Un-Cruise Adventures' first foray to Galápagos Islands

                            

Un-Cruise Adventures gears up for its first foray into Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands and the historic city of Quito, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with eight departures planned in 2016.  Travelers interested in a longer adventure in South America can add a four-night Amazon basin rainforest cruise and a six-night excursion to Peru and Machu Picchu.

The seven-night island cruise aboard the 48-guest La Pinta (above) sails from San Cristóbal Island and visits Española, Genovesa, Santa Cruz, Bartolomé, Santiago and Chinese Hat Islet.

Departure dates in 2016 include 17 February, 16 and 30  March, 25 May, 6 July, 3 August, 14 September and 9 November.  Price includes two nights deluxe hotel accommodations; two commercial flights between Quito and Galápagos; port fees/taxes; entry fees to national parks/preserves; exclusive transfers; tours and adventure activities; breakfast, lunch and private dinner in Quito; and all meals plus premium spirits, wine, and beer on board La Pinta.  For 2016, rates begin at $8,995 (£5,628) per person, double occupancy for the inclusive land tour and island cruise adventure. 

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Adventure Cruising blog

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Madeira's Floral Delight

Madeira's annual Flower Festival is one of the horticultural highlights of the year, on a par with Bloemencorso in the Netherlands each year and the annual Battle of the Flowers in our own Jersey.

But the Madeira version is best visited by ship and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is offering the chance to visit Funchal, Madeira, during its annual floral spectacular on board Braemar’s10-night ‘Sunshine, Shopping & Spring’ fly-cruise, which departs from Santa Cruz, Tenerife, on May 3 and returns to Harwich on May 13.

The Flower Festival, which is held every May when the flowers are at their best, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Madeira, filling Funchal with a riot of colour and scents. This enchanting and beautiful festival showcases the island’s most wonderful gardens and flower displays, as well as playing host to a parade – with vibrant costumes and traditional dance – a flower market and other activities, including the making of flower carpets in the streets, prizes for the best shop window, classical music concerts and variety shows.

The cruise takes guests to Funchal on May 7, where they can explore this exquisite ‘Garden Island’ and soak up all that its celebrated Flower Festival has to offer – glorious sunshine, the finest flower displays and an abundance of local traditions, festivities and celebrations. 

Prices start from £675 (£539 cruise-only) per person, based on two adults sharing a twin-bedded, inside cabin, and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, flight and airport/port dues. Guests can also choose to upgrade to the ‘all-inclusive’ drinks package for just £10 per person, per night.

More info: call 0800 0355 242 or visit www.fredolsencruises.com 

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Balmoral's New Horizons In 2015

We know ex-UK cruises are really popular with our readers at World of Cruising (and here at Time Spent At Sea), and we are always keen, therefore, to highlight new opportunities to enjoy a good quality, no-fly cruise experience.

 

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines are among the leading purveyors of cruises round-trip from British ports, and they have just unveiled a selection of new 2015 itineraries for their classic ship Balmoral, which should have signficant appeal and are on sale now.

 

The new cruises include top-rated ports, exciting new destinations and an even greater number of shore excursions than ever before. Guests who book the new itineraries can also upgrade to Fred. Olsen’s ‘all-inclusive’ drinks package from just £10 per person, per night, and relax in the knowledge almost everything is already paid for.

 

Here are two top examples:

 

Balmoral’s six-night ‘France and Spain’ cruise from Southampton on August 2, 2015: This sunshine cruise will take guests to Getxo, Hendaye and La Pallice, where they can explore quaint towns, relax on beautiful beaches or sample local wines at one of the traditional vineyards. Prices start from £539 per person.

Balmoral’s 13-night ‘Canaries Perseid Meteor Shower’ cruise from Southampton on August 8, 2015: This exciting 'experiential' cruise will give guests the opportunity to view the stunning, multi-coloured Perseid Meteor Shower at the optimum time, whilst visiting the beautiful Canary Islands, Portugal and Madeira. The ship will call at Lisbon, Santa Cruz for an overnight stay, Las Palmas, San Sebastian and Funchal. Prices start from £899 per person.

