Seabourn's Easter Med Extravaganza

For those looking for a luxury Easter experience, ultra-deluxe Seabourn Cruise Line is featuring some great-value Mediterranean voyages that have definitely caught our attention here at the World of Cruising office.

 

And, while we will all be hard at work here (sadly), anyone who fancies a memorable voyage, in high style - and at a great price - would be well advised to read on.

 

The three Med fly-and-cruise itineraries all feature some of the region's most spectacular ports, while the special offers include complimentary suite upgrades and signature Seabourn experiences. Take your pick from:

 

The 12-day Mediterranean Mosaic
Departing April 5 on Seabourn Quest, from Barcelona to Athens, this voyage calls at Valencia, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Naples, Messina, Iraklion, Rhodes, Bodrum and Ermoupolis, before reaching Piraeus (for Athens). Cruise prices start from just £2,899pp (cruise only) or £3,459pp (with flights included) and include a complimentary upgrade to a Veranda Suite.

12-day Mediterranean Island Quest
This voyage departs April 17, also on Seabourn Quest, from Athens to Barcelona and calls at Kusadasi, Cesme, Mykonos, Rethymnon, Valletta, Trapani, Propriano, Monte Carlo, Marseille and Barcelona. It costs from £3,449pp (with flights included) and also includes a complimentary upgrade to a Veranda Suite.

10-day Mediterranean Magic & Rome
Departing May 13 on Seabourn Sojourn, this cruise sails from Barcelona to Athens, with the ports of call being Barcelona, Palamos, St Tropez, Ajaccio, Civitavecchia, Sorrento, Messina, Mykonos, Platis Gialos and Piraeus (for Athens). Prices start from £2,879pp (cruise only) or £3,269pp (with flights included) and again include a complimentary upgrade to a Veranda Suite.

The programme will also feature an array of Shore Excursions, where guests can enjoy unique access to onshore events, including an evening concert at the Ephesus Odeon Theatre.

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

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Norwegian Add 'Flash Sale' To 'Sunshine Saturday'

Do you remember our message last week that this is 'Wave Season' and to be ready for all manner of special sales, deals and one-off opportunities? Well, Norwegian Cruise Line have lined up a double helping of 'Sale! Sale! Sale!' events for this weekend.

First off, they have dubbed tomorrow (Saturday, January 12) as 'Sunshine Saturday,' as it has been predicted this will be the busiest holiday booking day of the year, with millions of customers expected to visit stores and websites. 

Then, on top of this bumper day, Norwegian has added a ‘48 Hour Flash Sale’ for the whole weekend, with travel agents able to offer customers $100 on-board spend per stateroom on Norwegian Epic's Western Mediterranean summer cruises.
 

Valid on Epic’s popular Med itineraries throughout the summer season, from May to October, the ‘Flash Sale’ extends to all stateroom categories, from the solo traveller Studios to The Haven luxury accommodation.

Itineraries included in the ’48 Hour Flash Sale’ for Norwegian Epic include:

Seven-night Barcelona fly-cruise, departing various dates from May 11 to October 19, sailing from Barcelona and visiting Naples, Civitavecchia (for Rome), Livorno (for Florence/Pisa), Cannes and Palma before returning to  Barcelona for the flight back to the UK. Inside stateroom priced from £873pp departing Sep 28, from London Heathrow.

Seven-night Civitavecchia fly-cruise, departing between May 14 and October 15, visiting Livorno, Cannes, Palma, Barcelona and Naples before returning to Civitavecchia (for Rome and the flight back to the UK). Inside stateroom priced from £944pp departing Sep 24, from London Heathrow.

More info: call 0845 201 8900 or visit www.ncl.co.uk.

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Azamara's Free Excursions Offer

You know that 'wave' of cruise booking incentives we mentioned earlier this week? Well, they're still pouring in (ho, ho), and we thought we'd pass this one on as it has great appeal for those looking for extra value on a high-quality Mediterranean cruise in 2014.

 

This one offers to immerse you in luxury while enjoying the culture and surroundings of The French Riviera, Tuscany and incredible Med islands with free shore excursions on board Azamara Club Cruises' Azamara Quest for an eight-night French Riviera to Rome fly/cruise. 

 

It costs from just £2,170 per person (based on two sharing an ocean view stateroom), and the price includes flights from London Heathrow, transfers and the eight-night cruise departing from Nice on April 22 and calling at Monte Carlo, Portovenere, Livorno (for Florence & Pisa), Portoferraio, Olbia and Bonifacio before arriving in Civitavecchia (Rome) for the flight home.

 

The cruise also includes selected standard spirits, wines and international beers; complimentary bottled water; soft drinks; speciality teas and coffees; meals and room service; housekeeping and dining gratuities; a bespoke AzAmazing Evenings event; and all relevant cruise taxes/fees.

The offer is valid until January 31.

More info: call 0844 493 4016 or visit www.azamaraclubcruises.co.uk.

