Canal, Ashdod (overnight), Haifa, Limassol. Balcony Suite from £ 2,675 per person.

Limassol to Barcelona: 8 nights, Nov 20

Calling at Alanya, Rhodes, Ephesus, Valletta, Barcelona (overnight). Balcony Suite from £2,350 per person.

Barcelona to Ashdod: 8 nights, November 28

Calling at Barcelona, Valletta, Rhodes, Limassol, Haifa, Ashdod (overnight). Balcony Suite from £2,330 per person.

Ashdod to Dubai: 13 nights, Dec 6
Calling at Suez Canal (transit), Luxor (overnight), Petra (overnight), Cruise the Red Sea/Arabian Sea, Salalah (Oman), Port Qaboos (Oman), Dubai. Balcony Suite from £3,343 per person.

As the most all-inclusive luxury cruise line, fares include: free return flights on every cruise (or free Business Class flights on all Med sailings in suites C-MS), free unlimited shore excursions in every port, transfers and government/port taxes, concierge amenities, all fine dining including speciality restaurants, all drinks and beverages including fine wines, selected Champagnes, premium branded soft drinks, all onboard activities, 24-hour room service and in-suite dining.

For more info, visit www.rssc.com or contact the UK's specialist luxury-cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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BIG Savings (And More!) with Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises has savings of up to 56% off cruises on board its mid-sized luxury cruise ships, plus an additional $1,000 on board credit per stateroom, allowing guests to make their cruise as inclusive as they want it to be. All prices are quoted per person, based on two guests sharing an inside stateroom and include all meals, complimentary bottled water and soft drinks.

Check out these examples:

7th September: ‘Jewels of the Aegean’, 12-night cruise Venice to Istanbul from £1,799pp

New ship Marina has a spectacular sailing from Venice with $1,000 onboard credit and a saving of £1,654pp. It cruises through the Aegean Sea via Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Corfu, Patras, Zakynthos and Athens before disembarking in Istanbul.

19th September: `Sands of Time’, 12-night Greek island cruise from £1,199pp

Marina has a spectacular sailing from Istanbul to Athens with $1,000 onboard credit and a saving of £1,264pp. It voyages through Rhodes, Limassol, Haifa, Jerusalem, Crete, Patmos and Volos before disembarking in Athens.

3rd October: ‘Jewels of the Aegean’, 12-night Aegean Sea cruise from £1,999pp

Cruise from Venice to Istanbul through the beautiful Aegean Sea via Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Corfu, Patras, Zakynthos and Athens on mid-sized ship Insignia with a saving of £1,182 per person, plus $1,000 onboard credit per stateroom.

1st October: `Roman Revelations’, 14-night Med cruise from £1,399pp

Cruise from Istanbul to Barcelona via Ephesus, Patmos, Crete, Marmaris, Alanya, Limassol, Haifa, Jerusalem and Valletta on Oceania's Nautica, with $1,000 onboard credit and saving up to £1,467 per person.

For more info, visit www.oceaniacruises.co.uk or contact the UK's leading luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Regent's New Eastern Med Voyage

This summer, travellers looking for a short, all-inclusive cruise with a difference will like Regent Seven Seas Cruises' new 7-night cruise which, in a first for the line, will be disembarking in Limassol, Cyprus.

Taking in the best of the eastern Mediterranean, guests can gain a real east-meets-west experience when the voyage sails from Athens to Limassol, Cyprus, calling at Aghios Nikolaos in Crete as well as Haifa, the port for Jerusalem, and Ashdod in Israel for the UNESCO World Heritage town of Tel Aviv.

As the world’s most inclusive luxury experience at sea, the lead-in fare of just £2,208 per person represents fantastic value as it includes return flights and transfers, onboard beverages, all dining (included speciality restaurants), unlimited shore excursions, gratuities, in-suite dining, 24-hour room service and more. The new cruise departs Athens on June 17 on board Seven Seas Mariner (above).

