Save £7 on tickets for January's Telegraph Cruise Show in London

Meet over 80 cruise lines, river specialists and tour operators, enjoy free food and wine tasting sessions from chefs James Martin, Eric Lanlard, Atul Kochhar and Olly Smith courtesy of P&O Cruises Food Heroes, be inspired by TV travel presenter Simon Reeve who will take part in a Q&A session on the Saturday, get the insiders' guide to destinations from Telegraph Travel journalists and cruise experts and much much more.

The show is packed with deals and competitions including £325 off a Fred Olsen cruise booked at the show, £100 off a Saga Cruises cruise, get a bottle of champagne with every £50 deposit placed with Cunard plus multiple competitions to win holidays, Kindle Fires, hampers and other treats.

The show is also running a daily prize draw* to win over £30,000 of holidays including a a 12 night Norwegian fjords voyage, a 7 night Caribbean or Mediterranean cruise and a 3 night break in Dubai.

Special offer: World of Cruising readers can save £7 on tickets!**
Get £13 adult tickets (£20 on the door) by quoting WOC. Book your tickets today here or call 0800 542 5859.

Find out more at www.telegraph.co.uk/cruiselondon

* See full competition details on the Telegraph Cruise Show website. **Applies to adult advance tickets for a limited time only. Booking fee applies.

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Cruise ship Saga Pearl II sails to the rescue of injured yachtsman in mid-Atlantic

To the rescue: Saga Pearl II diverts from cruise to aid injured yachtsman

EXCLUSIVE  by LESLEY BELLEW

 

Cruise ship Saga Pearl II made a dramatic rescue in the middle of the North Atlantic last night (Saturday, Nov 22) to bring aboard a seriously injured French yachtsman.

On route to Cape Verde, Captain Wesley Dunlop answered a call for assistance from the Portuguese marine authorities and made a 90-mile diversion to meet the catamaran Coco Jet III.

Nicolas Hauzy, 36, needed 28 stitches after he lacerated his left leg on the drive shaft of his yacht’s engine while cruising from the Canary Islands to Martinique.

Within four hours from the distress call on Saturday afternoon, Saga Pearl II came in sight of the yacht. As darkness fell, Capt Dunlop manoeuvred the ship to allow the catamaran to come leeside, thereby cutting out the wind.

In two-metre swells the yacht drifted close to the ship and Mr Hauzy made a dramatic jump on board the 400-passenger cruise ship.

Capt Dunlop had been expecting to put out a pontoon to allow the ship’s doctor to board the yacht and assess the patient.

Capt Dunlop said: “It was a most difficult operation because of the swell and the crew dealt with it very well.

“We had intended to get onto the yacht but when it came right alongside Mr Hauzy made the jump. In an emergency you always plan ahead but very often have to adjust those plans depending on the situation when you arrive on scene.

“Mr Hauzy is a very brave man.”

Mr Hauzy, who was part-way through a year’s sailing trip with his family, said he there had been a problem with the yacht’s hydraulic motor and as he was attempting to fix it his trouser leg got caught in the engine drive shaft.

He said: “I bandaged myself up and put a distress procedure in place because I was worried that I would not be able to take care of the yacht and my family.

“Captain Dunlop is the very best captain I have ever encountered. My worst fear was that I would not be able to board the ship. It was so impressive that a big ship came to my rescue and changed course to come to help a small vessel. I cannot thank the captain and medical team enough.”

The ship’s doctor David Townsend had been prepared to board the catamaran but instead attended the Parisian businessman in the ship’s medical centre.  He said: “It was a severe laceration to the inside left of the ankle, needing 28 stitches.”

Mr Hauzy said: “I was surprised to see such a professional medical set-up on the ship. I did not realise there would be a doctor and nurses on board. I am again very thankful. They said that they had dealt with worse than this!”

The drama unfolded when Saga Pearl II was within 200 miles of Sao Vicente, in Cape Verde. Capt Dunlop made a public announcement to say he had received a message from the Portuguese Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) that a French yacht had reported one of its crew was injured and in need of urgent medical assistance.

As Saga Pearl II was the nearest vessel with a doctor on board, Capt Dunlop took the decision to change course to answer the call.

Passengers were kept informed throughout the operation with a further message from the captain at 6pm, stating he had received further information that the passenger had suffered a ‘very nasty gash’ on the leg.  He explained that the plan of action was for two of his crew to board the yacht, exiting from a lower deck shell door, and put out a pontoon for the yacht to come alongside.

Capt Dunlop also gave passengers good notice that he would be turning the ship sideways and reducing speed, explaining that the stabilisers would therefore not be as effective.