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Three Of A (Cruise) Kind

Those three-of-a-kind offers seem to be all the rage this month, and here's another tempting trio from Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises:

 

$100 onboard spend with Royal Caribbean
Families can head to the Fjords next year and make the most of the special offer of free $100 onboard credit. It's a bonus that can be used to tuck in to sweet treats at the Cupcake Cupboard, enjoy speciality dining or pick from a range of shore excursions on Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas on a seven-night Norway cruise-only from £949 per person (based on two sharing an interior stateroom), sailing on May 30. The price includes a seven-night cruise departing from Southampton and calling at Kristiansand, Alesund, Flam and Stavanger before returning to Southampton; meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Offer valid until December 8.

More info: call 0844 493 2061 or visit http://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk.

 

Enjoy Mediterranean Memories (And 10% Off) With Celebrity
Make the most of a 10% saving offer and start your summer early by exploring some of the Mediterranean’s most memorable cities on Celebrity Eclipse on a 14-night Mediterranean cruise-only from £1,759 per person (based on two sharing a balcony stateroom). This price includes a 14-night cruise departing from Southampton on May 10 and calling at Malaga, Cannes, Rome (Civitavecchia), Florence, Genoa, Gibraltar and Lisbon before returning to Southampton; meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Offer valid until November 24 2013.

More info: call 0845 456 0523 or visit www.celebritycruises.co.uk.

 

Romance on the French Riviera with Azamara
Enjoy the beauty and romance of the French Riviera, Tuscany and Mediterranean islands with plenty of overnight and late night stays on board Azamara Quest on an eight-night French Riviera to Rome fly/cruise from £2,139 per person (based on two sharing an interior stateroom). The price includes flights from London Heathrow, transfers and an eight-night cruise departing from Nice on April 22 and calling at Monte Carlo, Portovenere, Livorno, Portoferraio, Olbia and Bonifacio before arriving in Civitavecchia (Rome) for the flight home. The cruise also includes selected standard spirits, wines and international beers; complimentary bottled water; soft drinks; speciality teas and coffees; meals and room service; housekeeping and dining gratuities; a bespoke AzAmazing Evenings event; and all relevant cruise taxes/fees.

 

More info: call 0844 493 4016 or visit www.azamaraclubcruises.co.uk.

 

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Late Med Sun With Holland America

September is the perfect time to enjoy the late summer sun in the Mediterranean, whilst avoiding the peak summer crowds. And Holland America Line have some ideal opportunities to take full advantage.

Enjoy an 11-night Rome to Barcelona cruise for just £1,049pp, including return flights, transfers and full board accommodation in an inside stateroom, departing on September 17. Guests on this cruise can also upgrade to an Ocean View stateroom for only £1. Cruise-only trips are available from just £649pp. All prices are based on two people sharing an inside stateroom.

Without the intense summer heat, this 'Mediterranean Explorer' voyage calls first at beautiful Naples, from where Pompeii and Capri can be visited. This is followed by Palermo in Sicily and Tunisia’s La Goulette. The ship then travels back to Italy, calling at Livorno, where excursions to Florence and Pisa are available, before moving on to glamorous Monte Carlo, Marseille and Palma de Mallorca. The cruise ends in Barcelona on September 27, where guests can enjoy an extra one night’s stay on board before flying back to London.

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

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Holland America's Med Cruise Bargain

Holland America Line is offering an 11-night Mediterranean Explorer cruise from just £699 per person this month - and guests can upgrade to an Ocean View stateroom for only £1. This offer includes full board accommodation and is based on two people sharing a stateroom on MS Noordam.

The exciting itinerary kicks off in Barcelona on July 24 and heads first for Palma de Mallorca, the vibrant capital of Majorca, followed by cultural Marseille, home to the famously delicious ‘bouillabaisse’ seafood dish. The ship then travels east to Monaco’s glamorous Monte Carlo where guests can soak up the sun with the rich and famous. Journeying on to Italy, the next port of call is Livorno, a classic Renaissance city from where passengers have the opportunity to visit Florence and Pisa.

After a relaxing day at sea, a great opportunity for making the most of Noordam’s pools and sundecks, the ship arrives in Tunisia’s La Goulette (for the city of Tunis), where the famous Bardo Museum can be explored. The ship moves on to Palermo in Sicily where Roman, Norman and Arab influences combine, celebrating the cultures that are explored throughout this itinerary. The penultimate port of call is Naples, from where Pompeii and Capri can be visited, before arriving at Civitavecchia, the historical port leading to Rome.

Prices start from £699pp for an inside stateroom on a full board basis. Guests can upgrade to Ocean View Staterooms for just £1, with prices starting from £700. These prices exclude flights, although flights can be booked through Holland America request, with prices subject to availability.

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

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Try A Family Med Cruise Bargain With Carnival

There’s no more relaxing holiday than sailing the Mediterranean from Barcelona, Spain’s most cosmopolitan city. And destination highlights with Carnival Cruises in 2012 include Naples, a city full of ancient treasures under its great volcano, Mt Vesuvius. 

