Virgin Holidays Cruises' luxury holidays

Virgin Holidays Cruises customers can now start their dream cruise in style with FREE chauffer driven transfers to the airport.  The deal is available during October on cruises with Carnival Cruise Line. The service can be taken any time from 1 October 2014 to 31 December 2015.

Top Carnival offers…

11 nights Orlando Stay and Caribbean Cruise from £949pp

Three nights at the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista on a room only basis, before joining Carnival Liberty for eight nights from Port Canaveral, Nassau, St Maarten, Puerto Rico, Grand Turk and Port Canaveral. Price is per person based on two adults travelling and sharing an inside cabin on a full-board basis and includes Virgin Atlantic flights from Gatwick.  Based on 12 November departure.

10 nights New Orleans Stay and Caribbean Cruise from £1,399pp

Three nights at the Hotel Monteleone on a room only basis, before joining Carnival Dream for seven nights from New Orleans, Mahogany Bay (Isla Roatan, Belize, Cozumel and New Orleans. Price is per person based on two adults travelling and sharing an inside cabin on a full-board basis and includes Virgin Atlantic flights from Heathrow and transfers.  Based on 19 February 2015 departure.

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Adventure Cruising blog

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Norwegian Plan A Miami Escape

Here at World of Cruising we've heard that  Norwegian Cruise Line's brand new ship for 2015, Norwegian Escape, will make its home in Miami, sailing year-round to the eastern Caribbean.

As well as revealing the ship's new hull artwork (above), NCL declated that, like this year's newcomer Norwegian Getaway, the Escape will homeport in the South Florida port and take on the Getaway's Caribbean itinerary, calling at St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands and Nassau in the Bahamas, as well as offering three days at sea.

The Getaway will herself move to a new 7-day Caribbean itinerary - Norwegian's private island of Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas; Ocho Rios in Jamaica; George Town in Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico.

With these two ships sailing year-round from Miami, this will allow their previous flagship, Norwegian Epic, to be part of a 2015/16 deployment (as already announced) sailing from Barcelona year-round.

The line’s full deployment for winter next year also includes its return to South America cruises, a larger Jewel-class ship sailing to the Mexican Riviera, as well as the addition of Port Canaveral, Florida as a seasonal home-port.

The 20156/16 opens for booking on March 26.

More Info: call 0785 201 8900 or visit www.ncl.co.uk.

The new edition of World of Cruising is out this week, while you can still see the Feb/Mar issue online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link.

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Royal Caribbean's Bahamas Escape

Fed up with the wet, miserable British winter weather? Of course you are - and so are we, hence the latest offer to arrive in our Inbox has us all day-dreaming of escaping to the sunny climes of the Bahamas. And, if you can go next month, you're in for a treat.

It comes from arguably THE sunshine specialists, Royal Caribbean themselves, and promises a great winter sun cruise - with a significant saving.

Sailing from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey, the cruise features the best of the Bahamas and a stop in Florida before returning north for the flight home. And guests can enjoy all this with £100 off per stateroom if booked by February 28.

The eight-night cruise featuring Explorer of the Seas visits the Bahamian capital of Nassau on the island of New Providence and then Royal Caribbean's private island of Cococay before heading to the mainland for a call at Port Canaveral in the Sunshine State.

On board, guests can also scale the heights and enjoy amazing views 200ft above sea level on the incredible rock-climbing wall, or, for a more relaxed experience, can spend time at the solarium and indoor pool. All this is available from £1,175 per person (based on two people sharing an interior stateroom).

The price includes flights from London Heathrow; a pre-cruise hotel stay, transfers and the 8-night cruise; meals and entertainment on board; and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on a March 21 departure. 

More info: call 0844 493 2061 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. 

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Would You Pay For A Concert At Sea?

Carnival Cruise Lines have come up with an interesting new twist in onboard entertainment, announcing earlier today their Carnival LIVE Concert Series.