For more info, see www.rssc.com or the UK's leading luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Costa Adapts Its Med Itineraries

Costa Cruises has announced the replacement of its calls in Tunisia, Egypt and Israel during 2011. Since the beginning of its operations, the Italian company and its passengers have learned to value and appreciate the great appeal of these three countries as prime tourist destinations. However, due to recent events, the company decided to change the itineraries of the cruises which initially included calls in those countries.

Throughout the current 2011 season, all the 7-day cruises in the Mediterranean of Costa Concordia, Costa Serena and Costa Magica with a one-day call in Tunis (Tunisia) will be replaced with a one-day call in Malta, Palma de Mallorca and Cagliari (above).

Moreover, all the Mediterranean itineraries with originally scheduled calls at Alexandria (Egypt), Haifa (Israel) and Ashdod (Israel) will be modified and will offer alternative calls which are equally picturesque and cultural, such as Limassol (Cyprus), Rhodes (Greece), Marmaris (Turkey) and the new and extremely attractive ports of Alanya (Turkey) and Antalya (Turkey).

All information on itinerary changes can be checked on the company’s website and through Costa's partner travel agencies.

The changes are due to the company’s need to anticipate, plan and ensure the best possible technical and maritime practices throughout the season. Moreover, the company strongly wishes to reassure its guests they will enjoy the same level of tranquillity and serenity as they would expect from a Costa cruise, with minimal impact from any last-minute calls modification.

At the same time, Costa is confirming all scheduled calls in Egypt, Tunisia and Israel for its 2012 programme as presented in the official 2012 brochure already launched last month.

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Legendary Journeys (At Discount Prices!)

Here's something to make us sit up and take notice here at Time Spent At Sea - exceptional cruises to inspirational destinations with Regent Seven Seas, including....FREE flights, shore excursions and all-inclusive on board.

Asia & Australia - Seven Seas Voyager (above)

Free Flights, free transfer and free unlimited shore excursions on every cruise; Combine cruises to create longer voyages and benefit from preferential cruise fares; free Business Class flights on selected combination cruises and suite categories. Choose from:

Dubai-Singapore December 19, 18 Nights; Balcony Suite from £7,429pp, with complimentary 3-night pre or post-cruise stay

Singapore-Sydney January 6, 2012, 17 Nights; Balcony Suite from £7,149pp, with complimentary 3-night pre or post-cruise stay

Sydney-Auckland January 23, 2012, 15 Nights; Balcony Suite from £7,269pp

Auckland-Sydney February 7, 2012, 15 Nights; Balcony Suite from £7,269pp

Sydney-Singapore February 22, 2012, 19 Nights; Balcony Suite from £7,799pp, with complimentary 3-night pre or post-cruise stay

Singapore-Dubai March 12, 2012, 18 Nights; Balcony Suite from £7,039pp, with complimentary 3-night pre or post-cruise stay

South America - Seven Seas Mariner

Free flights, transfers and unlimited shore excursions on every cruise; combine cruises to create longer voyages and benefit from preferential cruise fares. Choose from:

Fort Lauderdale-Lima January 6, 2012, 14 Nights; Balcony Suite from £5,669pp

Lima-Buenos Aires January 20, 2012, 24 Nights; Balcony Suite from £9,949pp

Buenos Aires-Rio De Janeiro, February 12, 2012, 12 Nights; Balcony Suite from £5,489pp

Rio De Janeiro-Fort Lauderdale February 25, 2012, 22 Nights; Balcony Suite from £7,679pp

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

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Voluntourism with Crystal Cruises

Ultra-luxury Crystal Cruises has announced a new corporate social responsibility initiative for 2011 to support the destinations it visits.

The ‘You Care, We Care’ programme is a complimentary, hands-on, shore excursion initiative that opens up opportunities for guests and crew alike to assist with charitable projects in destinations they visit during any cruise. The focus lies in working with and assisting local projects, educating participants on local community needs and providing them with authentic, rewarding experiences and an overall sense of place.

