Mediterranean Marvels From MSC

Soak up the sun or sail through history – from just £599pp

MSC Cruises are highlighting another one of their Mediterranean summer series this week, with a great chance to sample both sun and history. Here are the details: 

From May to November, MSC Sinfonia will be setting off from Genoa on a series of 7-night cruises around the western Mediterranean, calling in St Tropez in France, Palma de Mallorca and Menorca in Spain, and Olbia and Salerno on Italy’s beautiful Emerald and Amalfi coasts. 

After glorious sandy beaches, endless cafes, bars and shops, and celeb spotting in yacht-filled marinas in St Tropez on the spectacular Cote D’Azur, next stop is the charming Palma de Mallorca, the largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands, where travellers can bask on beautiful beaches as well as enjoying the party island’s mythical day-to-night transformation during an overnight stay and full day in port. 

A visit to the island of Menorca, dotted with picturesque villages and an array of historical and cultural sights, would not be complete without a trip to one of the island’s more than 50 stunning beaches and the crystal clear waters which make it easy to adapt to the rhythm of Mediterranean life. From Spain to Italy’s unspoilt Emerald Coast, one of the most beautiful stretches of the Mediterranean coastline with its breath-taking mountainous, rocky landscapes and white sandy beaches with turquoise waters. 

Last stop Salerno in the Campania region is renowned for its vibrant and bustling Centro Storico and its lovely medieval churches, as well as its proximity to the famously picturesque Amalfi Coast, popular not only for its stunning scenery and beaches but also for its fantastic cuisine, where delicious fish and pasta dishes taste all the better with the backdrop of a breathtaking sea view. 

For bookings, follow this link to the The Cruise Line, the UK's cruise-agent specialists.

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Saga's New Offerings

Visit glorious horizons this spring or summer and save up to 30% on a range of exciting itineraries with Saga Cruises, onboard the stylish Saga Sapphire or Quest for Adventure. Voyage to the breathtakingly tranquil Fjordlands, to the Mediterranean’s treasured gems, the Baltic’s fairytale cities or to Ireland’s cherished landscapes. 

Save £1013 per person on the Sapphire’s Wonders of the Mediterranean:

Cruise departs from Southampton on April 14 for 22 nights, starting from £2,399 per person, on a voyage through thousands of years of civilization. Discover the treasured cities of Lisbon, Hvar and Valletta, bask in the sunshine paradises of Corfu and Gibraltar and sail on to explore the unforgettable 'floating city' of Venice. This voyage also visits Santiago de Compostela and Cartagena in Spain, Majorca and Minorca, and Sibenik in Croatia.

Save £355 per person on the Sapphire’s Fjord and Splendours:

This cruise departs from Southampton on May 21 for 7 nights, starting from £899 per person, to discover the tranquillity of Norway’s legendary and breathtakingly beautiful Fjordlands. Cruise right into the heart of the fjords, revealing picture-postcard views of lakes, glaciers, waterfalls and mountains, and discover the beautiful village of Flam, the port town of Stavanger, the lesser known village of Skjolden and the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bergen.

Save £422 per person on the Sapphire’s The Emerald Isle:

Departing from Dover on July 27 for 8 nights (from £999 per person), this action-packed cruise around Ireland reveals many of the Emerald Isle’s attractions. Enjoy the ‘craic’ in Dublin and discover this vibrant city’s historic buildings and famous Ha’penny Bridge before stopping off in Belfast to explore the sights and walk along the mysterious Giant’s Causeway. Soak-up the rugged landscapes of Sligo, Glengarriff, the charming fishing port of Killybegs, and immerse yourself in the lively character of Cork.

Save £663 per person on the Quest for Adventure’s The Cities of the Inland Sea:

This cruise departs from Dover on June 9 for 15 nights, starting from £1949 per person. From the resplendent architecture of St Petersburg’s buildings and palaces to the cultural offerings on show at the revived and unified Berlin, it journeys to the Baltic’s most fascinating and diverse cities. Discover the colourful metropolis of Amsterdam, Stockholm’s immense history, the fairytale streets of medieval Tallin and the inspiring spires and architecture of Copenhagen. This voyage also explores the historic and breathtaking cities of Helsinki, Visby (Estonia) and Oslo. Depart from Leith on June 7 for an extra two nights free of charge.

With so many great value extras included in the price of a Saga cruise, savvy travellers can set sail for less. All cruises include travel to and from the port, travel insurance, port taxes and visas, all meals, including 24-hour room service, and all gratuities on board. Travellers on the Saga Sapphire will also benefit from VIP chauffeur service. 

For bookings, follow this link to the Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's leading cruise-agent specialists.

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Tall Ship Sailing In The Med

Tall ship sailing specialist Star Clippers is offering two wonderful opportunities to explore the history of the Mediterranean this autumn, combining the romance of a voyage through the Balearic Islands and Andalucia to Morocco with a stay in a beautiful riad in Marrakech. A second option combines a mini-cruise with both Marrakech and two nights in historic Lisbon.