It promises an impressive line-up of rock and pop talent for a one-off concert aboard one of eight of their ships, with the likes of Jennifer Hudson (above, at the New York announcement today of the Concert Series), Daughtry, Chicago, Martina McBride, Olivia Newton-John and REO Speedwagon all appearing.

It is a lot of talent to set before a cruise ship audience and should definitely appeal to fans of the many 1970s and 80s bands being featured.

Each concert will take place in the ship's main theatre on one of 49 dates throughout 2014, at three ports of call, namely Cozumel, Mexico, Nassau, in the Bahamas, and Catalina Island, California. The headline artist will fly in for the show, then leave again the next day as the ship overnights in that port.

So far, so good, and very impressive and forward-thinking. But now comes the kicker - Carnival will sell tickets for each show, at $20-$40, with special 'VIP packages' at $100-$150, with front-row seats and the chance to meet with the evening's artist(s).

And it begs the question - would you pay extra for an evening's entertainment aboard ship?

OK, we already pay a supplement for speciality dining on nearly all ships these days (in the non-luxury segment). But is there room to start charging for the entertainment, too?

Carnival clearly think their audience will go for it and are presenting it as a big breakthrough in sea-going excitement. And, with only a limited amount of seats available for the one-off concerts, it's hard not to think they will have plenty of takers.

In addition to the Carnival LIVE Concert Series, Carnival is also enhancing its popular shipboard house bands. The bands will feature both male and female lead singers, a more choreographed, themed and diverse set list, and increased interaction with guests. Nine Carnival ships currently feature the new bands, with implementation across the full fleet over the course of this year.

Mark Tamis, senior vice president of guest operations for Carnival Cruise Lines, explained: “Onboard entertainment is an important part of the overall guest experience when cruising. With the Carnival LIVE Concert Series, our guests will enjoy an exclusive performance with one of their favourite artists for an extraordinary value. Combined with our enhanced house bands fleetwide, this is just another example of the many ways we are constantly looking to create even more fun and memorable moments for our guests."

The full range of concert special guests is as follows:

38 Special
Chicago
Daughtry
Foreigner
Gavin DeGraw
Jennifer Hudson
Jewel
Kansas
Lady Antebellum
LeAnn Rimes
Martina McBride
Olivia Newton-John
REO Speedwagon STYX
Trace Adkins


Is it the kind of line-up that would have you shelling out $40? We'd love to hear YOUR opinion. 

More info: www.carnival.com/CarnivalLive. 

Our new edition is now out - see more on this link! Or, to subscribe with our special limited time 50% off rate, go to our subscriptions page.

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Norwegian's 'Legends At Sea' Brings In Donna Summer

Donna Summer has been announced as one of the next three 'Legends' to perform as part of Norwegian Cruise Line's "Legends in Concert" series on board Norwegian Epic beginning on November 3 when the ship returns to Miami to begin her weekly Eastern Caribbean sailings. Ports of call include St Maarten, St Thomas and Nassau in the Bahamas, as well as three relaxing days at sea.

A staple on the Las Vegas centre strip for more than 25 years, "Legends in Concert" is the pioneer of live tribute shows and has assembled the greatest collection of live tribute artists and celebrity look-alikes in all of show business. The newest addition to Norwegian's onboard series will take the form of a tribute to 1970s pop diva Summer, who died earlier this year.

Legends in Concert on Norwegian Epic features three celebrity tribute performers taking the stage in the Epic Theater for six 45-minute shows over three days during a seven-day cruise. In addition, a Legends “Unplugged” show is performed on three additional nights in the Manhattan Room, the ship's New York-inspired supper club, providing an unprecedented dining and entertainment experience. The celebrity performers change every four months, keeping the show fresh and exciting. The last performers were Steven Tyler, Lady Gaga and Elvis Presley.

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

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Carnival's Caribbean Cruise Bonus

Cruise the Eastern Caribbean and see some of the most beautiful tropical islands in the world with Carnival Cruise Lines this year. From stunning Grand Turk, the largest of the Turks & Caicos islands to the idyllic sun-drenched island of Half Moon Cay and Nassau, one of the most beautiful and popular ports in the Caribbean, this is a taste of the Caribbean at its most laid-back.

