Save Big With A Holland America Med Cruise

Enjoy early summer sunshine, with us here at World of Cruising whilst avoiding the peak summer crowds, on a fantastic value Mediterranean cruise with Holland America Line. Departing June 20, this 11-night Rome to Barcelona cruise starts from just £1,049pp, saving guests up to £1,000. This includes return flights, transfers and full board accommodation (all prices are based on two people sharing an inside stateroom).

This Mediterranean Explorer cruise departs from Rome, and the first port of call is beautiful Naples, from where Pompeii and Capri can be visited. The ship then heads south to Palermo in Sicily, famed for its stunning cuisine and summer produce and then calls at Tunisia’s La Goulette, home to bustling markets and medinas. 

Sailing back to Italian shores, the ship visits Livorno, where excursions to Florence and Pisa are available, before moving onto Calvi, rumoured to be the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, the glamorous Monte Carlo, and Marseille. The cruise ends in Barcelona on July 1, but guests can spend an extra night onboard the ship before disembarking in order to enjoy a more in-depth experience of the city.

More info: 0843 374 2300 www.hollandamerica.co.uk

The next edition of World of Cruising will be out this week, and you can see the current version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see 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.

More Med Magic From Star Clippers

This is sure to appeal to aficionados of sail-cruising, as tall-ship cruise specialist Star Clippers is featuring a range of new destinations and new ports of call in the Mediterranean this year on their three head-turning ships Star Clipper, Star Flyer and Royal Clipper. In May, Grand Prix fans will be able to access the atmosphere of the most prestigious race of the F1 season in Monte Carlo, when guests on Star Flyer will be in pole position in the harbour. Summer sees Star Clippers sailing a season from Palma de Mallorca for the first time, while new ports of call for the Mediterranean season include Porto and the Scandolo Nature Reserve in Corsica, and La Sabina in Formentera. In addition to new destinations and routes, there is more variation in length of cruise than ever before, from a three-night taster from Venice in September to a 21-night transatlantic crossing on Royal Clipper from Barbados to Rome. The 2014-15 season is also featured in a new preview brochure.  More info: call 0845 200 6145 or visit www.starclippers.co.uk.     The next edition of World of Cruising will be out on March 17, and you can see the current version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see 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.

New Island-Hopping Cruises In Croatia

We're always on the lookout for new cruise options here at World of Cruising, and this one definitely caught our eye from regional specialists Transun.

Their new exclusive cruise holiday options are perfect for families looking to escape to the Mediterranean sun as well as couples keen to explore the region’s culture. Croatia specialists for more than 30 years, Transun has uncovered the hidden treasures of the Dalmatian Coast and created carefully selected itineraries. 

Southern Pearls is an intimate cruise of the Adriatic coast and includes a visit to Vis, one of the most remote islands in Croatia. With weekly departures throughout the summer, guests will enjoy taking in a breathtaking new destination each day.

The island-hopping cruise departs from Split or Dubrovnik and takes in destinations including Hvar – where the boat will dock overnight allowing guests to enjoy the renowned nightlife – and Korcula, where centuries of history are encompassed by medieval walls.

The seven-night Southern Pearls package starts from £1,095 per person (based on two people sharing) and includes return flights from a range of selected national airports, transfers, accommodation, breakfast and a guided sightseeing tour of Dubrovnik.

Further highlights of the Croatia cruise holidays available from Transun include:

• Dalmatian Voyage, a relaxing seven-night cruise taking in some of Croatia’s smaller ports of call. 
• Croatia Island Hopping, a seven-night holiday visiting the popular highlights of the Dalmatian Coast, including Mljet, Korcula and Hvar. 

 More info: visit www.transun.co.uk or call 01865 265 200. 

The next edition of World of Cruising will be out on March 17, and you can see the current version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see 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.

Costa Offer 'Slow Cruising'

We're already seen the 'Slow Food' movement and its efforts to promote traditional and regional cuisine, and 'Slow Travel,' with the chance to holiday like a local in places like Italy. Well now Costa Cruises are introducing Slow Cruising.
 

Available on board Costa’s smaller ships bound for destinations off the beaten track, the first of these cruises this April will be combined with the Festival of Mediterranean Cuisine, a special programme devised in collaboration with the renowned Università di Scienze Gastronomiche di Pollenzo (in Cuneo, Italy), as a tribute to the extraordinary Mediterranean gastronomic heritage.

