The Wide World of Swan Hellenic

Swan Hellenic's latest brochure introduces seven new itineraries that encompass a range of exciting destinations, including the Far East, India, Israel and the Black Sea, as well as an inaugural cruise to Japan. To celebrate the launch, Swan is offering an early booking offer of a 5% discount plus up to £200 onboard bar credit per cabin when you book by October 21. Passengers looking to book a cruise on existing itineraries can take advantage of a newly launched autumn sale, offering some fantastic new low fares across all categories of cabin on cruises departing throughout 2014.

The 15-day Black Sea Empires cruise takes guests on a historical journey that commemorates 100 years since ANZAC forces landed at Gallipoli. Reflect on poignant reminders of this 1915 campaign as you call at significant ports of call along the way, such as Canakkale, site of a historic battle between Turkish soldiers and Allied Forces. The experience will be further enhanced with fascinating talks on military history by expert Guest Speakers, who will be accompanying the cruise. Other highlights include the Ukrainian city of Odessa, founded by Catherine the Great, and the UNESCO town of Nessebur, famed for its cobbled streets and Byzantine churches. Early booking offer prices for this cruise, departing on April 27, 2015, start at £2,541 per person.

Also new for 2015, The Islands of East Asia cruise reveals a fusion of cultures and takes in the Philippine Archipelago as well as Borneo, Bali, Java, Indonesia and Singapore. See the orang-utans of Borneo (above), sail out of the bustling Hong Kong harbour, discover diverse Indonesian cultures and tribes and visit the Buddhist Temple complex of Borobudur - one of the greatest sights of Southeast Asia. Early booking offer prices for this 22-day cruise, departing on January 24, 2015, start from £4,095.

The 15-day cruise to India and the Malabar Coast explores the diverse land and townscapes of the region, taking in the finest highlights along the way. From the exotic charm of Kerala to the peaceful backwaters of Tamil Nadu’s Tuticorin, this inspiring cruise offers a rare insight into Indian rural life. Other highlights include the Pinnawala Elephants of Sri Lanka, the remarkable cave temples and rock carvings of the god Shiva on Mumbai’s Elephanta Island and the impressive Grand Mosque in Muscat. Early booking prices for this cruise, departing on March 15, 2015, start from £2,613.
 

Discover holy lands as you sail from the Red Sea, through the Suez Canal and into the Eastern Mediterranean on the 15-day Holy Lands itinerary. Explore the Nabatean city of Petra the ‘rose-red city half as old as time’. Half-built, half-carved into the rock and surrounded by mountains, see for yourself why this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the Middle East’s most impressive sites. Other highlights include Jerusalem’s sacred Golden Dome of the Rock, Giza’s Great Pyramids and the magnificent Roman city of Ephesus, once a religious centre during early Christianity and where St Paul used to preach. Early booking prices for this voyage, departing April 13, 2015, start from £2,275.

Prices for all cruises include return flights to/from the UK (for fly cruises), gratuities onboard and ashore, all relevant overseas transfers, meals, a comprehensive series of Guest Speaker talks and a programme of tailor-made shore excursions, worth up to £650 per person.

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

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Sample The Middle East With Swan Hellenic

Here's a great offer to sample the Middle East AND save money in the process - book a "By Sea to Petra" cruise with Swan Hellenic and save up to £300 per person. The 15-day cruise follows the ancient trading routes of the Arabian seas, along the coasts of Arabia and Africa, ending in Aqaba for an inclusive full-day excursion at the Nabataean city of Petra (above) – one of the most impressive sites of the region.

The voyage costs from £1,495 per person (Saver Fare based on two people sharing an inside cabin) and departs from Muscat (Oman, overnight), calling at Salalah (Oman, overnight), Massawa (Eritrea, overnight), Safaga (Egypt), Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt) and Aqaba (Jordan, overnight). The price is based on a March 13 UK departure.

Saver Fares with reductions of up to £300 per person are also available on the following cruises: To Sri Lankan Shores, Palaces and Gardens, Oslo and the Fjords and Above the Arctic Circle. Cabins will not be allocated at time of booking and Saver Fares cannot be combined with any other promotional offer. Prices include flights, 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.

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

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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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On The Frankincense Trail With Voyages of Discovery

Join Voyages of Discovery’s luxury small ship MV Discovery on two new itineraries for 2012 - The Frankincense Trail and Oman to the Holy Land.

Explore the ‘Desert Kingdom’, the Lost City of Ubar and Lawrence of Arabia’s Petra on The Frankincense Trail from just £899 per person, based on a March 23 departure (two people sharing an inside cabin). The price includes return flights from London, transfers and a 13-day voyage departing from Muscat (Oman, overnight) and calling at Salalah (Oman), Sharm-el-Sheikh (Egypt), Aqaba (Jordan) and the final port of Safaga (Egypt, overnight).