Prices for these cruises are based on two adults sharing an inside, twin cabin, and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes.

More info: call 0800 0355 242 or visit www.fredolsencruises.com.

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See The 'Stars’ With Fred. Olsen

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will be offering guests the chance to take in one of nature’s most spectacular light shows, the Perseid Meteor Showers, with Braemar’s 13-night Canary Islands voyage sailing from Dover on next August.

This exciting 'experience' cruise will give guests the opportunity to view the stunning, multi-coloured Perseid Meteor Shower at the optimum time, whilst visiting the beautiful Canary Islands and Portugal. The Perseids are so-called because the point from which they appear to come, called the ‘radiant’, lies within the constellation of Perseus. 

 

Referred to by many as 'Nature’s celestial firework display', the ‘Perseid Meteor Showers are the result of material falling from the tail of the comet Swift-Tuttle. Best seen during the early evenings and nightfall within the first two weeks of August, guests on this cruise can channel their ‘amateur astronomist’ as they look out for these 'shooting stars' – which reach a rate of 60 or more per hour at their peak – in stunning surroundings.

Departing on August 4 from Dover, this cruise visits Funchal, on the lovely ‘Garden Isle’ of Madeira, for an overnight stay and then Santa Cruz in Tenerife. Braemar then calls at the largest island, Gran Canaria, where the ship docks in Las Palmas. This popular island boasts a fascinating history; in Plaza Santa Ana, there are bronze statues of dogs, referencing the Romans’ naming of the islands after legendary canines.

Arrecife, Lanzarote, is the next port of call, a bustling port with two splendid castles overlooking the harbour area. Lisbon, Portugal’s bustling capital, is the final port of call.

Prices for this ‘cruise of a lifetime’ start from £1,099 per person, based on two adults sharing a twin-bedded, inside cabin, Grade ‘I’, and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, and port dues.

 

More Info: visit the website at www.fredolsencruises.com or call 0800 0355 150 (Monday to Friday, 8am 8pm; Saturday, 9am to 5pm; Sunday, 10am to 4pm).

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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Now Booking - Galapagos With Silversea!

Luxury expedition cruise specialist Silversea has opened the books for its 2013 and 2014 Galápagos programme.

Its year-round schedule of 7-day expedition voyages aboard the 100-guest, all-suite Silver Galapagos will begin operating in late September 2013. The two voyages will be as follows:

Western Itinerary: Saturday to Saturday, round-trip from Baltra Island 
Silver Galapagos will trace a path across the western, southern and eastern islands, including Santiago, Bartolomé, Isabela, Fernandina, Floreana, San Cristóbal, and Santa Cruz.

North Central Itinerary: Saturday to Saturday, round-trip from Baltra Island
Silver Galapagos will encompass the north-east, central and south-east islands of Santa Cruz, Genovesa, Seymour Norte, San Cristóbal, Española, and Plazas Sur.

Fares start at £3,550 per person, based on double occupancy.

This new schedule will offer adventurous travellers the chance to discover a wild, pristine paradise that has long been regarded as a natural laboratory of evolution. Through complimentary expeditions, guided by an experienced expedition team (certified by the Galápagos National Park Service), Silversea guests will be able to experience up-close encounters with an abundance of wildlife including sun-basking land iguanas, giant tortoises, blue and red-footed boobies, colourful marine iguanas, sea lions, penguins and Darwin's famous finches.

The programme will also offer the opportunity to swim and snorkel in tranquil clear waters, witness unique highland ecosystems, hike through lush mangrove forests and across volcanic fields, explore natural lava tunnels, watch for wild flamingos (in season), read cave inscriptions from the 1800s, and learn about conservation efforts at the Charles Darwin Research Station.