This academic institution was set up by Carlo Petrini, the founder of Slow Food, a global grassroots movement created to counter the rise of fast food and to work towards goals of sustainable foods and promotion of local small-scale producers that safeguard local traditions and high quality products.

The Festival of Mediterranean Cuisine will be held from April 11 to May 25 in conjunction with the 12-day Hidden Treasures of the Mediterranean cruises on Costa neoRiviera (above). It promises a unique gastronomic journey in pursuit of authentic taste sensations in the heart of the Mediterranean, in the very places where these culinary treats were first conceived: from Liguria (Savona) to Provence (Toulon), Catalonia (Barcelona), Sicily (Porto Empedocle), Malta (La Valletta) and Campania (Salerno).

On board Costa neoRiviera, the Festival offers guests different events linked to the appreciation of typical local food and wine; staples of the Mediterranean tradition. There are food and wine seminars and tasting of PDO (protected designation of origin) olive oil from five Italian regions, preserves made from local orchard produce, as well as wines and sweets typical of the coastal areas and islands visited. In Salerno, pasta makers from the Amalfi Coast will give a practical demonstration of the traditional method of preparing fusilli.

The homage to Mediterranean taste also involves all the à la carte restaurants and buffets on board, with offerings including moscardini alla ligure (baby squid), traditional Provencal bouillabaisse, stoccafisso alla livornese (stockfish), coniglio all’ischitana (rabbit), crema catalana (low fat crème brûlée) and cassata al forno (cake made with ricotta).

The menus consist of dishes and recipes selected in partnership with the Università di Scienze and are designed to foster the regional traditions of the destinations visited by using local produce and specific ingredients protected by Slow Food Presidia, such as Cetara anchovies and Conio beans.
 

The Festival of Mediterranean Cuisine programme gives guests the chance to indulge in food & wine tasting, dinners in typical local restaurants and exclusive shoreside excursions for small groups of less than 25 people, specially devised in line with Costa’s new slow cruising philosophy. 

 

More info: call 0800 389 0622 or visit www.costacruises.co.uk.

The next edition of World of Cruising will be out on March 17, and you can see the current version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see 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's Early Summer Sun

It's perfectly normal at this time of year, after our long, wet, miserable winter, to be thinking of some early summer sun. And the cruise lines are well aware of our desire to 'get away from it all' as soon as possible.

That means they are continuing to put out some tempting offers for early-summer cruises, notably to the Mediterranean, which can still pretty much guarantee the necessary sun and warmth in April and May.

The latest offer to hit our Inbox is a particularly good one from Celebrity Cruises, so we thought we'd make its heady excitement the subject of today's blog:

Head to the Med and explore ancient cities, tuck in to local cuisine and soak up the sun on European sands onboard the Celebrity Eclipse on a 14-night Mediterranean cruise, sailing round-trip from the UK from only £949 per person (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom).

It's terrific value, too, as the price includes the full fortnight's voyage, all meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. It departs from Southampton on May 10 and calls at Malaga, Cannes, Civitavecchia (for Rome), Livorno (for Florence or Pisa), Genoa, Gibraltar and Lisbon (above), before returning to Southampton.
 

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

The next edition of World of Cruising will be out on March 17, and you can see the current version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see 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.

Princess Unveil All-Inclusive Packages

Princess Cruises has broken the mould of modern, big-ship cruising by announcing an ‘all inclusive’ package on one of its UK-based ships for the first time.

The offer, which forms part of the Princess Cruises 2015 Europe programme, will be available on 10 sailings in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe on board Caribbean Princess (above). The 3,000-passenger ship will set sail from the UK during spring and summer next year and include a fully inclusive drinks package for all guests who book within the special promotional period.

Other 2015 highlights include a reduced deposit of £99 per person on all Europe cruises and an increased number of sailings across the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

The cruise line has also revealed that Royal Princess, which was launched by HRH the Duchess of Cambridge last year, will return to the UK for spring and summer 2015. The ship will sail out of Southampton for a series of British Isles round-trips, including calls at Liverpool, Edinburgh and Belfast. She will additionally tour the Baltic on a 12-night tour in June of next year, including visits to Copenhagen, Stockholm and St Petersburg.

Paul Ludlow, Princess Cruises managing director UK and Europe, said: “2015 is all about choice as our Europe-based ships will make 150 departures and visit over 120 destinations. European cruises are booming in popularity and as such we’ve provided something for everyone, including destinations and packages to suit a wide range of tastes and budgets.