The 2,124-passenger Carnival Miracle also features something for everyone. A marvel of modern cruise engineering, most of her staterooms have ocean views and the majority of have private balconies. Highlighted by the 11-story Metropolis atrium with a ruby-red glass ceiling, Miracle also features great dining, including a reservations-recommended steakhouse, plus superb entertainment options and Spa pampering that make for a truly special onboard experience.

This 9-night Eastern Caribbean fly/cruise starts from just £1,189 per person, departing on May 13 and including scheduled flights between London and New York and a 9-night cruise, full board basis per person, based on an inside stateroom.

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

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An Epic Adventure Pt 9

Final Day

Continuing our day-by-day look at a typical voyage in the life of Norwegian Cruise Line’s wonderful Norwegian Epic, by World of Cruising editor Simon Veness

Our last full day aboard Norwegian Epic is slightly unusual in that it is a port day, but we don’t arrive in the Bahamian capital of Nassau until mid-day, which is fairly late in the day for a typical port arrival.

That means we can have a leisurely morning, soak up some sun on our balcony and catch up with a bit of email (albeit the internet connection on board is pretty slow – in keeping with just about every cruise ship).

But, almost before we know it, the island of New Providence is in sight and we are maneuvering slowly into the port of Nassau – with the Disney Dream, MSC Poesia and a Royal Caribbean ship already in dock and two Carnival vessels following us in. It’s going to be a busy day in a busy port.

True to form, the hustle and bustle around the cruise terminal is fairly intense, with several thousand people looking to get out, a myriad of taxis, horse-and-carriage buggies and tour vehicles all looking to do business. But, once we managed to work our way clear of the immediate harbour area, it is easy to wander around under our own steam unimpeded and unaccosted.

This is a friendly and open city, easy to navigate on foot, and we have sorted out our own walking tour, taking in the main sights and vantage points, including the Queen’s Staircase and Fort Fincastle. We stop for a welcome cold libation at Hotel Greycliffe – a former Colonial mansion – and visit the Colonial Hilton Hotel, which has provided the backdrop for several James Bond films, notably Live And Let Die.

A walk along Junkanoo Beach allows us to dip our toes in the sea and spy some fish and lobsters – extremely large lobsters – in the crystal clear waters. The Fish Fry is a famous area of Nassau, a collection of local seafood restaurants boasting plenty of the local delicacy, Conch – conch salad, conch fritters, fried conch and conch chowder. Perfect for a lazy lunch and a true taste of the Bahamas.

The 20-minute walk back into the heart of town is an opportunity for some more retail therapy. In all honesty, there isn’t anything we haven’t already seen in St Thomas or St Maarten, save for the new Straw Market, a huge indoor market of local arts and crafts – rows and rows of them – but it is ideal window shopping territory as we slowly wind our way back to the ship.

Once again, there isn’t anything we can’t live without, so our credit cards remain safe, but we do pick up a chocolate cake for our cabin steward, Winzyl, as a little ‘thank you’ for his non-stop efficiency and cheery demeanour.

Back on board, we enjoy some more balcony time as the other ships depart and get ourselves ready for our final dinner, at the Epic Club, courtesy of Hotel Director Richard Janicki, giving us another chance to check out the extra amenities of The Haven area.

Our waitress is Jo-Anne from Luzon in the Phillipines, and she is the epitome of gracious service as we enjoy tempura mushroom, roasted beets with arugula, salmon in lobster sauce, wild mushroom ravioli, pear and ginger crumble and a mango and raspberry soufflé, all washed down with a bottle of Ruffino pinot grigio. Simply sublime.

To complete our round-up of the ship’s vast range of entertainment options, we have a 9.15pm appointment with the Second City comedy group in Headliners, a chance to sample their improv act, which provides an hour of fairly knockabout humour in best ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’ style.

It just leaves the final night ritual of suitcase packing to be completed, with both suitcases duly loaded and left outside our cabin door with the appropriate labels on by 11pm. With a 7.30am wake-up call booked, we’re not looking for a late night, but we do manage a final quick visit to Fat Cats Jazz Club and a fond farewell to Charlie Love & The Silky Smooth Band.