In true Silversea Expeditions style, guests of Silver Galapagos will enjoy full-scale exploring from an enclave of luxury at sea, including spacious, ocean-view suites, gourmet cuisine, butler service and a selection of all-inclusive shipboard amenities such as complimentary beverages, wines and spirits served throughout the ship and all gratuities.

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

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Silversea Names New Galapagos Explorer

Silversea has announced Silver Galapagos as the name for its second small-sized expedition ship, which is currently sailing as the Galapagos Explorer II.

The new name signals the company's intent to maintain a consistent level of elegance throughout its fleet and will take effect following a full refurbishment in September 2013. The hull of the all-suite, 100-guest vessel has already been painted the same dark blue as  Silver Explorer, the company's other expedition ship.

Silver Galapagos  will be the only luxury expedition ship offering socially and environmentally responsible ecotourism to the Galápagos archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This important distinction enables Silversea to broaden its portfolio of expedition cruises tailored to tap into the rising interest in green tourism.

The 2013 Galápagos programme will go on sale next month, offering two new 7-day itineraries. These will begin operating in late September, sailing Saturday to Saturday on a round-trip voyage from Baltra Island. The two voyages will be as follows:

Saturday to Saturday – round-trip from Baltra Island: Silver Galapagos will trace a path across the western, southern and eastern islands, including Santiago, Bartolomé, Isabela, Fernandina, Floreana, San Cristóbal and Santa Cruz.

Saturday to Saturday – round-trip from Baltra Island:  Silver Galapagos will encompasses the north-east, central and south-east islands of Santa Cruz, Genovesa, Seymour Norte, San Cristóbal, Española and Plazas Sur.

This new schedule will offer travellers the chance to discover a wild, pristine paradise that has long been regarded as a natural laboratory of evolution. Through complimentary expeditions, guided by an experienced  expedition team (certified by the Galápagos National Park Service), Silversea guests will experience up-close encounters with an abundance of wildlife, including sun-basking iguanas, giant tortoises, blue- and red-footed boobies, sea lions, penguins and Darwin's famous finches.

The programme will also offer guests the opportunity to swim and snorkel in tranquil clear waters, witness unique highland ecosystems, hike through lush mangrove forests and across volcanic fields, explore natural lava tunnels, watch for wild flamingos (in season), read cave inscriptions from the 1800s, and learn about conservation efforts at the Charles Darwin Research Station.

In true Silversea Expeditions style, guests enjoy full-scale exploring from an enclave of luxury at sea, including spacious, ocean-view suites, sumptuous gourmet cuisine, a personalised butler service and a selection of all-inclusive shipboard amenities, notably complimentary beverages, wines and spirits served throughout the ship, and all gratuities.

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

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Regent's 2013 Programme Sets Sail

Regent Seven Seas has begun accepting reservations for their new Summer/Autumn 2013 sailings, featuring new ports of call and an enticing range of extended voyages in Europe, North America and South America.  

Highlights of the new 2013 collection include calls to Ajaccio and Porto Vecchio (Corsica), Arrecife (Lanzarote) and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Tenerife), extended voyages in Scandinavia, the Mediterranean, South America and a wonderful 24-night Amazon voyage, round-trip from Miami, as well as sailings combining the best of Alaska, New England and the Panama Canal. 

All 2013 sailings include a pre-cruise overnight luxury hotel stay and guests booking Penthouse suites or higher on Med and Northern European sailings will enjoy free Business Class upgrades. Regent also includes all return flights and transfers, all-suite accommodations, award-winning cuisine, premium spirits and fine wines, live entertainment, free and unlimited shore excursions, gratuities and taxes, and a pre-cruise hotel stay on all 2013 sailings in cruise fares.

2013 Summer Collection Highlights:

Seven Seas Voyager begins the season in the vibrant enclaves of Iceland and the Norwegian fjords. A series of 7-to-10 night voyages follows, discovering baroque palaces, soaring cathedrals and medieval towns surrounded by the natural wonders of the Scandinavia and Baltic coastlines. 