“It is particularly fitting that Royal Princess will sail round-trips of the UK, as it will give people across the country the opportunity to welcome a ship that was so warmly received here last year."

The 2015 cruises will go on sale on March 11 at 3pm. The complimentary drinks package and £99 deposit are available on all 2015 cruises booked before June 30.

Caribbean Princess

The Caribbean Princess will spend the summer (Apr-Sep 2015) on ten sailings from Southampton to Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, with the complimentary drinks package on all bookings made between March 11 and June 30, 2014.

Programme highlights include:

• Four 14-night Mediterranean Adventurer cruises, sailing round-trip from Southampton to the Western Mediterranean.
• One 14-night North Cape and Summer Solstice departure in June which sails north to the Arctic Circle during the peak Midnight Sun period.
• One 7-night Scandinavia cruise, departing from Southampton via Copenhagen.

Prices start from just £979pp.

More info: visit www.princess.com or call 0843 373 0333. 

 

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see 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.

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.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see 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.

Bag An Early-Summer Bargain With Seabourn

Luxury cruise line Seabourn has released a selection of incredible offers for those seeking some maritime excitement this spring - at a great price. 

And knowing how much our readers enjoy a good bargain, especially from one of the luxury cruise lines, we thought these two May voyages would definitely be of interest.

Take your pick from:

 

15-Day Harbours Of Western Europe, departing May 14:

Enjoy two full weeks of Mediterranean and western Europe cruise bliss as Seabourn Legend sails from Barcelona to London. The full itinerary is: Barcelona, Malaga, Seville, Portimao, Lisbon, Porto, Villagarcia, A Coruna, St Malo, Cherbourg (for Paris), and London.

 

Prices start from £4,629pp for this fly/cruise, based on two people sharing a suite, fully inclusive of all tips and gratuities, fine dining, open bars and fully stocked mini-bar.

 

12-Day Baltic Gems & Russia departing May 29:

Embark Seabourn Legend for a Baltic adventure from London to Stockholm, taking in some lesser-known ports as well as magnificent St Petersburg. The full itinerary is: London, Kiel Canal, Ronne (Denmark), Gdansk (Poland), Klaipeda (Lithuania), Visby (Sweden), St Petersburg and Stockholm.

 

Prices start from £3,549 pp for fly/cruise, based on two people sharing a suite, fully inclusive of all tips and gratuities, fine dining, open bars and fully stocked mini bar.

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

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see 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.

Raise A Valentine's Glass To Princess!

Here's a great way to celebrate today's special day - with a special cruise offer to mark the occasion.

Princess Cruises is introducing a 'Love Boat Bonanza' offer over the Valentine's period, including a free case of six bottles of wine for every booking. Passengers in the mood for a romantic break can also take advantage of great value fares, a reduced deposit of £99 per person and up to $200 onboard credit.

The offer, which runs from 12-28 February, applies to a range of cruises to destinations including the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Norwegian Fjords and round-trips of Britain. All set sail between May and August from either Southampton or Dover.

Prices per person start from £949 for 14 nights in the Mediterranean, £899 for 11 nights in the Canary Islands, £679 for seven nights in the Norwegian Fjords and £699 for eight nights around Britain.

Paul Ludlow, Managing Director for UK and Europe, said: "We're confident our Love Boat offer is the perfect Valentine's pick-me-up. From the culture and cuisine of our Mediterranean cruises, which take in cities including Barcelona and Rome, to the astonishing sights of the Norwegian Fiords, there really is something for everyone. And, what's more, you can raise a glass or two of our complimentary wine to round off your break."

More info: call 0843 373 0333 or visit www.princess.com.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see 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.

Costa Reveals Debut Season For Diadema

Costa Cruises has unveiled its inaugural cruises for the new Costa Diadema, the fleet’s future flagship that will be delivered by the Italian shipyard Fincantieri on October 30.

The first cruise sailing November 1 will be the classic preview voyage, with three new culturally rich and architecturally beautiful cities included in the itinerary: Trieste, Dubrovnik and Genoa.

The voyage will depart from Trieste with a one-and-a-half-day stopover, while the final port of destination is Genoa, Costa's home city. The ship will also make calls at Dubrovnik, Corfu, Malta and Naples before reaching its new home port.