During the rescue passengers continued with their formal dinner, the ladies dressed in glamorous cocktail gowns and the men in dinner suits and bow ties.

Mr Hauzy is expected to rejoin his family, including his wife Adelaide and his four children, Tristan, 10, Hadrien, nine, Athenias, four, and Ignace, two, when Coco Jet III arrives in Porto Grande on Monday.

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One Saga Pearl II cruise - One raft of new adventures

In response to fun-loving passengers’ appetite for adventure tours, Saga has introduced a selection of action-packed excursions on Saga Pearl II’s new Canary Island Coasts cruise.

In Madeira, a four-wheel drive safari will take guests on and off-road through hidden valleys and mountain roads. There also be a RIB adventure to watch for whales and dolphins in the sea around Madeira, accompanied by a team of marine biologists.

Tenerife’s Teide National Park has ideal conditions for stargazing and this sparkling experience starts with guests sipping champagne at sunset before dinner. As night falls, under the stars a guide will point out distant constellations and impressive planets using professional telescopes.

In Morocco, jump into a 4x4 vehicle for a scenic drive to Imouzzer Paradise Valley, leaving behind the palm groves and gorges of the River Tamrhakht to view the ever-changing landscape with traditional houses set among the Argan trees. For those who prefer to stretch their legs, trekking in the Atlas foothills is another new option. Walk across the rugged landscape of arid mountains and ochre-red rocks softened by lush palm and banana groves.


16 nights from £1,915, departing Southampton on 19 March 2016. Price includes UK travel package to and from Southampton, all meals and entertainment, afternoon tea, 24-hour room service, welcome cocktail party, unlimited tea and coffee.

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Adventure Cruising blog

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All-inclusive Saga cruises along the Croatian coast from £799

The crystal-clear waters of Croatia’s Adriatic are graced with an archipelago of more than 1,000 islands. Board a vintage-style ship to appreciate their natural beauty and rich history on a choice of two all-inclusive Saga escorted cruises.

Dalmatian Island Explorer

Fly to Dubrovnik and embark on th e30-passenger mv Emanuel (above) to sail along the coast to the peaceful island of Sipan for an overnight stay. Cruise along the Peljesac Peninsula to Korcula where explorer Marco Polo’s family home can be seen among the Venetian architecture.

Adriatic Coastal Explorer

Fly to Split and transfer to Trogir to board 32-passenger mv Amorena. Before setting off on this relaxed cruise, enjoy walk along the seaside promenade which is lined with bars and cafes or view the town’s stunning architecture dating back more than 2,000 years.

Enjoy a leisurely day cruising from Sali to the pretty harbour town of Vodice and the small island of Zlarin. Sail on to Primosten for a walking tour of this picturesque town. Cruise to Split, a UNESCO World Heritage site and Croatia's second biggest city.

Seven nights from £799 (Dalmatian Island Explorer) or from £879 (Adriatic Coastal Explorer) April to October 2015, departing Gatwick (Manchester options for the Adriatic Coastal Explorer). Price includes travel insurance, return flights and transfers, full board, free bar open 11 hours a day, local wines, beers and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on board, Saga tour manager.

Extend the Dalmatian Island Explorer cruise with a seven-night stay on the Dubrovnik Riviera from £269 or a seven-night stay in Brac from £249 on the Adriatic Coastal Explorer. 

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Cruise to the spectacular bulb fields of Keukenhof

Spend a day at the world’s largest spring flower garden with Saga. The 79-acre Keukenhof garden will be a blaze of colour with tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and other spring bulbs filling the flower beds.

The river cruiser Regina Rheni II will depart for The Hague, via Gouda. For a complete change of scenery, the 154-passenger Regina Rheni II, chartered exclusively for Saga, will sail on to Kinderdijk for passengers to view the UNESCO-protected windmills.

The cruise also visits Arnhem,  Zwolle, Kampen, Hoorn, and the fishing village of Volendam before cruising to Amsterdam. An early arrival in Amsterdam offers a full day of sightseeing in this lively city. 

Seven nights from £1,049, departing on 1 April from St Pancras on Eurostar or fly from Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, London Gatwick Newcastle or Norwich. A further option is to travel by coach from Folkestone on Eurotunnel.

Price includes all meals, wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, cocktail party and Saga dinner, cruise director, Saga cruise escort, entertainment and activities on the ship, travel insurance and additional cancellation cover.

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Explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes joins Saga Pearl II cruise in search of the Northern Lights

Sir Ranulph Fiennes will be joining Saga Pearl II in search of the Northern Lights when she sails from Southampton on March 4, 2015.

Saga Pearl II will dock for two nights in Alta during this Norway nights and the Northern Lights cruise. Here, when heavy snow falls and temperatures drop to sub-zero, the clear dark skies become the arena for the dazzling displays.