From the famous walled city of Dubrovnik, Croatia, relive the dramatic history of this Adriatic fortress; then sail to Venice, where an extended overnight stay may enable you to explore the city’s piazzas and palazzos, bridges and great basilicas. 

Visit Messina, Sicily, beneath the snow-capped Mount Etna and gateway to the ancient theatre at Taormina; the French Riviera offers opportunities to visit to Monte Carlo or Marseilles, while Livorno, is gateway to the Renaissance wonders of Florence.

The brand new 3,690-passenger Carnival Breeze will also feature something for everyone, from dazzling public areas to intimate bars you can chill out in; from 'Serenity' adult-only zones to family restaurants; from the relaxation of a state-of-the-art spa to some of the most exciting stage shows afloat! 

This 12-night Mediterranean fly/cruise starts from just £1,179 per person (for a family of four) with reduced deposits from £266 per person. It departs from London on July 21 and includes scheduled flights between London and Barcelona and the full 12 nights on the ship on a full board basis per person, based on an inside stateroom.

 

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

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Put Your Best Foot Forward In 2012 With Swan Hellenic

Did you over-indulge during the festive period? Then put your best foot forward in 2012 with Swan Hellenic and resolve to spend more of 2012 outside enjoying the natural world courtesy of their invigorating voyages.

Embrace the great outdoors on Vintage Iberia and Italy this spring and mark your first milestone with a Levada hike. Take in the best views of Madeira from the eastern flanks of the Paul de Serra plateau as you walk along the island’s unique irrigation channels. Go on to enjoy the rest of the cruise seeing more of Europe’s finest landscapes and landmarks on other guided city walks visiting Seville, Tangier and Malaga. 

This cruise costs from £1,495 per person and includes return flights from the UK, transfers, a 14-day voyage departing from Funchal (Madeira) and calling at Cadiz (Spain), Seville (Spain), Tangier (Morocco), Malaga (Spain), Palma de Mallorca (Spain, above) and Livorno (Italy) before arriving at Livorno (Italy); meals, entertainment and gratuities on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees, plus onboard lectures from a team of renowned Guest Speakers. Price is based on a March 16 departure.

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

PS: For more info and insight on Swan Hellenic, be sure to check out this feature in the Winter edition of the magazine.

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Save With Voyages of Discovery

Here's a good cruise saving to be had today, as announced in this press release from one of our favourite 'discovery' cruise lines:

Further reductions have been made to Voyages of Discovery’s 12-day Classic Mediterranean – save up to £740 and cruise from as little as £859 per person.

This price includes return flights from London, transfers and a 12-day voyage departing from Lisbon (Portugal) and calling at Cadiz (Spain), Malaga (Spain), Cartagena (Spain), Ajaccio (Corsica), Livorno (Italy), Civitavecchia (Italy) and Messina (Sicily) before arriving at Dubrovnik (Croatia) for an overnight stay; all meals, entertainment and gratuities on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees, plus onboard lectures from a team of renowned guest speakers. Price is based on a September 19 departure.

For more info, visit www.voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk or contac the specialist cruise booking agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Scroll down for a superb offer at New Year with SeaDream Yacht Club

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Sail Into Summer With Royal Caribbean

Join Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas for a seven-night Western Mediterranean fly/cruise from just £649 per person (based on two people sharing an interior stateroom). Plus, book now and also receive $100 per stateroom onboard spend!

This great low price includes return flights from London Heathrow, ship transfers and the seven-night cruise, departing Barcelona and calling at Provence, Villefranche, Livorno (for Florence), Civitavecchia (for Rome) and Naples before returning to Barcelona; meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on June 4 departure.

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

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Christmas in the Med

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Two press releases about cruising at Christmas popped in to my inbox this morning. Both are completely different, so I thought I'd put them both on for you. Here's the first with the second one below (on Hurtigruten in Antarctica).

You can escape the traditional turkey and tinsel at home this Christmas and head to the Med on an 18-night Ultimate Mediterranean cruise on Royal Caribbean International’s Independence of the Seas from just £1,633 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin). Activities on board during the cruise include Christmas themed ice-skating, a Santa parade, festive films, music and decorations, plus carolling with cast and staff.

Independence is brimming with 15 decks of activities, including a 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, a miniature golf course and shopping.

The price includes an 18-night cruise departing from Southampton, calling at Lisbon, Palma De Mallorca (above ), Barcelona, Livorno, Civitavechia (for Rome), Naples, Capri, Gibraltar and Cadiz before returning to Southampton; all meals and entertainment on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Departure is December 21, 2010.

For more information or to book, see http://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk/ or http://www.cruiseline.co.uk/royal-caribbean-cruises/

And why not have a look at Royal Caribbean at The Cruise Show venues at the NEC in Birmingham (October 16-17) and Olympia, London (March 26-27, 2011)?

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