It leaves us with an inedible memory of this amazing ship and its vast entertainment array; one that not just breaks the mould of traditional cruising but takes it and completely re-shapes it into something new, contemporary and exciting. And just a little exhausting!

Next – final thoughts on our Epic cruise.

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An Epic Adventure Pt 8

More On The Ship
Continuing our day-by-day look at a typical voyage in the life of Norwegian Cruise Line’s wonderful Norwegian Epic, by World of Cruising editor Simon Veness

It just goes to show how much time you need to explore a big ship. Here we are on Day Six and we have only just discovered the perfect sea-day sanctuary, tucked away forward on Deck 18 (there is also a Deck 19 for those who don’t suffer from vertigo, as the sea seems about half a mile away from up there).

Our third sea day is another perfect day in the Caribbean; calm seas, unbroken sun and no breeze, with temperatures again in the low 80sF. Easy to burn on deck, hence we don’t spend long there (although the balcony is a whole ‘nother story). We also have Nassau tomorrow, so staying out of the sun is the percentage decision.

There is also a lot going on around the ship and it is easy to drift from activity to activity. The indolent rhythm of a sea day is hard to escape, hence we don’t try.

The one thing we do discover, though, is the open space on Deck 18; an area hitherto unknown to us (and, we suspect, the majority of our fellow passengers). It is hard to pinpoint on the ship deck plans and is accessible only by the one-off lift next to the Great Outdoors grill/buffet on the pool deck (15).

The neat glass-fronted lift goes directly to 18 and a surprisingly open expanse of deck space, complete with the requisite loungers and two shower units in which to cool down when the sun becomes just TOO powerful (which, for us, is usually within 15 minutes!).

Our other big discovery for the day is The Haven, the ship-within-a-ship on the topmost three decks that essentially forms its own Concierge Class of accommodations, amenities and style. Thanks to our own personal tour by Etienne from the Hotel Manager’s staff (and we also had a great meeting with Hotel Manager Richard Janicki, a long-time Norwegian veteran), we were given a full tour of this part of the ship which, due, to its clever self-contained design, many passengers may not even know exists (a bit like Deck 18).

Complete with its own pool, expansive sun decks, gym, sauna, steam room, lounge, restaurant (both inside and out), deck bar and two Spa treatment rooms, The Haven is exactly what it sounds – a 75-cabin sanctuary that effectively reintroduces first-class cruise travel in an unobtrusive and contemporary way.

All the cabins are suites, and the décor is notably fresh and modern without being overly bright or glitzy. The Epic Lounge is like a snap-shot of a smart, modish nightclub, the restaurant is quiet and graceful and the whole concierge-equipped area has an atmosphere of relaxed elegance.

Having completed (finally!) our full tour of the ship, there is still time for lunch in Taste (definitely our favourite of the two main dining rooms), trying to keep things simple in advance of dinner at the Teppanyaki Room tonight. Soup, salad, Vietnamese spring rolls and a wild mushroom omelette were the sum total of our gustatory exertions, leaving us perfectly positioned to take in a stroll of the jogging track on Deck 7 and then our afternoon highlight, a talk from the members of the Blue Man Group.

We had hoped for a genuine behind-the-blue-paint revealing of the hows and whys of their innovatory show and we weren’t disappointed, with the three ‘Blue Men’ and one of the musicians all taking turns to answer questions and detail their background in music, comedy and theatre – which explains the unique mix of artistry that goes into the on-stage antics.

By late afternoon it was time to show a little more purpose and direction, hence we returned to our cabin to shower and change ready for the evening.

In keeping with the ultimate egalitarianism of Freestyle cruising, there is no dress code, hence we can dress up or down as much as we prefer for the evening. Shirt and shorts? Fine. Long trousers and T-shirt? That’s OK here. Shirt and tie? Go right ahead, sir. Full suit or cocktail dress? Yes, that’s perfectly permissible, too. There is no wrong attire, hence you will find the full mixture aboard at any one time.