Guests will take an early dinner on board the ship, attend a lecture to learn the best location for viewing the Northern Lights that evening, and travel to the selected viewing point.

Although the Northern Lights are expected to be the cruise highlight, further ports of call also offer some exciting tours in Bergen, Tromso,  Andalsnes, Flam, Alesund and Leknes. New excursions include the Vossbanen steam railway in Bergen and a musk ox safari or a twilight moose safari in Andalsnes.

16 nights from £3,299 departing 4 March, 2015. Price includes VIP travel service, all meals and entertainment, afternoon tea, 24-hour room service, welcome cocktail party, unlimited tea and coffee, free wifi, all gratuities, porterage, shuttle bus to town centres from the port of call, and travel insurance and cancellation cover.

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Saga Sets Sail With E-Book Library

Saga Cruises' adventuring voyager Saga Pearl II is setting sail later this month with an all-new e-books library curated by Penguin Books.

From November 22, passengers will be able to pick up a tablet and choose from 36 titles specially curated by Penguin’s experts, a world-first on cruise ships.

The tablets will carry a selection of Penguin titles downloaded in 12 genres, including crime and adventure, escapist fiction, travel writing, literary gems, historical fiction and celebrity biography to match Saga passengers’ reading preferences. Penguin has also donated physical copies of all 36 books to Pearl II’s library.

The ship sails from Southampton and arrives in Venice on December 3, where passengers can extend their stay in a 4 star-rated hotel for three nights. There will be a Venetian masked ball, performances from soprano Hayley Westenra, The Operababes, The Three Tenors tribute act and The Gondolier Trio, plus the opportunity to visit the ancient ruins of Cartagena, Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, mythical Corfu, historic Split and the beautiful city of Venice.

Prices for this all-inclusive cruise start from £1,679 for 11 nights (Nov 22-Dec 3), £1,999 for 13 nights (Dec 3-16) or £2,749 for 24 nights. The three-night stay in Venice costs from £399 including breakfast. The price also includes UK door-to-door travel service, all meals, soft drinks and house-branded alcohol, entertainment, gratuities, room service and travel insurance and cancellation cover.

More info: call 0800 051 3355 or visit saga.co.uk/cruises.

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Saga's Top Choices for 2011

Saga has started 2011 - the year it promised to 'get people talking' - on the winner’s podium after Which? Magazine's annual cruise review awarded it the top cruise company in the country for the second year in a row. Saga has also selected its top cruises for the year, showing why Saga Ruby and Saga Pearl II (above) are consistently ranked as the leading cruise company.

Every cruise includes all meals, entertainment and tips. Port taxes, travel insurance and a chauffeured car service to the port or free car parking are also included in the price and customers can save up to 35% by booking early. Saga’s Price Promise automatically passes on any savings if a cruise decreases in price once a booking has been confirmed (and, for one couple, this meant a cheque in the post of over £10,000!).

Here are three of their Top Choices for 2011

Saga Pearl II - Nordic Discovery
7 nights from £860 per person, departing Dover on September 5; discovering Norway's dramatic fjords, waterfalls and quaint towns. Visit UNESCO heritage sites and, if paid in full at the time of booking, a further 5% saving can be made.

Exciting new destinations: Saga Ruby and Saga Pearl II will be visiting a number of ports that are completely new to Saga this year, including Halmstad in Sweden, Ørsta on Norway’s west coast and the historic city of Split in Croatia. Saga Pearl II also crossed the Atlantic for the first time on an in-depth voyage around the Caribbean and South America at the beginning of the year.

Saga Ruby – Australasia’s Highlights
20 nights from £4636 per person; fly from UK to Fremantle on February 22 to embark Saga Ruby; cruise along Australia’s beautiful western coast exploring four great cities and a host of unusual wildlife before crossing the Tasman Sea to New Zealand, where captivating scenery and unique Maori heritage will make this a trip to remember.

With a high number of single cabins on both ships, Saga cruises are ideal for solo travellers who don't want to pay double. Those who haven’t cruised alone before need not worry either as they will be properly looked after throughout the cruise – the ships have sociable atmospheres and welcome parties, so it is easy to meet new people, and Saga also has dance hosts for those who wish to take to the floor.

Saga Pearl II – Heart of the Caribbean
15 nights from £2324 per person; fly from Gatwick to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic on March 7; there is no single supplement on this leisurely cruise which explores the crystal clear seas and soft sandy shores of the Caribbean, visiting the Dominican Republic, British Virgin Islands and St Maarten.

For further details, visit http://www.sagaholidays.co.uk/

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