Crystal Cruises new selection of Boutique Adventures available on its 2015 Asia voyages.

Crystal Cruises has released a new selection of Boutique Adventures which are available on its 2015 Asia voyages. The experiences include dim sum making and mixology in Hong Kong; immersing guests in the day and life of a Shanghainese in Shanghai; and learning how Sumo wrestlers stay in shape in Tokyo.

Crystal’s 2015 Asia itineraries collectively call in Ho Chi Minh City and Chan May, Vietnam; Kota Kinabalu, Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi, Surabaya, Bali, Semarang, Jakarta and Belawan, Sihanoukville,  Pusan, Taipei/Keelung,  Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sanya, Dalian, Xiamen, Yantai and Beijing, Osaka, Aomori, Otaru and Tokyo. Until 2 January, all-inclusive cruise only fares for the 2015 Asia season start from £1,145 per person.

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Adventure Cruising blog

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Voyages to Antiquity discovers ancient Burma

Voyages to Antiquity offers travellers the chance to discover ancient Burma, a remarkable country which continues to captivate visitors today as it did in Rudyard Kipling's time.

Explore historic Malaysia, relax amid beautiful scenery in Thailand and delve into Singapore on this 16-day Southeast Asian odyssey aboard Aegean Odyssey. Departs 27 February 2015  with prices  from £3,350pp

Sail up-river to berth in the heart of Yangon, Burma for two nights and discover the colonial heritage of Malacca and Penang in Malaysia as well as spending two nights at the Regent Hotel in Singapore.

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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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Holland America Offers More In 2014

Holland America Line recently launched its new On Location programme, which gives guests a more in-depth destination experience, with insider tips and local insights about the ports of call, including special onboard activities, themed entertainment, and even local food and products.

 

Here are more highlights from their new 2014 programme:

More UK departures

MS Ryndam’s European season will see more round-trip cruises from Dover. The ex-UK programme runs from May 3-August 23 and will now boast 11 cruises, including seven week-long Norwegian Fjords itineraries, two 14-night Baltic cruises, and two ‘Midnight Sun’ itineraries.

D-Day 70th Anniversary cruise

New for the European 2014 season, Holland America will be commemorating the 70th anniversary of D-Day with this unique 12-day cruise. Departing on April 29 from Rome, MS Eurodam will visit Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar and the UK before journeying on to Normandy, where the most famous World War II battle took place on June 6, 1944. The 70th anniversary cruise starts from £1,349pp.

Increased Arctic cruises
MS Prinsendam, the fleet's smallest ship, will now be sailing its Northern European itineraries out of Ijmuiden (Amsterdam), giving UK travellers a greater choice of flight options. In 2014, she will also embark on more Arctic cruises, with one 14-night itinerary and a 20-night North Cape and Spitsbergen cruise that journeys beyond the Arctic Circle to Ny, Ålesund, Longyearbyen, Tromsø and Honningsvåg. The 14-night North Cape Explorer, with the chance to see Polar Bears in their natural habitat (picture, above) starts from £2,449pp, departing August 10.

New Asian adventures to Burma
New for 2014, MS Volendam will cruise three 14-night Asian Adventure cruises that include a special two-day overnight call in Rangoon, Burma, from where guests can travel to see the stunning pagodas of Bagan, the floating villages of Inle, and experience Mandalay. Other ports include Malacca, Penang, Phuket, Port Blair, Porto Malai, Port Kelang, plus an overnight stop in Singapore. The 14-night Asian Adventure starts from £1,399pp, departing February 17. Holland America also boasts a range of other Asia cruise itineraries, which include calls in Japan, China, Vietnam and Cambodia.

New Africa explorer cruises
September 28 will see the start of a fantastic new 83-night circumnavigation of Africa voyage. A round-trip cruise from Southampton, on MS Rotterdam, this cruise will take in the Seychelles, Mauritius, South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Ghana, The Gambia, Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Oman and the UAE as well as Israel and the Canaries. Shorter itineraries as sectors of this cruise are also available. The 83-night Africa Explorer starts from £7,649pp.