On every 2011 itinerary, Crystal Cruises has planned one ‘You Care, We Care’ Crystal Adventure in which a limited number of guests and crew can donate their time, with Crystal covering all logistical arrangements and costs.

The complete programme of excursions and projects is currently in development and availability will be limited but 'voluntourism' experiences aboard Crystal Symphony (above) and Crystal Serenity voyages will include:

§ Lima, Peru – Brightening the environment of the children at the ANQUIEM Burn rehabilitation centre with arts and crafts

§ Cartagena, Colombia – Creating crafts with the elderly, playing football with the children, or urban farming with an emphasis on organic agriculture at the Granitos de Paz Foundation

§ Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Assisting the PEACE organisation in beach and neighborhood clean-up.

Commenting on the new initiative, Crystal's Vice President International, Philip Ordever said: “We challenged our worldwide tour operators to craft excursions that contribute to local causes because we are absolutely committed to giving something back to the communities we visit and explore. We also recognise the growing desire of our guests to seek out and discover authentic, enriching experiences and believe this new initiative will make a difference to both our destinations and our overall guest experience.”

A cornerstone of Crystal's culture is its genuine hospitality and service that has been internationally celebrated for two decades. This spirit of generosity extends to its respectful treatment of the environment, oceans and communities in which it travels.

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Voyages to Antiquity Sail Into 2011

Voyages to Antiquity, the cruise line that combines cultural travel with a sense of fun and style, has launched its 2011 UK brochure today. The programme offers a host of new features, including pre-and/or post-cruise hotel packages, a variety of shorter cruise lengths, new destinations and great value pricing.

New for 2011:

* As well as two-week voyages, there will now be shorter cruises such as a seven-night sailing around the Greek Islands exploring Greek history from the emergence of the Minoans to the rise of Byzantium. These shorter duration cruises are designed to appeal to a wider audience of travellers.

* The majority of itineraries include pre-and/or post-cruise stays in top-class hotels in Rome, Athens (above), Istanbul, and Cairo with the fare. These provide guests with a chance to relax before their voyage or the opportunity to end their holiday exploring one of these remarkable cities. Guests have the flexibility to opt out of the hotel stays and receive a credit against their fare.

* New destinations include a circumnavigation of the Black Sea visiting ports in Georgia, Russia, Ukraine and Bulgaria in July 2011. New itineraries will also include destinations in Corsica and Sardinia as well as a return to Libya as part of two North Africa itineraries. Another exciting new itinerary from Rome to Limassol explores the legacy of the Crusades.

Voyages to Antiquity also continues its commitment to offering outstanding value, including:

· Scheduled economy class flights, usually on British Airways.
· Shore excursions as detailed in each itinerary
· Selected wine with dinner.
· On-board gratuities for cabin and restaurant staff.

Additionally there are bonus offers for those who book early:

For Southern Med, Red Sea & Middle East cruises
· Free cabin upgrade on board within categories N to G and D to C.
· Low rates for singles in selected categories on selected sailings*.

For our Med, Aegean, Adriatic & Black sea cruises
· Free flight upgrade to Club Europe when booking in Concierge Class (cat A to D)
· Free cabin upgrade on board when booking a cabin in categories N to G.
· Low rates for singles in selected categories on selected sailings.

Commenting on the launch of the 2011 brochure, Managing Director David Yellow said: “Our new brochure not only offers new itineraries, but we have now packaged the product to be more flexible and appealing to a wider range of cruisers who may not have as much holiday time or may be looking for a second holiday experience but are still looking for a trip which is culturally stimulating.”

Great value is a hallmark of Voyages to Antiquity, with fares starting from £1,495/person, including shore excursions, gratuities to shipboard staff, and wine, beer & soft drinks at dinner. Guest lecturers and celebrated speakers will continue to bring to life the art, history and culture of the Mediterranean.

More info: visit http://www.voyagestoantiquity.com/ or call 0845 4379737.

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.