Our first destination for the evening is the Legends In Concert show (again pre-booked in advance), with the chance to enjoy Steven Tyler (of Aerosmith) and Lady Gaga. Sadly, ‘Elvis’ was off sick for the evening, but the one-hour show still rattled along nicely, backed by a four-piece band who really knew their rock ‘n roll stuff.

Tyler as both a lookalike and soundalike was simply superb; Lady Gaga perhaps sang a bit TOO well to complete the sound comparison, while the looks were good without capturing the true bizarre persona of the real Gaga (and, in all honesty, if she is genuinely deemed a ‘legend,’ then so are a million other pop singers of both past and present). She probably appealed to the younger element of the audience but I think the majority were left a little underwhelmed by the sheer non-legendary status (when considering we might have had Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Madonna or, frankly, any one of another 100 pop and rock performers of the past 30 years we could name during the course of the show).

Dinner this evening was the aforementioned Teppanyaki, one of our most anticipated pre-cruise highlights, and it absolutely didn’t disappoint. The show-style nature of the Teppan grill cuisine is always great to see and our chef pulled off the usual combination of cooking and showmanship with great aplomb. The jumbo shrimp was superbly succulent; the scallops intensely satisfying; and the melt-in-the-mouth filet absolutely to die for.

Topped and tailed with edamame, miso soup, a Japanese-dressed salad, fruit sashimi and green tea ice cream, it was, again, too much food to comfortably ingest at one sitting – and a truly memorably dining experience. Yet another big plus mark for the Epic’s immense culinary capabilities.

Finally, to complete an evening of rock-themed entertainment, we headed for the Headliners show-lounge and a chance to sample the dueling pianos of Howl At The Moon Saloon. With alternating twin pianists, and a small drum kit, with each of four performers taking turns at both, we rocked the night away to a wonderfully raucous selection of 70s, 80s and 90s standards, all given the singalong treatment in best bar fashion.

It was neither overdone nor under-performed, and we were left in awe of the performers’ sheer range and catalogue of material, as well as no small amount of musical ability at the ivories, and some great vocal talents to boot.

Without time appearing to pass, it was suddenly midnight and gone, and we wended a weary but extremely happy way back to cabin 10308 for more guaranteed solid slumbers, another day of varied and quality-conscious cruising safely tucked under our belts.

And tomorrow it’s time for Nassau….

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Follow Us Live On Our Latest Cruises!

Although we are currently battling to finish off the Spring edition of World of Cruising magazine (publishing on March 15), we will be providing live coverage of TWO contrasting cruises in the next week or so as our man Steve Newman heads off on another adventurous cruise in Norwegian waters with Hurtigruten while I will be on Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Epic (above) for a week in the sunny Caribbean (how big a contrast could you want!).

Steve will be enjoying the best of the classic Norwegian coastal voyage while (hopefully) taking in the Northern Lights on board Hurtigruten's traditional vessel, sailing from Bergen to Kirkenes. It is one of our favourite cruise areas, but is not featured much during the winter months, so it should be a great insight into this region, as well as Norway's wonderful hospitality.

I will be enjoying slightly warmer (hopefully!) waters as the huge Norwegian Epic undergoes her typical 7-day winter routine, sailing from Miami to St Maarten, St Thomas and Nassau, while also offering 3 full sea days to enjoy the vast range of entertainment options on this unique ship.

It will be our first full voyage on the Epic and it will be interesting to see exactly how things unfold with no less than 20 dining venues and a truly mind-boggling array of live attractions to take in. We are big fans of the famous Blue Man Group (who have permanent shows in various parts of the US, including our Orlando, Florida, base) but there is a LOT more to take in, so it will be extremely illuminating to see it all take shape.

We will, of course, also have a full feature on the ship in the Spring edition, so make sure you have your subscription fully up to date on this link!

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It's A New York Breakaway

Norwegian Cruise Line’s new state-of-the-art 4,000 passenger ship, Norwegian Breakaway will sail from her year-round home port of New York City to the Bahamas, Florida and the Caribbean during her inaugural winter season next year.