With two overnights in St. Petersburg, guests will have three full days to explore. Or, choose a longer voyage of up to 36 nights to the British Isles, the Baltic and Western Europe

For booking details, click on this link to The UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Fred. Olsen Launches ‘Captains’ Collection’

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has launched a new brochure of 73 specially-selected, ex-UK cruises for 2012/13, offering exceptional value for money – the ‘Captains’ Collection’. All the featured cruises offer additional savings and selected cruises offer both Double Savings and Free Onboard Spend for selected cabin grades, including both Boudicca and Braemar’s Christmas cruises for 2012, so there are superb deals to be had for early bookers.

The special rates are applicable on bookings made by February 29. Guests booking earlier – by January 10 – can also benefit from free coach travel or car parking, making the offer even better value for money. Fred. Olsen’s ‘No Fuel Surcharge Guarantee’ also applies on all bookings made by January 31, for departures from January 1 onwards, so value for money is guaranteed.

The ‘Captains’ Collection’ brochure includes cruises on all four Fred. Olsen ships: Balmoral, Braemar, Black Watch and Boudicca, sailing from a variety of convenient regional UK ports. Destinations include Norway, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the British Isles, Iberia, Canada and the Canary Islands. Savings can be up to £500 per booking, and discounts vary, depending on the cabin grade and duration of the cruise. On a cruise of 14 nights or more, savings range from £100 on a single cabin to £500 for a suite. 

For example, Braemar’s ‘The Azores & the Canaries’ cruise (M1208), a 14-night voyage from Dover on April 14, visits Lisbon (Portugal), Arrecife (Lanzarote), Santa Cruz (Tenerife), Santa Cruz (La Palma), Praia da Vitoria (Azores) and Ponta Delgada (Azores) before returning to Dover, now has prices from £1,229 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade ‘I’. Prices also include all meals, onboard entertainment and port taxes, representing exceptional value for money.

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

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Carnival Day In Tenerife

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Fred. Olsen’s cruise ship Boudicca (above) will be in Santa Cruz, Tenerife, on Carnival Day next year – March 12, 2011. Guests on cruise D1103, departing from Southampton on March 6, will have a unique opportunity to experience all the colour and excitement of the Carnival – the biggest and most spectacular outside Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

Tenerife’s Carnival dates back to the 1600s and is a spectacle not to be missed. It begins on the Friday before Shrove Tuesday and ends on Ash Wednesday, and activity on the island centres on the capital, Santa Cruz. The event is one long, spectacular party; there are colourful floats, a Carnival Queen and groups of entertainers: ‘murgas’, comedians; ‘comparsas’, dancers; and ‘rondallas’, singers. Everyone works for months in advance to create this stunning event, which now aspires to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The events open with a procession through the streets of Santa Cruz, with much music and dancing, and end with the ceremonial ‘El Entierro de la Sardina’ – or ‘Burying the Sardine’! Feast your eyes, and join in with the colourful activities of Carnival on this cruise.

The full itinerary is of 14 nights, departing and visits Leixoes (for Oporto) in Portugal, then Arrecife (Lanzarote), Santa Cruz (Tenerife) – where the carnival takes place – San Sebastian (La Gomera), Santa Cruz (La Palma), Funchal (Madeira), and Vigo (Spain), before returning to Southampton.

In addition to the music and colour of the Carnival, this cruise has a musical theme, as it is one of Fred, Olsen’s ‘Music and Laughter’ cruises, with the superb Abba tribute band, Abba Arrivals, performing live. It is also a Flagship Golf cruise, which means keen golfers can opt for an additional package, that combines golf ashore with professional tuition aboard, for an extra £375 per player.

Prices for this very special cruise start at £1,444 per person, based on two adults sharing an outside twin cabin, Grade ‘E’. Prices include all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes.

For more information, visit http://www.fredolsencruises.co.uk/ or call cruise agents The Cruise Line on 0800 008 6677.

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