Costa Diadema will then undertake three 7-day inaugural cruises in the western Mediterranean, with longer stopovers at Marseille, Barcelona and Savona. The cruises will offer the chance to visit both Florence and Naples, two of Italy’s most popular cities, in a single cruise. The itinerary includes calls at Genoa (only for the first cruise), Marseille, Barcelona, ​​Palma de Mallorca, Naples, La Spezia and Savona.

For the rest of the 2014/15 winter season, the new flagship will leave from Savona on seven-day cruises in the western Med, calling at Marseille, Barcelona, ​​Palma de Mallorca, Naples and La Spezia.

The 132,500-ton Diadema - with 1,862 staterooms - promises to be Costa's most glamorous ship to date, with top quality food, wine and entertainment. The interiors will be even cosier, more spacious and more modern in terms of facilities and layout, with the benefit of large, split-level rooms directly overlooking the sea and conveniently interconnected, thus evoking the atmosphere of a buzzing seaside resort.

Among the many innovations on board are new food and wine tasting treats in the shape of the Vinoteca (wine house), Birreria (beer house), Japanese Teppanyaki, Pizzeria and Gelateria. There will also be new forms of fun and entertainment on board with the Country Rock Club and the Star Laser room, featuring different styles of interactive laser games, including the Laser Maze.

Shopaholics will love the Portobello Market Piazza, the heart of a 1,100sq metre area of designer stores and retail outlets, while the purpose-built Samsara Spa located on the upper decks will offer the chance to enjoy the regenerating experience of a wellness cruise. For those wanting to enjoy the sun, sea and spectacular ocean vistas, the open-air promenade with cabanas is ideal and extends more than 500m. 

More info: call 0800 389 0622 or visit www.costacruises.co.uk.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see 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.

Britannia's Maiden Season

Following on from yesterday's big news about all the wonderful culinary features and debut season of P&O Cruises' spectacular new ship Britannia yesterday (see this link), here is a round-up of her maiden season's voyages.

Pre-registration is open today (Feb 13), with regular bookings available from March 27.

MAIDEN CRUISE

Spain, Italy & France  

Mar 14-28, 2015 • 14 nights • Britannia B502

Southampton - Gibraltar - Barcelona - Monte Carlo - Rome (tours from Civitavecchia) – Ajaccio, Corsica - Cartagena - Seville (tours from Cadiz) - Southampton

Prices from £1,149 per person.

MAIDEN CANARIES CRUISE

Portugal, Spain & Morocco   

Mar 28-Apr 11 • 14 nights • Britannia B503

Southampton - Madeira - Tenerife - Gran Canaria - Lanzarote - Agadir - Seville (tours from Cadiz) - Lisbon - Vigo - Southampton

Prices from £1,199 per person.

MAIDEN SHORT BREAK

Guernsey

July 4-6 • 2 nights • Britannia B512

Southampton - St Peter Port, Guernsey - Southampton

Prices from £249 per person.

MAIDEN NORWAY CRUISE

Norway, Nordfjord & Sognefjord   

Apr 25-May 2 • 7 nights • Britannia B505
Southampton - Bergen - Olden - Cruise in Nordfjord - Flaam - Cruise in Sognefjord - Stavanger – Southampton

Prices from £699 per person.

MAIDEN BALTIC CRUISE

Scandinavia, Estonia & Russia

May 30-Jun 13 • 14 nights • Britannia B509

Southampton - Kristiansand - Oslo - Copenhagen - Stockholm - Tallinn - St Petersburg - Helsinki - Bruges (tours from Zeebrugge) - Southampton

Prices from £1,499 per person.

MAIDEN BRITISH ISLES CRUISE

British Isles              

July 6-18 • 12 nights • Britannia B513     

Southampton - sailing by Flamborough Head & South Shields - Edinburgh (tours from South Queensferry) - Inverness (tours from Invergordon) - Kirkwall, Orkney Islands - sailing by Cape Wrath - Glasgow (tours from Greenock) - Liverpool - Dublin (tours from Dun Laoghaire) - Cork (tours from Cobh) - sailing by South Cornwall - St Peter Port, Guernsey - Southampton

Prices from £1,249 per person.

MAIDEN TRANSATLANTIC CRUISE

Portugal & Caribbean                             

Oct 23-Nov 7 • 14 nights • Britannia B524

Oct 23-Nov 8 • 15 nights • Britannia B524A

Southampton - Madeira - St Maarten - St Lucia - Dominica - Grenada - Barbados (overnight in port on B524A) - Overnight flight to UK

Prices from £1,099 per person.