Following a summer inaugural season sailing seven-night cruises from New York to Bermuda, Breakaway will embark on a series of 25 seven-night cruises to the Bahamas & Florida beginning on October 13, 2013. The ship will also sail two 12-night Southern Caribbean itineraries on January 5 and 19, 2014. 

Her ports of call will include stops in Nassau, NCL's private island in the Bahamas, (Great Stirrup Cay) and Port Canaveral in Florida along with three relaxing days at sea. These sailings run to April 27, 2014.

The ship’s 12-night Southern Caribbean cruises weill include Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Barbados and St. Kitts, along with five sea days. Currently under construction at Meyer Werft in Germany, Breakaway will be 144,017 gross tons and is scheduled for delivery in April 2013.

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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Yachts of Seabourn offers Fantastic Savings

By guest blogger Steve Newman

A selection of luxurious winter itineraries and destinations, including the Caribbean on the new Seabourn Sojourn, are being offered by The Yachts of Seabourn. Guests booking this week can make substantial savings on a variety of Winter Sun destinations as per the below selection.

30th November 2010 - Seabourn Sojourn departs from Fort Lauderdale on a 10-day round-trip 'Yachtsman's Caribbean' cruise. Highlights of the itinerary include San Juan, Puerto Rico, Gustavia, St Barths, St Kitts and Cruz Bay, St John. Fares start from £3,099pp (air inclusive).

20th December 2010 - Sojourn departs from Fort Lauderdale on a 16-day 'Christmas and New Year's Sojourn' to Los Angeles. Highlights of the itinerary include Cartagena, Colombia, Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, Huatulco, Mexico and San Diego. Fares start from £5,199pp (cruise only).

3rd December 2010 - Seabourn Legend departs from Fort Lauderdale on a 10-day round-trip 'Caribbean Splendor' cruise. Highlights of the itinerary include Nassau, Bahamas, Gustavia, St Barths, Prickly Pear Island and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Fares start from £2,599pp (air inclusive).

Prices are all person, based on two sharing a suite, fully inclusive, including all tips and gratuities, fine dining, open bar and fully-stocked mini-bar.

For more information, vist http://www.seabourn.com/ or call the specialist luxury cruise agents at the Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

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Cruise on the World's Largest

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Royal Caribbean International’s Allure of the Seas (above) is proudly claiming the title of the world’s largest cruise ship (from sister ship Oasis) when she launches in December. Don’t miss out on the chance to sail on board this record-breaker next summer on a nine-night Eastern Caribbean fly/cruise from £2,048 per adult and £1,685 per child (based on two adults and two children sharing an inside cabin).

Allure's onboard highlights include Central Park, an open air park area with real trees; a zip-line which is suspended nine decks high; and the Rising Tide Bar, which moves between three decks. The ship has more than 20 restaurants and cafes and 25 different shops. She will also feature the award-winning West End and Broadway musical Chicago in the 1,380-seat theatre, as well as shows, interactive activities, parades and even meals with some of DreamWorks Animation’s best loved characters, including Madagascar’s Alex; Mort and Po from Kung-Fu Panda; and Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon.

Price includes return flights from London Heathrow, one-night pre-cruise hotel accommodation, transfers and a seven-night cruise departing Fort Lauderdale (Florida) and calling at Nassau (Bahamas), Charlotte Amalie (St. Thomas) and Philipsburg (St. Maarten), before returning to Fort Lauderdale; meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees.

Price is based on 24 July, 2011, departure. For more information or to book see http://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk/.

And don't forget to check out what we said in Time Spent At Sea last year about Oasis of the Seas, and don't miss top cruise writer Gary Buchanan's full review of Oasis in World of Cruising earlier this year, on this! link.

For more info on Royal Caribbean bookings, be sure to visit The Cruise Show in Birmingham this weekend or in London next March (26-27). Or perhaps look at The Cruise Line Ltd and their specialist agents on 0800 008 6677.

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