Sailing on the line’s flagship, the five-masted square rigger Royal Clipper, the first voyage departs Civitavecchia, the port for Rome, on October 15. After a day exploring the dramatic medieval fortress town of Bonifacio in Corsica, the ship sets a course to Mahon, Menorca, Lord Nelson’s chosen base for the British fleet during the Napoleonic wars. There’s a day in Ibiza, best known for its nightlife but actually rich in history, from its Carthaginian origins to 500 years of Moorish rule. On board, guests can relax on the warm, teak decks, enjoy their favourite cocktail from the Tropical Bar, or help the crew raise thousands of square feet of billowing sails.

Royal Clipper next calls at Motril on southern Spain’s Costa Tropical, an easy hop from Grenada and the magnificent Alhambra Palace. Then there’s a day at Safi in Morocco, famous for its pottery, before disembarking in Casablanca for the short flight to Marrakech.

Here, guests will stay for four nights at the tranquil, four star Les Jardins de la Medina, a traditional 19th century riad inside the city’s massive terracotta ramparts, surrounded by luxuriant gardens and complete with its own gastronomic restaurant, cookery school, hammam and spa, before flying back to London on October 27. Priced from £2,585 per person, including flights, full board on the cruise, transfers, B&B at the hotel, a bottle of wine and a three-hour private tour of Marrakech.

The second option departs London on October 21, for two nights at Les Jardins de la Medina, before flying to Casablanca on October 23 to join Royal Clipper for a four-night cruise to Lisbon via Tangier, Cadiz (for Seville, the magnificent Andalucian capital) and Portimao on the popular Algarve coast. Guests disembark in Lisbon and spend two nights at the boutique Lisboa Plaza hotel. A complimentary train ticket to the beach resort of Cascais is included, as well as a Lisbon Card, for discounts on entries to the city’s museums and attractions, and free public transport, as well as the Elevador da Gloria funicular, a scenic tram that links Baixa with the Bairro Alto.

Priced from £1,725 per person, including flights from London, full board on the cruise, two nights’ B&B at the Jardins de la Medina and two nights’ B&B at the Lisboa Plaza, as well as a bottle of wine, three-hour private tour of Marrakech, the Lisbon Card and train tickets.

For more info, visit www.starclippers.co.uk or contact the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

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A True Mediterranean Odyssey

By guest blogger Steve Newman

The Mediterranean's sunny climate, historic ports and enchanting cities have made it an eternally popular cruise destination. The problem arises when deciding where exactly to go, as there are a plethora of voyages on offer in this extensive region.

One option is join Saga on their Saga Pearl II for a two-week exploration around the Iberian Peninsula and into the Western Mediterranean, departing on 29 April 2011 from Southampton. This ship (above) underwent a £20million three-month refit and now recalls the same stylish surroundings and superb service that cruise-goers have come to expect from the company’s elegant ships.

She has a smaller size than most vessels (just 446 passengers, and with 60 single cabins), and offers a more relaxed and intimate atmosphere to her guests. Deluxe cabins have twin beds, some of which can be converted to a king-size on request. These cabins have a bath, with a shower and wc, and some cabins benefit from a balcony.

The wooden floors and al fresco soft sofas on the Bridge Deck and a library with over 3,000 books give the ship a real private yacht feel, while the open-dining policy of sitting with who you like enhances this feeling.

The voyage visits Lisbon, Gibraltar, Mahon in Menorca (with those wonderful steps that lead you from the harbour up in to the city) and then on to Marseilles, Barcelona, Ibiza Town and Vigo in Northern Spain before returning to Southampton.

All of the ports of call have ample time to thoroughly explore these wonderful maritime and architectural gems. However, what Saga does extremely well is the choice and standard of their excursions and I have to say those being offered on this voyage are very good indeed.

Saga are also exhibiting at the Cruise Show in Birmingham in October.

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Louis Cruises let the train take the strain

With a dozen different cruise itineraries sailing from Marseille this year Louis Cruises reports that more of their passengers are choosing the train to reach their embarkation point.

“A London to Marseille journey by Eurostar and TGV can take less than seven hours, making rail a genuine alternative to flying – and a great deal more civilised,” says the cruise line’s Peter Adamou.

Louis Cruises are always sold on a ‘cruise only’ basis allowing travellers to tailor-make their own journey to Marseille, Genoa and Athens – the embarkation points for the line’s variety of Mediterranean cruises.

For example, a seven-day/six-night ‘Mediterranean Highlights’ cruise on the Louis Majesty sails from Marseille on 29 August, 29 September and 10 October (with the option to depart a day earlier in each case from Genoa). The ship visits the islands of Menorca, Malta and Sicily as well as Tunisia during the cruise.

Prices for this cruise start at just £319 per person based on two sharing a Standard Inside Stateroom. This includes full board accommodation, on-board entertainment and all port taxes and charges but not drinks or shore excursions.

Other sailings from Marseille include an eight-day ‘Spanish Odyssey & Tangier’ itinerary on the Louis Majesty (from £349 per person) and an 11-day ‘Adriatic Coast, Italy and Ionian’ cruise on the Orient Queen from £519 per person.

NB: Eurostar.com is currently advertising return travel to Marseille from £119 return.

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.

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