CARIBBEAN

Fly UK to Barbados (Friday departures overnight in port) - Grenada - Isla Margarita - Curacao - Aruba - Tortola - St Maarten - Antigua - St Kitts - Barbados (Saturday departures overnight in port) - Overnight flight to UK (flights from selected UK airports)

Friday Departures; Nov 20-Dec 5 • 15 nights • Britannia B526

Prices from £1,399.

More info: call 0843 374 0111 or visit www.pocruises.co.uk.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see 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.

Saga & The Western Mediterranean Way Of Life

Feb. 13.- It's Day Three of Saga Week here at World of Cruising magazine, with stories, features and special offers from the classic British cruise line. Today - a great Mediterranean experience... 
 

They call it the Mediterranean Medley, and it really does highlight a great range of Med port experiences, but there is a lot more en route that makes this voyage a true classic.

Just to start with, it is hard to beat for ports that provide great arts, culture and shopping, like the Catalan capital of Barcelona, the British outpost of Gibraltar and Portugal's fabulous Lisbon (above), with its colourful yellow-and-red trams and "Street of the Restaurants," plus the incredible mosaic pavements, squares and streets. 

Yet guests on this cruise will also call at quieter ports to enjoy the simpler pleasures of the Mediterranean way of life, strolling in the sun, browsing the markets and people-watching over a glass of local wine. 

To that end, there is Mahon, the ancient capital of Menorca with its Georgian Bow Window style as a legacy of British rule but Mahon still boasts attractive neo-Classical, Baroque and Romanesque buildings. Then there is the unspoilt coastal town of Propriano, situated in the Valinco Gulf on the island of Corsica, and Toulon, another beautiful coastal resort approximately 32 miles from Marseilles, with a picturesque old town of colourful markets and elegant fountains.

Valencia is one of Spain's most beautiful cities,with a lively culture and rich history. Having experienced rapid growth during the last few years, the city now rivals both Barcelona and Madrid in terms of economic importance but boasts buildings dating back to Roman and Arabic times.

Finally, dating from Roman times, the Galician city of Vigo is home to a fine natural harbour, where the English and Dutch defeated the French and Spanish fleets in 1702. Today, the attractive marinas stand in contrast to the industrialised areas of the city, while further exploration will reveal the characteristic 17th-century architecture and attractive countryside beyond. 

Saga Pearl II (above) herself recalls the same stylish surroundings and superb service that cruise-goers have come to expect from the company's elegant ships, with a smaller size that offers a more relaxed and intimate atmosphere. 

Mediterranean Medley:15-night cruise departing October 30 from Southampton and calling at Lisbon, Gibraltar, Mahon, Corsica, Toulon, Barcelona, Valencia and Vigo, with prices from £1,773 per person.

 

More info: call 0800 096 0074 or visit http://travel.saga.co.uk/holidays/ocean-cruise.

For a longer version of this story see our News pages at the World of Cruising website, presented by Saga Cruises, on this link.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see 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.

Britannia Assembles 'Food Heroes' For Debut Season

Hot on the heels of the announcement of Royal Caribbean's debut Southampton season for new ship Anthem of the Seas next year (see our blog on Monday on this link) comes P&O Cruises and their full programme for spectacular new ship Britannia.

And Britain's oldest cruise line is pulling out all the stops by assembling the cream of culinary talent as the new ship’s 'Food Heroes' - an unprecedented line up of the country’s celebrity chefs.

The country’s favourite TV chef, James Martin (above), will develop The Cookery Club, the first cookery school on board a British cruise ship. He joins award winning master patissier ‘Cake Boy’ Eric Lanlard, in his first venture at sea, a patisserie range in the Market Café at the heart of the ship’s spectacular atrium.

Established P&O favourites Marco Pierre White, Atul Kochhar and Olly Smith will lend their expertise to the varied culinary options on board ranging from speciality restaurants and wine bars through to gala dinners in the main dining rooms.

Passengers will be able to participate in hands-on cookery tuition under the expert guidance of P&O's 'famous five' culinary giants. Guest chefs will also be on board in this state-of-the-art cookery school, which can hold classes of up to 24 people at a time and there will be a Chef’s Table to allow passengers to experience world class cuisine in an intimate space.

When the biggest ship built for the British cruise market sets sail on its maiden voyage from Southampton to the Mediterranean on March 14, 2015, it will mark a step change in holidays at sea. As well as the new Cookery Club, passengers taking a cruise on board Britannia will experience:

·       Dedicated supervised children’s club for ages 2-17, with dedicated teens area.