South America cruises have also seen an increase in popularity in the last few years and Holland America offers a robust line-up of great itineraries to choose from. These cruises provide guests with a fantastic range of destination experiences as they visit the Amazon, experience Carnaval in Brazil and even journey to Antarctica.

All prices are cruise-only and are based on double occupancy of an Inside Stateroom.

More info: visit www.hollandamerica.co.uk or call 0843 374 2300.

Have you subscribed to World of Cruising magazine yet? We have a fabulous offer for all new subscribers this year - 50 per cent OFF the regular rate AND the chance to win a cruise in our free prize draw offer. See this link!

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Swan Hellenic’s Big Saver Fares For 2013

Book with Swan Hellenic before the December 31 and save up to £300 per person with their special Saver Fares on selected cruises to a variety of worldwide destinations with, including Sri Lanka, Jordan, Italy, Norway and remote Spitsbergen.

The 15-day To Sri Lanka Shores cruise (Feb 13), available from £1,850 per person (based on two sharing an inside cabin), highlights the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, the remote Andaman Islands and the UNESCO heritage site of Galle in Sri Lanka. The itinerary departs from Singapore and calls at Port Klang (Malaysia), Penang (Malaysia), Langkawi (Malaysia), Port Blair (Andaman Islands), Chennai (India), Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), Galle and Colombo (Sri Lanka).

The 15-day Above the Arctic Circle cruise (complete with Polar Bear - above!), available from £2,895 per person (based on two sharing an inside cabin, sailing July 4), includes a fascinating call to Spitsbergen, where four unforgettable days will reveal immense glaciers, magnificent fjords and isolated communities. The itinerary departs from Portsmouth and calls at Florø, Bodø, Tromsø, Spitsbergen, Leknes, the Lofoten Islands, Brønnøysund and Bergen before returning to Portsmouth.

Offers are also available on the following cruises: By Sea to Petra, Palaces & Gardens and Oslo & the Fjords.

Cabins will not be allocated at time of booking and Saver Fares cannot be combined with any other promotional offer. Applies to bookings made by December 31 on selected 2013 cruises only. Prices include relevant transfers, a tailor-made programme of shore excursions, talks by eminent Guest Speakers, meals and entertainment on board, all gratuities and all relevant cruise taxes/fees (a supplement for some shore excursions may apply).  

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

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Cruise The Seven Ports Of Malaysia

Picture this: sapphire waters glint in the sunlight; beyond the starboard side rest emerald rainforests and there is a gentle breeze giving temporary relief from the balmy skies. This is only a small part of the Malaysian cruising experience, incorporating seven ports that attract the top international cruise carriers year round and enhanced by festivals. Just a couple of examples why Malaysia is a must-see cruise destination: it is a truly unique and refreshing experience, offering a range of captivating activities and Kuala Lumpur's outstanding service of non-stop flights from the UK and high-quality value for money accommodation also makes Malaysia an ideal pre or post-cruise destination. There are excellent value-for-money packages to choose from, please see below for more detail. There are many international cruise carriers to choose from that stop at Malaysian ports, including Royal Caribbean, Crystal Cruises, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Cunard, Costa and Holland America Line. The most popular port is Port Klang due to its easy access to Kuala Lumpur, only 40km away. Guests can hop ashore and experience the capital's fine dining and spectacular views from the observation platform at KL Menara. In the Central Market, visitors can shop for authentic Malaysian hand-crafted gifts in the winding warren of street stalls. On September 29, these stalls will be adorned and embellished with a sea of lanterns in celebration of the Lantern Festival during the full moon of the Chinese calendar. Another captivating event is the Penang International Dragon Boat Festival in June. Cruisers can anchor in Penang Port to watch the fierce boats race past or just relax on the island's beautiful beaches. Hiking fanatics can ramble through Penang's National Park, spotting monkeys and the Achehnese burial grounds. In the city, there are a plethora of must-see attractions such as Fort Cornwallis, built in 1786, or the highly ornate Sri Mariamman Temple. For more information, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury cruise specialists.

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