Oman to the Holy Land is an extended version of the Frankincense Trail, cruising along to other major historical hotspots such as Israel, Cyprus and Turkey and costs from just £1,399 per person (based on a March 23 departure and two people sharing an inside cabin). The full voyage lasts 25 days and, after 2 overnights in Safaga, continues to Sharm-el-Sheikh (Egypt), Sokhna (Egypt), Ashdod (Israel), Haifa (Israel), Limassol (Cyprus), Fethiye (Turkey), Kusadasi (Turkey) and the final port of Istanbul (overnight).

The price for both cruises includes all meals, entertainment and gratuities on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees, plus onboard lectures from a team of renowned Guest Speakers.

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

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Regent Offer Four New Early Winter Voyages

Regent Seven Sea’s free and unlimited shore excursion programme is designed to bring out the best of each destination and provide a carefully considered and safe way to explore off the beaten track destinations. Sailing on the all-suite, all-balcony Seven Seas Voyager, where guests are one of only a few hundred, the line has announced four new cruises taking in the best of the Eastern and Western Mediterranean, enabling guests to experience free excursions to some of the world’s holiest and most ancient cities.

The four new itineraries include calls to fascinating ports such as Ephesus, Safaga and Haifa as well as a transit of the Suez Canal and extended overnight stays at Ashdod and Petra, to provide an unforgettable east-meets-west experience. Choose from:

Luxor to Limassol: 8 nights, Nov 12

Calling at Petra (overnight), Sharm El Sheikh, transit Suez Canal, Ashdod (overnight), Haifa, Limassol. Balcony Suite from £ 2,675 per person.

Limassol to Barcelona: 8 nights, Nov 20

Calling at Alanya, Rhodes, Ephesus, Valletta, Barcelona (overnight). Balcony Suite from £2,350 per person.

Barcelona to Ashdod: 8 nights, November 28

Calling at Barcelona, Valletta, Rhodes, Limassol, Haifa, Ashdod (overnight). Balcony Suite from £2,330 per person.

Ashdod to Dubai: 13 nights, Dec 6
Calling at Suez Canal (transit), Luxor (overnight), Petra (overnight), Cruise the Red Sea/Arabian Sea, Salalah (Oman), Port Qaboos (Oman), Dubai. Balcony Suite from £3,343 per person.

As the most all-inclusive luxury cruise line, fares include: free return flights on every cruise (or free Business Class flights on all Med sailings in suites C-MS), free unlimited shore excursions in every port, transfers and government/port taxes, concierge amenities, all fine dining including speciality restaurants, all drinks and beverages including fine wines, selected Champagnes, premium branded soft drinks, all onboard activities, 24-hour room service and in-suite dining.

For more info, visit www.rssc.com or contact the UK's specialist luxury-cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Voyage Through The Red Sea

Zegrahm's brand-new Voyage through the Red Sea expedition has been named one of National Geographic Traveler magazine’s “Best Tours of a Lifetime” for 2011 and is one of those experiences well worth seeking out in the cruise world today.

Here's how the tour works:

You explore Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, including the company's first-time visits to the lesser-traveled countries of Sudan and Eritrea. The November 6-22 itinerary is the perfect time to explore this seat of the world’s earliest civilisations with pleasant temperatures ranging from 55 to 85°F and a stable, yet fascinating political environment where a new chapter in the region’s history has literally unfolded within the last year (plus, this comes with the added bonus of fewer crowds at some of the region’s most popular tourist sites).

The voyage combines the Red Sea’s best cultural attractions along with several opportunities to engage in the region’s natural history with snorkeling and diving excursions. Among the many highlights of this award-winning expedition, guests will have the opportunity to:

• Explore the rose-coloured wonders of Petra, the capital of the ancient Nabatean Empire and now a World Heritage Site—even enjoying a candle-lit nighttime walk through the Siq to the Treasury

• Overnight in Luxor, often considered the “world’s greatest open air museum,” to explore its various monuments, temples, and tombs

• Cruise along the Nile in a traditional felucca sailing vessel, savouring lunch and views of the countryside along the way

• Enjoy a walking tour of Jeddah’s well-preserved old city, considered the gateway to Mecca

• Take in traditional daily life as the tour wanders the pathways connecting the old, coral-block buildings of Suakin, Sudan—a major trading stop en route to Mecca

• And snorkel and dive in the shimmering waters of Eritrea’s Dahlak Archipelago, an area renowned for its rich marine life and scenic beauty.

For more info, visit www.zeco.com or contact the UK's leading adventure cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Azamara's 'Extended Voyages'

Azamara Club Cruises has launched 'Extended Voyages' which allow guests to join two, three, four or more consecutive cruises into one experience. By combining select consecutive cruises onboard Azamara Quest or Azamara Journey guests can embark on a holiday of a lifetime, ranging from 11 to 78-nights without repeated ports of call.

In addition, guests booking consecutive cruises will receive £200 per cruise, per stateroom for cruises of eight days or less and £300 per cruise, per stateroom for voyages of nine days or more for greater value. Savings double on sailings between October 1 and December 31 this year, if booked by July 31.