·       Three-tier feature atrium with Eric Lanlard patisserie, a charcuterie and gelataria as well as spectacular starburst sculpture.

·       13 bars and 13 different places to eat.

·       Oasis Spa and open deck Retreat.

·       Sports arena.

·       Al fresco dining.

·       Four swimming pools including a Serenity “quiet zone” pool and bar.

·       Art collection in excess of £1million.

·       1,837 cabins – all outsides have a balcony, including 64 suites and 27 single cabins.

·       Library.

·       Dedicated wedding venue.

·       936-seat state-of-the-art theatre with LED screen.

·       The Studio – multi-purpose “tv studio” for guest speakers, talks, demonstrations, cinema screenings, radio plays and game shows.

·       The Crystal room – dedicated to all types of dance.

·       The Limelight Club – entertainment and dining.

·       Sindhu from Atul Kochhar and Olly Smith’s The Glass House.

Britannia’s maiden season will see the ship sail from Southampton to the Mediterranean, Norwegian Fjords, Canary Islands and the Baltic Sea, as well as offering a range of short breaks and a special round-Britain cruise. The ship will then transfer to the Caribbean for the winter season sailing a range of 15-night fly/cruise itineraries from Barbados.

More info: call 0843 374 0111 or visit www.pocruises.co.uk.

For the full range of Britannia's cruises, be sure to see Time Spent At Sea tomorrow. 

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see 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.

Royal Caribbean Reveal Anthem's Southampton Voyages

By Editor Simon Veness

The big question (in every sense) about what itineraries Royal Caribbean will be offering from Southampton with their new Anthem of the Seas next year has been answered - with a bold array of different cruises from April to September.

As we have already noted here at Time Spent At Sea, Royal Caribbean will be going head-to-head next spring and summer with P&O Cruises out of Southampton, with P&O debuting their all-new Britannia at the same time as the Anthem arrives for her inaugural season.

Anthem is Royal Caribbean’s second Quantum-class ship and will offer 20 Mediterranean sailings beginning on April 22, 2015, before heading to Fort Lauderdale in the autumn, and her itineraries range from three to 16 nights, with a strong focus on ‘taster’ cruises designed to attract British holidaymakers who haven’t previously considered a cruise holiday.

Quantum and Anthem will mark another step forward for the cruise industry, introducing more unique facilities at sea, such as a skydiving experience called RipCord by iFLY and the North Star (above), an engineering marvel featuring a capsule that extends 300ft above the ocean and over the side of the ship to deliver 360-degree views for guests.

Additional cutting-edge venues include SeaPlex, the largest indoor sports and entertainment complex at sea with bumper cars, roller-skating and more; and the cruise line’s largest and most advanced staterooms ever. These new, larger rooms enable innovation in design, storage and comfort, including the industry’s first 'virtual balconies.'

Royal Caribbean's managing director for UK and Ireland, Stuart Leven, explained: “The unveiling of the Anthem of the Seas itineraries is another major milestone in our exciting year. We have significant confidence in the strength of pent-up demand for the Royal Caribbean holiday product from UK and Ireland."

Anthem's cruise options from Southampton next year are as follows:

• Four 3-night taster cruises and one 4-night taster cruise calling at Bruges and Paris (Le Havre).
• One 7 and one 8-night 'France & Spain' cruise calling at Bilbao and Paris (Le Havre).
• One 16-night 'Mediterranean Cities of Distinction' cruise including Barcelona, Nice, Rome Seville and Lisbon.
• Three 13-nights, one 10-night and one 12-night 'Sunshine in the Canaries' cruise.
• One 7-night 'Norwegian Fjords' sailing.
• Two 14-night 'Italian Mediterranean' sailings.
• One 14-night 'Spain & Mediterranean Beaches' sailing, including an overnight in Palma de Mallorca and a call into Ibiza, not departing until 8pm in the evening.

Peak summer holiday cruises include the 14-night Italian Mediterranean cruise and the 14-night Spain & Mediterranean Beaches sailings to appeal to family travellers. In addition, the three-night taster cruise operating over August Bank Holiday weekend is expected to be popular.

A 14-night cruise from Southampton starts from £1,599 per person, based on a July 2015 departure. The taster three-night cruises start from £449 per person, based on a May 2015 departure, and the programme goes on sale on March 4. 

More info: call 0844 493 4005 or visit www.royalcaribbean.co.uk.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see 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.