Guests wanting a longer adventure can book Journey's 77-night cruise from Stockholm to Civitavecchia (for Rome). Departing June 27, 2012, the sailing features 25 overnight stays, four being two consecutive nights, where guests can experience the nightlife of Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Paris and Seville. This Extended Voyage features the Norwegian Fjords itinerary, which highlights the North Seas Jazz Festival, one of the world's premiere musical festivals.

For those keen on exploring the Far East, Journey's Piraeus (Athens) to Hong Kong cruise departs on October 26, 2012. This 72-night cruise, combines six cruises - Holy Land, Egypt & Suez Canal; Luxor, Petra, Sinai & Eilat; Luxor, Petra & Sinai; The Spice Coast & Ceylon; Burma & Andaman Sea Islands; Vietnam & Thailand, Christmas and New Year - for an in-depth exploration of the region, plus an opportunity to spend Christmas and New Year in Hong Kong through a Land Discoveries excursion.

Quest departs Singapore on February 29, 2012, on a 78-night cruise, sailing from Singapore to Piraeus. This combines six cruises - Trade Routes to the Orient; Japan & Taiwan; Manila, Sabah, Borneo, Komodo & Bali; Spice Route; Petra, Sinai & Luxor; Holy Land, Egypt & Suez Canal.

For more info, look up http://www.azamaraclubcruises.co.uk/ or contact the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Zegrahm Expeditions - "Tours of a Lifetime"

Zegrahm Expeditions has been selected for National Geographic Traveler Magazine’s “Tours of a Lifetime” honour for the second time, highlighting the company's keen eye for superb adventure travel.

In the past, the honours have been bestowed upon Zegrahm's natural history-focused expeditions — Beyond Rapa Nui, Ultimate Seychelles, and Faces of Melanesia — but, this year, they are excited to announce the award has been bestowed uopn a new, in-depth cultural tour: Voyage Through the Red Sea. This 17-day expedition, aboard the Clipper Odyssey, departs November 6 and visits Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Eritrea.

This voyage combines the Red Sea’s best cultural attractions along with several opportunities to snorkel and dive, plus offers a rare glimpse into a number of hospitable countries rarely visited by Western travellers. Highlights of this tour include:

• Exploring the rose-colored wonders of Petra, the capital of the ancient Nabatean Empire and now a World Heritage Site.

• Cruising along the Nile in a traditional felucca sailing vessel.

• Visiting several exquisite World Heritage Sites in Egypt — the Monastery of St. Catherine (above) and the treasures of ancient Thebes, including Luxor, Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings.

• Walking tour of Jeddah’s well-preserved old city, considered the gateway to Mecca.

• Snorkelling and diving in the shimmering waters of the Dahlak Archipelago, an area renowned for its rich marine life and scenic beauty.

To learn more about this voyage, visit www.zeco.com or contact the UK's adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Costa Starts Cruising The Red Sea

Here's an interesting press release from Costa Cruises this week, with news of new destinations:

Two Costa ships to depart weekly from Sharm El Sheikh in a first for the cruise industry

Costa Marina and Costa Allegra have new departures from Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt, visiting Cairo, the Negev Desert (Israel) and Petra (Jordan) for the first time in an exclusive winter 2010/2011 itinerary.

Costa Cruises is offering new one-week cruises in the Red Sea departing from Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, for the entire 2010/2011 winter season. The Red Sea, along with the Far East, the Arab Emirates and the Indian Ocean, will become yet another destination where Costa offers a regular cruise service.

Costa Marina (25,600 gross tonnage and a capacity of 1,000 guests) and Allegra (28,400 gross tonnage and a capacity of 1,000 guests) will depart from November 25, 2010, to February 17, 2011 and November 29, 2010, to March 21, 2011, respectively. The unique itineraries include Egypt, Israel and Jordan, and call at Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt), Eilat (Israel), Aqaba (Jordan), Luxor-Safaga (Egypt) and Cairo-Sokhna (Egypt).

Both ships will call weekly in Sharm el Sheikh, making a total of 38 calls and transporting a total of 60,000 passengers over the winter months.

The itineraries of Marina and Allegra combine both relaxation and culture from one shore of the Red Sea to the other. Passengers on the Red Sea voyages can expect to experience incredibly beautiful sea vistas and cultural and archaeological treasures.

From Eilat, guests can take Costa excursions to a natural oasis in the Negev Desert , the fortress of Masada or the incredible landscapes of the Dead Sea . At Aqaba, guests can visit the pink city of Petra, carved into the mountains. In Safaga there is the option to enjoy excursions to Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, visit the tombs of the Pharaohs, observe the natural wonders of Hurghada and visit the crystalline waters of the island of Mahamya. From Sokhna, excursions visit the grand pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx.

With spectacular architecture, Costa Marina and Allegra are ideal for Red Sea cruises, as the beautiful panoramic circular glass wall of the stern allows for breathtaking sea views. Onboard, guests can enjoy a myriad of facilities including restaurants, bars, wellness and fitness centres, treatment rooms and saunas, swimming pools, outdoor jogging tracks, theatres, casinos, discotheques, shopping centres and internet access points.

For more information or to book, go to www.costacruises.co.uk or call 0845 351 0552, or try the specialist cruise travel agents of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 7766.

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